MOD - Homemade converters

[ishiyakazuo]

Hi all,
I'm working on starting up a side business selling various homebrew video game accessories for consoles from the 80s and 90s, and the "chopsado" idea caught my eye.  I've been working on developing a Kisado-clone (with some added bonuses thrown in) for a couple of months now, but I need some seed money.  I work for an engineering company that could probably order some custom, somewhat professional "chopsado" flex PCBs on the cheap, taking away the work of making them out of ribbon cables and carefully soldering wires.  I think I could probably get the price down to a few bucks per (something along the lines of $4 each incl. shipping for qty. 1, and 10 for $30?), but I'm wondering if there are people out there interested enough in this idea to commit to buying a few before I take the monetary plunge here to get them fabbed.  I have high confidence that they will be a great compromise in terms of robustness and reusability.
Just curious if people were interested in the idea.  My current plan is to put them on eBay for something around 5 bucks a pop, and then sell them to members of this forum for less directly.
Does this seem like something worth doing?  It would help fund my development of the full-blown Kisado-clone, which will require some significant efforts on my part to complete.
Anyway, let me know your thoughts on it

[db-electronics]

Hi all, new to this forum - was recommended by a few users to come join the discussion!

On the topic of homemade converters, I recently made this:
http://www.db-elec.com/home/pc-engine-to-turbografx16-converter

My converter allows to play both PCe and TG16 games on a TG16 console - so far tested on NTSC and PAL variants. There is a switch to convert between the two different databus configurations.

I'm looking for input, suggestions, and what not, to help improve the converter!

Thanks...

[Necromancer]

Looks neato, db.  What's the socket made from?

[db-electronics]

That's the difficult part isn't it? I couldn't find anything on the market (without going custom) that matches the PCe/TG16's weird 38pos 0.050" spacing and 0.093" thick edge connection.

I mounted two 20pos spring-loaded connectors upside-down and side by side to make the connection to the HuCard - the two outermost pins are unused but that's not an issue. The two Pin Headers which serve as interconnect between my two boards also serve as alignment guides for the HuCards. Lining up the whole thing is kind-of a pain but it's well worth it (I'm getting better at the process). I've made about 30 thus far.

I will be posting a youtube video of the process in the next couple of weeks.

[MotherGunner]

Any chance you could talk prices?

[db-electronics]

Bulk pricing? Or just a one off?

[MotherGunner]

Bulk pricing? Or just a one off?

Would be interested in knowing both.  Thanks!

[db-electronics]

Send me an e-mail and we'll discuss it further...

[esteban]

I just read this thread, consulted website and watched the video: awesome!

 

[ishiyakazuo]

Just out of curiosity, why is the switch desirable?  Is it to reduce wear and tear on the connector inside the TG16 from pulling this out to play TG16 games?
Very cool design, by the way, I like it!  Mind if I ask where you get your PCBs manufactured?  The places I've used in the past have a fit if it exceeds 100mm, which that clearly does.

[db-electronics]

Yeah I'm also beginning to wonder if I should just remove the switch and have the user pull out the converter when you play a US game. Either way, the switch and ICs to reverse the databus are not contributing much to the cost.

I get my PCBs made at http://smart-prototyping.com/index.php?route=common/home. I've ordered over 1000 boards of different designs from them without a hitch. Turnaround is pretty quick too, I think 3 weeks is the max it ever took to get a batch of boards at my doorstep.

The one drawback from Smart-Prototyping, when it comes to the TG-16, is that they don't make 0.093" thick board (which is the thickness of the HuCard).

[MotherGunner]

Hey db, I was checking out your YouTube video and it dawned on me:  Does your converter accommodate thicker HuCARDs such as the Arcade Card Pro?  Street Fighter 2?

Thanks

[db-electronics]

I have Street Fighter 2, it works in the converter. I can make an updated video if you'd like?

[MotherGunner]

Oh awesome, so does the converter accommodate the thickness as opposed to where the raised part begins?

[db-electronics]

I added a couple of pictures of the converter with SF2 on my website to better answer your questions. Check it out:

http://www.db-elec.com/home/pc-engine-to-turbografx16-converter