Beginner's choice of RepRap electronics, Sanguinololu vs RAMPS vs other?

Partly to stave off analysis paralysis, I wanted to ask the community what electronics I should choose.
I'm planning to build some sort of Prusa RepStrap.

There seems to be two main choices, RAMPS and Sanguinololu, this RepRap wiki electronics page seems to have the best comparisons, but it would be interesting to hear the latest information and reccomendations.

I may want to use stepper motors other than NEMA 17, I've already a few assorted ones in the workshop, should that affect my choice?

Hopefully I won't start a RAMPS vs Sanguinololu religious war

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/25/2011 06:38PM by wixi.

I'll cast a vote for:

. RAMPS (I'm using 1.4, but 1.2+ should be fine)
. Sprinter Firmware
. PronterFace / SFACT Software

Why? Well, to quote a certain fruity electronics company: "It just works!"

And it will support the heated bed right off the RAMPS Board (no need for a second power supply, as long as your primary power supply has enough "grunt"), it's very customisable and hackable, and there's plenty of user / developer support out there.

It's by no means the only option - but I don't think you can go too far wrong with this approach.

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Follow my Mendel Prusa build here: [julianh72.blogspot.com]

I went with the Sanguinololu as I could solder it together myself and save money. Its a single board solution and can be flashed with an old LPT port. Total DIY cost minus stepper drivers is $50-60.

Quote

I may want to use stepper motors other than NEMA 17, I've already a few assorted ones in the workshop, should that affect my choice?

No. All three, RAMPS, Sanguinololu and Gen7 use the same stepper driver boards.

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Generation 7 Electronics	Teacup Firmware	RepRap DIY

Traumflug Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I may want to use stepper motors other than NEMA
> 17, I've already a few assorted ones in the
> workshop, should that affect my choice?
>
> No. All three, RAMPS, Sanguinololu and Gen7 use
> the same stepper driver boards.

A useful thing to know. It would mean RAMPS would be better since I could potentially plug in different stepper drivers, though if it got to that point, I may as well buy compatible stepper motors

I just went through this a few week ago.

My choices are below in my sig.

i think you misunderstood Traumflug's post. All three of the mentioned electronics boards are using the Pololu drivers. They plug into sockets so any of the three are similar in that respect. I can't imagine that there are any other stepper driver boards with the same pinout and form factor as the Pololu drivers though, so changing to different drivers would not be as simple as changing driver boards out. With the RAMPS there is a possibility that you could switch the shield for a different one that was designed for other stepper drivers but none have been designed that I know of. The only designs that use drivers other than the pololu ones are the integrated surface mount designs like Gen6. You could build a newer version of Gen7 or sanguinololu for about the same price as a newer RAMPS daughter board, so I don't know that you would save anything that way.

The Stepstick is pin-compatible with the Pololu carriers.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/30/2011 08:34AM by brnrd.

I have created a New PCB that is in the WiKi called Stepcon.

It alows a more powerfull steper driver to be connected to any PCB supporting Pololu drivers / Stepstick.

When they arrive next week and I have tested them will update the Wiki entry.

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Bodge It [reprap.org]
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BIQ Sanguinololu SD LCD board	BIQ Stepcon	BIQ Opto Endstop
BIQ Heater Block PCB	BIQ Extruder Peek clamp replacement	BIQ Huxley Seedling
BIQ Sanguinololu mounting	BIQ standalone Sanguinololu or Ramps mounting	Print It Stick It Cut it

My rep strap: [repstrapbertha.blogspot.com]

Buy the bits from B&Q pipestrap [diyrepstrap.blogspot.com]
How to Build a Darwin without any Rep Rap Parts [repstrapdarwin.blogspot.com]
Web Site [www.takeaway3dtech.com]