CRAMPS Kits Available!

I am pleased to announce that I have a limited number of CRAMPS V2.1 DIY Kits available for sale.  This includes a PCB and all the parts required to build a functioning board.  Assembly details are on the RepRap wiki, and the design files are on github.  Please review the known issues, and be sure that you are comfortable soldering 0603 surface-mount chip components prior to ordering a kit.

I apologize in advance for the somewhat clunky shopping cart, but it is the best open-source solution I could find that dynamically calculates shipping rates based on destination (which is required, since the rates for international package shipments vary dramatically).  Yes, you will have to create yet another web account you will likely never use again, but it keeps me from having to charge everyone some obscene amount like $25 for shipping.

I currently have about 20 kits available, and I do not expect to make any more (it is a LOT of work!), so act quickly if you want one.  Also, I am doing this to help with the adoption of the CRAMPS design, so there is a one-kit-per-person limit.

CRAMPS Kits?

The CRAMPS V2.1 circuit boards are fabricated and heading my way.  I am planning to sell the bare boards for a nominal cost (under $5), but I may get motivated and sell some DIY kits that include all the parts needed to assemble your board.  The kit would probably be around $50-60, which is pretty much my cost for the parts in low volume, and I'd only be able to make about 10-20 kits total (before I run out of circuit boards).

So a quick informal poll:  If you are interested in buying a bare PCB or a DIY kit for the new CRAMPS board, send me a direct email and if I get enough interest kits I'll try to put some together.  Sending me an email places you under no obligation to actually buy anything, nor does it guarantee you'll actually get a kit should I decide to make some.

I am also working on getting someone to build and sell assembled boards, but that is a process that will likely take another couple months.  The kits would probably be available in 2-4 weeks, depending on how long it takes the PCBs to arrive and if I find any problems with the first prototypes.

CRAMPS V2.1

I finally got around to finishing the updated version of the CRAMPS board.  This version focused on simplifying the design as much as possible, and I really like the end result.  It feels much closer to the original RAMPS for the Arduino Mega in spirit than the previous 1.0 version and the RAMPS-FD.

Changes in this version include:

• No fine-pitch surface mount parts, so the board is much easier to hand assemble
• No servo outputs
• SPI expansion header changed to allow use as extra GPIO if needed
• Expansion headers modified to support an additional 3-axis add-on board (the CRAMP3)

The design files remain on github, and the home page for the design is still the CRAMPS page on the RepRap wiki.  A BOM file including Mouser and Digi-Key part numbers is also available via Google docs.  The boards  have been ordered, and should arrive before the end of May.

While the design is fully open, not everyone wants to build their own boards from scratch.  I am working on getting someone to build and sell completed boards, so stay tuned for updates!

UPDATE: 2014.05.12 - The first batch of 20 boards has shipped, now the 0-30 day wait for a "registered air parcel" begins.

CRAMPS Update

I have been building up the second CRAMPS board to verify the low-cost PCBs from off-shore really work as expected.  Since I'm doing another build anyway, I have been documenting the process with pictures and have created a CRAMPS 1.0 page with assembly details, ECOs, and other board details on the RepRap Wiki.  Follow along there if you're interested in tracking progress or are building your own board.  If you are interested in building up a board and can hand-solder the six fine-pitch SMT parts, send me an email and I'll try to get you a bare PCB.

Meanwhile, work is progressing on the next version of the CRAMPS board thanks to Murry Lindeblom.  Murry has been doing some great with KiCAD getting the schematic whipped into shape while I've been busy with other projects.  The main changes are to simplify the design, reducing parts count and making the board cheaper to produce.  See the list of ECOs on the RepRap Wiki for hints about the next version.

CRAMPS Board Working

I have the first CRAMPS board assembled and mostly checked out.  There are a few minor glitches (see the ToDo file on github), but so far no serious problems or anything that makes the current PCB design useless.  I have an example LinuxCNC configuration available if you want to try things out on your own.  The configuration requires you install my new Universal BeagleBone I/O Overlay, which can be used to switch between most "interesting" hardware options for the various I/O pins without having to load multiple overlays or possibly merge several incompatible overlay files by hand.


If you're a fan of scary movies, I even made a video:

CRAMPS Board

I have finished the design for the first version of the CRAMPS 3D print controller board for the BeagleBone. This "new" design is a rework of the RAMPS-FD board for the Arduino Due, which in turn is a rework of the RAMPS board for the Arduino Mega (isn't open-source great!). The PCB files are queued at OSH Park meaning I will hopefully have boards around the end of February.

Features & Details:

• 12-24V operation
• 6 Pololu drivers
• 15A driver for heated bed, with dedicated power
• 3 high-current drivers for extruder heaters
• 2 medium-current drivers for fans/lights, always 12V
• 4 Thermistor inputs
• 6 Limit switches (5V tolerant)
• 4 Servo outputs
• SPI and I2C expansion headers (5V tolerant)
• Flexible power options for the BeagleBone (use 'Bone 5V jack, 5V screw terminals, or add a regulator to generate 5V from 12-24V system power)
• Hardware ESTOP chain
• Stack-through design allows for expansion

If you like living on the edge I've shared the board at OSH Park so you can order your own. Design files are on github, and I've started a thread on the RepRap forums if you have any questions.

Currently the BOM pretty much doesn't exist, and please don't judge me by the lack of assembly drawings in the PCB files.  KiCAD apparently doesn't have assembly layers or allow creating arbitrary mechanical layers so I can't make assembly drawings the way I'm used to for the last 15 years.  I'll get it all sorted out, and add a full BOM once I've sourced and ordered all the bits and pieces needed to build the board.