<p>I just received an old 3D printer from one of my school teachers. I have no idea whatsoever as to which brand it is, no instruction manual attached to it, or any other info about it.  </p>

<p>How can I find some information about it?  </p>

<p>Some links would be very useful. Remember when giving advice that I know nothing about 3D printers.  </p>

<p>This is the printer:</p>

<p><em>Backside</em>
<a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/GC3mb.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer" title="Printer as seen from the back"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/GC3mb.jpg" alt="Printer as seen from the back" title="Printer as seen from the back"></a></p>

<p><em>Front</em>
<a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/FmDtw.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer" title="Printer as seen from the front"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/FmDtw.jpg" alt="Printer as seen from the front" title="Printer as seen from the front"></a></p>

<p><em>The X-axis stepper</em>
<a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/OXuiX.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer" title="The X-axis stepper"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/OXuiX.jpg" alt="The X-axis stepper" title="The X-axis stepper"></a></p>

<p><em>The electronics board</em>
<a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/YTJwl.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer" title="The electronics board"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/YTJwl.jpg" alt="The electronics board" title="The electronics board"></a></p>

[{'answer_id': 6284, 'author': 'profesor79', 'author_id': 9730, 'author_profile': 'https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/users/9730', 'pm_score': 1, 'selected': False, 'text': '<p>As far as I can see on the pictures - the main board shall be capable to upload Marlin software and run smoothly.</p>\n\n<p>If you connect power and PC/Mac over the USB connection, then using <a href="http://www.pronterface.com" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Pronterface</a> you can validate mechanical movements of the printer.</p>\n\n<p>As the rods looks a bit dusty - please clean them with a soft cloth and degreaser to avoid jamming.</p>\n\n<p>If you have any issues you could flash a new version of the firmware - please use <a href="https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/a/5849/9730">this answer</a>, to the question, <a href="https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/5848/how-to-upload-firmware-to-reprap-printer">How to upload firmware to reprap printer?</a>, as a guide to how to upload firmware to the printer.</p>\n'}, {'answer_id': 6285, 'author': '0scar', 'author_id': 5740, 'author_profile': 'https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/users/5740', 'pm_score': 2, 'selected': True, 'text': '<p>This is an old 3D printer that looks a lot like the <a href="https://reprap.org/wiki/Mendel" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Mendel</a> or a simpler remix of the Mendel (the <a href="https://reprap.org/wiki/Prusa_Mendel" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Prusa Mendel</a>). I think this is a Mendel you have obtained, it was released in October 2009.</p>\n\n<p>This is a printer type from the early days, a lot about these printers can be found now that you know the type. These old types can be constructed from printed parts and hardware store materials. Nowadays, metals like steel and aluminium sheets or aluminium profiles are more commonly used.</p>\n'}, {'answer_id': 6288, 'author': 'Greenonline', 'author_id': 4762, 'author_profile': 'https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/users/4762', 'pm_score': 3, 'selected': False, 'text': '<p>Here are some further details on:</p>\n\n<ul>\n<li>The control board, and;</li>\n<li>The stepper motors</li>\n</ul>\n\n<h2>Control board</h2>\n\n<p>The electronics board has this marking:</p>\n\n<p><a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/Ui1WV.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer" title="EJE Electronics Gubbel Engineering"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/Ui1WV.png" alt="EJE Electronics Gubbel Engineering" title="EJE Electronics Gubbel Engineering"></a></p>\n\n<pre><code>EJE Electronics Gubbels Engineering\n</code></pre>\n\n<p>The serial number is <code>0070-003</code></p>\n\n<p>According to this site <a href="https://wiki.xinchejian.com/wiki/Mendel_Reprap" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Xinchejian First Mendel V2 Reprap</a> the board is:</p>\n\n<blockquote>\n  <p>Gen6 Electronics, with AT Mega 644p processor (PCB EJE Electronics, Gubbels Engineering - mendel-parts.com)</p>\n</blockquote>\n\n<p>It seems to be this board (the serial numbers match):</p>\n\n<p><a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/dccKv.