The Frankenbotic Thinganator - Making Stuff from Junk

Step One:  A trip to the local dump and a computer repair shop.  Both free, got one older dot matrix
Lexmark and a newer inkjet Dell printers.  Physical teardown took approximately two hours including

torch desoldering of relevant ICs.  Except for a handful of potentially useful-looking hardware and screws

for the bins, the plastic and metal carcasses of the printers are then disposed of.





 

Teardown of the Lexmark gives us several stepper motors, ranging from small low-torque ones, all the

way to a NEMA 23 and one other high-power stepper motor.  The Dell inkjet gives up a nice standard DC motor, as well as another mid-power stepper motor.

 

 

 

In addition to the motors themselves, a quick pass with a desoldering torch and we can reclaim the

driver IC's, a few power transistors, a few Darlington arrays, and some other miscellaneous

parts.