RAMPS (RepRap Arduino Mega Pololu Shield) logo

RAMPS (RepRap Arduino Mega Pololu Shield)

by RepRap Community
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ActiveFree tier
Quick facts
VendorRepRap Community
Year launchedN/A
StatusActive
LocationN/A
Countries servedN/A
Languages27
IntegrationsN/A
Free tierYES
Free trialNO
Contact salesNO

About RAMPS (RepRap Arduino Mega Pololu Shield)

RAMPS (RepRap Arduino Mega Pololu Shield) is an open-source electronics interface board for 3D printers.

RAMPS (RepRap Arduino Mega Pololu Shield) is a foundational open-source hardware component in the DIY 3D printing community. It serves as an interface shield for the Arduino Mega, consolidating all the necessary electronics to control a RepRap 3D printer onto a single, low-cost board. Its modular design is a key advantage, allowing users to easily replace or upgrade components like stepper motor drivers. The board provides outputs for heaters, fans, and motors, and inputs for thermistors and endstops. As an open-source project, it has extensive community support through forums and a detailed wiki, which serves as its primary documentation. There are no commercial pricing plans, as it is a hardware design that users can build themselves or purchase from various third-party manufacturers. This also means there is no formal customer support, with users relying on the community for troubleshooting. RAMPS is a hardware component, not a software application, and is typically used with firmware like Marlin or Sprinter.

Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Open-source hardware with a large community for support and development.
  • Modular design allows for easy replacement and upgrading of components like stepper drivers.
  • Low-cost solution for controlling the electronics of a DIY 3D printer.
  • Highly expandable with support for accessories like LCDs and SD card readers.
  • Extensive documentation available on the RepRap wiki.
Cons
  • Requires technical knowledge of electronics and firmware (like Marlin) to set up and troubleshoot.
  • No official vendor or commercial support; users rely on community forums.
  • Some board versions and clones may have design flaws or use lower-quality components.
  • Can be prone to overheating issues with components like the 5V regulator or MOSFETs if not properly cooled.

Features

Key features

Modular Design

Features plug-in stepper drivers and extruder control electronics on an Arduino MEGA shield for easy service, part replacement, and upgrades.

Heater and Fan Control

Includes 3 MOSFETs for heater and fan outputs, allowing control over the hotend and heated bed.

Thermistor Circuits

Equipped with 3 thermistor circuits for monitoring temperatures of the extruder and heated bed.

Stepper Motor Support

Fits up to 5 Pololu stepper driver boards to control the printer's axes and extruder motors.

Expandability

I2C and SPI pins are available for future expansion, allowing for the addition of LCD screens, SD card readers, and other accessories.

Additional features

Fused Power Inputs

Fused at 5A and 11A for safety and component protection for the main components and heated bed respectively.

LED Indicators

Includes LEDs that indicate when heater outputs are active.

Versatile Connectivity

Uses servo-style connectors for endstops, motors, and LEDs.

Dual Z-Motor Option

Provides an option to connect two motors to the Z-axis for printers like the Prusa Mendel.

Arduino Mega Compatibility

Designed specifically to interface with the powerful Arduino MEGA platform.

Pricing

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Countries & Languages

—
Countries served
27
Interface languages
—
Billing currencies

Interface languages

EnglishArabicBulgarianCatalanCzechGermanGreekSpanishPersianFrenchCroatianHungarianItalianRomanianJapaneseKoreanLithuanianDutchNorwegianPolishPortugueseRussianTurkishUkrainianChineseHebrewAzerbaijani

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