Setting up Workbee with Duet ethernet

This thread started as a private message from @Bubbahub - moving it here
Alex.

@Bubbahub said "I am very new and very green. I have read so much and tried so many different things, my brain hurts and I am now completely lost

I have the Workbee unit with Ethernet. I have the ethernet into my laptop (WINDOWS)and when I open the Openbuilds I get cannot connect to USB and I cannot change that. I looked and my ethernet does not have an IP address

Any help is appreciated. Have a safe and happy New Year

Mike Huber
Canada"

What controller are you using? Your mention of ethernet suggests the Duet - you don't need Openbuilds Control for that - they are not compatible.
Alex.

The documentation says it was a Duet 2

Did this come from Ooznest in the UK?
Have you been following the instructions from Ooznest? Do you know whether your machine is a version 2.2 or 2.3? - the instructions for setting up the software are slightly different.
Alex.

Yes it did.
I have been trying. Mine is a 2.1 bought in May of this year and just getting around to it now

 

The instructions for building your version of the workbee from Ooznest are here;
Assembling Your WorkBee - V2.1

The instructions for setting up the Duet ethernet version are here;
1. Connecting your Duet via USB - Windows

It is important when connecting the Duet via usb that you do NOT have mains power (from the power supply or your laptop) connected at the same time.

Have you successfully completed that guide?

If so the next guide is here;
2. Connecting your Duet to a Network - Ethernet

Could you let us know how far you have got and where you are stuck?

Alex.

 

You don't have to use YAT - I've had no issues with YAT so I'm afraid I can't recommend an alternative terminal programme off the top of my head. I'll try to find a suitable alternative if no one else chips in before me.
Alex.

 

Is your workbee a leadscrew machine? What size is it? Can you read an SD card?

If you have an SD card reader find and edit the config.g file - change if necessary so that it reads

; Configuration file for Duet
; executed by the firmware on start-up
; WorkBee Firmware Version 1.0.7

; Configure Connection - ENABLE ONLY ONE OF THE BELOW THREE
;M552 S1 ; Enable Wifi Network
;M552 S2 ; Enable Access Point Mode
M552 S1 P192.168.2.12 ; Enable Ethernet - Change IP Address to suit

Put the SD card back in the Duet.

On your PC follow these instructions;

2. Connecting your Duet to a Network - Ethernet

Set your ethernet adapter on your PC to 192.168.2.14

but don't do step 4

Disconnect the USB cable, connect the ethernet cable and the Duet's power supply - disconnect usb FIRST.

You should be able to connect to the Duet from your browser by typing http//192.168.2.12

Let me know if that works.

Alex.

 

There is a micro SD card in the Duet. It the config.g file on the SD card that you need to edit. The Duet runs that file when switched on and there are several settings in there including the maximum working area for your machine. If you have edited the config.g file for your size of machine in the firmware you downloaded from Ooznest you can copy that edited file to the SD card on the Duet (sorry can't remember which directory it's in - if not the root directory try the sys directory) - overwriting the one that's there. The changes I suggested tell the Duet to use ethernet and set the address.
Alex.

 

I run my Duet from a very old Win7 desktop - didn't want my main design PC in the same room as the cnc! - You could probably pick up a secondhand PC very cheaply. Once it's set up the Duet can be run from anything that will run a browser (and in your case an ethernet connection - you can connect the Duet to a home network as well, but I suggest getting it running with a direct cable connection if you can) - as the control interface is written as a web page (on the Duet - no internet needed once its set up)
Alex.