modify ramps 1.4 to make it more reliable ? OK so recently my ramps board melted ( heated bed terminal) and so I started searching the internet on how I could prevent this from happening again...now I couldn't find a lot of things I could do Do any of you guys know what are some mods that would make the ramps board more reliable ? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,489749#msg-489749 Wed, 16 Sep 2026 14:25:13 -0400 Phorum 5.2.23 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,619587#msg-619587 Re: modify ramps 1.4 to make it more reliable ? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,619587#msg-619587
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tjnamtiw
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dc42
I am not aware of any RAMPS boards that have voltage regulators on board.

I suspect that when RAMPS was first designed several years ago, nobody used GLCDs or servos on their 3D printers, and everyone made small printers that only needed 12V supplies. Also the 32-bit processors cost more than the 8-bit ones did. In that context, the RAMPS design made sense.

Then that board in question isn't a "fail" because it doesn't have a regulator, is it? I wish they did but ...............

Yes it is a fail, because it addresses one of the deficiencies of RAMPS in today's context (inadequate mosfets) but not the others.]]> dc42 RAMPS Electronics Mon, 01 Feb 2016 16:02:20 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,619452#msg-619452 Re: modify ramps 1.4 to make it more reliable ? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,619452#msg-619452 David J RAMPS Electronics Mon, 01 Feb 2016 13:40:37 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,619333#msg-619333 Re: modify ramps 1.4 to make it more reliable ? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,619333#msg-619333
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dc42
I am not aware of any RAMPS boards that have voltage regulators on board.

I suspect that when RAMPS was first designed several years ago, nobody used GLCDs or servos on their 3D printers, and everyone made small printers that only needed 12V supplies. Also the 32-bit processors cost more than the 8-bit ones did. In that context, the RAMPS design made sense.

Then that board in question isn't a "fail" because it doesn't have a regulator, is it? I wish they did but ...............]]> tjnamtiw RAMPS Electronics Mon, 01 Feb 2016 11:10:38 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,619087#msg-619087 Re: modify ramps 1.4 to make it more reliable ? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,619087#msg-619087
I suspect that when RAMPS was first designed several years ago, nobody used GLCDs or servos on their 3D printers, and everyone made small printers that only needed 12V supplies. Also the 32-bit processors cost more than the 8-bit ones did. In that context, the RAMPS design made sense.]]> dc42 RAMPS Electronics Mon, 01 Feb 2016 03:20:19 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,619044#msg-619044 Re: modify ramps 1.4 to make it more reliable ? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,619044#msg-619044
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dc42
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Dust
That premium ramps talks a good talk but....

16volt caps under pololus, means you also cant use this ramps with 24v.

Also it doesn't have a 5V regulator on board to avoid relying on the often-overloaded one on the Arduino Mega. That and the 16V limitation make it a fail IMO.

Do ANY Ramps have 5V regulators on board????]]> tjnamtiw RAMPS Electronics Sun, 31 Jan 2016 21:23:07 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,618760#msg-618760 Re: modify ramps 1.4 to make it more reliable ? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,618760#msg-618760
In reality though - if someone really wants a RAMPS board and plans to use it normally then it would be a decent purchase.

Mind you, at that price, it's a fair way towards the cost of a 32-bit board (assuming that the 32-bit board is also made properly).]]> David J RAMPS Electronics Sun, 31 Jan 2016 11:20:54 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,618693#msg-618693 Re: modify ramps 1.4 to make it more reliable ? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,618693#msg-618693
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Dust
That premium ramps talks a good talk but....

16volt caps under pololus, means you also cant use this ramps with 24v.

