RAMPS 1.2
Release status: Working
| Description | A RepRap etch resist printable circuit board that fits on the Arduino MEGA and holds interchangeable stepper driver carriers and the rest of RepRap's electronics.
Arduino MEGA based modular RepRap electronics.
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Contents
Summary
Instructions for version 1.3 are being created at RAMPS1.3 This page was newly copied from parts of RAMPS there is more info and the older history is there.
RepRap Arduino Mega Pololu Shield, or RAMPS for short. It is designed to fit the entire electronics needed for a RepRap in one small package for low cost. It is a "1.5 layer" designed board (i.e. it's double sided board, but one of layers can easily be replaced with wire-jumpers) that is printable on your RepRap with the etch resist pen method, or home fabbed with toner transfer. At the same time it is based on the powerful Arduino MEGA platform and has plenty room for expansion. The modular design includes plug in stepper drivers and extruder control electronics on an Arduino MEGA shield for easy service, part replacement, upgrade-ability and expansion. Additionally as long as the main RAMPS board is kept to the top of the stack a number of Arduino expansion boards can be added to the system.
This board is mostly based on Adrian's Pololu_Electronics and work by Tonok. Copper etch resists methods suggested by Vik. Also inspired by Vik's work with EasyDrivers. circuit design based mostly on Adrian's Pololu_Electronics Used Joaz's pin definitions for initial layout. Much inspiration, suggestions, and ideas from others in the RepRap community.
Mendel printed RAMPS wired to Mendel.
Mendel with RAMPS in enclosure mounted.
screen capture of 2-sided RAMPS layout
commercially fabbed 2-sided RAMPS wired to Mendel
Features
- It has provisions for the cartesian robot and extruder.
- Expandable to control other accessories.
- 3 mosfets for heater / fan outputs and 2 thermistor circuits.
- Fits 4 Pololu A4983 stepper drivers
- Pololu boards are on pin header sockets so they can be replaced easily or removed for use in future designs.
- The pin headers for the stepper motor outputs are placed on top of the Pololu boards saving routing them on the main shield.
- I2C and SPI pins left available for future expansion.
- All the Mosfets are hooked into PWM pins for versatility.
- Servo style connectors are used to connect to the endstops, motors, and leds. These connectors are gold plated, rated for 3A, very compact, and globally available.
Safety Tip
Once you start putting electricity into your RepRap - even at just 12 volts - you have to take basic, common sense precautions to avoid fires. Just in case these fail, test your workshop smoke detector. Got no smoke detector? Get one!
Assembly Instructions
You can go here to see a visual build printthat blog
Following this guide I found it may be helpful to complete Step 29. "Make yourself four 1×4 header units." before Step 12. "Get out four 1X16 female headers." to give you more space when soldering.
Component Soldering
Shield Assembly
After using your preferred circuit board manufacturing method, it's time to solder on the components. Beginning solderers would find the task much easier if they were to work from the inside of the board to the outside, rather than using the current order below.
- Top wires. (This step is not required if using a two sided PCB) Make sure they are clear of other components to be soldered later
- Resistors as shown to the right.
- Small 100nF capacitor, C4
- LED - Positive(long lead) at the top, ground (Short lead) at the bottom.
- Cut the 2 row pin headers into 2x3 (6)blocks, 7 of them needed. Solder these for microstep selection jumpers, and endstop jacks. It is easiest to place all these and hold them in place with a card to flip board for soldering.
- Cut the 1x10 pin header to 4 pins long and solder it in the T1 T0 holes for thermistor jack. Solder one of the end pins first, straighten the pins to be perpendicular to the board and solder the rest of the pins.
- Four 1x16 socket headers into place for the stepper driver sockets. (If you have 1x20 socket headers, cut them down to 1x16)
- Pass-through headers that will connect the shield to the Arduino board (around the perimeter of the board). Can be later for short pin headers. This includes the one 2 x 18 Pin Stackable Female Header, the five 1 x 8 Pin Stackable Female Header and the one 1 x 6 Pin Stackable Female Header.
- More recent kits include 2x18, 1x22, and 1x24 pin headers for connection to the Arduino MEGA. Cut the 1x22 into 1- 1x6 + 2- 1x8 lengths. Cut the 1x24 into 3- 1x8 lengths. If you insert these into the Arduino MEGA to hold them straight while soldering, take care not to heat for too long risking melting the Arduino's connector.
