Notifications
Clear all

Well this sucks... LCD display gone bad  

Page 1 / 2
  RSS
bobstro
(@bobstro)
Illustrious Member
Well this sucks... LCD display gone bad

This just happened...

It's not the gibberish associated with firmware issues, and several power resets have failed to clear it. Before I order a replacement, are there any suggestions for troubleshooting or fixes? Also, links to any US-based replacements would be appreciated.

My notes and disclaimers on 3D printing

and miscellaneous other tech projects
He is intelligent, but not experienced. His pattern indicates two dimensional thinking. -- Spock in Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan

Posted : 11/03/2020 10:09 pm
bobstro
(@bobstro)
Illustrious Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Well this sucks... LCD display gone bad

Also, any tips for easy upgrades -- ideally not requiring any hardware or firmware mods -- appreciated!

My notes and disclaimers on 3D printing

and miscellaneous other tech projects
He is intelligent, but not experienced. His pattern indicates two dimensional thinking. -- Spock in Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan

Posted : 11/03/2020 10:24 pm
Steve
(@steve-5)
Trusted Member
RE: Well this sucks... LCD display gone bad

Bob,

That sucks.  I assume this just "happened" as you powered on the printer or some such? If you are adept with a soldering iron the first thing I'd recommend is just a quick "re-flow" of all of the solder joints on the LCD assembly.  Sometimes a cold solder joint can manifest like this.  If that doesn't fix the problem you can probably recover by just replacing the 4x20 LCD module itself as this problem looks like one of the row or column drivers on the LCD module has gone out to lunch. 

Something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/RioRand-Module-Arduino-White-Blue/dp/B00GZ6GK7A/ref=sr_1_4?crid=GD3PZG83MCVF&keywords=lcd+4x20&qid=1583967610&sprefix=lcd+4%2Caps%2C833&sr=8-4

You should get one without the serial interface adapter board as I am reasonably certain that the Prusa panel does not use the serial interface to communicate directly with the LCD panel and that module is unlikely to have failed anyway if they are using it.  Unsoldering the existing LCD will be a little irritating because of all of the pins but it is otherwise straighforward and you can hopefully have a fully functional panel again for about $8.00.

Regards,

Steve

Posted : 11/03/2020 11:08 pm
TaylorsMake
(@taylorsmake)
Active Member
RE: Well this sucks... LCD display gone bad

I experienced similar issues to this the other day, and the support team had me unplug the lcd cables lay them flat to remove and bends etc then replace them. I was told it’s caused by static electricity build up. My issue has been resolved. 

Posted : 11/03/2020 11:34 pm
karl-herbert
(@karl-herbert)
Illustrious Member
RE: Well this sucks... LCD display gone bad

@bobstro

After 2 years of frequent printing, the original LCD display on my MK3 was broken. I bought this replacement:

20x4-lcd-display-by-ldo-white-black

Statt zu klagen, dass wir nicht alles haben, was wir wollen, sollten wir lieber dankbar sein, dass wir nicht alles bekommen, was wir verdienen.

Posted : 12/03/2020 12:10 am
vintagepc
(@vintagepc)
Member
RE: Well this sucks... LCD display gone bad

https://forum.prusa3d.com/forum/original-prusa-i3-mk3s-mk3-user-mods-octoprint-enclosures-nozzles-.../a-very-much-needed-improvement/

(shameless plug :P)

I've still got some orange film left over... source a B&W module and get it and your old backplane board to me  and I'll make you one 😉

Posted : 12/03/2020 12:22 am
bobstro
(@bobstro)
Illustrious Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Well this sucks... LCD display gone bad
Posted by: @vintagepc

[...] I've still got some orange film left over... source a B&W module and get it and your old backplane board to me  and I'll make you one 😉

Ooh, may just take you up on that. I forgot that was your post! Awesome result. Would this module linked to by @karl-herbert work? I like the white on black, but the orange filter is an elegant touch.