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer" title="Gen6_PCB_final_batch"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/dccKv.jpg" alt="Gen6_PCB_final_batch" title="Gen6_PCB_final_batch"></a></p>\n\n<p>Information on this board can be found here: <a href="https://reprap.org/wiki/Generation_6_Electronics" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Generation 6 Electronics</a>:</p>\n\n<blockquote>\n  <p>Generation 6, or Gen6, can be described as a dedicated, Plug-&amp;-Play, single board solution for FFF/FDM 3D Printers. It is designed to be professionally manufactured, with many small surface mount components, as opposed to Generation 7 which is designed to be printed on a Mendel(among other design goals).</p>\n  \n  <p>Another major difference with Gen6 electronics is that they use Texas Instruments DRV8811 chips to drive the stepper motors. This means they require firmware modifications from the normal Polulu-based electronics which use Allegro A4983 chips.</p>\n</blockquote>\n\n<p>It goes on to say:</p>\n\n<blockquote>\n  <p><strong>Benefits of this Design</strong></p>\n  \n  <ul>\n  <li>These electronics are a single board solution, so you don\'t need all those cables and one thick sheet and 4 reprap parts less.</li>\n  <li><strike>However, the thick sheet does add a fair amount of rigidity.</strike> @$@#?? the bottom thick sheet (big one) doesnt add\n  much rigidity, the front one is used for stiffness of the frame, not\n  the bottom one.</li>\n  <li>It has a standard USB connection (USB A>B cable needed)</li>\n  <li>It uses micro-stepping (1/8) for quieter operation.</li>\n  <li>It is cheaper than for example Makerbot\'s version of the RepRap Generation 3 electronics.</li>\n  <li>It uses small standard Molex connectors for motors, heater, and optos.</li>\n  <li>The pcb of the optos are integrated, so you only need the optos on cables with 5way Molex connectors</li>\n  </ul>\n  \n  <p><strong>Hardware Features</strong></p>\n  \n  <ul>\n  <li>on-board USB-RS232 convertor</li>\n  <li>Integrated hardware for driving one extruder (stepper, heater and thermistor)</li>\n  <li>RS485 bus connector with the possibility to link through the extruder step and dir signals</li>\n  <li>Integrated hardware for driving H21LOB or TCST2103 slotted optosensors</li>\n  <li>High input voltage range: 12-24Vdc</li>\n  <li>Use of standard connectors with easy and clean installation</li>\n  <li>Debug LEDs for power, communication and heater output</li>\n  <li>Reset button</li>\n  </ul>\n  \n  <p><strong>Specifications</strong></p>\n  \n  <ul>\n  <li>Dimensions 110x60mm</li>\n  <li>Mounting grid: 100x50mm (4x M3)</li>\n  <li>Input voltage 12-24Vdc</li>\n  <li>On-board controller: ATmega 644p (Atmel Corp.)</li>\n  <li>RS485 connector: RJ45</li>\n  <li>Heat output: MOSFET output, 4A</li>\n  <li>Thermistors input: 100K thermistor</li>\n  </ul>\n</blockquote>\n\n<p>There is a lot more information on that page, including information about the power supply, USB, End stops, Heaters, Motors, Firmware, etc. I suggest that you read it fully, in order to understand the board\'s functionality. </p>\n\n<h2>Stepper Motors</h2>\n\n<p>The stepper\'s model number can be seen here:</p>\n\n<p><a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/ozDOL.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer" title="Stepper serial number"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/ozDOL.png" alt="Stepper serial number" title="Stepper serial number"></a></p>\n\n<p>The stepper\'s model number is <code>SY42STH47-1683B</code>,</p>\n\n<p>which is a <em>NEMA-17 High Torque Hybrid Stepper Motor</em>, with these specifications:</p>\n\n<ul>\n<li>Step angle: 1.8°</li>\n<li>Number of phase: 2</li>\n<li>Rated voltage: 2.8 V</li>\n<li>Rated current: 1.68 A</li>\n<li>Holding torque: 4.4 kg/cm</li>\n</ul>\n\n<p>This would be, at least, part of the <a href="https://www.zappautomation.co.uk/images/SY42STH47-1684B-060047076.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer">datasheet</a>:</p>\n\n<p><a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/5nZ07.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer" title="Stepper specification"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/5nZ07.jpg" alt="Stepper specification" title="Stepper specification"></a></p>\n\n<p>Here are a couple of links, should you need replacements (~€17):</p>\n\n<ul>\n<li><a href="https://www.poscope.com/product/nema-17-sy42sth47-1684b-stepper-motor/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">NEMA-17 (SY42STH47-1684B Stepper Motor) - Polabs)</a></li>\n<li><a href="https://www.zappautomation.co.uk/sy42sth47-1684b-high-torque-hybrid-stepper-motors.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">SY42STH47-1684B High Torque Hybrid Stepper Motors</a></li>\n</ul>\n\n<p>This stepper motor is also listed on the <a href="https://reprap.org/wiki/NEMA_17_Stepper_motor" rel="nofollow noreferrer">RepRapWiki - NEMA 17</a> page:</p>\n\n<pre><code>Model           Holding Torque  Rated voltage       Shaft   Step angle  Motor length    Rated current   Inductance\nSY42STH47-1684B   43.1 N·cm        2.8 V       Ø 5 mm double    1.8°        48 mm            n/a            n/a\n</code></pre>\n'}]
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