- Solder the large capacitors, C4, the 100nF capacitor, C5,C8 10uF capacitor as shown lower right.
- They must be inserted in the correct orientation. + to the top for C4 and C5 or left for C8.
- Mosfets, Q1,Q2,Q3, the three N-channel Mosfet, STP55NF06L
- They must be oriented in correctly (as per photographs)
- The big yellow MF-R500 fuse, F1.
- D1, the 1N4004 diode.
- The diode can be omitted, it may be needed in the future for printing from SD or USB. This will power the Arduino from the shields 12V input. Diodes must be oriented correctly. If you are using higher than 12V to power the shield you should omit the diode to prevent damage to the Arduino and stepper drivers.Warning: The high side of the stepper boards are designed to accept up to 35V, but if you do this the heater and other high side outputs will be at that voltage also. You may need to adjust the heater resistance, etc.
- Power connector, X1, the 2 pin fixed/pluggable terminal block.
- Screw terminal block, (6 pin)
- Reset switch, S1, push button switch
- Thoroughly check for shorts (This is crucially crucial for DIY etched boards.)
- Check for continuity between each and every pin to the pins next to them and GND, 12V, 5V (VCC).
- Set your meter to beep for continuity, hold a probe on GND and check all soldered pins. If it beeps check if it is supposed to be GND and contine. Repeat for 12V and 5V.
Stepper Driver Boards
- Jumpers need installed under each stepper driver:
jumper Yes/No stepsize 1 2 3 no no no full step yes no no half step no yes no 1/4 step yes yes no 1/8 step yes yes yes 1/16 step
For now the default is 1/16 micro stepping (all jumpers installed under drivers)
- Cut the pin headers to 8 pins long so that they fit each side of the stepper driver.
- Insert the pin headers into the sockets on RAMPS
- Fit the stepper drivers onto the pin headers and solder. Only heat each pin for a few seconds at time to avoid damage to the socket.
- Version 1.2 has the stepper connector on the RAMPS shield and all the pin headers can go under the Pololu Stepper Drivers.
- Version 1.1 and older the power and control pins go down towards your new shield and the motor pins(1a,2b,2a,2b) on top of the board (component side) so the motors can be plugged directly in. (See image on right)
- Glue the heatsink to the top of the A4983 chip using the provided pad of double-sided adhesive.
Make the cables up for the opto endstops
- Cut the 26awg 3 conductor cable into 3 length.
- Note: you may want until you've built your machine to cut the cables to the perfect length.
- WARNING In order to keep the PCB at a printable resolution two wires have been flipped from the traditional opto endstop boards. The signal pin has been moved to the outside of the connector.
- Hooking these up incorrectly can damage the components.
- crimp and solder a female connector to the ends of each wire. (solder not necessary with proper crimp tools)
- use the 2.54mm 1x3 housing.
- Connect at least the minimum endstops.
- Cut the 26awg 3 conductor cable into 3 length.
| RAMPS End | |
| SIG (S) | White |
| GND (-) | Black |
| VCC (+) | Red |
| Endstop End | |
| VCC (+) | Red |
| SIG (S) | White |
| GND (-) | Black |
Mechanical Endstops
CidVilas at http://forums.reprap.org/read.php?151,75606,75891,quote=1 tried mechanical end stops on Mendel with RAMPS and Tonokip Firmware, and it works as described. I tied the Input(S) to the COM pin of the switch and GND(-) to the NC (Normally Closed) pin of the switch. The following was added to firmware after the heater definition in the Setup() function, but before Serial configuration.