 

My notes and disclaimers on 3D printing

and miscellaneous other tech projects
He is intelligent, but not experienced. His pattern indicates two dimensional thinking. -- Spock in Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan

Posted : 12/03/2020 4:23 am
bobstro
(@bobstro)
Illustrious Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Well this sucks... LCD display gone bad
Posted by: @karl-herbert

[...] After 2 years of frequent printing, the original LCD display on my MK3 was broken. I bought this replacement:

20x4-lcd-display-by-ldo-white-black

Do you happen to know if this board will work with the display dimming feature in recent firmware? Not so critical with this nice display, but it would be nice to get the upgraded feature.

My notes and disclaimers on 3D printing

and miscellaneous other tech projects
He is intelligent, but not experienced. His pattern indicates two dimensional thinking. -- Spock in Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan

Posted : 12/03/2020 4:51 am
bobstro
(@bobstro)
Illustrious Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Well this sucks... LCD display gone bad
Posted by: @steve_g

[... That sucks.  I assume this just "happened" as you powered on the printer or some such?

I've had a few static pops lately due to low humidity. The display has blanked out a few times, but usually restored with a power cycle. 

[... ] If you are adept with a soldering iron the first thing I'd recommend is just a quick "re-flow" of all of the solder joints on the LCD assembly.  Sometimes a cold solder joint can manifest like this. 

I may give that a try while waiting for a replacement. I do have an old board on which the SD slot when bad. I can pop that in and use Octoprint for a bit while waiting for a replacement. I'm OK with a soldering iron, so this is doable.

Anything I can do to check the main board other than plug in the other display? The printer prints fine and I can (barely) make out some of the options on the menu. 

If that doesn't fix the problem you can probably recover by just replacing the 4x20 LCD module itself as this problem looks like one of the row or column drivers on the LCD module has gone out to lunch. 

I'd looked into upgrades a while back, but it hasn't been a priority. I'll check out the options, thanks!

 

My notes and disclaimers on 3D printing

and miscellaneous other tech projects
He is intelligent, but not experienced. His pattern indicates two dimensional thinking. -- Spock in Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan

Posted : 12/03/2020 4:54 am
Steve
(@steve-5)
Trusted Member
RE: Well this sucks... LCD display gone bad

Bob,

If you have an old display board with a bad SD slot you could just source your LCD from that.  Looking back at this thread:

https://forum.prusa3d.com/forum/original-prusa-i3-mk3s-mk3-user-mods-octoprint-enclosures-nozzles-.../old-lcd-board-modification-to-allow-fw-3-9-0-brightness-control/#post-189013  

The changes to allow brightness control of the LCD are independent of the panel.  This means you can pick any color 4 x 20 display (black/white, blue/white, yellow/green, etc.) and as long as they use the standard LCD_2004 pinout they can be controlled.  VintagePC also outlined the changes necessary to mod the -A003 board to allow control with firmware 3.9 so you could just make this mod as well while you are at it.

If by "main board" you are referring to the Einsy/Rambo I doubt that there is any issue there.  The display appears as though the drivers controlling the display elements are having problems.  This does not appear to be a case of "bad data" from the controller.

Regards,

Steve

Posted : 12/03/2020 6:32 am
karl-herbert
(@karl-herbert)
Illustrious Member
RE: Well this sucks... LCD display gone bad

@bobstro

My linked Zaribo LCD is fully compatible with fw 3.9.0, no firmware changes, nothing. It's working on my MK3 since 2 month. Costs about 25 USD + shipping costs to US.

As you can see on the photos, it's not dark black. There's a slightly blue shining in the background.

Statt zu klagen, dass wir nicht alles haben, was wir wollen, sollten wir lieber dankbar sein, dass wir nicht alles bekommen, was wir verdienen.

Posted : 12/03/2020 10:31 am
vintagepc
(@vintagepc)
Member
RE: Well this sucks... LCD display gone bad
Posted by: @bobstro
Posted by: @vintagepc

[...] I've still got some orange film left over... source a B&W module and get it and your old backplane board to me  and I'll make you one 😉

Ooh, may just take you up on that. I forgot that was your post! Awesome result. Would this module linked to by @karl-herbert work? I like the white on black, but the orange filter is an elegant touch.

 

The full module would work but it's a lot harder to do for that because the module needs to be removed from the backplane and then reattached, there's a risk the module gets damaged (pin tolerances are tight, easy to lift a trace/rip out a via, even with the correct tools). Not a big deal if the old display is dead anyway, but risky if the one you intend to work on isn't. 

