Single Arduino Controller

Is it possible to run everything off of a single Arduino (Mega)?

I know there is a separate controller for the extruder but I have extra stepper drivers and should still have plenty of digital pins coming from the arduino mega. I am also using a thermocouple rather than a thermistor so it is not like the existing extruder is spot on for my needs.

If I do need a second controller I assume I can use any arduino with my pololu stepper driver. Any advice on the minimum specs I need for the extruder controller? Would Arduino Pro, or Pro Mini work?

Short answer is yes.

The new Gen4 electronics coming to makerbot uses the Atmega 1280.

You can also use an ordinary arduino for everything, firmware in under darwin I believe in SVN

any opinions on the best way to proceed.
1. Buy a stock extruder controller (does not support the stepper or the thermocouple directly)
2. Try to modify the 5d code to incorporate everything on the Mega.
3. Buy a arduino clone [www.moderndevice.com] to run the stepper and thermocouple (should require less code changes)

I am inclined to modify the 5d to run on a single mega since there is no additional cost to me, but there seem to be a couple hundred versions of the firmware floating around and adding another without mainline support seems like a bad idea.

I suspect there are a bunch of people that my use a similar setup though:
1xarduino mega ($50 ebay)
4xpololu A4983 stepper carriers ($14 each)
1xthermocouple ($35, thank you sparkfun freeday!)

Hopefully you'll be able to run FiveD on arduino (normal) soon

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Wooden Mendel
Teacup Firmware

Damn you Triffid_Hunter! Always 1 or 10 steps ahead of me.