willbilly

It needs a little adjustment but for a first try it isn't half bad! I usually need to do one or two more prototypes but I think I'll have it nailed next revision.

Hi guys, Unfortunately, thanks to Presidents' Day, I won't be getting the prints until Tuesday. So I was brainstorming during my drive to work, and I started thinking about standards. Is there a standard for the sizes of homebrew cartridges? I have the dimensions from my TI cartridge. I haven't cracked open my Atari made cartridges, but since they're smaller, I don't see the point. If there isn't a standard set of sizes, should we try defining one? I had some rough ideas of how it might look... 1X = Fits a standard TI PCB (roughly 1 15/16" length and 4" width, not including connector) 1.5X = 1.5 times standard in length (so that'd be ~3" length and 4" width, since that dimension is maxed out) 2X = 4" x 4" in the same standard And then a suffix could be added for alternate heights, maybe... 250 (1/4" above PCB...standard clearance) 500 (1/2" clearance) 750 (3/4") So, I could design a case top that fits 2X750 PCBs, and you know exactly what you can jam in there. So...whaddya think?

One of the ideas I had reading these discussions was a sidecar made for super catridges like Miner 2049er. Anyway, here's a quickie Ten-Gallon Cart design... 5/8" longer and 1/8" taller. I haven't messed with the internals to hold it the pcb correctly yet though. I do like the Romox look. Very Blade Runner-esque. I'll probably incorporate some of that into a final Jumbo Cart design.

Cool! Thanks Opry, I'll check those out. Now that I've figured out the critical dimensions (well, I mean I have the first draft of them) I can iterate them fairly fast. I actually didn't realize there were already so many options. For my next project I'll try to do more research to make sure what I do is a little more helpful for the community.

Sure! Here are the STLs as they stand. Of course, no guarantees, I haven't tested these guys yet. Also, it doesn't include the sprung door yet either. ti994a_cart.zip

Hi all So, this is my first post. I recently got my TI-99/4a from my dad, who recovered it from the attic over Christmas. It was my first computer, and even though I didn't really appreciate it then (be easy on me, I was 4), I'm falling in love with it now. I've been lurking, reading all the really cool stuff that everyone's been doing, like Erik's FPGA, Jon's carts and such, and I decided that maybe I could do something with my skills as an industrial designer and machinist. So I whipped up this in my CAD program and I've ordered two prototypes to be printed. Hopefully they'll snap right together. The printing's a bit on the expensive side, so it might not be a great candidate for large number of carts, but I have always been interested in mold making...;P Enjoy, Will B.