Hello Everybody!
This is my first post, but been following the forum for a few weeks now, but I have decided to try and make myself my own 3D printer based on the Hypercube and Hypercube Evolution as a CoreXY with dual Z motor lift, or a single Z using a non-captive Motor and centering it at the middle of the underside of the heatbed (I haven't decided just yet which one, I need to see advantages and disadvantages of both systems)
[
www.thingiverse.com], [
www.thingiverse.com]
Anyways I want to go one step further than being just a single extruder system and so I thought of using an E3D Kraken quad hotend in a Bowden configuration. With extra features added such as:
Filament Sensors for 4 filaments (Either 'run-out' or 'complete' with filament thickness and run-out. Again not decided as I have to see if MK4duo has this feature)
5 thermistor sensors (one for each hotend and one for the heated bed)
7 Stepper Drivers using TMC 2208 modules
A Graphical Mono Display (the one which comes with Smart RAMPS [
www.aliexpress.com])
Nexiton 7" Capacitive Touch Display (apparently it works with MK4Duo Firmware, uses the TX/RX pins available of wifi pins on the Graphical Mono Display)
Heated Bed (220V AC heated bed using Solid State Relay)
Inductive Sensor (For Autobed alignment)
4 Indivisual Hotend (Using E3D Kraken)
Although this is a lot features to put onto a Smart RAMPS, I have noticed that there is: 3 Analogue Pins not in use and 17 Digital Pins Left available. Also I2C available. With that, I concluded that I would need to use two Analogue Pins for the extra two hotends Thermistors, 9 Digital Pins for the two extra Stepper Driver modules, two extra Hotend heater power and an inductive sensor.
My question is:
1) Has anyone else made an extension board for the Smart RAMPS yet?
2) Does anyone know the exact pin layout dimensions of the Smart RAMPs and the pololu module so I could create the plugin daughter board?
3) Anyone be interested on schematics and PCB layout once I make it so I can share it with everyone?
4) Any other request to layout other things onto the board? We have 3 Analogue and 17 Digital Pins here available.
5) How would I assign the pins on MK4Duo once I created the daughter board?
6) Whats your impressions of the Smart RAMPs, info on this board was a bit hard to find on peoples reviews, it gets overshadowed by RAMPs 1.4 for the Mega 2560
I've got loads of other questions about building a 3D printer, but I think it was best to start on the brains of the printer and work myself out from there
I hope to hear from you guys!
Mo