Comparison of Electronics
At the date of this edit ( May 2012 ), the IRC channel recommends RAMPS as feature-rich, Sanguinololu as "just works" and Gen7 for the do-it-yourselfer. You can always go there and ask for additional advice, of course.
Board | License | Latest Version |
Extruders | Fans | Heaters | Endstops | Temp sens | SPI | I2C | RS485 | ISP | CPU | CPU Speed ( Mhz ) | Stepper driver | Other features |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
RAMPS | GPL | v1.4 | 1-2 | 3 (maximum, shared w/ Heaters) | 3 (maximum, shared with Fans) | 6 | 3 | Yes, future | Yes, future | No (via Arduino: Yes) | No (via Arduino: Yes) | Arduino Mega 8 bits ATmega1280, ATmega2560 | 16 | A4988, Pololu boards | |
Sanguinololu | GPL | v1.3a | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | - | 1 | - | 1 | 8 bits ATmega644P (or ATMEGA1284) | 16 | A4988, Pololu boards | |
STB_Electronics | GPL | v1.1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | - | - | - | 1 | 8 bits ATmega1284P | 20 | A4988, Pololu boards | Built in SD-Card, 128x64 graphic LCD, clickwheel, USB |
easy electronics | GPL | v2.0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | - | - | - | 1 | 8 bits ATmega1284P | 20 | A4988, Pololu boards | micro SD-Card, 128x64 graphic LCD, clickwheel, USB |
Marlin Electronics | GPL | V0.1 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | USBstick / SD-card / FTP | 32 bit ARM + FPU (STM32F4) | 168 | TMC260 | micro SD-card, Ethernet, USB host + device, Diagnostics, TFT display + capacitive touchscreen. |
Melzi | GPL | v2.0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 bits ATmega1284P | 16 | A4982 | |
Megatronics | GPLv2 | v1.0 | 1-2 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 4 | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | 8 bits ATmega1280 | 16 | A4988, Pololu boards | |
Printrboard | CC ShareAlike 3.0 | v0.7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | ? | USB | 8 bits AT90USB1286 | 16 | A4982 | |
Teensylu | GPL | v0.7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | ? | USB | 8 bits AT90USB1287 | 20 | Pololu boards | |
Ultimaker Electronics | GPL | v1.5.4 | 1-2 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 3 | - | - | - | - | Arduino Mega 8 bits ATmega1280 | 16 | A4988, Pololu boards | |
Generation 6 Electronics | GPL | v1.0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 bits ATmega644P | 16 | DRV8811 | |
Generation 7 Electronics | See page | v1.5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 | - | - | - | 1 | 8 bits ATmega644(P), 1284P | 20 | A4988, Pololu boards | |
4pi from Kliment[1][2] | GPL | beta | 1-2 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | ? | ? | 32 bit ARM ( SAM3U ) | 96 | A4982 | |
SmoothieBoard | GPL | 1 | 1+ | 2+ | 2+ | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | ? | ? | 32 bit ARM ( LPC1769 ) | 120 | A4982 | MicroSD card, file-based config, digital current control, USB composite ( serial + mass storage ), Ethernet, multiple connector options, support for multiple arm solutions ( delta/hbot ) and tools ( extruders, lasers ) |
Azteeg X1 | CC ShareAlike 3.0 | v1.5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | - | 1 | ATmega1284P(644P on v1.0) | 16 | A4988, Pololu boards | |
Azteeg X3 | CC ShareAlike 3.0 | v1.0 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | - | 1 | ATmega1280/2560 | 16 | A4988, Pololu boards | |
R2C2 electronics | CC Non Commercial | v1.2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | ? | USB | 32 bits ARM ( LPC175x ) | 100 | A4988 | |
Pololu Electronics | GPL | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Arduino Mega 8 bits ATmega1280 | 16 | A4988, Pololu boards | |
Generation 3 Electronics/Tech Zone Remix | GPL | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | 8 bits ATMEGA644P | 16 | A3982 | |
Monotronics | GPL | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | 8 bits Atmega644P | 16 | ? | |
Phoenix | CERN Open hardware license | ? | 3 | 2 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | 8 bits Atmega644P | 16 | TB6560 | |
Brainwave | GPL | 1.0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | - | - | - | ? | 8 bits AT90USB646 | 16 | LV8713T | |
RAMBo | CC ShareAlike 3.0 | 1.1b | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | USB | Atmega2560, Atmega32u2 | 16 | A4982 | all-in-one RAMPS board, marlin FW, digipot, extra ports |
RUMBA | GPL | 1.0 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 4 | ? | 1 | 0 | USB & ISP Headers for both microcontroller | 8 bits Atmega2560, Atmega16u2 | 16 | A4988, DRV8825 Pololu boards | all-in-one RAMPS board, marlin FW, sprinter, repetier, JTAG Breakout |
Duet | CERN OHL | 0.6 | 5 with Duex4 | ? | 6 with Duex4 | 3 | 6 with Duex4 | ? | ? | ? | JTAG | 32-bit ARM SAM3X8E microprocessor, same as Arduino Due. | 84MHz | Allegro A4982 | Ethernet, USB, SD card |
Board | License | Latest Version |
Extruders | Fans | Heaters | Endstops | Temp sense | SPI | I2C | RS485 | ISP | CPU | CPU Speed ( Mhz ) | Stepper driver | Other features |
Further reading
- The above chart compares "complete" RepRap electronics systems -- the stepper motors plug into one side, and the USB cable from the laptop plugs into the other side. Such systems often include 4 identical stepper driver boards, one for X, Y, Z, and Extrude motors. For a chart comparing stepper driver boards, see stepper motor driver#Stepper drivers.
- After you get a set of electronics, you may want to Testing RepRap Electronics.
- If you have ideas for better electronics, please add your ideas for making things better to ideas to place or Vaporware Electronics.
- If you have ideas for better firmware running on the electronics, please add your ideas to FirmwareWishList.
- If you think you can design better electronics, please feel free to use the ideas at ideas to place, FuturePlans, Vaporware Electronics, FutureToolIdeas, Alternative Electronics, Development Pathway, etc. Feel free to create a new wiki page to document your new electronics. Feel free to add your designs to the list at list of electronics, and the above chart.