Also it doesn't have a 5V regulator on board to avoid relying on the often-overloaded one on the Arduino Mega. That and the 16V limitation make it a fail IMO.]]> dc42 RAMPS Electronics Sun, 31 Jan 2016 09:46:06 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,618589#msg-618589 Re: modify ramps 1.4 to make it more reliable ? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,618589#msg-618589
16volt caps under pololus, means you also cant use this ramps with 24v.]]> Dust RAMPS Electronics Sun, 31 Jan 2016 06:54:35 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,618528#msg-618528 Re: modify ramps 1.4 to make it more reliable ? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,618528#msg-618528 RAMPS Premium. The only things I don't like the look of are the fuses - it's a shame they didn't fit real fuses.]]> David J RAMPS Electronics Sun, 31 Jan 2016 04:17:58 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,618460#msg-618460 Re: modify ramps 1.4 to make it more reliable ? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,618460#msg-618460
The reason this is so is that the differing thermal expansion rates of copper and solder cause a problem. The solder in the tinned wire end expands more than the copper (brass) terminal and a big peg in small hole causes the softer metal to yield (it gets softer with increasing heat as well). When the temperature drops later the parts contract again but now the tinned wire end is smaller than it was and causes a bad connection.

[reprap.org]

Instead use wire ferrules, also referred to as bootlace ferrules.]]> ponto RAMPS Electronics Sat, 30 Jan 2016 23:10:26 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,579628#msg-579628 Re: modify ramps 1.4 to make it more reliable ? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,579628#msg-579628
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Qbert25
Sorry bigfilsing , what does that have to do with the jumpers?

The silent step sticks completely ignore the ramps jumpers !]]> bigfilsing RAMPS Electronics Wed, 04 Nov 2015 02:49:01 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,579606#msg-579606 Re: modify ramps 1.4 to make it more reliable ? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,579606#msg-579606 Qbert25 RAMPS Electronics Wed, 04 Nov 2015 02:09:11 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,579598#msg-579598 Re: modify ramps 1.4 to make it more reliable ? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,579598#msg-579598 They run smoother and a lot quieter
silentstepstick your tube vid]]> bigfilsing RAMPS Electronics Wed, 04 Nov 2015 01:54:12 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,574251#msg-574251 Re: modify ramps 1.4 to make it more reliable ? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,574251#msg-574251 str8up RAMPS Electronics Thu, 22 Oct 2015 23:23:48 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,572933#msg-572933 Re: modify ramps 1.4 to make it more reliable ? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,572933#msg-572933
In theory if unsolder the pins, cut the connecting copper tracks, and put the pins back. Its back to normal operations, under jumper control.]]> Dust RAMPS Electronics Tue, 20 Oct 2015 05:44:10 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,572443#msg-572443 Re: modify ramps 1.4 to make it more reliable ? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,572443#msg-572443
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str8up
Thanks Dust -

This isn't a case of sloppy solder bridging. This board has no indication of poor workmanship. The board worked just fine except the steps can not be changed. I'm going to try and attach some pictures. This post is FYI incase someone else is experiencing an issue with trying to change their step rates.


Later :)

Nice find, thank you for sharing. I'm facing the same issue. My Ramps is labeld RamSP14.A (yes: RAMSP instead o RAMPS 8-)) and I wonder if is it possible to fix the microstepping issue simply cutting the bridges. Have you tried it or found any other solution?]]> Qbert25 RAMPS Electronics Mon, 19 Oct 2015 04:08:19 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,515081#msg-515081 Re: modify ramps 1.4 to make it more reliable ? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,515081#msg-515081
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nitewing76
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And for micro-stepping, do not forget you loose torque. I think it was nopehead (HydraRaptor) that wrote a blog with the details.

You do not lose torque with microstepping, you just get more silent operation and less vibrations. This is explained here: [www.micromo.com]

What it really boils down to for RepRap builders with a RAMPS 1.4 is that you should use 1/16 microstepping (or 1/32 if available).]]> AndrewBCN RAMPS Electronics Fri, 29 May 2015 06:54:00 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,514970#msg-514970 Re: modify ramps 1.4 to make it more reliable ? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,514970#msg-514970
I buy all of my RAMPS from K Bell on eBay

Always high quality, zero problems. They are in St Louis....I am in Arkansas, which the short distance also makes them more appealing to me.

