Did you wind up making any progress with your repair or a workaround?

I broke the Micro USB port off of the Printrboard in my Printrbot Simple Metal two years ago.

I didn't have any other 3D printer at the time and I didn't want to wait for a replacement because I was in the middle of a project... so I decided to experiment and repair it myself.

I was successful and it has been working fine ever since... even better because that tiny Micro USB port is gone. :)

If you are even slightly competent this repair can be done for under $10.00 if you already have all the needed soldering supplies and tools.

If you aren't that good at soldering small stuff, or don't trust yourself, bribe one of your friends with a 6-pack of beer. :D

Here's how to do it:

1. Buy this: USB B Printer Extension Cable - iGreely 2Pack 1-Feet Panel Mount USB 2.0 Cable B to B - F/M (1ft) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07CGXTXMT/ $7.99

2. Unplug everything from your Printrbot

3. Turn the Printrbot over and label all the wires connected to the Printrboard with masking tape and a Sharpie. Take pictures too.

4. Unplug all the connectors from the Printrboard.

5. Remove the screws from the Printrboard and remove from the Printrbot.

6. Clean the solder pads where the Micro USB surface mount port was attached. If the port isn't completely broken off, you'll have to carefully remove (desolder) the port and any. Flux is your friend.

7. Cut the male end off of the USB 2.0 Type B Panel Port that you purchased.

8. Carefully remove an inch of the black insulation from the end of the cable.

9. Carefully remove 1mm of insulation from the red, white, green and black wires.

10. Apply flux to each of the stripped wires.

11. Use your soldering iron and silver bearing solder to tin each of the stripped wires.

12. Use flux, solder wick and your soldering iron to clean each of the solder pads for the Micro USB port area on the Printrboard. Isopropyl alcohol and a cotton swab will help clean the area too.

13. Use your soldering iron and silver bearing solder to tin each of the solder pads for the Micro USB port area on the Printrboard.

14. If you have a multimeter, use it to test the traces for the Micro USB port area on the Printrboard. Refer to my picture showing where the test points for each solder pad are located. If any of the traces are damaged, you can solder the wire to the test point or alternate points and it will still work fine. Printrbot Printrboard RevF5 - Micro USB Repair - 01 - Pinout - 20190822_083414.jpg http://brandonb.net/reddit_2021-03-24_printrbot/Printrbot%20Printrboard%20RevF5%20-%20Micro%20USB%20Repair%20-%2001%20-%20Pinout%20-%2020190822_083414.jpg

15. After testing all the solder points, solder each of the stripped and tinned wires to their corresponding solder pads for the Micro USB port area on the Printrboard. Make sure to not pull on the wires after soldering so you don't rip off the solder pads or traces. Make sure you don't overheat any parts in the surrounding areas... this is why you pre-tinned the wires and solder pads... it makes it so much easier. Make sure that you don't solder more than one pad together... flux will help to prevent this.

16. Clean the flux off the areas that you soldered with isopropyl alcohol and a cotton swab.

17. Put some hot glue over the repaired area to prevent lifting the solder pads if the wires are pulled.

At this point you can connect the power cord and a standard USB 2.0 A to B cable to the Printrboard and your computer to make sure it's detected and you repair worked.

If the Printrboard is detected, you should be good to go!

Now do all the teardown steps in reverse in order to reassemble.

I would use a zip tie to strap the USB 2.0 Type B Panel Port wire to some other wires inside so that you can't pull on it and damage your repair and then just let it sit beside the Printrbot.

Good luck!