Decapede

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Decapede 10 motor controller with 20A FET and RepRap expansion

Release status: unknown

Decapede WithReprapExpansion.jpg
Description
Decapede 1.0
License
Author
Contributors
Based-on
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CAD Models
External Link


Summary

Decapede Electronics is a low-cost 10 stepper motor controller and driver. A 20 amp 24VDC driver is also added for one large out (drive motor, multiple extruders, total board power shunt, etc). It is fully open source, and compatible with Arduino mega 2560 boards, all revisions. We will also release an open source firmware based on Sprinter.

The addition of a second board, reprap expansion, is provided. This board also allows for 8 controlled outputs like fans, and 8 thermistor reads. It also provides 4 free input/output pins that will be used for SDramps

The boards were developed, funded, and supported by Armanicreations and Industries3D.

The discussion forum on Reprap.org http://forums.reprap.org/read.php?2,193415 has provided much insight and suggestions for this board.

Documentation/Updates are also on Armanicreations.com http://armanicreations.com/main/decapede-electronics/


Decapede Feature I - 10 Stepper output

Each board comes with up to 10 G3D stepstick boards attached to a female header socket. This way any broken boards can be replaced. The G3D drivers were chosen because of their greater copper density (2Oz) and ability to reliably control the current with two trimpots.

Decapede Feature II - 1 Massive FET output

A very large FET is provided for driving up to 20 amp and 24VDC. Technically, the load can be 60V/50A, but the wires only support this.

Decapede Feature III - Expansion pins

Two expansion pins are provided capable of feeding 24VDC / 8A into the next board. 5VDC is also fed into 3 pins. Ground connectors are provided. There are 4 free PWM pins, 8 analog pins, and 8 more digital pins on the expansion header.

Decapede Feature IV - Stepper Joiners

For users linking to join multiple stepstick outputs, a joiner is being developed that has two 4-pin female headers and yield a single 4-pin male header output. In this instant the maximum theoretical output would be 4A. This way across all 10 boards, CNC users could drive 4A over 5 axis.

Reprap Expansion Feature I - 4 PWM FETS

Four 1A outputs are provided capable of PWM because they are connected to PWM outputs on arduino

Reprap Expansion Feature II - 4 More FETS

Four more 1A FET outputs are provided but do not provide PWM.

Reprap Expansion Feature III - 8 Thermistor Header

8 Thermistor headers are provided. These headers consume all remaining analog inputs.

Reprap Expansion Feature IV - 4 pin digital IO pins

The remaining pins from arduino were routed for access. Such pins could drive external circuits like the Powerswitch tail to control 120VAC. These are currently being redesigns to map to the same pins as SDramps on RAMPS.

Examples of use

Decapede comes out of a need to have a single, simple, and easy to program system for stepper motors. Ideal applications include:

Driving complex robotics with central drive motor Assembling remote control system Low cost factory automation Multi axis CNC machines General robotics prototyping Testing 3D printers/RepRaps with multiple extruders or mixing nozzles We are open to your design suggestions for future revisions. Many have suggested the use of an ARM processor and PIC drivers to allow for greater processing power and we are looking into it.

Where/when to get it

We will either purchase and sell 100 sets of boards or launch a crowd source campaign in the June/July 2013. After that the boards would be sold directly on Industries3d.com or resold through distributors like Robotshop.com (TBD).

Credits

Designer and Principal: Michael Armani (Reprap user Simba[1])

Designer: David Jones

Electronics Designer 1: Am Miram

Electronics Designer 2: Miroslav Mrdjan

Naming the device: Reprap user Ugen