For mods...I always remove the stock stepper connectors and replace them with salvaged connectors from floppy drives. For the wires going into the power connectors and the connectors for pins 8-10, I solder the ends of the wire to prevent stray wires from visiting the adjacent terminals. Somewhere on here, a guy said a stray wire almost burned his house down. After soldering, the use pliers to gently compress the ends flat and trim then to fit snugly into the terminals. But, properly sized spade connectors (with heat shrink as pictured above) would be ideal!!!

And for micro-stepping, do not forget you loose torque. I think it was nopehead (HydraRaptor) that wrote a blog with the details.]]> nitewing76 RAMPS Electronics Fri, 29 May 2015 01:59:52 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,494077#msg-494077 Re: modify ramps 1.4 to make it more reliable ? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,494077#msg-494077
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cdru
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AndrewBCN
I am trying to think of a possible explanation for the manufacturer of the PCB to have added these shorting islands but in the end I just think it is an error by the PCB (re)designer who just did not understand the purpose of these jumpers. Sometimes people have a hard time even doing a straightforward copy-and-paste...
If you go with the idea that everyone would want 1/16 microstepping, bridging the pins with the trace would be cheaper than having to install header pins and supply jumpers. As the copper is removed during etching, there is zero additional cost to leave the trace but then it forces 1/16 microstepping. It's possible Board House A produced a kabillion boards for Assembler A with the trace knowing they were 1/16th only, but then sold a surplus supply to Assembler B who didn't know it.

That figures, indeed. Either Assembler B wasn't informed of the shorting islands and just didn't check the PCBs, or they were informed of the islands but did not understand what they were for and soldered the (now useless) headers over them.]]> AndrewBCN RAMPS Electronics Tue, 07 Apr 2015 20:11:42 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,494042#msg-494042 Re: modify ramps 1.4 to make it more reliable ? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,494042#msg-494042
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AndrewBCN
I am trying to think of a possible explanation for the manufacturer of the PCB to have added these shorting islands but in the end I just think it is an error by the PCB (re)designer who just did not understand the purpose of these jumpers. Sometimes people have a hard time even doing a straightforward copy-and-paste...
If you go with the idea that everyone would want 1/16 microstepping, bridging the pins with the trace would be cheaper than having to install header pins and supply jumpers. As the copper is removed during etching, there is zero additional cost to leave the trace but then it forces 1/16 microstepping. It's possible Board House A produced a kabillion boards for Assembler A with the trace knowing they were 1/16th only, but then sold a surplus supply to Assembler B who didn't know it.]]> cdru RAMPS Electronics Tue, 07 Apr 2015 17:39:47 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,494003#msg-494003 Re: modify ramps 1.4 to make it more reliable ? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,494003#msg-494003
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str8up
AndrewBCN

You are right about most people may not notice this and for the most part it will never be a problem. For me, if I buy something that has options - I want the options. The way I caught this was removing the jumper and measuring across the pins - should have read open. The reason I was trying different step rates was that I have older 0.9 deg. steppers and was trying to get a quieter operation. I had also upgraded the Pololu drivers from A4988 to DRV8825 which went to 32 micro steps.

I see, you had good reasons to try 1/16 microstepping and it must have been really puzzling when you removed the jumpers to configure the DRV8825's for 1/16th and nothing happened. I confess I would never have thought of checking under the headers!

I am trying to think of a possible explanation for the manufacturer of the PCB to have added these shorting islands but in the end I just think it is an error by the PCB (re)designer who just did not understand the purpose of these jumpers. Sometimes people have a hard time even doing a straightforward copy-and-paste...]]> AndrewBCN RAMPS Electronics Tue, 07 Apr 2015 16:17:23 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,493987#msg-493987 Re: modify ramps 1.4 to make it more reliable ? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,493987#msg-493987
You are right about most people may not notice this and for the most part it will never be a problem. For me, if I buy something that has options - I want the options. The way I caught this was removing the jumper and measuring across the pins - should have read open. The reason I was trying different step rates was that I have older 0.9 deg. steppers and was trying to get a quieter operation. I had also upgraded the Pololu drivers from A4988 to DRV8825 which went to 32 micro steps.]]> str8up RAMPS Electronics Tue, 07 Apr 2015 15:39:03 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,493948#msg-493948 Re: modify ramps 1.4 to make it more reliable ? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,493948#msg-493948 [reprap.org]

Note that most people won't ever notice if they have that problem or not as 1/16th microstepping with A4988 drivers seems to be the norm anyways.

