Cricut Maker Motherboard Replacement

Written By: Devyn White

Comments: 19

Difficulty

Difficult

Steps

Time Required

2 - 3 hours

Introduction

The motherboard of a Cricut Maker device is the machine's control panel.

Follow this guide to fix a Cruit Maker motherboard. You may need to replace the motherboard if your device's cutter or USB port malfunctions. The power button turning red immediately after plugging in the machine may also indicate a faulty motherboard.

The motherboard and the parts surrounding it are delicate and should be handled with care.

Note: Before beginning this repair, turn off the device and unplug it from the outlet.

Tools

Step 1

To remove the cover from the connecting joint, use an iFixit opening tool, and pry around the perimeter of the cover to release it.
Applying too much pressure to this can break it as it is very fragile.
There is some adhesive holding the cover, so it may take some patience and finesse to pry the cover off.
Remove the cover from the connecting joint and set it aside.

The outer two attachment points of my Cricut were actually glued on, and I had to reach in with the torx driver and remove them while the strip was still on, to be able to get the lid off. On inspection, there would have been no way to lift the strip off in the way described here.

cjberry -

Step 2

Remove the four, 10 mm Torx TR8 security screws holding the lid in place.

Step 3

Turn the device around, so that the back is facing you.
Look for the small rectangles along the back of the device. For every two rectangles, there is one cylindrical connector in between the two.
Wedge one or two iFixit opening picks in the seam connecting the Top Door to the device, and use the iFixit opening tool to pry upwards along the seam.
These actions should reveal the cylindrical connectors.

The lid of my Cricut maker 3 was removable by pulling upwards, while the lid was still open. It slides right off. The prying approach as described in this step is unnecessary, and could break the attachment points if forced.

Chris Schnabel -

Step 4

Press down on the lid.
Push the lid outwards to free it from the jointed clasps.

Where is/are the steps to get to the point of seeing the motor? I've got the top cover off, but that doesn't reveal the motor. There are steps missing between 4 and 5.

Patty Ellis -

There are x7 small screws on the inside upper panel that have to be removed as well as x4 long screws under the feet of the machine.

I had to turn on my machine and send a project to it to have the cutter mechanism move out of the way to remove some of the screws. Once all the screws have been removed the case can be pulled away, but you have to be careful when removing because there are some wires connecting the buttons on the case to the harddrive.

Margarita Armendariz -

Where can I get the replacement part(s) to make the door stay up and open?

David L Dabbs -

Step 5

Using your hands or an opening tool, remove the four foot pads covering four screws.
Use a Phillips #1 screwdriver to remove four 41 mm screws from the feet.

Step 6

Remove the seven screws (Four 8.5 mm screws, and three 12.5 mm screws) on the bottom of the device, this will allow you to remove the cover later on.
Use a Phillips #1 screwdriver to remove the four 8.5 mm screws from the bottom of the device.
Use a Phillips #0 screwdriver to remove the three 12.5 mm screws.

Step 7

Turn the device on its side.
To remove the seven 10 mm screws from the underside of the top of the device, use a Phillips #1 screwdriver with the flex extension.

Step 8

Lift the top case off of the base of the device.
After removing this cover, the internals of the device will be exposed.

When removing the top of the case, be sure to disconnect the daughter board on the right side of the machine.

Tovakiin -

Step 9

Use a Phillips #1 screwdriver to remove four 10 mm screws on the side of the device next to the motors.
Use a Phillips #1 screwdriver to remove the two 22 mm screws.

Step 10

Use a Phillips #1 screwdriver to remove two 10 mm screws. These are parallel to one another, one on either side of the machine.
Use a Phillips #1 screwdriver to remove two 8mm screws, these are also directly parallel to one another on either side of the machine.

Note the empty screw hole in the second photo, on the front, just beneath the plastic fin.

How was this removed without damaging the fin?
Hint: Since we've already removed the screws holding the right side cover in Step 9, the cover could be moved inward, providing access to that screw, IF we had already removed the lid attachment/hinge mechanism and rear inside cover.

JCinGG - 24/02/24

Step 11

Unplug the bundled connector from the motor on both sides of the machine. To to avoid damage, coax the connector out of the socket gently using a spudger.

I need to replace that bundled connector cord - where can I find one?

Jade9767 -

Step 12

Using a Phillips #1 screwdriver, remove one 10 mm screw from both sides of the machine. This will release wires that are screwed into the sides of device.
Once the screws are removed and wires detached, the main body can be lifted off the base, and set aside.

Step 13

Remove a total of seven 10 mm screws from the underside of the door.
One side of the base has two 10mm screws.
The other side of the base has five 10 mm screws.

Why is this step here, and not a step to remove the lid attachment hinge mechanism and rear inside cover?
It is not necessary to remove the front door for this procedure.

JCinGG - 24/02/24

Step 14

Pry the door from hinges using an iFixit opening tool.
Lift upwards and towards you, to remove the door from the hinges.

Step 15

Use a Phillips #2 screwdriver to remove the five 7 mm screws from the motherboard.

Step 16

Remove the gray electrical tape from the cables.

Step 17

Unplug both cables from the corners of the motherboard by pulling them upwards from the base of the connectors.

Step 18

Gently slide the motherboard out from USB port slot to remove it from the device.

Where do you get a new motherboard

Craftygrams -

so whete do you purchase parts. my motherboard seems to be okay but i only have 1 light on and uts tge power on light. machine not feeding in mat. roller running a bit. any help you can add woukd be helpful. thank you

hotgossip1 -

Where can we obtain replacement circuit boards? I have a bad power board. The one with the on/off button. Not the main board.

Jennifer Daniels -

This tutorial is only useful if you can actually replace the motherboard....seems that replacement motherboards are not available.

isabelle desjeux -

Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

Author

Devyn White

Member since: 20/09/22

1092 Reputation

6 comments

So do you sell the motherboard or know where it buy one for cricut cxpl301

David Washington -

I too am looking for a replacement board. It was suggested to me that I could contact one of the pcb repair companies. For a fee, they will either check and repair your board or they will copy and print a new board and mail it back to you. You have to send in your board for them to check and copy though. So I guess reputation and reviews would be priority. It would suck to send our boards off and never receive a new one or the old one. :-/.

Jennifer Daniels -

Cricut does not sell parts. Cricut does not do repairs.

B·Ware -

sooooo, theres no place to get parts? thats stupid...might as well just through it away then...

Kirk Serbian -

Bonjour pourriez vous nous dire où trouver la carte mère svp

Magali Magnier -

Something's wrong with this guide - steps 13-29 in this guide are not actually part of the motherboard replacement procedure.

Even with these steps removed, there are other missing steps.

Rom kslrqusz (Romkslrqusz) -