The RepRap project has helped a lot in the spread of 3D printers, so much so that possibly if it, the world of 3D printing would still be stagnant. In this project, which creates a 3D printer with homemade materials, the choice of a good electronics or rather a controller board is essential since it not only sets the price of the printer but also controls the entire life of the printer.
So far the most popular and used electronics was RAMPS, but recently it has been launched a crowdfunding project to put into circulation a board that could shake the whole world, the board is called Alligator Board.
Alligator Board differs from the rest in its characteristics, not only because it gathers and rearranges all the functions of the previous electronics, but also because it adds new functionalities such as the incorporation of a processor on the board with its ram and rom memory (32-Bit ARM, 32 mbits of flash and 64 kbits of eeprom). Alligator Board is also capable of connecting and working with a Raspberry Pi so the autonomy of the 3D printer that carries this board is more than clear. In addition, if that was not enough to have all this, Alligator Board has an Ethernet port with its own MAC address that will make any 3D printer connected in a network as if it were a normal printer.
Alligator Board can be expanded with a Raspberry Pi
These features are the most striking but they are not the only ones on the Alligator Board. In general, the same thing we can do with a RAMPS we can do with the Alligator Board, in a more or less precise way but the same.
La crowdfunding campaign It started four days ago and it has already raised about 2.000 euros of the more than 10.000 euros that are needed, although there are still more than 30 days until the end of the campaign. After the campaign, it is expected that the shipment of the plates and the putting on sale will be between the month of April and June, so we can say without a doubt that this Christmas we will have a new load of 3D printers with new functionalities and new features. And for the most makers, hours and hours of fun.