It sure is a most puzzling fluke, and absolutely unexplainable unless one unsolders the jumper headers as you did.]]> AndrewBCN RAMPS Electronics Tue, 07 Apr 2015 13:42:26 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,493917#msg-493917 Re: modify ramps 1.4 to make it more reliable ? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,493917#msg-493917
This isn't a case of sloppy solder bridging. This board has no indication of poor workmanship. The board worked just fine except the steps can not be changed. I'm going to try and attach some pictures. This post is FYI incase someone else is experiencing an issue with trying to change their step rates.


Later :)]]> str8up RAMPS Electronics Tue, 07 Apr 2015 12:25:09 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,493773#msg-493773 Re: modify ramps 1.4 to make it more reliable ? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,493773#msg-493773
Sadly putting solder blobs under a part is a common issue with cheap ramps boards.

Ive heard of many examples... though havent struck this partular issue myself.

You could always unsolder that pin from the polulo module. that would get around it]]> Dust RAMPS Electronics Tue, 07 Apr 2015 06:13:36 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,493766#msg-493766 Re: modify ramps 1.4 to make it more reliable ? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,493766#msg-493766 Dust RAMPS Electronics Tue, 07 Apr 2015 06:03:39 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,493695#msg-493695 Re: modify ramps 1.4 to make it more reliable ? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,493695#msg-493695 Could some of you folks do me a favor and check the continunity of your MS1 MS2 MS3 connections without the jumpers in? Mine were shorted without the jumpers in place. I'm hoping I have a fluke RAMPS 1.4 board - (from China) as I have ordered another Mega and RAMPS 1.4 from SainSmart. The short is actually a land that ties the 2 pins together making the jumpers useless - my board is fixed at the highest step rate the driver can do.

Edit: - Forgot to mention that the connection is under the jumper header. I had to unsolder the headers to find it.]]> str8up RAMPS Electronics Mon, 06 Apr 2015 23:07:55 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,493421#msg-493421 Re: modify ramps 1.4 to make it more reliable ? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,493421#msg-493421
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Dust
Whats needed

Better connectors all over, locking and impossable to plug in backwards and over spec
Higher spec mosfets
Replace polyfuses with car type fuses
35v caps under pololu drivers so board will support 24v (some do this already)
Thicker tracks to all mosfets and their power connector to support more current.
Replace D1 with a 8-10volt voltage regulator (so no matter if you use 12v or 24v the mega still gets a nice safe 10v), and a jumper so you can still disable it
And If your really keen replace microstepping jumpers with a dip switches.
And now your price just doubled plus you need to redesign the board to make room for your voltage regulator circuit. I'm not saying that your changes aren't desirable or not upgrades over the original design. Rather there is a reason why it's the most popular electronics choice. It's easy to manufacturer with commodity parts, it's proven even with it's flaws, and most likely most important, it's cheap.]]> cdru RAMPS Electronics Mon, 06 Apr 2015 09:29:13 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,493090#msg-493090 Re: modify ramps 1.4 to make it more reliable ? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,493090#msg-493090
I love their gear..

Very few hassels. and they have a represntive on #reprap irc channel that you can actualy talk to.]]> Dust RAMPS Electronics Sun, 05 Apr 2015 10:38:05 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,493026#msg-493026 Re: modify ramps 1.4 to make it more reliable ? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,489749,493026#msg-493026 Bit more expensive but most of the works done for you.
If only it had locking conndctors for the motors, thermisters and endstops.

[ooznest.co.uk]
Taurino power is the 12-35v mega and the ramps board matches its spec.

No connection to company except ive bought a few bits and pieces from them.

Gordon]]> gordonendersby RAMPS Electronics Sun, 05 Apr 2015 07:02:34 -0400