3D printer controller

If you build your own 3D printer which controller is best to buy???

If you want to go with the cheapest available stuff, go with one of the Arduino/RAMPS clones. Be sure to buy extra motor driver modules because you'll probably blow a few of them before you get the machine up and running.

If you want something something easier to work with and more reliable, get a 32 bit board like SmoothieBoard or Duet. It costs a bit more but but quickly pays for itself in reduced aggravation. What makes it better? here are a few examples...

Config changes/firmware update:

Arduino- Using Arduino IDE, hunt through multiple configuration files to find the variables that need to be changed (or download firmware binaries), make changes, compile, burn board. If you are updating the firmware, make sure you copy all your previous config changes to the relevant files before recompiling and burning or you'll be calibrating your machine again.

SmoothieBoard (Duet is the same, I think)- open config.txt on controller's uSD card, make changes with text editor, save. Reboot board. Firmware update- DL precompiled firmware, save to controller's uSD card, reboot controller board. SmoothieBoard reads the uSD card each time it boots up.

Set Motor current:

Arduino- get out DMM, try to measure reference resistor value. Measure voltage across that chip resistor while adjusting tiny, easily broken pot to set motor current. Try hard not to short out contacts on driver module. Keep spare modules handy- you'll need them!

SmoothieBoard (and probably Duet)- open config.txt on controller's uSD card, set motor current, save config.txt, reboot board.

Operate from 24V:

Arduino/RAMPS - don't even think about it.

SmoothieBoard (and Duet, I think)- connect 24V to power input.

The 32 bit boards offer many other features that you may find useful or interesting, such as networking and built in web servers. They also bring most of the connections out to the edges of the boards which makes it a lot easier to manage cabling to the board.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/29/2016 08:16AM by the_digital_dentist.

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Ultra MegaMax Dominator 3D printer: [drmrehorst.blogspot.com]

Thank you for quick reply and really precise explanation.
For now I have just looked on ebay these ones.
[www.ebay.com]
[www.ebay.com]
[www.ebay.com]
[yEAAOSwDk5T0c78" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.ebay.com]
[www.ebay.com]
[www.ebay.com]
kit
[r4AAOSwXshWq8mc" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.ebay.com]

and all on one board
[fYAAOSw-vlVnjEW" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.ebay.com]

Some people buy an old, junky car so they can spend their free time and money working on it. They get pleasure and satisfaction from each problem they solve.

Some people buy an old junky car because that's all they can afford. They want the car to enable other activities, but they are stuck having to spend time and money on getting/keeping the car running, so they rarely get to do the other activities that they were hoping the car would enable.

Others buy a reliable car that transports them and their stuff to support other activities such as getting to work, mountain biking, skiing, etc.

In the end, all three types will spend money on the car, but the third choice requires more money to be spent up front, while the first two require smaller amounts of money spent more often. Time is another matter. The first will spend time making the car work and be happy, the second will do the same and be unhappy, and the third will spend time doing the things that the car enables.

What is your purpose in getting into 3D printing? Do you want a 3D printer to be something you spend time and money working on, deriving satisfaction from each minor problem solved? Do you want a 3D printer to support other activities such as RC modeling, creating new household objects, board gaming, electronics, photography, etc.?

Where does your budget fall? Much like the car options, when and how much money you spend will dictate when and how much time you spend and what you spend your time doing.

Yes, all those boards come from China and are very cheap. Is the quality of the parts and construction adequate? Will you need support after the sale? Will you need detailed instructions for their use? Will those sellers provide either?

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Ultra MegaMax Dominator 3D printer: [drmrehorst.blogspot.com]

"Operate from 24V:
Arduino/RAMPS - don't even think about it. "

This is just pure propaganda

There are many ways to make a Arduino/RAMPS run on 24v, and that includes out of the box (if you get correct parts) or modifying cheaper boards...

I am limited with my budget and I like to do many things by myself.
And from all those controllers that one from geeetech looks like best quality low cost and it works on 12V.

Quote
Dust
"Operate from 24V:
Arduino/RAMPS - don't even think about it. "

This is just pure propaganda

There are many ways to make a Arduino/RAMPS run on 24v, and that includes out of the box (if you get correct parts) or modifying cheaper boards...

Many ways? Why would more than one way be required? Because you never know what you're getting with the cheapo boards... Smoothie only requires connecting 24V and you're done. Correct parts? How do you know which are "correct"?

Sure, you can spend additional time and money modifying a board, if that's how you want to spend your time and money. Some people prefer to spend their time having fun, learning something useful, etc.

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Ultra MegaMax Dominator 3D printer: [drmrehorst.blogspot.com]