Stand Alone Controller for Reprap

Hi guys,

Makerbot has the Interface Kit which allows control of the printer without hooking it up to a computer. I haven't noticed anything like that for the Reprap. Surely it is because I have been looking in the wrong places?

Can anybody point me in the right direction ?

Thanks,
Keff

Marlin firmware has support for LCD and SD. The hardware required is an sdcard break out board like SDramps and a 4bit capable LCD screen (16 x 2 most often) and a few switches ( or rotary encoder). Search Ultipanel for an example.

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Thanks Sublime,

I was hoping for already finished example for use with Mendels. Looks like this is going to be a new project for me !

Keff

This could be interesting. Not exactly a "standalone controller" but it could be fun to see how it works as a host.

bdc
~Stay Calm Out There

Yep I have plans to use a Raspberry Pi as a host.
Adding a cheap webcam (and possibly a decent digital cam for stills) and a digital smoke detector (so it can call/email me should anything go wrong).

That way I could be a could completely stand alone and monitored/controlled via a nice web interface. Hell you could even put them in a shed with solar panels and just run them at next to no cost.

If only the Raspberry Pi didn't sell out so fast. I was up at 5:45am that morning and within a few seconds of the release both sites where down.
ETA on my R-Pi from farnell, 16/04. Fingers crossed I got on to the RS pre-order list earlier and can get it sooner from them (I will either cancel the Farnell order or donate it)

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My Reprap blog

jds-reprap.blogspot.com

I have a rasbery on order, and look forward to having a play, but for reprap I can't help feeling that smartphones would make the ideal controller, would need an interface but phones are made by the million and are available in africa etc, plus they can send and recieve files.

P.S I wish the Rasbery Pi boards were made here in the UK, I would be prepared to pay extra to keep the manufacturing here.

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Random Precision

I have one working and will post something on my website this weekend. I have made it on stripboard.



Bad photography, but hopefully you can get the gist of it.

Based on the ultimaker panel

i found a serial lcd at sparkfun that has allot of potential for this application, but i would be happy just to figure out how to modify sprinter to get it send the data i want out one of the spare harware serial pins the mega has,

i think this is a good way to go [www.sparkfun.com] and it is expandable too.

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[mike-mack.blogspot.com]

Marlin has support for basic displays as well as the hacked interface/controller module.
So it would probably be the best place to start firmware wise

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My Reprap blog

jds-reprap.blogspot.com

And it also has support for RAMPS with LCD now as well. Just connect your LCD and configure the pins.h file to match...

my issue is that i have a serial lcd though so i only need 3 wires, +,-,tx. rx when i try to expand it

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[mike-mack.blogspot.com]

johnrpm Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have a rasbery on order, and look forward to
> having a play, but for reprap I can't help feeling
> that smartphones would make the ideal controller,
> would need an interface but phones are made by the
> million and are available in africa etc, plus they
> can send and recieve files.
>

Check out the Android app for Sprinter via bluetooth:
[www.thingiverse.com]

I've got the necessary BT modem...just haven't wired it up yet to test.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/02/2012 03:08PM by johnbiehler.

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[johnbiehler.com]

johnbiehler,
thanks for the link, I had not seen it, as the processing power of phones gets better, and the price of second hand phones and tablets get lower, more uses will come to light for them, please keep us informed how it goes.

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Random Precision

[www.justblair.co.uk]

I have added some basic schematics and build notes to my website... Apologies for the crudeness of the writing, I will tidy it up an add information as I work it all out. Should be enough though to help get you running

That's great Justblair.

Just wondering, what is the major advantage of a rotary encoder. Wouldn't individual buttons like the Makerbot Interface Kit be more convenient, especially for controlling the motors?

K

Looks quite useful!

What did you use to do you SD card, did you get a sdramps kit?

evert

The major advantage of the rotary encoder is cost and simplicity.

Cheap encoders cost tiny amounts on E-bay whereas the makerbot kit you refer to has PCBs etc.

In terms of moving the print head around, this is not something that you need to do very often and probably not more than one axis at a time. It is easy enough to use a rotary encoder for this.

Within the Marlin firmware there is also the abiltiy to use keypads as well, I added it to the ramps board as an option, but you would need to enter the pins.h file and configure it for RAMPS

I have always been a sucker for rotary encoders though. i love the clicky twisty action!

evilb Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Looks quite useful!
>
> What did you use to do you SD card, did you get a
> sdramps kit?
>
> evert


Yes, that is the one that I used. I have sitting beside me a cheapo full sized module that I bought off ebay for a couple of quid. I reckon that this might be a winner as well. Going to play with it later....