3d Printer 32 Microstepping Vs 16 Micros
The controller board plays a major role in the performance of a 3D printer. If y’all are looking for the best 3D printer controller board, this guide is for you.
Why Are 3D Printer Controller Boards Important?
3D printers are essentially run by the controller lath. The board handles the logic, such every bit moving motors, regulating temperatures, parsing g-code files, etc. You tin can think of the board as the “motherboard” in relation to PCs.
Today, 3D printers come up with powerful controller boards with diverse features. If you are looking for a controller board for your 3D printer, you cannot go wrong with any of these five options
All-time Controller Boards for 3D Printers
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1. KINGPRINT Smoothieboard
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The
KINGPRINT Smoothieboard
is a 32-chip board, and one of the best 3D printer controller boards on the market. This board has a 120-MHz processor and runs on the upgraded Smoothieware firmware. This is the firmware used by many 32-bit controller boards. The firmware delivers infrequent functioning similar to what you’ll get with the Repetier or Marlin, but is easier to configure.
The Smoothieboard has Allegro stepper drivers, an Ethernet port and offers excellent thermal operation. Y’all can even break out the steeper drivers to replace them with larger ones as part of a CNC rig.
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2. Panucatt Azteeg X5 GT
All 3D printer controllers are capable of splitting upwards the smallest movements of stepper motors into even finer movements. This process is known as microstepping. The process leads to more accurate press.
Majority of 3D printer boards tin can handle 1/16th
microstepping. However, the Azteeg X5 unit can hitting one/128th
microstepping. The controller also has large drivers that easily handle more enervating applications.
Mostly, the Azteeg X5 GT works in a similar fashion to the Smoothieboard. This is not a surprise since it is based on the Smoothieboard.
The Azteeg X5 GT also has a 32-fleck 120-MHz ARM chip and runs on Smoothieware.
One feature that sets the Azteeg X5 GT apart from the Smoothieboard is its inbuilt Wi-Fi. The Wi-Fi will come in handy when y’all are planning to run something similar OctoPrint.
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3. Duet WiFi
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MATTERHACKERS
The Duet WiFi controller board has all the features institute in the best 3D printer controller boards; connectivity options, bang-up drivers, 32-scrap ARM chip, etc. Still, this unit goes a notch further past offer ane/256th
microstepping. If you are looking for flawless prints, you want this controller board.
There is nil to complain well-nigh the drivers, connectivity and sound of the controller board.
The Duet WiFi controller lath is powered by RepRapFirmware. This firmware supports various movement systems, including the Hangprinter too equally multiple independent axes from brands like BCN3D Sigma. This is the ultimate controller lath that tin can fulfil the needs of any 3D printer.
As the name suggests, this controller board has born WiFi. Therefore, setting up OctoPrint is like shooting fish in a barrel. In fact, there is really cypher to set up since the print server is congenital in.
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4. Revolve (Preview)
The Revolve (“Replicape Evolved”) is a mashed-together controller board that is a solid performer. This controller board has a 1-GHz process, which is more than than 8x faster than the standard 32-bit chips on the market. With this amount of power, the Revolve can run on a fully-fledged version of Linux on-board.
The Revolve easily integrates with LCD screens, and specifically the Manga screen, which is fabricated by the same company.
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5. Panucatt Azteeg X3 Pro
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If you lot are looking for a proficient old-fashioned 8-chip lath, get the
Panucatt Azteeg X3 Pr0. This controller has dual heatbed MOSFETS, high current capabilities, and is uniform with Repetier, Marlin and other firmware that are designed for 8-bit controllers.
The XP Pro supports up to 5 extruders. Therefore, if yous would demand multiple colors and materials, or extruder redundancy, this is the controller y’all want. This is ane of the few 3D printer controllers that tin handle five extruders. The other controller is Maker Faire.
Generally, 32-bit controllers are becoming more common and affordable. Therefore, you lot would want to option a 32-fleck controller rather than an eight-bit one.
The above are the best 3D printer control boards that y’all can utilise to power your machine.
Most The Author
Charles Tellier has more than than 10 years of experience in 3D printing. Specialized in graphic pattern, he discovered the potential of 3D technology at Materialize, one of the leaders of this industry. His interest in cosmos led him to outset 3DTechValley.
