After not much luck and not understanding the firmware stuff well enough to actually do much I'm adding to this repo a guide in the wiki to cheaply resurrecting these printers and being able to use them with modern slicers.
Repo to discuss/document researching and hacking older makerbot 3d printers
I have been doing some research into hacking into an old makerbot replicator mini+ and I have found some info online about it but nothing yet to get complete access to the firmware or ways to use it with easily with other hardware besides people swapping out the control board
I don't know if this repo will go anywhere with this but I wanted to get it documented on the internet where I would be looking so if someone else out there is also looking they can find this.
Specifcally
Makerbot Replicator 5th gen
Makerbot Replicator +
Makerbot Replicator 5th gen mini
Makerbot Replicator mini+