I'd suggest that if you want to go that route just source a 20x04 module only, minus the backplane board. Any HD44780 compatible will work, I got this one, it arrived in less than a week:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/5V-Black-20x4-Character-LCD-Module-Display-w-Tutorial-HD44780-Controller-Bezel/291020233945?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

I should also have the parts to brightness mod the old backplane if you want. 

Posted : 12/03/2020 11:27 am
karl-herbert
(@karl-herbert)
Illustrious Member
RE: Well this sucks... LCD display gone bad

@vintagepc

https://www.ebay.com/itm/5V-Black-20x4-Character-LCD-Module-Display-w-Tutorial-HD44780-Controller-Bezel/291020233945?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

I have an old orig. Prusadisplay (A003 board) with defect LCD. Would the linked LCD work without any firmware or other changes?

Statt zu klagen, dass wir nicht alles haben, was wir wollen, sollten wir lieber dankbar sein, dass wir nicht alles bekommen, was wir verdienen.

Posted : 12/03/2020 12:30 pm
vintagepc
(@vintagepc)
Member
RE: Well this sucks... LCD display gone bad
Posted by: @karl-herbert

@vintagepc

https://www.ebay.com/itm/5V-Black-20x4-Character-LCD-Module-Display-w-Tutorial-HD44780-Controller-Bezel/291020233945?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

I have an old orig. Prusadisplay (A003 board) with defect LCD. Would the linked LCD work without any firmware or other changes?

Yes, it's a standard 20x4 HD44780 LCD, drop in replacement.

 

 

Posted : 12/03/2020 12:51 pm
karl-herbert
(@karl-herbert)
Illustrious Member
RE: Well this sucks... LCD display gone bad

@vintagepc

Thank you for the information!

Statt zu klagen, dass wir nicht alles haben, was wir wollen, sollten wir lieber dankbar sein, dass wir nicht alles bekommen, was wir verdienen.

Posted : 12/03/2020 12:56 pm
vintagepc liked
bobstro
(@bobstro)
Illustrious Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Well this sucks... LCD display gone bad

Awesome info guys! I'll be sorting through it all this evening. Thanks.

My notes and disclaimers on 3D printing

and miscellaneous other tech projects
He is intelligent, but not experienced. His pattern indicates two dimensional thinking. -- Spock in Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan

Posted : 12/03/2020 1:26 pm
j1m1sh
(@j1m1sh)
Active Member
RE: Well this sucks... LCD display gone bad

I also had a display go bad.  I think it was either static or me moving the stepper motors when removing a print.  (Discussion here)

I bought my replacement screen from Printed Solid.
https://www.printedsolid.com/products/ldo-prusa-mk2-mk2-5-mk3-lcd-display-replacement

jim

Posted : 13/03/2020 5:34 pm
bobstro liked
Peter in Katy
(@peter-in-katy)
Estimable Member
RE: Well this sucks... LCD display gone bad

Printed solid also has the black and white display

https://www.printedsolid.com/products/ldo-prusa-black-screen-with-white-text-mk2-mk2-5-mk3-lcd-display

Posted : 15/03/2020 4:04 am
rmm200
(@rmm200)
Noble Member
RE: Well this sucks... LCD display gone bad

Dang those displays are cheap! I would go the Printed Solid route. Hardly worth working on a broken one.

Posted : 15/03/2020 4:16 am
bobstro
(@bobstro)
Illustrious Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Well this sucks... LCD display gone bad

Thanks for the links, guys. I have to admit I quickly ordered a full board from Zaribo before I realized they're in Germany. Given the situation in the world today, I ordered another from PrintedSolid (almost the same price with shipping) and it arrived today. I've installed it an am back in business. Thanks for all the great solutions. I'll have a spare now and when time allows, I'll work on transplanting the LCD panel from the board with the defective SD slot to the one with the bad panel. I hadn't thought about these as consumables, but I'm on my 3rd in 2 years now.

My notes and disclaimers on 3D printing

and miscellaneous other tech projects
He is intelligent, but not experienced. His pattern indicates two dimensional thinking. -- Spock in Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan

Posted : 18/03/2020 7:44 pm
Page 1 / 2
Share: