Arduino chosen for next stage of RepRap development

We have chosen the open-source Arduino microcontroller (http://www.arduino.cc/) for the next stage of RepRap development. Zach has been working on this for a while, and it gives a number of advantages:

* Direct USB connection to the host computer, hence no significant communications delays
* Easy-to-use platform-independent software development environment
* Faster
* More memory

In addition, we have stepper-driver boards for it that allow RepRap to use much less expensive and more easy to obtain stepper motors than the current ones.

We shall do a release of the entire RepRap system (hardware, firmware, and software) shortly that will be a stable platform from which people can take the current PIC microcontrollers forward if they wish.

We will then do a subsequent release with identical host software, but with the Arduino electronics and firmware. This will form the basis of our next set of developments.

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best wishes

Adrian

[reprap.org]
[reprapltd.com]

Just to be clear: this is the single-Arduino-board setup, and the dual-board setup that would allow for greater expansion is still unsupported, correct?

LOL! Love that nice little four-sided surface mount chip!

Yes - we'll almost certainly start with the single Arduino setup, then work from there.

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best wishes

Adrian

[reprap.org]
[reprapltd.com]