LCD Display is unreadable

[shentheory]

So I got to that final stage in the build, Check point 22. Flip the switch, I hear the RAMBo fan and LCD comes on, YAY!

But then I start to freak out a little, because I see nothing on the LCD. As I look closer, I DO actually see the 2 rows of blocks, but it's one of those where you have to look at a certain angle, but even then it's so light it's extremely hard to see. I fiddled with the contrast adjustment in back of the lcd, but this is the darkest I could get the blocks:

I tried my best to take a picture of it, if you look hard enough you can see the blocks:
http://i.imgur.com/NeyTxIv.jpg

I was expecting this, the picture taken straight from the manual:
http://i.imgur.com/ESRf9XU.png


I just wanted to see if anyone had any experience/input on this. Is it a possible user error? Does it get darker/easier to read once I start installing firmware (silly question, i know)? Or should I request a replacement?

Much appreciated!!

shentheory

[Nylocke]

Do you have firmware uploaded, and are you sure you have the correct ribbon cables plugged into the correct spots?

[RegB]

So I got to that final stage in the build, Check point 22. Flip the switch, I hear the RAMBo fan and LCD comes on, YAY!

But then I start to freak out a little, because I see nothing on the LCD. As I look closer, I DO actually see the 2 rows of blocks, but it's one of those where you have to look at a certain angle, but even then it's so light it's extremely hard to see. I fiddled with the contrast adjustment in back of the lcd, but this is the darkest I could get the blocks:

I tried my best to take a picture of it, if you look hard enough you can see the blocks:
http://i.imgur.com/NeyTxIv.jpg

I was expecting this, the picture taken straight from the manual:
http://i.imgur.com/ESRf9XU.png


I just wanted to see if anyone had any experience/input on this. Is it a possible user error? Does it get darker/easier to read once I start installing firmware (silly question, i know)? Or should I request a replacement?

Much appreciated!!

shentheory

I think I had that at first power on - as usual I didn't take good notes, but I think it was a simple matter of brightness or contrast.
I suggest you try turning the knob, before pressing it in.
I am fairly sure that is what fixed mine, will write again if I remember something else.

[shentheory]

So I GOT IT!

Turns out that the ribbon cables orientation on the rambo is shown incorrectly on the MANUAL! I flipped both upside down and boom, we're good!

Thanks for the replies!!!

[Earthbound]

The manual shows the striped (red) wire on the correct side, adjacent to pin 1 of the header (silk screened on PCB). That is the orientation that matters. The direction that the flat cable exits the connector body will be dependent on how the cable was built.

[geneb]

So I GOT IT!

Turns out that the ribbon cables orientation on the rambo is shown incorrectly on the MANUAL! I flipped both upside down and boom, we're good!

The orientation shown IS correct.

g.

[shentheory]

So I GOT IT!

Turns out that the ribbon cables orientation on the rambo is shown incorrectly on the MANUAL! I flipped both upside down and boom, we're good!

The orientation shown IS correct.

g.

Ah, I gotcha, I was thinking it was the orientation of the connector. Thanks!

[add1ct3dd]

Yeah with those wires, you always have to go by the red wire (aka pin1) .

[theverant]

Yuppp. I've done the same thing (more than once) in the past. Two rows of blocks = wrong orientation. It's a super easy mistake to make!

[Eaglezsoar]

Yuppp. I've done the same thing (more than once) in the past. Two rows of blocks = wrong orientation. It's a super easy mistake to make!

All of this swapping of the cables or having to turn them over is caused because they went with a keyed, shrouded headers when they first started making these printers then they
chose to use non-keyed, non-shrouded header connectors. Does any one who has done a build recently tell me if the headers are keyed or unkeyed.?

[Earthbound]

The headers are on parts not made by SeeMeCNC. The LCD assembly has keyed headers. The adapter board that fits to the RAMBo does not.

[Eaglezsoar]

The headers are on parts not made by SeeMeCNC. The LCD assembly has keyed headers. The adapter board that fits to the RAMBo does not.

That's what I thought. At one time those headers on the adapter board were keyed and shrouded the same as the LCD board. I guess the Chinese manufacturers wanted to
save a few cents.

[jdurand]

Some time back I designed a new machine for a medical company. It had quite a few boards in it and interconnecting cables. I used keyed connectors with locks for all of them and tried to not use two of the same size anywhere near each other.

The company immediately changed to just posts to save money. And immediately found they were putting cables on wrong and they were falling off in transit. Did they go back to what I'd specified? Of course not. They put big blobs of hot-melt glue over each connector and since some STILL fell off, they supplied the doctors with the special wrench to remove the tamper-resistant screws so they could pop them back on.

They also swapped out some expensive precision parts I was using for "equivalent" parts that cost 1/10th as much.

And then said my design was crap, blaming me for all the failures and inaccuracies.

[Eaglezsoar]

Some time back I designed a new machine for a medical company. It had quite a few boards in it and interconnecting cables. I used keyed connectors with locks for all of them and tried to not use two of the same size anywhere near each other.

The company immediately changed to just posts to save money. And immediately found they were putting cables on wrong and they were falling off in transit. Did they go back to what I'd specified? Of course not. They put big blobs of hot-melt glue over each connector and since some STILL fell off, they supplied the doctors with the special wrench to remove the tamper-resistant screws so they could pop them back on.

They also swapped out some expensive precision parts I was using for "equivalent" parts that cost 1/10th as much.

And then said my design was crap, blaming me for all the failures and inaccuracies.

They change your design to use cheaper parts and then blame you! WTF? I would be job searching for as long as it took to get way from !@#$$ like that.