Import RAMPS DOA Stats
There has been discussion from time to time about how the low cost import boards fare. Here are is a breakdown of DOA and failure returns. I do a basic test when they are flashed but some failed shortly into use. Most live long including the ones I’ve used here with hundreds of hours duty cycle.
118 iduino ATmega 2560 clone boards, Geeetech
7 total bad 5.9% USB connection or power reg issues
2 Arduino clone boards for evaluation Aliexpress vendor 100% loss, both needed bootloaders flashed. They work now, I didn’t sell them. When they got here they were counterfeit. The listing pic showed plain green board.
The parts and boards look good but there are obvious issues in the silkscreen making it obvious they are counterfeit. Pretty good for US$8 each, they didn’t need to go counterfeit.
5 ATmega 2560 clones for evaluation Taobao vendor. 100% loss, not flashable, would not power. Assuming bad or counterfeit parts particularly at US$4 each, including ePacket from Shenzhen. Board quality and PCBA was bad. At US$20? Why not, was worth the gamble.
118 Geeetech RAMPS 9 total bad 7.6% mosfets and connections, some shorting when driver boards inserted. On two in the field the bed fet was so poorly installed they fell out under heavy duty cycle.
10 Bigtree RAMPS from Arduino counterfeit guy. All are good, no issues, boards were a bit rough, connector shrouds easily pulled off.
500 plus Stepstick boards, under 2% mostly due to screw pots failing though I don’t know if it’s user caused. I did have a couple that wouldn’t allow the RAMPS to boot , when I removed them and replaced them the boards booted fine.
40 Genuine Pololu Black driver boards. 0% failure,
We’re at the point now where like most of the other entry level kits the entry level electronics have been commoditised.