New project for the benefit of all classic computing!

[TheRogue]

Hey guys,

 

So, here's the news. I'm currently tooling up for PCB and enclosure production. I have decided to give back to the community by offering a different sort of service. I am going to be offering on demand production of a variety of classic computing hardware. Production will start with boards, and enclosures will follow shortly. I am going to offer many different open source pieces of hardware to start with, and I may attempt recreation or cloning of certain devices as time goes on.

 

Products that will be initially available include things like IEC2SD, SIO2SD, IDE interfaces for various machines, C64/VIC RS-232 interfaces, NetUSBee, MSX slot expanders, BBC SD adapters and sideways ROM expansions, Thylacine USB for Amiga, high-spec power supplies for a variety of systems including discounts for sending in old enclosures, ATX adapters for various older machines including regulators for any voltages not available from an ATX2.x supply, various ROMs, GALs, and the like, repair services for certain hardware, full upgrade services for certain hardware (such as a CPU, ROM, Oscillator, GAL, and Cache upgrade for a TransWarpGS), affordable IDE/SATA/CF/SD to SCSI boards, STF RAM expansions, custom cabling, full service one off boards (send a schematic or layout and a parts list, get a finished board back) and much much more. For now, I'd like to hear from you what devices you guys would like me to offer initially so I know what components to stock up on.

 

The inspiration for this project when ReactiveMicro (formerly GSE-Reactive) shut down a while back. I saw how stranded the Apple II community was, and I thought, why not pick up where Henry left off, but since I'm a proud user of many classic platforms I figured it should be for every classic platform what ReactiveMicro was for the Apple II.

 

Also, just to be clear, this is not wishful thinking, a pipe dream, or vapour. I recently lost my day job, and I have already started tooling up for this venture. The ROM/PLD programmer arrived today, the EPROM eraser is on its way, the PCD equipment will be here by the end of November, the electroplating gear (for through-hole plating) is being constructed, the box break and sheetmetal equipment will be purchased in short order, the vacuum pump desoldering station is in the shop, the rework station is on its way, and so on...

 

Let me know what you think. Questions, comments, and suggestions requested! Let's hear what you have to say! Also, if anyone wants to help me name this venture, I'd be glad to hear your suggestions!

[The Usotsuki]

As an Apple ][ user, that might be interesting.

[Keatah]

I'd sure like to see a 2meg expander for the ramworks series of cards again.. What happened to the stock/supplies gse-reactive had? Trashed? Auctioned?

Edited November 9, 2012 by Keatah

[TheRogue]

That's a very good question! I don't have a clue! I will get in touch with Henry and see what he has to say. Ill see if I can get info on the RamWorks cards and see what is involved in the expansion. If someone has one I can examine it might help too.

[potatohead]

There were some great protoboards made with fuses and such for Apple ][. I would buy those.

[+Gemintronic]

Many Sega Genesis cart reproduction services still use salvaged cart casings. I think AtariAge still relies on scrapping original cases too. I think there's a market for easily available cartridge casings.

[TheRogue]

Sounds good! Protoboards were already planned so check that off the list.

 

I plan to tool up for plastics production within a short while of opening. Initially I will be offering metal enclosures, but soon after I will be doing plastics as well. I also already have tools for professional labeling of enclosures, and we're not talking printed labels but real text and line drawings fused to the enclosures for a professional look.

 

As was suggested on another forum, please post links to any open source hardware projects you want or think I might like so I can built a library of them. Thanks guys!

[TheRogue]

Just to be clear on something, because I have had some confusion on other forums:

 

I AM NOT GOING TO PRODUCE COMPLEX MULTILAYER BOARDS WITH SUPERFINE TRACES IN HOUSE. SIMPLE SINGLE OR DOUBLE SIDED BOARDS WILL BE DONE ON DEMAND IN HOUSE, COMPLEX MULTILAYER STUFF WILL BE DONE BY A PCB MANUFACTURER.

 

I just wanted to say that because I know anyone who has any knowledge of PCB production will know that anyone who says they will make that sort of equipment in their basement is probably blowing smoke. I don't want people to think of this project as just a bunch of hot air, so I just wanted to be clear about that, expect smaller things initially, and bigger things to follow!

 

That being said, keep those suggestions coming!

[TheRogue]

Hi everyone,

 

It seems like interest here has sort of died off for now but that's ok I haven't done a whole lot to keep your attention yet! I was busy as hell yesterday and today I was working on an Amiga specific project today (redesigning the Thylacine card, PM if interested in details), so I'm sorry I didn't pop by sooner. Stay tuned for some tangible Atari related news in the next day or two!

[+Gemintronic]

I don't think interest has died down. I was waiting to see if you would address my suggestions.

