Lost in CAN configurations

General Discussion
1

Hi Folks,

I am trying to make a setup for my E5+ using Canbus for the toolhead. But I already get lost in the beginning.

My hardware: Ender 5+, BTT Octopus pro 429 connected over USB to RPI 4 4Gb + BTT PiTFT, EBB42 Toolhead board (still on the way from the far East) , Klipper 0.10.0 & Mainsail.

My problem begins already where there are no real guides yet on this subject. I underdstood when I purchased my octopus board, that it had a canbus interface, so I assumed the Octopus would serve as a “Master” or “Bridge” as from where CAN devices would connected.

like this:

PI -----usb-----> OCTOPUS -----canbus-----> EBB42

Now I see in most guides and videos people use extra hardware on the Pi (Can HAT’s or BTT’s U2C) to start the CAN network from the Pi…

like this:

PI -----usb-----> BTT U2C -----canbus------> OCTOPUS
|—canbus------> EBB42

My questtion is, is it possible to connect my EBB42 to the Octupus via CAN, without extra hardware?
If yes, how would I need to wire that?
If no, what’s the best additional hardware ? Or can I just hook up the EBB toolboard as a USB microcontroller over the USB-C port?

Thanks in advance!!
Greets,
MaestroLmpio

2

There newly added feature in Klipper which causes your Octopus board to be both a machine controller and a USB to CANBus bridge.
You will see a post by me having issues with this feature on an Octopus board.