Vectrex cart shell group buy

[BinaryStar]

Attention Vectrex developers (or future developers/builders of repro carts etc)!

I am currently looking into a group-buy for Vectrex cartridge shells. We are looking to get the best possible price on them so if you are interested in ordering shells can you please post here with your name, the number of shells you require (lets say a minimum of 100 units per developer) and your location.

I am afraid we cannot supply shells to flash cart/multicart builders.

 

 

*edit* Please also indicate if you require PCBs too (eeprom type - the use 32k or 64k chips like the PCBs Jon Dondzila used to supply)

Thanks,

Chris

Edited January 11, 2014 by KidQuaalude

[+Gemintronic]

Is there a political or technical reason for excluding flash carts? Just curious!

[BinaryStar]

The owner of the mold produces his own multicart.

[Richard H.]

 

 

I am afraid we cannot supply shells to flash cart/multicart builders.

 

Don't care, I'll be making my own soon.

 

And anyway, my VecMulti is the best value for money / advanced cart.

[+5-11under]

I'm curious if these are standard shells, like the original, or not?

[BinaryStar]

Yes, standard shells, same as 99% of Vectrex carts out there.

 

Richard, yes VecMulti is a superb flashcart. Sorry we can't offer shells but its out of our control. If you are 3D printing them it's going to be quite a marathon print session.

[Richard H.]

 

If you are 3D printing them it's going to be quite a marathon print session.

 

I can print one of these in < 30 mins

 

Stripped it down to the bare minimum needed to enclose the PCB.

 

The case lid has a snap-fitting (saves having to glue it on).

[+SpiceWare]

Ooh, I'd love to get one of those for my VecMulti

[BinaryStar]

Me too, they look great Richard. Much easier print than http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:49302

[Arenafoot]

 

Don't care, I'll be making my own soon.

 

And anyway, my VecMulti is the best value for money / advanced cart.

why does your site say "sold out" already?

[Richard H.]

 

 

why does your site say "sold out" already?

 

Just ignore my page. I've been having trouble with my internet provider and have been unable to edit / update my page for months.

 

I shall be building more VecMulti's (with cases) next month.

 

[+boxpressed]

Will you be selling the case only, Richard? I bought one of the clear blue cases, and it doesn't quite fit the latest revision of the VecMulti (or at least the one I bought several months ago). A capacitor got turned 90 degrees, and it keeps the standard cart shell from closing unless you file down the inside of the case (which I did). I like having access to the SD card in your design.

[Richard H.]

 

 

Will you be selling the case only

 

Probably. Although, you'd be looking at least $10 each, as it costs nearly $6 (£3.50) just in shipping to the US.

 

I'll be releasing the .stl file soon if anyone state side wants to churn a few out.

[retroillucid]

Attention Vectrex developers (or future developers/builders of repro carts etc)! [/size]I am currently looking into a group-buy for Vectrex cartridge shells. We are looking to get the best possible price on them so if you are interested in ordering shells can you please post here with your name, the number of shells you require (lets say a minimum of 100 units per developer) and your location. [/size]I am afraid we cannot supply shells to flash cart/multicart builders.[/size]

 

 

*edit* Please also indicate if you require PCBs too (eeprom type - the use 32k or 64k chips like the PCBs Jon Dondzila used to supply) Thanks,[/size]Chris[/size]

 

How much for 100 cases with PCBs ?

 

Do we get discount on bulk orders?

[BinaryStar]

Hi retroillucid, I'm afraid the order has gone to manufacturing now. US/Canada orders were handled by Sean Kelly. I think around 1,100 shells are going to the US.

I have ordered a stock of 3000 shells for europe but they are mostly allocated already. Once stock is in hand, I'll get back to you if there are a spare 100 shells but if you were to buy those you'd have to pay shipping from UK->US I'm afraid. I'm selling them at cost to developers so no discounts are possible/necessary.

[e5frog]

I'm tempted, but 100 shells... maybe someone wants to split. Are we talking "original" color or some ridiculous silly color like transparent green etc etc?

 

 

BTW. IMHO Richard should get the proper case bought though ombudsmen - looks a lot better than the emergency solution of a 3D print...

[+Gemintronic]

I'm tempted, but 100 shells... maybe someone wants to split. Are we talking "original" color or some ridiculous silly color like transparent green etc etc?

 

 

BTW. IMHO Richard should get the proper case bought though ombudsmen - looks a lot better than the emergency solution of a 3D print...

 

I just ordered a 3D printer. I'll see how printing Vectrex shells turns out. Of course, anything coming out of a 3D printer will need some extra love. I'll definitely report back when I figure out how it goes.

[Richard H.]

 

 

I just ordered a 3D printer

 

Cool, which one are you getting ?

 

I love mine. It's the most useful thing I've ever bought.

[+Gemintronic]

 

Cool, which one are you getting ?

 

I love mine. It's the most useful thing I've ever bought.

 

The Makibox.. which means building it up like a wooden shelf unit The Buccaneer cost too much and missed many of its original specs. Too bad!

[+SpiceWare]

Wow, 3D printers have sure dropped in cost. I think the last time I looked into them they were $2000+.

[e5frog]

Well, 3D printer can't really compare with an injection molded part.

When there's no other option I understand it, but now there is.

 

I guess if those 3D printed items where sanded down and painted they'd look pretty nice, but who has the time for that?

[Richard H.]

 

- looks a lot better than the emergency solution of a 3D print...

 

It's not an 'emergency solution'. It took me quite some time to design, and it also fits the PCB better (smaller / access to the SD card). I think it looks nice too !

[BinaryStar]

 

I just ordered a 3D printer. I'll see how printing Vectrex shells turns out. Of course, anything coming out of a 3D printer will need some extra love. I'll definitely report back when I figure out how it goes.

 

I have a 'regular' Vectrex cart a friend 3d printed for me from the thingyverse model. It works reasonably well but is a little brittle. Definitely no comparison to the mold-injected ones. I'd imagine Richards design is a bit more sturdy. The main problem with the Vec cart is the model available for 3d printing was really designed for injection molding and could use a little more support in its 3d printed form.

[BinaryStar]

I'm tempted, but 100 shells... maybe someone wants to split. Are we talking "original" color or some ridiculous silly color like transparent green etc etc?

 

They are the original grey/black colour. I'm not a fan of the transparent shells.

[e5frog]

It's not an 'emergency solution'. It took me quite some time to design, and it also fits the PCB better (smaller / access to the SD card). I think it looks nice too !

Almost missed this one, sorry.

 

So, even if there were original-looking shells available you'd still want to use the 3D-printed shell?

I'm sure it's more practical, me personally like the one with the nice label that looks like the original carts.

 

It seems to me like an "emergency solution" as the Vectrex cart mold owner won't sell any shells directly to you and there aren't really much other shells available. Vectrex.com is currently selling blue transparent ones for $20 each - one at the time - on eBay, or did I miss any other cart shell sellers?

It's a shame really that the mold owner is afraid of competition since your cart is by far the best and people who can't afford the best will still be buying the other kind(s) (a cart with a fixed set of games).

 

But you solved the "problem", functionality is still the same. I guess if you send along the label for the earlier version, buyers can swap to the other shell if they like - in case one of those other shell buyers are selling then at $20 each on eBay in the near future...

Edited April 12, 2014 by e5frog