NOTE: for current Tonokip/Tesla893 uncommenting #define USE_INTERNAL_PULLUPS in the configuration.h will enable MINs for X/Y/Z but not the MAXs (which serve no purpose since they're not checked during a move with this firmware, only for homing). However, I haven't been able to get this to work with Telsa893 regardless. These directions do work for me with Tonokip/johnnyr, but only for the MIN limits. -epengr
pinMode(X_MIN_PIN, INPUT); // set pin to input digitalWrite(X_MIN_PIN, HIGH); // turn on pullup resistors pinMode(X_MAX_PIN, INPUT); // set pin to input digitalWrite(X_MAX_PIN, HIGH); // turn on pullup resistors pinMode(Y_MIN_PIN, INPUT); // set pin to input digitalWrite(Y_MIN_PIN, HIGH); // turn on pullup resistors pinMode(Y_MAX_PIN, INPUT); // set pin to input digitalWrite(Y_MAX_PIN, HIGH); // turn on pullup resistors pinMode(Z_MIN_PIN, INPUT); // set pin to input digitalWrite(Z_MIN_PIN, HIGH); // turn on pullup resistors pinMode(Z_MAX_PIN, INPUT); // set pin to input digitalWrite(Z_MAX_PIN, HIGH); // turn on pullup resistors
Also in configuration.h set:
const bool ENDSTOPS_INVERTING = false;
For some reason 'HOME ALL' command doesnt do anything, but i suspect the command is just not currently compatible with this firmware
As per the post immediately following the one referenced above, and preferred control system practices, the NC (Normal Closed) pin should be used, NOT NO (Normal Open). End stop inverting is then not required ( = false) and the limits are then fail safe (if there’s a wiring problem, it shows "at limit" and stops the motor instead of doing nothing and allowing a crash.)
Put the connectors on the motor wires
- solder a female connector to the ends of each wire.
- use the 2.54mm 1x3 housing.
- Shown is the type used for servos in RC projects. See Stepper Motors for info on motors.
Thermistor Wires
Use a 4 pin 0.1" connector to terminate the thermistor wires.
- Use the two receptacles on one end, leaving the other two open for extra thermistors.
- Connect the cable so the 2 wires go to T0
- Connect the 2 heater wires to D10 (E0H on older boards) and the + connection above it.
- If changing to an unverified firmware it is best to verify heater circuit function with a meter before connecting heater to prevent damage to the extruder.
Final Setup
Wiring
It is relatively simple to wire up the RAMPS. Just add the extruder heating coil wire to D10, the thermistor to the two pins on the bottom right, and wire up the steppers and endstops. From left to right, wire all of the stepper motor's wires as red, blue, green, and black into the pins next to the Pololus. When you connect the wires to the endstops (if you are using 3 endstops, plug them into the MIN slots), make sure you match the labes. The endstop pins and board pins are out of order, so make sure they match up. See the picture for full information.
Pre-Flight Check
If you think you may have mistakes you can install only one stepper driver during initial testing and risk only one stepper driver.
The trimpot on the stepper drivers controls the current limit. Turn it all the way down (counter clock wise) and back up 25%. Be careful to not force the trimpot, it is delicate. You will need to fine tune the current limit later. Note that it is allways giving the motors that much power, even when not moving, so if your stepper motor drivers are getting hot, you may want to turn it down slightly.
Connect the minimum endstops for X,Y, and Z
Connect Motors (Do not disconnect or connect motors while powered; if the connection is loose, this will cause the motors to spazz.)
Install firmware (More info below). Firmware flashing can be done without 12V power supply connected.
Warnings
The endstop pins are Signal - GND - VCC, instead of the VCC - Sig - GND like the rest of RepRaps boards. Make sure to wire them correctly. This is done to allow squeezing fatter traces on the printable board.
Connecting Power
Connect your 12V power supply to the RAMPS shield. The barrel connector on the Arduino MEGA is not used for our application.
The power connector plug may not be obviously labeled, looking at the power connection the positive is on the left and the negative is on the right of the plug.
Power Supply
RAMPS is quite happy with the 12 V line from PCPowerSupply. Or you can hack up a 12V laptop power supply, or other 12 V "wallwart" power supply. Be sure that the power can output 5A or greater.
Maximum Input Voltage
Power Supply without diode
The 1N4004 diode connects the RAMPS input voltage to the MEGA. If your board does not have this diode soldered in, you can safely input as much as 32 V. (The pololus can do up to 35V)
Power Supply with diode
If your board has a 1N4004 diode soldered in, do not apply more than 12 V to it. Original flavor Arduino Mega are rated to 12 V input. While Arduino Mega 2560 can take 20 V, it is not recommended.
Firmware and Pin Assignments
You will need the Arduino software at http://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/Software to upload the firmware to Arduino Mega.
Working preconfigured firmwares are available at:
Preferred:
https://github.com/tesla893/Tonokip-Firmware - Tesla893's Tonokip-Firmware fork, works w/ RepSnapper and Skeinforge - Added Features over original Tonokip but not as up to date as Klimentkip
https://github.com/kliment/Klimentkip - Kliment's Tonokip-Firmware Fork with Acceleration, PID, SD support, and other goodies - Updated frequently, with many active developers/hackers/users.
