+nurmix Posted February 1, 2016 Share Posted February 1, 2016 Hey, Grips... If you're interested, we talked quite a bit about your controller in Episode 24 of The Intellivisionaries (during the News segment). The episode was just published today. Cheers! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+grips03 Posted February 1, 2016 Author Share Posted February 1, 2016 Hey, Grips... If you're interested, we talked quite a bit about your controller in Episode 24 of The Intellivisionaries (during the News segment). The episode was just published today. Cheers! Cool, I've made it to the big time. Thanks guys. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+nurmix Posted February 1, 2016 Share Posted February 1, 2016 Cool, I've made it to the big time. Thanks guys. Our pleasure. Hope it generates some interest for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+grips03 Posted February 1, 2016 Author Share Posted February 1, 2016 I'm looking for some advice. I use LTO cart shells for the controller PCBs. The Intv cart uses 2xAAA batteries. That means you need to open the cart shell when the batteries die. This works ok, but the Ninja sticker does not hold at the top part if you keep opening and replacing batteries. I could cut the label on this cart short, so it does not bend over the top. Would this be ok? Reason battery is not in the controller base is: I can't use the super nice battery holder I use on the Intv 2 arcade controller as that is where the cartridges go in the Super Ninja Controller I would rather not have the controller case opened and closed as the screw holes can wear out, LTO shells screws hole wear better and there are 4 of them for such a small shell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pimpmaul69 Posted February 1, 2016 Share Posted February 1, 2016 Looking at how far the cart sticks out, couldnt you use a aaa battery holder on the backside of the cart. Not sure what it looks like inside. Feel free to pm me a photo of the board and case if you want me to try to help you figure out a way to do this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pimpmaul69 Posted February 1, 2016 Share Posted February 1, 2016 (edited) Looking at how far the cart sticks out, couldnt you use a aaa battery holder on the backside of the cart. Not sure what it looks like inside. Feel free to pm me a photo of the board and case if you want me to try to help you figure out a way to do this. You could also externally attach one of these to the bottom of the cart. Edited February 1, 2016 by pimpmaul69 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+grips03 Posted February 1, 2016 Author Share Posted February 1, 2016 Looking at how far the cart sticks out, couldnt you use a aaa battery holder on the backside of the cart. Not sure what it looks like inside. Feel free to pm me a photo of the board and case if you want me to try to help you figure out a way to do this. You could also externally attach one of these to the bttom of the cart. image.jpg One thing I was thinking was to mill the back side of the cart, so one could access the battery without opening the cart. Your right that piggy backing AAA battery holder with cover might fit too The new Intv Ninja Controller PCB takes up about 1/2 space inside the LTO shell, in order to allow 2xAAA battery on the inside of the cart. The current Intv pcb takes about 70% and allows for single AAA battery only. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pimpmaul69 Posted February 1, 2016 Share Posted February 1, 2016 (edited) One thing I was thinking was to mill the back side of the cart, so one could access the battery without opening the cart. Your right that piggy backing AAA battery holder with cover might fit too The new Intv Ninja Controller PCB takes up about 1/2 space inside the LTO shell, in order to allow 2xAAA battery on the inside of the cart. The current Intv pcb takes about 70% and allows for single AAA battery only. if you had a pcb that took most of the space, you could cut out a space to put this holder in then double side sticky foam this battery holder down to the board so i protrudes just enough to be able to slide the cover off Edited February 1, 2016 by pimpmaul69 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+grips03 Posted February 1, 2016 Author Share Posted February 1, 2016 if you had a pcb that took most of the space, you could cut out a space to put this holder in then double side sticky foam this battery holder down to the board so i protrudes just enough to be able to slide the cover off ah, kind of recessed battery holder type idea. I like it, but just checked and due to hand grip indents on LTO shell won't fit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pimpmaul69 Posted February 1, 2016 Share Posted February 1, 2016 ah, kind of recessed battery holder type idea. I like it, but just checked and due to hand grip indents on LTO shell won't fituhhgg. That suxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+grips03 Posted February 1, 2016 Author Share Posted February 1, 2016 Our pleasure. Hope it generates some interest for you. To answer some of the questions brought up in Episode 24. There is nothing in the design that limits it to left hand joystick. When I sell the kit people should be able to install in pretty much any arcade controller, even ones with joysticks on the right hand side Right now Intv and 5200 cart use a Xilinx CPLD - so they have firmware, the others just use the stock controller design in cartridge pcb form. Only exception is the MCC cart which uses a PIC. I have parts to make 3 MCC carts and that might be it for them. If I don't make any more MCC carts I'll just make dedicated NES, SNES, Saturn, PC-Engine, USB carts. MCC is nice because it supports so many consoles with a single cart. Unfortunately I'll likely lose around 2K (dev costs) even after I sell the 20 I plan to make. There is really no way to recoup these costs with low volume. Not sure if other designers run into the same issues I do, but I lose most money via pcb re-spins, component selection and re-selection, trying to make the product easy to assemble and work on. I'm glad you guys think the Super Ninja controller is good idea. