Monday, 14 April 2014

Using the Duet with a WiFi router

UPDATE: If you are thinking about getting a Duet 0.8.5 and then adding the wifi solution to it you should consider getting a DuetWifi instead. Loads of cool features. Check out www.duet3d.com



Using a web-browser via the network is my favourite way to control the Duet electronics, so much so that I now only connect via USB to update the firmware or use debugging. The web interface has had a number of improvements to the front end made by iamburny and by DC42 to the firmware, it now looks like this:

The later iterations have added the ability to upload both gcode files for printing and the config.g file to setup your printer. Its well worth checking out if you have not done so already.

 I had always planned on getting a Mendel90 with the Duet up and running on my wireless network. Originally my intention was to use an old Wireless LAN router I had spare but in the end I have gone for an wireless "nano" router:
(image from TP-Link website)
The TL-WR702N Wireless N Nano Router is good value and can be very quickly set up as a ethernet to wireless LAN bridge (I used client mode, show in the link above). That said there a a whole range of cheap wireless routers and this should work well with any one that will act as a wireless bridge. I powered the router from an old mobile phone power adapter.

 Setting up consisted of connecting via ethernet to the router, setting the IP range to match my wireless network and connecting it to my WLAN in client mode. Turns outs its really quick and easy to add wireless capability to the Duet.

 Enjoy!


Posted by at 23:25
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16 comments:

  1. Anonymous21 May 2014 at 07:36

    Does the web interface support multiple extruders?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tony21 May 2014 at 07:44

      Not directly using the buttons, As multiple extruders +duets become more widespread I expect that functionality to be added. You can connect using the web interface, load a file and start a print with a multiple extruder printer. This is what I do with the Mendel90 LC + Kraken

      Cheers

      Tony

      Delete
    2. Anonymous29 November 2014 at 17:31

      Hi Tony
      I'm still waiting for multiple extruder support. Repetier host does not work for Duet Duex4.
      Cheers
      Alfred

      Delete
    3. Tony29 November 2014 at 18:17

      Hi Alfred have you checked out the latest version of DV42's firmware and Iamburny's web interface? check out the blog post here:

      http://miscsolutions.wordpress.com/2014/07/27/converting-the-reprappro-ormerod-to-dual-colour/

      It has links to the firmware and web interface updates.

      Cheers

      Tony

      Delete
  2. Unknown5 June 2014 at 07:16

    Did you connect the 5V power to the Duet?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tony5 June 2014 at 15:28

      Hi Renae

      No I used a usb adaptor (such as you get for a phone) to power the wifi adaptor. If you are powering the Duet from an ATX power supply you could use the 5V on that. I have not looked at the current draw for the wifi router but If you are using the on board 12V-5V converter to provide 5V then i would use external power rather than trying to use the on board 5V

      Delete
    2. Unknown5 June 2014 at 20:29

      This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    3. Unknown5 June 2014 at 20:31

      Thanks for the quick reply. You reminded me of one if the most cost effective tools I have ever bought...

      http://www.powerpractical.com/product/practical-meter

      ... It also passes data through so it can be used to check the current on devices such as USB drives. Very handy for an iT person who doesn't always have the option to use a multimeter. ;) I have been VERY surprised at what the current is for different USB chargers on various devices even though some are rated higher and were more expensive.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous12 December 2015 at 09:29

    Can we disable web interfacing without interrupting printing process if we use duet controller ?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tony12 December 2015 at 21:33

      You can disconnect your computer from the web interface without interfering with the ongoing print. The actual Web interface is built into the firmware and it is highly recommended you use this to control the printer when you need to (as opposed to the USB serial interface)

      Delete
  4. Sleepy Prince30 December 2015 at 18:52

    I am having trouble connecting through TL-WR702N.
    I set it to client mode connecting to my home wireless network which I can login to its config page.
    However no matter using DHCP or static IP in config.g, I can't connect to the web ui through the router (can't see it in the network map of my home router setup)
    I have no problem when connecting it directly to my home router with Ethernet cable.

    I am using Duet 0.8.5 with dc42 1.09o firmware.
    Can you provide a more detailed steps on how to configure it? Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tony30 December 2015 at 19:07

      Hi, apparently the 1.09o version of the firmware might be ait buggy can you revert to 1.09m until those issues are fixed.

      As far as getting the TL_WR702N to work, all i did was set it to pass the ethernet through to wifi and it worked (with fixed IP), I have not tried DHCP. Are you able to test it using (for example) the ethernet port of a laptop, to see if it is working correctly?

      Cheers

      Tony

      Delete
    2. Sleepy Prince30 December 2015 at 19:34

      This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    3. Sleepy Prince30 December 2015 at 19:41

      Not sure how but I re-flashed and reset everything, now it seems to be working. Thanks.

      Delete
    4. Tony30 December 2015 at 21:10

      Great news!, glad its working.

      Delete
  5. Jason L. Trevino8 August 2016 at 16:49

    Hello Tony,
    This is an incredible post. WiFi bring the world near to us. Duet WiFi is high speed and more powerful from the other brand. Thank you for the post.

    ReplyDelete

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