Generation 6 Electronics
This page is a development stub. Please enhance this page by adding information, cad files, nice big images, and well structured data!
Release status: unknown
| Description | Generation 6 Electronics
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| License | GPL v2
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| Author | |
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| External Link |
| FILE ID# | TYPE | DESCRIPTION | AVAILABLE FORMATS | CREATED/RESERVED BY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GEN6_FIRMWARE_v24082010 | PDE H | GEN6 - Firmware version: August 24 2010 | .zip | --Camiel 19:30, October 4, 2010 (UTC) |
| GEN6_BOM_v1_04102010 | XLS ODS CSV | GEN6 - BOM in xls, ods, csv format | .zip | --Camiel 19:00, October 4, 2010 (UTC) |
| GEN6_COMPONENT_LAYOUT_13082010 | GEN6 component_layout in PDF (version: 20100813) | --Camiel 19:45, October 4, 2010 (UTC) | ||
| GEN6_MENDEL_CIRCUIT | GEN6 Mendel Circuit in PDF (version: ) | --Camiel 23:32, October 4, 2010 (UTC) | ||
| GEN6_EAGLE_FILES_v1 | ZIP | GEN6 Eagle Files (.brd, .sch in a .zip) (version: 04102010) | .zip | --Camiel 23.30, October 4, 2010 (UTC) |
Contents
Nomenclature
Generation 6 Electronics was chosen because the name was available, but now that this board is designed, Gen6 can be described as a dedicated, Plug-&-Play, single board solution for FFF/FDM 3D Printers. It is designed to be professionally manufactured, with many small surface mount components, as opposed to Generation 7 which is designed to be printed on a Mendel(among other design goals).
Status
User:Camiel is the lead developer for these new electronics dedicated to Mendel, Post-Mendels and RepStraps.
Benefits of this Design
- These electronics are a single board solution, so you don't need all those cables and one thick sheet and 4 reprap parts less. However, the thick sheet does add a fair amount of rigidity.
- It has a standard USB connection (USB A-B cable needed)
- It uses micro-stepping (1/8) for quieter operation.
- It is cheaper than for example Makerbot's version of the RepRap Generation 3 electronics.
- It uses small standard Molex connectors for motors, heater, and optos.
- The pcb of the optos are integrated, so you only need the optos on cables with 5way Molex connectors
Hardware Features
- on-board USB-RS232 convertor
- Integrated hardware for driving one extruder (stepper, heater and thermistor)
- RS485 bus connector with the possibility to link through the extruder step and dir signals
- Integrated hardware for driving H21LOB slotted optosensors
- High input voltage range: 12-24Vdc
- Use of standard connectors with easy and clean installation
- Debug LEDs for power, communication and heater output
- Reset button
Specifications
- Dimensions 110x60mm
- Mounting grid: 100x50mm (4x M3)
- Input voltage 12-24Vdc
- On-board controller: ATmega 644 (Atmel Corp.)
- RS485 connector: RJ45
- Heat output: MOSFET output, 4A
- Thermistors input: 100K thermistor
Setup
Currently the only supplier is Mendel-parts.com, so instructions are based on their kits. If you want to make your own, you will, of course, need to load the firmware onto the board.
Power
A modified PC Power supply will work fine. If you would prefer a power brick or 'wall wart' for the power supply 50W should be enough, but 60W is recommended.
The design uses a Euro-style plug and connector, so just strip the wire ends and screw them in place. The board has a + and - label on it, and it's a good idea to use a marker to draw a + and - on the connector plug as well.
About the input voltage: 12-24Volts is possible, but the nichrome wire length needs to be changed also if input voltage is not 12V!
please make sure to double check (i.e. CHECK IT TWICE) power input + and - when you connect it to your board.
USB
- One (1) USB A>B cable
Plug it into the board (B end), turn on the power, and plug the into the computer (A end). Windows should auto-detect the USB to serial interface and install the required drivers. If not, Download and install the drivers from here.
Optos
- Three (3) 5 wire Molex housing, 2.54 mm, friction ramp, polarized
- Fifteen (15) Molex crimp terminals (Molex part# 0016020096)
Heater
- One (1) 4 wire Molex housing, 2.54 mm, friction ramp, polarized (Molex part# 0050579504, or tyco 1375820-4 can someone verify?)
- Four (4) Molex crimp terminals
Stepper Motors
- Four (4) 4 wire molex housing, 2.54 mm, friction ramp, polarized
- Sixteen (16) Molex crimp terminals
X, Y, Z Axes
Extruder
Suppliers
User:Camiel is the lead developer for these boards and is documenting in this space;
and is currently the primary supplier via his webshop: mendel-parts.com
We also recently started selling motors with correct cable lengths for RepRap Mendel (40+40+75+75cm) and incl. molex connectors to be plug n play with GEN6.
The Generation 6 Electronics are developed together with our electronics partner: EJE Electronics.
Together we will also continue to improve the electronics and firmware in the future, we already have many ideas..
This development has been made possible also thanks to our customers who previously bought products from mendel-parts.com, thanks to all you, we are at this point now.
So a BIG THANKS to the whole community for helping us.. so we can help you in the future :).
The first production has started 23 August and the first GEN6 electronics shipped on October 4 2010.
The electronics are being produced in The Netherlands.
Version: 0.1
15-07-2010 First prototype has been successfully tested.
05-08-2010 First prints were printed successfully.
11-08-2010 We upgraded one of our production Mendels (#3) to the gen6 electronics and are printing mendel parts now with it.
(ps. its very quiet)
14-08-2010: We upgraded another mendel (#1) now also to Gen6 electronics, because we couldnt hear our other machine with gen6 running because of the makerbot electronics on this one.. and for some more testing off course
15-08-2010: First video on youtube: video 1 of gen6 electronics in action
18-08-2010: Second video on youtube: video 2 of gen6 electronics in action and bit more zooming on electronics and opto's
FAQ
Q: Why did you develop the new electronics called "Generation 6 Electronics" ?
A: Well this is a funny answer.. back in April, when i started rolling out our webshop plans. I also wanted to have our own electronics. Because in a few months (i thought back then..) I wanted to be able to offer full machines. So I went to an electronics partner (he has his own micro electronics company) I knew from University here and asked if he could help me produce these Gen3 electronics for a good price. And well the short answer is: he refused, he told me it was way too complicated, and also expensive because of that.. and well he mentioned a lot of more negative things about them, but a few things i remembered: bad components placement, interference possibilities etc. So he didn't want to cooperate on producing that, only if i really, really insisted. So then we started talking about a solution.. and well, 3months later I was printing with the first Gen6 prototype.. (yes it amazed me too, how fast it all went..).
Q: Why are your new electronics named "Generation 6" ?
A: While developing these electronics, my electronics partner at a certain point started asking me for a name for these electronics, which was needed for the firmware. Me personal i didn't care what they were named.. lol, i just want good quality and good priced electronics that work properly. But it happened to be the same day one person from reprap-dev and the reprap forums asked me why i wasnt writing about our electronics development on the Generation 6 pages.. because apparently Gen4 and Gen5 existed.. (in development). So for me one and one was two...
Q: Why did you wait so long with publishing files etc?
A: Well two reasons here, I'm new to this wiki and well its bit more complicated then i thought.. and I didn't have much time lately. Other reason is also I'm personally investing a lot of money in the development of these electronics. And I need to get that investment out in the first production series, because this is open-source and anyone can reproduce. So we decided to wait with releasing files until we shipped the first GEN6 electronics, so we have a bit head start and hopefully get our investment out.. BTW: This also means if we sell enough and can start a 2nd batch.. prices can drop a bit...