Others:
https://github.com/johnnyr/Tonokip-Firmware works excellently with RepSnapper and Skeinforge - Not as current
https://github.com/ramps/FiveD_for_RAMPS_GCode_Interpreter for use with Host Software or ReplicatorG
There are predefined pins for FiveD_on_Arduino in git master, but support is experimental. Programming works following the instructions in the wikipage.
Here are the pin definitions for this board.
RAMPS 1.3
RAMPS 1.3 info is being created at RAMPS1.3
RAMPS v1.1 and 1.2
The following values need to be entered to "Arduino Mega pin assignment" in the "pins.h" file of the firmware if not already configured.
// RAMPS v1.1c #define DEBUG_PIN 13 #define X_STEP_PIN (byte)26 #define X_DIR_PIN (byte)28 #define X_MIN_PIN (byte)3 #define X_MAX_PIN (byte)2 #define X_ENABLE_PIN (byte)24 #define Y_STEP_PIN (byte)38 #define Y_DIR_PIN (byte)40 #define Y_MIN_PIN (byte)16 #define Y_MAX_PIN (byte)17 #define Y_ENABLE_PIN (byte)36 #define Z_STEP_PIN (byte)44 #define Z_DIR_PIN (byte)46 #define Z_MIN_PIN (byte)18 #define Z_MAX_PIN (byte)19 #define Z_ENABLE_PIN (byte)42 // Heated bed #define BED_HEATER_PIN (byte)8 #define BED_TEMPERATURE_PIN (byte) 1 //extruder pins #define EXTRUDER_0_STEP_PIN (byte)32 #define EXTRUDER_0_DIR_PIN (byte)34 #define EXTRUDER_0_ENABLE_PIN (byte)30 #define EXTRUDER_0_HEATER_PIN (byte)10 #define EXTRUDER_0_TEMPERATURE_PIN (byte)2 #define EXTRUDER_1_STEP_PIN (byte)23 #define EXTRUDER_1_DIR_PIN (byte)25 #define EXTRUDER_1_ENABLE_PIN (byte)27 #define EXTRUDER_1_HEATER_PIN (byte)9 #define EXTRUDER_1_TEMPERATURE_PIN (byte)8
RAMPS v1.0
Original PCB that was available from Ultimachine in Sept 2010.
This board can be used with FiveD without modifications with the above pin definitions. The extruder heater ouptuts will be on the screw terminals marked D10. You can cut the traces on top of the board and wire pins 8 and 9 to the other 2 mosfets if needed for heated bed, etc. Pins 11 and 12 can not currently be used with the FiveD firmware due to a conflict with the interupt timer . The following pin definitions can be used with Tonokip_Firmware(Note baud rate defaults to 115200 in this firmware) controlled by RepSnapper Manual:Introduction software.
// RAMPS v1.0 #define X_STEP_PIN 26 #define X_DIR_PIN 28 #define X_ENABLE_PIN 24 #define X_MIN_PIN 3 #define X_MAX_PIN 2 #define Y_STEP_PIN 38 #define Y_DIR_PIN 40 #define Y_ENABLE_PIN 36 #define Y_MIN_PIN 16 #define Y_MAX_PIN 17 #define Z_STEP_PIN 44 #define Z_DIR_PIN 46 #define Z_ENABLE_PIN 42 #define Z_MIN_PIN 18 #define Z_MAX_PIN 19 #define E_STEP_PIN 32 #define E_DIR_PIN 34 #define E_ENABLE_PIN 30 #define LED_PIN 13 #define FAN_PIN -1 #define PS_ON_PIN -1 #define KILL_PIN -1 #define HEATER_0_PIN 12 #define TEMP_0_PIN 2 // MUST USE ANALOG INPUT NUMBERING NOT DIGITAL OUTPUT NUMBERING!!!!!!!!!
