WorkBee Duet Wifi vs Ethernet

The WorkBee CNC Machine uses the Duet Controller, which can be supplied in either WiFi or Ethernet versions. The USB cable is not needed to run the machine, the USB cable is only used to initially commission the machine. The Duet has an SD Card which will hold all the machine settings, web interface, and G-Code project files. G-Code files are uploaded to the SD Card via the WorkBee Control Web Interface. You only need to be connected to the machine to set-up a job, once a job is running, you can disconnect.

The Wi-Fi version can either connect to an external Wi-Fi network providing there is a strong connection where the machine is to be placed. Please note the Duet can only connect to 2.4ghz networks. Alternatively, the Duet can be configured as an Access Point in which the controller emits its own WiFi Signal, which you then connect to on your computer.

If there is uncertainty over the strength of an external WiFi signal, we would recommend the Ethernet version for the most stable connection. The Ethernet cable can either connect directly to an external network via a network switch or directly to your computer’s ethernet port. When connecting directly to a computer, it will be on a separate subnet to any network, so communication between an external network and Duet would not be possible; the communication is direct from a computer to duet.

The WiFi and Ethernet versions of the Duet controller are different boards. Therefore switching from WiFi to Ethernet or vice-versa would not be possible. So we would advise thinking carefully about which would be the most suitable connection method for you.