1 Topic by BFresh

  • BFresh
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Topic: New board questions

Long story short, I fried my Sanguinololu board so it's time for an upgrade.

I am on a very tight budget, so probably gonna have to go with arduino and ramps, but I have a few questions:

1. Are all Mega 2560 R3 boards the same? I see there are different brands around (some are branded Arduino, some aren't) and I don't want to get the cheapest if it's poorly made.

2. Same as above for the drivers. Any to avoid?

3. Same as above for the RAMPS 1.4 board. Is there a RAMPS 1.5 board?

3.I read the ramps guide on another post and was wondering if I can plug everything straight into the board? or do I need some additional components/connectors?

Should I avoid this? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3D-Printer-Ki … 4ae8dea6eb

I posted in the electronics section a while back but didn't get much of a response.

Thanks in advance for your helps.

Industrial Designer
Fresh Design Works (UK)
www.freshdesignworks.co.uk

BFresh's Website

2 Reply by mdrVB6

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Re: New board questions

Cheap RAMPS kits on ebay tend to vary in quality.  Some people have them running great, some people have had countless issues with them.  Read the sellers feedback carefully and then pay your money and take your chances.  Personally, I would save up for a quality kit from reprapdiscount.

SD4 w/ RUMBA, E3D Volcano, all bearings, glass bed

3 Reply by pirvan

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Re: New board questions

RepRapDiscount is way too expensive for what they sell.  Their boards are nice, but for $60 you only get the RAMPS board and some wires.  You still need the Arduino board, and the drivers, which will get the price well over $100.  NOt worth it in my opinion.

I bought mine as a complete kit with actual Arduino Mega, not clone, a graphic LCD controller, 6 end switches, a MK2B PCB heater, all the wiring etc.  and I paid about $75.00.

I previously bought a lot of stuff from a US based vendor on eBay called Folger Tech, and they have always had good quality products.  Here is a kit you might want to consider:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ramps-1-4-A4988 … 1224153112

To print or, 3D print, that is the question...
SD3 printer w/too many mods,  Printrbot Simple Maker Ed.,  FormLabs Form 1+
AnyCubic Photon, Shining 3D EinScan-S & Atlas 3D scanners...
...and too much time on my hands.

4 Reply by jagowilson (edited by jagowilson 2015-05-03 15:49:21)

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Re: New board questions

I haven't heard much good about those folger tech boards but maybe I'm wrong... $70 seems awful cheap for all that stuff considering that arduino isn't too cheap either. Are you positive it's not a clone? How do you know? I'm all for good deals and would be happy to know I'm off base.

5 Reply by pirvan

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Re: New board questions

I bought mine from someone else, and got it with a real Arduino, but I also bought a separate kit from FolgerTech, and it's fine too, but yes, he does use clone Mega R3 board.

To print or, 3D print, that is the question...
SD3 printer w/too many mods,  Printrbot Simple Maker Ed.,  FormLabs Form 1+
AnyCubic Photon, Shining 3D EinScan-S & Atlas 3D scanners...
...and too much time on my hands.

6 Reply by mdrVB6

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Re: New board questions

Agreed that folger tech is also a good source and RRD is generally over priced.

SD4 w/ RUMBA, E3D Volcano, all bearings, glass bed

7 Reply by carl_m1968

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Re: New board questions

I bought the Foldger Delta kit which came with a RAMPS 1.4 and it works well. It is now the brains of my Da Vinci 1.0 and I will put an Azteeg x5 mini from Panucatt in the Delta.

Printing since 2009 and still love it!
Anycubic 4MAX best $225 ever invested.
Voxelabs Proxima SLA. 6 inch 2k Mono LCD.
Anycubic Predator, massive Delta machine. 450 x 370 print envelope.