Idea:External Atari ST drive transformed to 8-bit (XF551 internals)

[BillC]

On 5/3/2020 at 2:31 AM, dash_rendar said:

SpartaDOS loads, but I have to read the instructions with the parameters, how to set the format and I don't have SpartaDOS X.

XINIT.COM is the format utility for SpartaDOS 2.X/3.X, it will prompt you for needed information.

The manual is available from Atarimania:

http://www.atarimania.com/documents/atari-8bit-spartados-construction-set-owners-manual.pdf

[hueyjones70]

As soon as I can find the time I plan to work on this project again.

[macsonny]

On 2/6/2019 at 6:03 AM, Dropcheck said:

Okay, I believe I have completed a working board.

Just to be clear:

XF551 circuitry on a SF314/SF354 case compatible pcb.
Supports PC industry standard 3.5" 720KB floppy drives (Some drives may need additional modification)
Supports all SF314 drives and most SF354 drives (those with single data cable connection)
Uses original SF314/SF354 case
Uses original SF314/SF354 Dual Voltage Power Supply Brick with female DIN5 connector
Uses custom made SIO cables to connect to Atari 8bit computers
Additional features include support for XF551 Control Board Bundle for front panel control of 2in1 OS, drive id selection, reset, and track display. (Major front case mod needed for these features)
One minor case mod necessary for manual drive id selection without taking off lid to make a change.

You will need the original SF314/SF354 pcb as some parts will need to be salvaged. You will also need some chips normally found in an XF551 pcb, although they can usually be purchased on Ebay. I am not using most other XF551 original non-chip parts though. Please refer to the BOM for specific part information. Board has all through hole parts soldering. No SMD. Some de-soldering of original SF314/354 parts are necessary. Possible some XF551 chip de-soldering will be necessary as well.

I will be providing a bare board only, with BOM and instructions on how to assemble the board and the custom SIO cables. I believe tf_hh will also be willing to offer the same for European orders.

At this time I will be doing an pre-order for the first production run. I need ten paid board orders to do the run.

Time line is a little fuzzy. Right now is the Chinese Holiday and some pcb houses are shut down for two weeks. Those that aren't are under heavy work load, so I can't definitively say exactly how long it will take. Hopefully not more than two to three weeks to ship out the boards.

Cost will be $15.00 per board plus flat rate shipping of $8.00 in the US. Please order on my website. Contact tf_hh for European orders. BOM is attached

 

First a parts diagram of the board:

 

http://www.bitsofthepast.com/images/SF551102.jpg

 

Here is as fully populated a 3d representation of the board:

 

http://www.bitsofthepast.com/images/SF55100.jpg

http://www.bitsofthepast.com/images/SF55101.jpg

SF551.xls 52 kB · 107 downloads

Can these boards still be purchased?

[hueyjones70]

I don't think they are. The web site has temporarily shut down and the vendor sold out.

[Iguana Bob]

On 12/11/2018 at 9:42 PM, ZuluGula said:

Something like this?

 

Thanks for reviving this old thread. Was wondering what this was. Got this board in a lot of stuff I picked up a few months back. Very well made. Got to be from the same guy. Looks like a later revision perhaps?

 

[hueyjones70]

I don't believe this was made by the same person. The boards that were made by dropcheck had two sio connectors that weren't standard Atari SIOs. I will post a picture of her board tomorrow. I have several. Her board also used the same power supply as the SF 314/354. This is the dropcheck board.

Edited May 13, 2023 by hueyjones70
Additional information.

[hueyjones70]

On 5/11/2023 at 10:12 AM, Iguana Bob said:

Thanks for reviving this old thread. Was wondering what this was. Got this board in a lot of stuff I picked up a few months back. Very well made. Got to be from the same guy. Looks like a later revision perhaps?

 

I would be interested in learning more about this board. What casing is it designed for, what is the power supply, is there a BOM.  The board in the picture at the top is not the same board as the bottom two.

Edited May 13, 2023 by hueyjones70
additional info.

[macsonny]

4 hours ago, hueyjones70 said:

I would be interested in learning more about this board. What casing is it designed for, what is the power supply, is there a BOM.  The board in the picture at the top is not the same board as the bottom two.

And are there any ways to get these board re-mnufactured?

[hueyjones70]

I believe that would be up to the designer dropcheck (Lenore Underwood). She ran an online Atari store named Bits of the Past. She remanufactured some things and redesigned some others. I personally thought her redesign of the XF551 PCB was the most useful and the SF551 was the coolest things she did. 

[flashjazzcat]

Here's a full build using Lenore's board:

 

[+mytek]

On 5/13/2023 at 5:20 PM, macsonny said:

And are there any ways to get these board re-mnufactured?

When she announced that she would be closing down her shop, she did mention that the website might eventually get some changes and that possibly the designs might be released. Hopefully that is still in the works.

 

EDIT: Just checked her website and it appears to be down for changes.

[+mytek]

For those that need the special male 5-pin DIN PCB connector shown in Jon's video...

I discovered this on eBay which looks to be the same part.

eBay LINK

 

And something that might sub for the two power chokes with a bit of fiddling (this is SMD not THT as were the original chokes)...

 

Offered through Digi-Key with a minimum order of 10 pieces at $1 each.

 

WARNING: I do not have @Dropcheck's PCB or these parts to test fit, so buy these at your own risk.

[macsonny]

SO has anyone contacted Lenore and asked if she'd be willing to share the original PCB files so we can send off to PCBWay to get a heap made up?

[BillC]

22 hours ago, macsonny said:

SO has anyone contacted Lenore and asked if she'd be willing to share the original PCB files so we can send off to PCBWay to get a heap made up?

May not be necessary, it looks she is considering reopening her website.

 

http://www.bitsofthepast.com

[_The Doctor__]

That movies been playing for a while.

[Mq.]

On 5/11/2023 at 4:12 PM, Iguana Bob said:

Thanks for reviving this old thread. Was wondering what this was. Got this board in a lot of stuff I picked up a few months back. Very well made. Got to be from the same guy. Looks like a later revision perhaps?

 

The pictures you attached and asked about, are taken from my friend's project of XF551 clone. His nickname is x_angel on Polish forum atari.org.pl. I don't know if he has an account on atariage.

First picture of pcb with 3,5 floppy attached is from first version of pcb, and on the next two pictures there is pcb improved with my project of track display for XF551.

Here is the website: http://ataripcb.pl/
Go to Atari->XF 551 3,5"
Maybe he could produce some pcbs, just contact him via email or on atari.org.pl

[Mathy]

Hello guys

 

IIRC Piotr Fusik also made a PCB based on the XF551.

 

Sincerely

 

Mathy

 

Ps I'm not sure if the name is spelled correctly.

 

[Mathy]

Hello guys

 

For those who haven't read it yet:  Lenore/Dropcheck explains her plans for the future here on AA ("Bitsofthepast.com status").  The message was posted only hours ago.

 

Sincerely

 

Mathy

 

[Atari030]

I just had an epiphany, Dropchecks PCB could work with PCF554 drives? Instant XF551's.

[wildstar87]

FYI, I have 8 of the PLA10AN1522R0R2B chokes available, I ordered them in bulk a while back, because there wasn't any other way to get them.  I'll let them go for $3ea+shipping costs.  So if you are interested let me know,

[hueyjones70]

Has anyone had an issue with the oscillators? I have had about 50% of mine to fail.

[hueyjones70]

Has anyone had an issue with the oscillators? I have had about 50% of mine to fail.

[hueyjones70]

I found a list of 3.5 floppy drives that have instructions on how to to make them compatible with Amiga drives. Is there a similar list for Atari drives?