Hi Bill, this is one of those problems that just goes round and round - I've had it plenty of times, and never once figured out what it is that I did to fix it, beyond the usual arduino-appeasement incantations: Turn it off, turn it on, unplug it with the IDE open, close the IDE, re-plug with the IDE open, replug it with the IDE closed, replug it with the computer off, reinstall the drivers, uninstall the drivers, upgrade the drivers, hold down the reset button, try a different port, try a different usb cable. Etc.

Usually, the thing springs back into life at some point (days later?), but I'm really not clear what I did to make it happen, or if it was just going to happen magically anyway. It is absolutely infuriating.

If the sketch was too large, it would warn you before you tried to upload it, and you don't need to get a new uno.

Try loading any other sketch (blink, for instance). If that works, great. If nothing else loads, then you've got a bigger problem than just polargraph not working, and you might try the greater arduino community for an answer.

good luck
sn

Ah right, in that case... Difficult to say. I have heard something about new versions of avrdude screwing things up too. I think the only direct contact I've had with that issue is talked about here http://www.polargraph.co.uk/2012/06/polargraph-controller-v1-1-7/#comment-1636, and reflashing the bootloader helped in one person's case.

The a1 firmware is packed pretty tight, so there's almost no room to spare.

sn

Well that's great news Bill, but how annoying!

Now your troubles will really start, muhahahaha!

ahem..
sn