Digital BW, The Print

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "john dean" 
<deanwork2003@y...> wrote:
> After months of working on this thing replacing heads and all, I am 
going to 
> have to replace the mainboard on this 7000 to keep it alive. 
> 
> Just found out that Compas Micro and Epson will still do a board 
exchange for 
> $150.00. I have a maintanace manual. Even if I sell this machine I 
should still 
> do this.
> 
> Can anyone tell me how difficult this all is? Everything else on 
this printer has 
> been restored. The guy at Compas told me I might need some "special 
> software". I'm going to study the manual tonight, but is this 
doable without me 
> spending even more money? I have to reinitialize everything and up 
date the 
> firmware. Does anyone know what I need for this and how complex it 
is? I 
> would like to use this machine for the new piezzotone inks that are 
about to 
> be released. Even with replacing the head fuse and transistor this 
pump 
> motor isn't working right now. 
> 
> Any sources for reading about all this would be appreciated.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> J

Are you sure it's not the motor?

From what I have read in the manual, extracting the firmware requires 
1 of 3 methods. #1 is use some software to copy the firmware out of 
the printer into a DOS (maybe windows) PC. The second is to use a 
16MB SRAM memory card (PCMCIA type 1 or 2) To copy the firmware from 
the printer to the card, then from the card to the new printer. There 
may also be a number three of getting the firmware from Epson, and 
copying it to the card, then use the card to copy to the new printer. 
I've never had to do this yet. I also don't know if you can use any 
PCMCIA memory card or if it has to be the SRAM type, those can be 
expensive where regular NVRAM cards are cheap. The SRAM normally 
needs a batery to keep the info alive. There might also be a fourth 
method where you simply remove the chip from the old machine, and put 
it in the new machine, this of course would be the easiest!

As far as checking the motor, I would have to look at the schematic 
to see what type it is, and see what the logic is teling it to do. 
Might be as simple as supplying the correct voltage to make it turn. 
It could also be a stepper, and worst case a servo. If I have time, 
I'll dig up my manual and check tonight. I mention this because it 
could be possible that the motor is causing the driver chip to fail 
(normally letting out smoke when they go).

Do you know if that motor is the exact same as is used in the 
9000/9500? It would be easier since I have the 9500 manual printed. 
Also, if you can get the firmware for the 7500, I think it is the 
same chassis as the 7000. Not sure exactly what that would buy you, 
but might be worth investigating. 

If you would like, you can email me off list, and I'll try to help as 
much as possible. A little more background into what went wrong might 
be helpful too, I can't say that I've seen any other posts about this 
from you before.