Hi!
I'm at the beginning of a project on creating a 3D printer, which will involve stepper motors, heaters, and heat sensors among other things.
One of my colleagues suggested using a RAMPS shield, saying he heard it was great. I'm trying to figure out if it's really the best fit for this project, I'm not planning on using it solely because it would be easier. I am experienced in both electronics and programming and am not averse to making a whole PCB and program from scratch if it would be better.
I've had trouble finding any source stating in detail what a RAMPS shield does. From what I've gathered, it seems to just be a "connector" to which I'll have to attach an Arduino, the stepper motors drivers, and other things.
Did I miss a crucial feature of this shield? Is there any benefit to using the RAMPS shield rather than just connecting, for example, the motors' drivers directly to the Arduino?
Considering we're planning on using sugar as the printing material, with a custom-made nozzle and heating element, we'll probably have to do some fine-tuning to make it work. Is it possible to have full control through the shield, or are there some "hard-coded" elements that we'll just have to deal with?
If you know of detailed documentation on this shield, I'd like a link to it.
Of course, if you have other suggestions than the RAMPS shield or going so far as to make it whole from scratch, I'd love to hear it as well.
Thanks in advance