Restoring an Intel SDK-86 to "mostly like new" condition

On Mon, Oct 29, 2012 at 4:06 PM, Dave McGuire <mcguire at neurotica.com> wrote: If you don't, they aren't expensive... http://www.surplus-electronics-sales.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&a… (at least not compared to shipping to Brazil!) The current standard is some variant of RAMPS - an Arduino Mega plus a shield with Pololu stepper controllers mounted on the top. There are many ways to do it. Lots of enthusiastic amateurs (a category I include myself in), so some of the electronics have gone through more than one design-build-explode-redesign cycle, especially when it comes to choosing and heat-sinking MOSFETs that drive fans and heating elements. I've repaired a few things for myself and others that should never have broken except for unwise design choices (insufficient trace weight for current demands, inopportune placement of power and ground leads that make PSU short circuits more likely to occur, poor choices of connector ratings, etc) As a professional, I have reviewed circuit layouts and such, but they were created by others who are more qualified to perform proper thermal and power requirement calculations (or even just adequate over-engineering). I've dabbled but it's all still stuff I've just picked up. That said, I look at some of the electronics out there and alternate between shaking my head and just shuddering in horror. They do get better, but usually after something proves to really need improvement. The stuff that mostly just works doesn't have much cause to be changed. -ethan