 

If I could add one more idea to the list: Arduino cases. All these Uno units and cheap LCD shields beg ot be made into something like the Tiger Electronics portable games of old. Some online retailers even sell "kits" with the Arduino, LCD panel and joystick interface.

[TheRogue]

Sorry! I guess I wasn't clear before. When I mentioned plastics production I was refering specifically to your suggestion. I will most likely not buy equipment for injection moulding unless this project really takes off into the stratosphere, but I will absolutely hire a batch of cart cases and other such things if there is the interest.

 

As for arduino cases, I love that idea and I'll check into it asap! You guys are a fountain of excellent ideas!

[Keatah]

Well if you're doing arduino cases, why not raspberry pi cases? Perhaps even a ruggedized case to handle the elements, seals, gaskets, optical interfacing. Or maybe a series of cases for that ultra-tiny formfactor pc.

[yell0w_lantern]

Maybe you could go with a 3d printer instead of injection molding?

[oky2000]

3D printing is limited in materials and not exactly cheap tbh.

[Keatah]

Aren't 3-d printing materials very delicate?

[TheRogue]

I love the idea of a ruggedized case for Arduino and Raspberry Pis. I will look into it. I am not going to be doing 3D printing because it's just not sturdy enough, at least with machines that I could feasibly acquire.

 

To let everyone know, I am going to be doing a new run of the Nova VME graphics card. I am looking at combining the adapter and the graphics card into one to make it all more compact and whatever, but we will see as time goes on. I am going to be posting the first board layout in a day or two, just to show you all some progress. Anyway, I'll keep everyone informed just as soon as I have something to inform!

[magnusfalkirk]

Any chance you might try to either duplicate the Transwarp GS or Zip GSX? Failing that any chance you might be able to come up with an accelerator of your own for the Apple IIGS? That's about the only thing I need to add to my GS, but trying to find one on eBay at anything resembling a reasonable is out of the question.

[TheRogue]

The ZipGSX is pretty well out of the question in the forseeable future as in order to replicate it one would have to reverse engineer and clone the ASIC it uses. This is a huge effort, and one that doesn't need to be performed because the TransWarpGS in comparison is all off the shelf parts. I am planning on acquiring a spare and having it delaminated (it is a 5 layer board) and mapped. This would allow a direct clone to be made immediately. However, seeing as the FPGA is obsolete (I can still get it though) it would probably be best to reengineer it to use a newer/more available FPGA, or even all discrete logic if you want to go oldschool. I don't have enough spare cash yet to acquire one for this purpose, its all currently tied up in components and equipment, but soon I plan on doing that, as the IIGS community needs an accelerator that is readily available. Keep your eyes peeled over the next little while for an announcment regarding this. Perhaps I will try and convince an owner to lend me a currently dead or malfunctioning card for delamination in exchange for a newly produced one in return...

[TheRogue]

Just a small update on the previous post, I have fired off an email to around 15 PCB cloning services regarding their ability and willingness to clone the TWGS, as well as how much they will charge to do so. Depending on the cost I will either eat the cost myself or perhaps set up some system where people prepay an amount towards the cloning service for a corresponding discount on a new TWGS. We will see... Stay tuned.

[TheRogue]

Just an update: The blog for this project is now online here:

 

http://retrologycomputing.blogspot.ca/

 

Stay tuned!

[Tony Cruise]

Although you are not specifically looking at cartridge cases, it is a general problem across most of the systems. On the more popular systems old cartridge shells are recycled (not the best thing, as they are still original games), on other systems (MSX, SG-1000, Sord M5) you wouldn't dare recycle another title as they hard enough to get in the 1st place.

The Coleco community have sorted out the issue by having several people with suitable moulds and a very vibrant home brew release market has grown to quite a respectable size. There is no reason this model can't be used on other platforms.

I myself, after I have done some ports of my titles to Coleco and SG-1000 as well as some re-releases for MSX would like to try my hand at developing for some systems I never got to back in the day i.e. Master System and Atari 2600 & 8-bit. Having cases (and homebrew kits) available would make it easier for people to have one less worry with publishing their efforts.

[+Ksarul]

I have done molds for TI cartridge cases, though I haven't made new cases in anything other than test quantities yet.

[TheRogue]

Just a quick note for everyone. There is some new blog posts regarding the reproduction of the Nova graphics card. Anyone interested can pop over to http://retrologycomputing.blogspot.ca and check it out. Feel free to post your comments, questions, and suggestions!!

 

Just so you guys can rest easy, cartridge cases for a wide variety of systems will be made available over the coming months. Watch this space and the blog for updates as they develop.

 

In other news my shop is nearing full operational readiness, parts and equipment are arriving every day. The first products will be up for sale soon. Thay tuned!

 

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