Hello, I will buy a K40 soon and I'm already looking for a new

[Daniele_Salvagni]

Hello, I will buy a K40 soon and I’m already looking for a new control board. Cohesion3d looks like the best option but too expensive for me, with shipping and taxes it would probably cost me arount 140-150$, I’m looking for something far less expensive.

Would something like this work? I plan to use GRBL:

• Arduino Nano (inexpensive/already have)
• CNC Shield 4.0 https://www.aliexpress.com/item/NEW-Keyes-CNC-shield-v4-0-3-axis-stepper-motor-drive-board-compatible-with-arduino-nano/32577129659.html (7$)
• DRV8825 Driver https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3d-printer-parts-1PCS-3D-Printer-Stepstick-Drv8825-Stepper-Motor-Driver-Reprap-4-PCB-Board-Free/32730083944.html?ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_5_10152_10065_10151_10068_10326_10084_10083_10080_10304_10307_10082_10081_10177_10110_10137_10111_10302_10060_10112_10155_10113_10114_10154_10056_10055_10054_10312_10313_10059_10184_10314_100031_10099_10078_10079_10103_10073_10102_10052_10053_10142_10107_10050_10051-10110,searchweb201603_15,ppcSwitch_4&btsid=bbfeb6f6-57bb-44ce-983c-879572c9b958&algo_expid=8c36501a-4021-4ea0-9880-57b951fa6fa6-6&algo_pvid=8c36501a-4021-4ea0-9880-57b951fa6fa6 (~1$ each)

Which limitations would I have with this setup? Do I need a fan with the 8825?
Is there some benefit in using Smoothieware instead of GRBL? (GRBL at the moment has better support for Laserweb)

[StephaneBUISSON]

@Daniele_Salvagni
Look like you did some search before (Smoothie, GRBL & LW).
but maybe you miss the following point that arduino nano isn’t powerful enough for best engraving. again you can’t compare fast 32bits chips vs slow 8 bits.

So if you prefer quality over little saving (board), you will save yourself a lot on material (for testing), without counting your time. no more than 80 $ difference and is well worth it.

not trying to convince you, just saving you the troubles.

[Daniele_Salvagni]

@StephaneBUISSON Thanks, I will consider it but sadly for me the difference is bigger as I live in the EU. With shipping and taxes I extimated about 150$ for a Cohesion3D Mini which is almost half the cost of the k40.