User:Ehaynes7928/ENES-100/Project 0: Laser Printer DIY

Week1 Narrative
The initial goal was to remove all outer panels that did not interface with the inner workings of the printer. Some parts were less than cooperative. After a consensus that there was no further use for these parts I used a flat head screwdriver to pry off several plastic panels, breaking them in the process. The gambit payed off, these parts had no function but protection and I had saved valuable time.

Behind some of these panels were a set of cards, one of which was found to be unnecessary for printer tests, another was needed simply to start the machine. The card that was necessary was proposed to be RAM by a fellow student.

Later in the week the goal had changed to removing unnecessary structure and separating parts to test. I discovered how the motherboard interfaced with the hardware. I hit a snag in trying to test the printer without its display in place. The printer insisted its cover was open when the display guard was removed.

Week2 Narrative
The goal for this week was to break the printer into as many functioning parts as possible. I suggested we begin by removing the bottom paper tray and its housing. Connor and I lifted the printer while Olivia slid the tray out from under. There were no screws involved, the part was modular. I proceeded to remove the top cover and panel that it interfaced with. I was successful not only in separating the display from the rest of the top panel, but also in tricking the printer into thinking it had a top cover.

After this we began a series of tests on the printer resulting in many errors. The first involved a missing hookup and part. The second involved a fictitious jam in the top cover area. This was remedied by turning the printer off and on several times. The third error message requested that the cartridge be installed, however; it already was. I began to set up some wires to reconnect the trip for the cartridge in order to convince the machine that the cartridge was installed. Although, after removing and replacing the cartridge multiple times, the jury rig was found to be unnecessary. Our final test resulted in the printer producing a totally black piece of paper.



Team Page