Schematic
Bill of Materials
| ID | Description | Quantity | Part Number | Reichelt Order Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U1 | Arduino Mega | 1 | 2560 or 1280 | |
| U2,U3,U4,U5 | Pololu A4983 carrier | 4 | ||
| C4 | 100nF capacitor | 1 | X7R-2,5 100N (verified) | |
| C5,C8 | 10uF capacitor | 2 | RAD 10/35 (verified) | |
| C6 | 100uF capacitor | 1 | RAD 100/25 (verified) | |
| R1,R7 | 4.7K resistor | 2 | METALL 4.70K | |
| R2,R3,R4,R5,R6,R8,R9 | 100K resistor | 7 | 1/4W 100K | |
| Q1,Q2,Q3 | N-channel Mosfet | 3 | STP55NF06L | ZXM 64N035 L3 |
| D1 | Diode | 1 | 1N4004 | 1N 4004 |
| F1 | PTC resettable fuse (30V, Hold5A, Trip10A) | 1 | MF-R500 | PFRA 500 |
| J2 | 5.08 Eurostyle screw terminal | 1 | 282837-6 | AKL 101-06 |
| LED1 | 3mm Green LED | 1 | LED 3MM ST GN | |
| S1 | Push button switch | 1 | FSMRACD | TASTER 3305B |
| X1 | Power jack (Plug and fixed receptacle) | 1 | MSTBA 2,5 and MSTBT 2,5 (5.04mm spacing 2 connector) | AKL 249-02 AND (AKL 230-02 OR AKL 220-02) |
| 2 x 12 pin header | 2 | |||
| 2 x 9 pin header | 1 | |||
| 20 pin header | 1 | SL 1X36G 2,54 (3 of these) | ||
| 2 x 18 Pin Stackable Female Header (non stackables can be used with plated through holes) | 1 | MALE: SL 2X25G 2,54 (2 of them, shortened with a saw or pliers) | ||
| 8 Pin Stackable Female Header (non stackables can be used with plated through holes) | 5 | |||
| 6 Pin Stackable Female Header (non stackables can be used with plated through holes) | 1 | |||
| 16 Pin Female Header | 4 | BL 1X20G8 2,54 (shortened with a saw or pliers) | ||
| 0.1" Jumpers | 12 | |||
| Circuit Board | 1 | v1.2 (instructions for other versions available in the history at the top of this page. |
A shopping cart for the german distributor reichelt has been assembled (by lImbus). All components listed above are available for 8.78 Eu (shipping excl)
If you etch your own board, you will need to make sure to get the stackable headers to connect to the Arduino MEGA. You can use cheaper, non stacking headers if you have a normal commercial double sided board with plated holes.
Point to point wiring when using a proto shield
It is possible to make this circuit with a proto shield by running wires directly between the pins. Make sure to check the prototype shield you use for pin holes that have traces tying them together. You most likely will have to cut some traces to keep from shorting circuits together. The board used here is the Arduino Mega shield one manufactured by Arduino. I only had to cut traces in about 4 places and it only took a couple seconds each with the little grinding bit on a dremel tool. Pictured below are the traces that need cut on the Tinker-It shield, both traces need cut in the small red circle, the top trace cut twice in the big circle to isolate the pins there.
If wiring a shield make sure to leave the area above the usb jack and ISCP header clear of components or the board is spaced / electrically insulated sufficiently to avoid shorts to the Arduino Mega board components.
Heated Bed
there are several ways to get the bed running on temps that your filament will stick good on it and printings get warp free. you will need a thermistor kaptonized on the backside of the bed and connected to the thermistor connectors, so far T1
using a relay and a separate PSU
get a 12V relay, wire the switching circuit in any direction to the ramps and connect the switched circuit to the second PSU and bed
powering the heated bed through the RAMPS
Warning: The power input connector on RAMPS is not rated for the current needed to Do not attempt this if you are afraid your mosfet will release magic smoke. This has not been tested on V1.0, and might not work as well due to thinker mosfet traces.
It is possible to run your heated bed off of the RAMPS shield without a relay.
always be sure not to short any of the D connections while powered, you will destroy the mosfet. check your firmware to support the heated bed (tonokip does) and get the pin settings right. repsnapper is showing you the bed temperature too.
powering the heated bed directly from a separate PSU, grounding on the RAMPS
get your scope and check if you have potential differences on the PSUs. connect the additive PSU on the hot side to the bed, connect the bed ground to - on the RAMPS (D8) check if you have current flow between the different grounds of the PSU. cause the mosfet is just switching the bed on and off it is barely getting hot and can handle the power pretty well. if so, it should not be possible to heat up the bed this way
powering the heated bed directly form the main PSU, grounding on the RAMPS
connect + from the PSU to the power plug of the RAMPS; connect the bed directly to the main power +, connect the other side of the bed (ground) to - on the RAMPS (D8) cause the mosfet is just switching the bed on and off it is barely getting hot and can handle the power pretty well.
