MakerBot Stepper Controller Help Hi there, I bought a stepper controller from MakerBot (actually, I bought the whole electronics set), and it seems one of the stepper controllers isn't working. I have the ribbon cable and the ATX power connected. When I turn the main motherboard on, the green Power light on the stepper controller turns on, then fades. The other two steppers they sent me works fine. The light stays green, and a few other LEDs are on. I already sent an email to MakerBot, but I was wondering if you guys had any ideas to get this working. https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,45466,45466#msg-45466 Sun, 07 Jun 2026 00:44:16 -0400 Phorum 5.2.23 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,45466,46920#msg-46920 Re: MakerBot Stepper Controller Help https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,45466,46920#msg-46920 Video here:
[www.youtube.com]
I think nophead nailed it - only one side of the board seems to have been making contact with the screw terminal.]]> jkeegan Reprappers Wed, 02 Jun 2010 09:17:17 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,45466,46630#msg-46630 Re: MakerBot Stepper Controller Help https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,45466,46630#msg-46630 -------------------------------------------------------
> I got some advice to switch
> out the IC3 5v regulator (my multimeter shows its
> only outputting 1.5v), so maybe I can salvage that
> when I get the parts.

If you are running the stepper from a PC power supply you can get 5V from the red wire of the power connector. The MakerBot stepper controller makes 5V from 12V so it can also be used for a RepRap which is specified to run on 12V only.]]> JohnWasser Reprappers Fri, 28 May 2010 11:52:29 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,45466,46618#msg-46618 Re: MakerBot Stepper Controller Help https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,45466,46618#msg-46618
I haven't been able to scrape even one free hour out of this week's schedule to try desoldering my screw terminal to inspect for pad/thruhole damage and try providing connections by hand to both sides of the board if necessary to look for any signs of life.

And now I'm camping until Monday, so I may not get to try anything until late next week. :( But if I hit a serious wall, thanks plasmator, I may take you up on that.]]> jkeegan Reprappers Fri, 28 May 2010 09:38:08 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,45466,46582#msg-46582 Re: MakerBot Stepper Controller Help https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,45466,46582#msg-46582 Katai Reprappers Fri, 28 May 2010 01:31:21 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,45466,46204#msg-46204 Re: MakerBot Stepper Controller Help https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,45466,46204#msg-46204
If you decide the boards are a loss anyway, and want to send them to me, I'll see what I can do about repairing them for you. I'm set up to work on such things, and have repaired techzonestore stepper drivers so I'm familiar with the circuit. Just PM me if you'd like me to take a look.]]> plasmator Reprappers Sat, 22 May 2010 12:29:29 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,45466,46194#msg-46194 Re: MakerBot Stepper Controller Help https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,45466,46194#msg-46194 is it possible that you removed some through hole plating linking the top and the bottom of the board?]]> nophead Reprappers Sat, 22 May 2010 07:48:39 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,45466,46189#msg-46189 Re: MakerBot Stepper Controller Help https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,45466,46189#msg-46189 jkeegan Reprappers Sat, 22 May 2010 05:45:11 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,45466,46188#msg-46188 Re: MakerBot Stepper Controller Help https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,45466,46188#msg-46188
When I connect the "working" (unmodified) board, or the one successfully modified and working board, they do work.

Thanks for the idea though. I'm still open to others. :) It'd be great if these boards were salvagable, but if not, at LEAST I don't want to do damage to my remaining board and future 3rd wave of replacements board. :(]]> jkeegan Reprappers Sat, 22 May 2010 05:43:38 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,45466,46181#msg-46181 Re: MakerBot Stepper Controller Help https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,45466,46181#msg-46181 plasmator Reprappers Sat, 22 May 2010 04:34:08 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,45466,46159#msg-46159 Re: MakerBot Stepper Controller Help https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,45466,46159#msg-46159
Glad to hear it wasn't the soldering iron, but then I'm even more concerned about how fragile these boards are.]]> jkeegan Reprappers Fri, 21 May 2010 18:37:37 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,45466,46156#msg-46156 Re: MakerBot Stepper Controller Help https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,45466,46156#msg-46156
Quote
jkeegan ()
I was only using a 15 watt soldering iron.. That can't be too hot, can it?

No, my soldering iron is 58 watt and set for 350 C and I didn't have any problems (at least to start with)...

At first only my Z-axis worked (I hadn't programmed the extruder yet).
After programming the extruder the X and Y-axis also worked properly.

Then my only immediate problem was (and IS) that the extruder stepper motor moves but has no torque whatsoever!

