[Noisebridge-discuss] Makerbot repair operation - parts ordered, who wants to help?

[Jake]

I think it's excellent that the MakerBot will be brought back to life!

However I have some information:

1> The main board (not sure what it's called) the one with the SD card 
slot and the main brain onboard was working fine but ONLY when it had a 
wad of paper shoved under one of its corners.  This is why it only has 
three standoffs present - the fourth was removed for the wad of paper.
I was there when someone was logged into its diagnostic mode and was 
live-watching working vs. not working when the board was twisted.

2> There is a new main board in a box right next to the makerbot.  So if 
you just ordered another nother one, we now have three (or two and a 
sortof-working one).  Admittedly a machine which is so frustrating to 
restart deserves a non-defective mainboard, but i think we already have 
one.

3> I know there is already a lot of plastic, maybe not red though.

Months ago I looked at the makerbot in its repose and noticed the wad of 
paper was gone - so I made a new one and stuffed it in.  Note that Ben 
(who i havent seen in months except for once recently) made all the parts 
for his own Mendelbot using our Makerbot, with the wad of paper in it.

Kudos for bringing it back to life!  When i return in 2 weeks I cant wait 
to see what's up with it.

and PLEASE label the old parts you take off - and don't throw them out!

-jake

Gian Pablo Villamil wrote:

I've decided to bring the Makerbot back to life, and improve it. Based
on my experience with my own Makerbot (which is now really solid),
I've ordered:

- a new extruder (Mk 5), it includes a relay board for controlling the
heater and heated build platform, which avoids overloading the MOSFETs
- a new extruder control board (apparently the existing one has lost
its magic smoke)
- heated build platform (this one is temperature regulated via a 
thermistor)
- a new motherboard (just in case)

and 5 lbs of bright red ABS plastic.

All this requires some assembly and testing. Who wants to work with me
on this? Parts should be arriving today or tomorrow.