Disgruntled SMD V2.3 purchase from makerbot I thought I would voice my concern on this forum as it appears im about to eat money on a purchase I made from Makerbot. Im making the McWire cartesian robot. My electronics are as follows: 1X Arduino Duemilinova 3X Opto Endstop 1.2 3X SMD V1.2 3X Keling 24H51 Stepper motors The problem I had was I broke one of my stepper motor driver 1.2's and needed a replacement. I contacted makerbot and asked if the 2.3 was compatible with the 1.2 and could be driven from an arduino instead of the reprap motherboard. I was ensured by Isaac that in so many words "Yes". I ordered the SMD 2.3 from makerbot along with 3X more opto endstop kits. The board arrived and I plugged all the previously used wires into the board. The board's power LED lit up, but when I sent steps to it from ReplicatorG it did not light up its activity LED's. I double checked the stepper motor wiring, the arduino wiring, and the cabling. All the wiring and cabling was correct. I even pulled the plugs from existing "working" steppers on the Z and the Y axis and plugged them into the 2.3 board and recieved the same results...No steps, no activity led's I checked the forum on the 2.3 build and looked to see if it had some strange requirement in terms of firmware or wiring, I found no such evidence. This is the email chain that Ive had with Isaac from makerbot concerning this matter: QuotecharlesHi Isaac, I just recieved my order from makerbot last night. I Plugged in the stepper motor driver v2.3 into my system (I have the Mcwire Cartesian Robot repstrap) and it powered up, but didnt seem to take any inputs. I tried switching the different cables in and out thinking it was the cables, but they all work in the stepper motor driver v1.2 boards that are currently on the system. I read the documentation online and followed the "test your electronics" and I did not get any activity LED's when I sent steps to the controller from the Arduino. I have two theories 1.) This driver is not compatible WITHOUT the reprap motherboard, or 2.) It is DOA. Any thoughts on this would greatly be appreciated. Thanks again Charles QuoteIsaacHi Charles, I am going to pass on your email to one of our engineers here, who may be able to comment on the situation with greater aplomb. One question, you are seeing evidence of the Stepper Motor Drivers powering on, ie, the four LEDs on each board light if the axis are moved manually? Do you get any feedback at all? Best, Isaac Dietz MakerBot Industries Quotecharles Any word on this? QuoteIsaac Chuck, Perhaps there is some documentation available in the McWire community regarding adding the Stepper Motor Driver to your Mcwire Cartesian Robot repstrap? We can't support your issue here because of the custom nature of your machine. Sorry. Best, Isaac Dietz MakerBot Industries Not sure what the deal is but im feeling like im about to get hosed. Thanks, Charles https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?13,40433,40433#msg-40433 Thu, 16 Apr 2026 07:42:20 -0400 Phorum 5.2.23 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?13,40433,40864#msg-40864 Re: Disgruntled SMD V2.3 purchase from makerbot https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?13,40433,40864#msg-40864
Since we solved your problem, how about re-editing your orginal post title, adding the word fixed or no longer disgruntled?

Given your mixed enviorment and being a beginner at this it easy to understand the communication problems.]]> freds Controllers Mon, 29 Mar 2010 13:33:36 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?13,40433,40751#msg-40751 Re: Disgruntled SMD V2.3 purchase from makerbot https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?13,40433,40751#msg-40751

Chuck]]> chuck Controllers Sat, 27 Mar 2010 23:37:26 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?13,40433,40465#msg-40465 Re: Disgruntled SMD V2.3 purchase from makerbot https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?13,40433,40465#msg-40465 nophead Controllers Thu, 25 Mar 2010 04:25:44 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?13,40433,40447#msg-40447 Re: Disgruntled SMD V2.3 purchase from makerbot https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?13,40433,40447#msg-40447
Chuck]]> chuck Controllers Wed, 24 Mar 2010 22:02:43 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?13,40433,40439#msg-40439 Re: Disgruntled SMD V2.3 purchase from makerbot https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?13,40433,40439#msg-40439
On the 1.2 boards the enable signal is tied high, on the 2.3 boards it is an active low signal.

Which actually makes sense, I.E. Broken wire brings everything to a stop.]]> freds Controllers Wed, 24 Mar 2010 19:57:08 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?13,40433,40435#msg-40435 Re: Disgruntled SMD V2.3 purchase from makerbot https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?13,40433,40435#msg-40435 nophead Controllers Wed, 24 Mar 2010 19:03:00 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?13,40433,40433#msg-40433 Disgruntled SMD V2.3 purchase from makerbot https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?13,40433,40433#msg-40433
Im making the McWire cartesian robot. My electronics are as follows:
1X Arduino Duemilinova
3X Opto Endstop 1.2
3X SMD V1.2
3X Keling 24H51 Stepper motors

The problem I had was I broke one of my stepper motor driver 1.2's and needed a replacement. I contacted makerbot and asked if the 2.3 was compatible with the 1.2 and could be driven from an arduino instead of the reprap motherboard. I was ensured by Isaac that in so many words "Yes". I ordered the SMD 2.3 from makerbot along with 3X more opto endstop kits. The board arrived and I plugged all the previously used wires into the board.

The board's power LED lit up, but when I sent steps to it from ReplicatorG it did not light up its activity LED's. I double checked the stepper motor wiring, the arduino wiring, and the cabling. All the wiring and cabling was correct. I even pulled the plugs from existing "working" steppers on the Z and the Y axis and plugged them into the 2.3 board and recieved the same results...No steps, no activity led's

I checked the forum on the 2.3 build and looked to see if it had some strange requirement in terms of firmware or wiring, I found no such evidence.
This is the email chain that Ive had with Isaac from makerbot concerning this matter:

Quote
charles
Hi Isaac,

I just recieved my order from makerbot last night. I Plugged in the stepper motor driver v2.3 into my system (I have the Mcwire Cartesian Robot repstrap) and it powered up, but didnt seem to take any inputs. I tried switching the different cables in and out thinking it was the cables, but they all work in the stepper motor driver v1.2 boards that are currently on the system. I read the documentation online and followed the "test your electronics" and I did not get any activity LED's when I sent steps to the controller from the Arduino.

I have two theories 1.) This driver is not compatible WITHOUT the reprap motherboard, or 2.) It is DOA. Any thoughts on this would greatly be appreciated. Thanks again


Charles


Quote
Isaac
Hi Charles,


I am going to pass on your email to one of our engineers here, who may be able to comment on the situation with greater aplomb. One question, you are seeing evidence of the Stepper Motor Drivers powering on, ie, the four LEDs on each board light if the axis are moved manually? Do you get any feedback at all?


Best,

Isaac Dietz
MakerBot Industries

Quote
charles
Any word on this?
Quote
Isaac
Chuck,


Perhaps there is some documentation available in the McWire community regarding adding the Stepper Motor Driver to your Mcwire Cartesian Robot repstrap? We can't support your issue here because of the custom nature of your machine. Sorry.


Best,

Isaac Dietz
MakerBot Industries

Not sure what the deal is but im feeling like im about to get hosed.

Thanks,
Charles]]> Chuck Controllers Wed, 24 Mar 2010 18:34:26 -0400