Help me build a BOM for my Mendel

So after a lot of musings on alternative designs (see [forums.reprap.org]) I've decided that the most sensible place for me to start is to build a Mendel. I have a small machine shop and have built a number of CNC machines so am not afraid of the somewhat higher cost and complexity versus a Prusa.

My plan is to buy a printed parts kit from one of the various suppliers and get the basic mechanical bits from MSC/McMaster/etc. who I am familiar with from my machining projects. For the extruder I am going to start with a Wade's type as it seems like a good compromise on performance and build complexity.

Where I am running into a wall right now is figuring out the electronics, both in terms of which version of things to go with and which suppliers to use. The wiki gives a (seemingly) exhaustive list of choices but not so much on the pluses and minuses of each. It seems like the main choice is between RAMPS and the Gen6 board. I am looking to buy an assembled board, not fab it myself. Cost is not a primary concern.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

Personally, I'd go for RAMPS rather than Generation 6 - with Gen 6, if you blow out a motor driver, you're either trying to repair a surface mount board, or replacing a $160? all in one board?

With Ramps, if you blow out a motor driver, you're replacing a $15 daughter board. I also like the fact that RAMPS has an extra (unused) motor driver connector waiting for the day that you decide to make yourself a dual-head extruder.

Well said, raldrich. Also holds true for Sanguinololu and Gen7.

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Generation 7 Electronics	Teacup Firmware	RepRap DIY

OK, RAMPS (I think) it is.

Also, I've been successfully counseled that a Prusa Mendel is the better way to go, rather than a Sells.

If you have the option, you should look at using linear bearings (LM8UU bearings seem popular) for the Prusa, rather than bushings.