And now my Z-axis is having problems of just pulsing without moving and it also has no holding torque just like the extruder stepper motor.

AND my temperture sensor also sometimes works and sometimes doesn't.

If it isn't one thing it is something else! X(]]> rhmorrison Reprappers Fri, 21 May 2010 18:22:29 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,45466,46155#msg-46155 Re: MakerBot Stepper Controller Help https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,45466,46155#msg-46155
I just posted about it here on my blog:
Back.. But now ANOTHER stepper board is fried??

Bottom line, I had three stepper driver boards, modified three of them, and at the end only one of them worked. I'd get a power light, but on the two bad boards none of the LEDs next to the stepper motor connectors would light up (whereas they would on the working board).

I ordered two replacement boards, and just fried another one, even though I was extremely careful. The only modification I made to this one was replacing the 4-pin molex power connector with a 2-way screw terminal.

I'm afraid to modify the next replacement one..

I was only using a 15 watt soldering iron.. That can't be too hot, can it?

A picture of the only working board from my initial three boards is at the end of this previous blog post.

Are these boards indeed fried?]]> jkeegan Reprappers Fri, 21 May 2010 18:06:23 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,45466,46000#msg-46000 Re: MakerBot Stepper Controller Help https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,45466,46000#msg-46000 hintss Reprappers Thu, 20 May 2010 02:13:25 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,45466,45985#msg-45985 Re: MakerBot Stepper Controller Help https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,45466,45985#msg-45985
I'm using them unmodified (except for a small hack between the main motherboard and the extruder board to get that working).]]> Katai Reprappers Wed, 19 May 2010 19:14:43 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,45466,45984#msg-45984 Re: MakerBot Stepper Controller Help https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,45466,45984#msg-45984
I was under the impression you received a faulty board from Makerbot.

So was it difficult converting the boards to the Mendel config or are you using them without modification?

Cheers]]> AgeingHippy Reprappers Wed, 19 May 2010 18:07:44 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,45466,45977#msg-45977 Re: MakerBot Stepper Controller Help https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,45466,45977#msg-45977 Katai Reprappers Wed, 19 May 2010 15:46:38 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,45466,45970#msg-45970 Re: MakerBot Stepper Controller Help https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,45466,45970#msg-45970
If the board is faulty then Makerbot has a duty to replace it.

I know in the UK we have protection that specifies the product purchased must be fit for the (stated) purpose.... I am sure you in the US have similar consumer protection.

As a matter of principle, I don't think you should let it go at that.

Cheers]]> AgeingHippy Reprappers Wed, 19 May 2010 14:47:10 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,45466,45889#msg-45889 Re: MakerBot Stepper Controller Help https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,45466,45889#msg-45889 Katai Reprappers Tue, 18 May 2010 19:05:12 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,45466,45783#msg-45783 Re: MakerBot Stepper Controller Help https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,45466,45783#msg-45783 Katai Reprappers Mon, 17 May 2010 14:58:59 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,45466,45563#msg-45563 Re: MakerBot Stepper Controller Help https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,45466,45563#msg-45563
Make sure every solder joint looks shiny and has filled the space between board and pin. Also look for solder bridges between adjacent pins. If you find a bad joint you can re-flow it with a fine-tip soldering iron.]]> JohnWasser Reprappers Fri, 14 May 2010 20:37:57 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,45466,45550#msg-45550 Re: MakerBot Stepper Controller Help https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,45466,45550#msg-45550 Katai Reprappers Fri, 14 May 2010 18:18:02 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,45466,45516#msg-45516 Re: MakerBot Stepper Controller Help https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,45466,45516#msg-45516 JohnWasser Reprappers Fri, 14 May 2010 11:31:48 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,45466,45477#msg-45477 Re: MakerBot Stepper Controller Help https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,45466,45477#msg-45477 hintss Reprappers Fri, 14 May 2010 01:25:32 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,45466,45466#msg-45466 MakerBot Stepper Controller Help https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,45466,45466#msg-45466
I bought a stepper controller from MakerBot (actually, I bought the whole electronics set), and it seems one of the stepper controllers isn't working. I have the ribbon cable and the ATX power connected. When I turn the main motherboard on, the green Power light on the stepper controller turns on, then fades.

The other two steppers they sent me works fine. The light stays green, and a few other LEDs are on.

I already sent an email to MakerBot, but I was wondering if you guys had any ideas to get this working.]]> Katai Reprappers Thu, 13 May 2010 22:51:04 -0400