HP Draftmaster RX pen plotter needs love

[Michael Newton]

I appreciate the guidance so far, thanks very much.

I found another power supply/motor driver board ("analog board") of the
same part number, hooked it up to the plotter and tested it. The -12v test
point on the new board read zero, and the other voltages were present just
like the original board.

I don't suppose that proves anything, but at least now I have 2 power
supplies.

I don't have an electronics background other than hobby-level tinkering. I
don't know how likely it is I'll be able to diagnose and fix this solely on
remote guidance, and in any case that seems like too much for me to ask.

If there is someone within driving distance of Seattle who could get this
thing working I will pay them what their time and effort is worth (I'm
trying to avoid shipping this monster or buying anyone plane tickets).

thanks
M.







On Fri, Nov 18, 2016 at 3:17 PM, Michael Newton <michael.newton at gmail.com>
wrote:

>
>
> On Thu, Nov 17, 2016 at 12:10 AM, Brent Hilpert <hilpert at cs.ubc.ca> wrote:
>
>> On 2016-Nov-16, at 11:34 PM, Michael Newton wrote:
>>
>> > That's right, there is a -5v test point that reads zero.
>>
>> From the previous discussion, presumably you mean -12V.
>
>
> Yes -12v, sorry
>
>
>> > Any guidance? Like if I need to pull parts off and test them, which ones
>> > might I go for? I'm a caveman with electronics.
>>
>> Looking at:
>>         7595-7596_HardwareSupportManual_07595-90025_168pages_Feb90.pdf
>> from hpmuseum.net via the link you supplied, the document seems to be
>> truncated.
>> The document simply ends part way through the schematics pages, and of
>> course the power supply schematic is missing.
>> (Aside, where did you find that document link? I didn't find it ref'd on
>> the hpmuseum pages.)
>>
>>
> It's linked from http://www.hpmuseum.net/collection_document.php - search
> the page for "DraftMaster"
>
> The document does appear to be missing the full schematic of the analog
> board. I haven't been able to find them anywhere.
>
>
>
>> There is a minimal diagram for the power supply on page 5-4 (pdf.30),
>> which shows the -12V supply as an independent (not part of the control
>> loop) secondary out of the switching supply. That's good as it limits the
>> likely problem region. There will be more components involved than shown
>> there, but the diode seen there on the -12V supply will lead to a filter
>> cap and possibly a 3-terminal linear regulator such as a 7912 or LM320-12,
>> or even a zener
>> regulator. There may be current limiting or overvoltage circuitry between
>> there and the actual -12 output of the supply.
>>
>>         - identify the -12V componentry in the power supply.
>>         - if there is a 3-terminal -12V regulator check for input to the
>> reg vs output.
>>         - confirm that it's not the load side of the -12 causing the
>> problem.
>>         - pic(s) of the power supply board might help us identify the
>> area or get a better idea of what we're dealing with.
>>
>>
>
> I took photos: https://goo.gl/photos/tRWV3ATTqx2R3eDz6
>
>
>
>