Alternative Electronics
This page has been flagged as containing duplicate material that Electronics Variations also attempts to cover.
These pages should be merged such that both pages do not attempt to cover the duplicate topics.
These pages should be merged such that both pages do not attempt to cover the duplicate topics.
The standard, well-tested RepRap electronics are described at circuit board construction.
Many people have come up with ideas for improving on those electronics. We list and compare and contrast some of those ideas here.
Feel free to download the current version of the RepRap electronics on SourceForge and make improvements, rather than starting from scratch.
One of the more fascinating ideas is to use the RepRap itself to help manufacture the next generation of electronics. We talk more about that idea on the Automated Circuitry Making page.
electronics that have been built
- Mendel Buyers Guide and PartsSupplies list a few places to buy a complete kit of electronics
- circuit board construction -- the standard RepRap electronics, currently Mendel
- Pololu Electronics -- very simple electronics intended ultimately to be printed by RepRap itself. Can also be built on stripboard. Fully tested, and supported by the standard RepRap software.
- Generation 4 Electronics -- (add short summary here)
- Generation 3 Electronics -- also the standard Mendel RepRap electronics
- Generation 3 Electronics/Tech Zone Remix -- Gen3 electronics with a more compact layout
- Generation 2 Electronics -- a set of electronics still working for current machine designs. Some prefer it, as it's easier to solder (no SMD).
- Gen2OnABoard
- Is it possible to build a RepRap that, instead of using the standard Stepper Motor Driver 2.3 boards, instead used some other stepper motor driver boards? Yes -- a crude test of the Pololu Electronics seems to indicate they would work fine ... Not ready to work with Mega as firmware not released.
- BuildingTheCommonElectronicsForAllTheControlBoards -- the earlier standard boards for Darwin
- Laser Cutter control electronics are very different from motor drivers and extruder controllers.
- Hacks to the RepRap Extruder Controller v2.2
- Hacks to the RepRap Motherboard v1.1
- PCB adaptions for Mendel -- converting the fully-assembled MakerBot CupCake electronics to use screw terminals for RepRap
- BuildingAStripboardStepperController -- deprecated.
- MakeIDCCable -- the cables used in many (most? all?) RepRaps and RepStraps.
- 4 Axis TB6560 CNC Stepper Motor Driver Board Controller -- 4 Axis TB6560 CNC Stepper Motor Driver Board Controller (4+1 channel CNC board ment to be used from parallel port but can be easily used from mcu. Includes opto insulation, 4 stepper channels and 1 relay. Includes large heat sink and is capable of running steppers up to 24V, 3A)
ideas that are still theoretical
Various pie-in-the-sky ideas ...
- Is it possible to build a RepRap that, instead of using the standard Stepper Motor Driver 2.3 boards, instead used some other stepper motor driver boards? perhaps the open-source OpenStepper boards ( from http://openservo.com/ ) or the open-source Linistepper ( from http://www.romanblack.com/lini.htm )?
- Is it possible to build a RepRap that, instead of using stepper motors, instead used slower, smaller, cheaper hobby R/C servo motors? (perhaps driven by the servo motor driver board plus magnetic encoder board combination from http://openservo.com/ )?
- Is it possible to build a RepRap that, instead of using stepper motors, uses faster, bigger, more expensive DC motors?
- Is it possible to build a RepRap that, instead of using stepper motors, uses faster, bigger, more expensive AC motors?
- Is it possible to build a RepRap that, instead of using stepper motors, uses nitinol shape-memory wire?
- Is it possible to build a RepRap that can print photovoltaic cells?
testing
- Does it work at all ? Testing RepRap Electronics
- How do I use the RepRap Stepper Tester ?
- How do I use the OpenCircuits Stepper Tester ?
- Does it shut off properly when it overheats or slams into an end-stop?
- What is the cost compared to the standard RepRap electronics?
- Does it print things faster than the standard RepRap electronics?
- Does it print things more accurately than the standard RepRap electronics?
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