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+nurmix Posted February 1, 2016 Share Posted February 1, 2016 To answer some of the questions brought up in Episode 24. There is nothing in the design that limits it to left hand joystick. When I sell the kit people should be able to install in pretty much any arcade controller, even ones with joysticks on the right hand side Right now Intv and 5200 cart use a Xilinx CPLD - so they have firmware, the others just use the stock controller design in cartridge pcb form. Only exception is the MCC cart which uses a PIC. I have parts to make 3 MCC carts and that might be it for them. If I don't make any more MCC carts I'll just make dedicated NES, SNES, Saturn, PC-Engine, USB carts. MCC is nice because it supports so many consoles with a single cart. Unfortunately I'll likely lose around 2K (dev costs) even after I sell the 20 I plan to make. There is really no way to recoup these costs with low volume. Not sure if other designers run into the same issues I do, but I lose most money via pcb re-spins, component selection and re-selection, trying to make the product easy to assemble and work on. I'm glad you guys think the Super Ninja controller is good idea. We'll talk more about this in episode 25. If there's anything additional you'd like us to mention send me a PM with the details (maybe contact info for those not on Atari Age, etc.). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+grips03 Posted February 2, 2016 Author Share Posted February 2, 2016 Tested Sega Genesis pcb tonight and it failed due to routing error. Ordered new pcb tonight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+grips03 Posted February 2, 2016 Author Share Posted February 2, 2016 For the Intv cart I'm going to cut the sticker short, so that one can replace the Intv cart's battery and cart's sticker does not wear out. Here is pic of what that looks like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+grips03 Posted February 5, 2016 Author Share Posted February 5, 2016 Atari 5200 cart is being worked on. PCB is 50% done and then I just need to complete the CPLD code. We are looking at around April for that cart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+grips03 Posted February 6, 2016 Author Share Posted February 6, 2016 I'm going back and forth on using AAA or 2xAAA in the Intv cart. Both fit fine. One weights slightly more than the other due to 2nd battery. With 2xAAA you also change the batteries 1/2 as much. If you have a preference let me know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+grips03 Posted February 7, 2016 Author Share Posted February 7, 2016 Updated post 1 with the 2 DIY kits. These kits should pretty much work in any arcade controller that fits the main pcb, 4.94x3.05 inches (125.43x77.42 mm) Main pcb is designed to fit in the right hand side of the NeoGeoX and NeoGeo AES controller. Super Ninja Controller kit: Main PCB, edge card connector, db9 cable, power switch, 2 ties, 2 spacers, keypad, keypad pcb, internal wiring, db15 male to db9 female console cable, nuts / bolts Ninja Controller kit: Main PCB, edge card connector, db9 cable, power switch, 2 ties, 2 spacers, keypad, keypad pcb, internal wiring, nuts / bolts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+grips03 Posted February 7, 2016 Author Share Posted February 7, 2016 grips03, in for conversion kits for my Coleco and Intv ones conversion kits are now posted, see post 1. Do you have a person who can cut the slot for the cartridge? Looks close if trying to add SNC kit to Intv2 controller, see the battery hole cut out and compare to cartridge slot hole. See red areas. Should be ok if you want to convert Colecovision arcade controller. However its sort of undoing a super great controller IMO. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+grips03 Posted February 8, 2016 Author Share Posted February 8, 2016 Removed MCC cart from line up as I only can obtain parts for 3 carts. Perhaps I could provide pcb only and buyer could add MCC chip to the pcb. Added dual port Commodore 64, this will have two db9 ports and perhaps switch to select between port1 and port2 = primary controller. It may also have 3 buttons: Button A = Fire2 Button B = Up Button C = Fire1 If you have a preference on what the C64 cart should have let me know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiLic0ne t0aD Posted February 8, 2016 Share Posted February 8, 2016 Other than cutting out the cart slot, this doesn't look too bad so far.. The Inty battery holder makes a good starting point by the looks of it, in the pic. I don't have too many machine shop connections anymore, I'll be doing it by hand most likely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+grips03 Posted February 14, 2016 Author Share Posted February 14, 2016 pcbs for controller cases are in. going to build 5 controllers this coming week, 3 controllers are still for sale. Gen 1 carts are ready too. Still trying to see if I'm going to ship these. They work perfect, but more could done to prevent person from installing wrong cart, connecting to wrong console, and then powering on the console, and then pressing buttons to cause a short. To that end I'm building a test Gen2 cart with more protection built in. Intv2/Sears cart will use 2xAAA battery. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+grips03 Posted February 15, 2016 Author Share Posted February 15, 2016 Test NeoGeo Gen2 cart pcb has been ordered, should be here in 2 weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+grips03 Posted February 18, 2016 Author Share Posted February 18, 2016 Two carts are shipping next week with the first batch of controllers Intellivision Colecovision as these already have the enhanced safety. Other carts will be ready ~3-4 weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+grips03 Posted March 2, 2016 Author Share Posted March 2, 2016 First 5 controller cases have been cut. Building the controllers this weekend. I have 3 left for sale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+grips03 Posted July 10, 2016 Author Share Posted July 10, 2016 I'm back working on this project again. 5200 cart is first on the list 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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