RAMPS 1.4 is an Arduino shield designed for use with the Arduino Mega 2560 microcontroller board. It stands for "RepRap Arduino Mega Pololu Shield," and is a popular choice for building 3D printers and other CNC (computer numerical control) devices. The RAMPS 1.4 shield provides a number of connectors and control components that allow you to interface the Arduino with a variety of motors, sensors, and other peripherals. It includes connectors for stepper motors, heated bed control, and extruder control, as well as a number of general-purpose input/output (GPIO) pins that can be used to interface with a wide range of other devices. The RAMPS 1.4 shield is often used in conjunction with other components, such as stepper motor drivers and endstops, to build a complete CNC system. RepRap Arduino Mega Pololu Shield, or RAMPS for short, is designed to fit the entire electronics needed for a RepRap in one small, but powerful package for low cost. RAMPS interfaces with the powerful Arduino MEGA platform and has plenty room for expansion. The modular design controls the movement of the 3D printer, 2 x extruders, 2 x hotends and a heated bed while sensing the temperature of the hotends and heated bed. Additionally, a number of Arduino expansion boards can be added to the system as long as the main RAMPS board is kept to the top of the stack. Most popular expansions include a LCD display, SD card reader, a cooling fan or two and a second extruder. You will need the Arduino MEGA 2560 controller to be able to use the RAMPS 1.4 board.
