This is the update for the closed thread HobbyCNC Pro Board went "South"!
I checked the board. The problem was caused by an intermittent copper trace between the LM317 and the 250 ohm resistor, the connection was defective, probably a defective PCB board from the beginning. The open circuit was not near any component's pads, where soldering or re soldering stress might break it, and it was under a layer of solder-mask.
This problem manifested itself as 10 volt present in the 5 volt circuit, frying one of the driver ICs whose Vcc pin was found to have 6 ohm to ground. This fact triggered the current limit feature of the lm317 showing as only a few hundred millivolt in the 5 volt test point
Even after taking out the driver IC the intermittent connection was not easy to find since it manifested only when power was applied. Measuring continuity (without power) it appeared to be OK.
The board is already up and running after replacing the LM317 (necessary because I needed access to repair the defective trace connection), the two 74HC14 and four Driver ICs damaged by the 10 volts in the 5 volt circuit.
I don't think HobbyCNC approach to solve his customer's crisis is a good business solution. How much did they save?, about $40.00? How much will it cost them in "Bad Advertisement"? The board was bought about two months before.
When the customer (jhowelb) tried to solve the problem he was offered some help (see thread "HobbyCNC Pro Board went "South"! ), but when it did not solve the problem he was left with the option of buying a new one or live with the loss. If their policy is not to give their customers the schematics as they are "proprietary information" they should have a very good technical support and be ready to do "extra effort" to keep their customers satisfied.
HobbyCNC knew from the early symptoms that there was a short circuit somewhere else on the board. They designed the board, so they knew that the LM317 current limiting circuit was tripped. A short circuit on the load does not damage the LM317, so they knew that either one or more of the driver chips or the 74HC14 was probably damaged, since the customer told them he reviewed all the solderings on the board and did not find a short circuit. Going the "extra mile" should have been offering him to take a look at the problem in order to find out if it really was a defective PCB, and not their decision of blaming it all on the customer.
What is the message sent to HobbyCNC potential customers elsewhere? Now, thanks to HobbyCNC attitude during this incident, they know that the kit they are considering buying is a disposable part. If it works, Congratulations!, if it doesn't just discard it and assume the loss.
By the way, I did not even know who their customer was before this incident. I do not have any relationship with their competitors either. My only one experience with HobbyCNC, recently, was a positive one. As I said in the original thread I respect their decision to consider their product's schematics a "proprietary information". I nevertheless consider that any buyer should be treated with respect and concern for his/her issues, even when the warranty (if any) is already expired. I don not think I am asking too much from a business that intends to grow.
I hope that they, as anyone of us, will learn from their mistakes, and that this will be an opportunity for them to show all the CNC community that they take our concerns as their own and will walk the extra mile with us.