New board or Fix the old one.

[Tom Bachman]

Alright, I have determined that the X2 driver is bad. (see my other thread).

I'm now trying to determine, whether or not, I should have this board repaired or upgrade to a new board. I am right now leaning toward having this board repaired. I really need to try and keep the costs down as much as possible, that's why I am leaning toward the repair option. I just need to get the machine up and running so I can start making it pay for itself. I understand the advantages of upgrading, but I'm not sure whether or not it makes financial sense at this point.

Need to decide pretty quick.

[steve_g]

Tom…
Replace or repair… IMHO if you repair you still have an old board with ageing components. Likely you’ll need to replace it sometime in the future!
SG

[jerry_stanek]

Does that board have an A driver? If it does then you can use it for the x you just have to set it up in the Values screen

[Tom Bachman]

I believe that someone told me it does not have the A driver. I don't know what I'm looking for, so I can't say. Here's a picture of the board

[Tom Bachman]

It appears to me that there are just the 4 drivers (four big heat sinks), right?

[bob_dodd]

Tom
I do not see the picture of the board now , but I remember seeing one in a early post , As you say there are only 4 heat sinks which are for the drivers , There were one heat sink by X1 , X2 , Y , Z , but the "A" channel looked like just an empty space
if cost is an issue at this time get it repaired , keep your eye out for a used 4 G on forum ,,, There is a bid difference in performance with the 4G , but will work with what you have if you get it repaired
There are some people who run there Bots with MACH3 and gecko drives , you could give Gecko a call , check out there web site Gecko.com

[srwtlc]

...if you want to go the Mach3 route. Almost plug and play, if you want to learn how to use Mach3. Mach3 license required.

[Gary Campbell]

Scott...
You should know most of these guys have outgrown the "MachDonalds" not so happy meal 3

[srwtlc]

Yeah, but in the right hands it would make his old iron sing a bit sweeter again. I'm sure you could fix him up with something nice too!

[MogulTx]

Fix it. It is quite possibly just the zeiner diode that comes just before the driver. I blew one on a previous machine ( don't know if I did or the previous owner)... but my brother who is a brilliant guy with computers adn what not, showed me what was needed and I ordered it off ebay for CHEEEP. I took out the old and soldered in the new... worked like a CHAMP. I sold that machine and sent along the spares I got in the ebay deal to the new owner.... but it ran GREAT after I replaced it. My current machine does not have that set up or I would send you a photo of what you would be looking at. ( And the fourth drive may have one in it, even if it does not have the driver. I bet they populated the board- and you could unsolder the one from that driver's set up and have it moved over in a few minutes and tested out and running... and order the replacement as time allows!

Monty