I just received my black Acrylic 8mm Prusa Mendel I3 and I am very excited/happy.
I looked over all the parts to make sure they were okay and that the right quantities/type were there. It was only missing 2 M2.5 Nuts and 1 M3x35mm Screws. That is not really a big problem because I got some extra hardware parts with the order (M4 Nuts & M3 Washers) and I can get these at a store.
But I was looking over all of the PCB components and other electrical things to make sure they were okay. Unfortunately one of the four Motor Drivers (which is an A4988 I think) is missing the top right component which I think is a transistor (on the PCB I think it says VMOT, so motor voltage?). If the potentiometer screw is at the bottom then the thing would be on the top right. It is the second biggest component on there besides the actual chip.
I read that I can upgrade this part now anyways but it is what I am starting with and I didn't want to start assembling w/o it.
Is there a way to replace it or even better to fix it? I have done some electronics soldering (broken USB connectors, disconnected guitar pickups, etc.) and even repaired an old hard drive by replacing a broken IDE pin with a pin I ripped off some other component (I was really happy with my ghetto solution
), so I can kinda do that. Also, should I just buy the updated motor drivers? If I got the full kit will I need to worry about the stepper motor voltages or power supply issues, I read that this can be problematic? I eventually plan on modding the hell out of this but this is my first real electronic DIY project and I only have computer building experience with electronics. I have been building/modding computers for about 20 years or so but have only been into linux/open-hardware (Arduino, Pi, etc.) for about 3-4 years. I am starting to understand electronics, micro-circuits and stuff now (and even a little bit about the math/diagnostics) because I have been interested in the RepRap since it's inception and I have read stuff but never really gone into doing it. This was gonna be my first experience.I have a biochemical background so besides the specific equations and component operations I do understand electron flow and things like that. It kind of goes hand in hand on that level.
So can anyone help!?!?!?!!?
THANX
