ratwell Posted February 25, 2021 Share Posted February 25, 2021 (edited) The CX40 joystick I've been using lately is very "clicky" so I opened it up and discovered this PCB inside. Can someone give me some background on who manufactured this and when? Is this an early version of Best's Gold PCB? Edited February 25, 2021 by ratwell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Nezgar Posted February 25, 2021 Share Posted February 25, 2021 Maybe a replica of the of a Best Electronics PCB: "Best Upgraded 4th Gen. Gold CX40 Internal PCB CO121110G $9.95 each (Min. 2 Qty per order)" Scroll waaaaaay down: http://www.best-electronics-ca.com/joystick.htm 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimo Posted February 25, 2021 Share Posted February 25, 2021 12 hours ago, ratwell said: The CX40 joystick I've been using lately is very "clicky" so I opened it up and discovered this PCB inside. Can someone give me some background on who manufactured this and when? Is this an early version of Best's Gold PCB? I think it is, took one of my sticks apart last week as it was way more clicky than the others. Same PCB inside . I did buy 2 best gold sticks years ago and I think it's one of them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ratwell Posted February 25, 2021 Author Share Posted February 25, 2021 (edited) Thanks for verifying. I found the eBay link: https://www.ebay.com/itm/ATARI-2600-JOYSTICK-REPLACEMENT-PRINTED-CIRCUIT-BOARD-PCB-NEW-CX40-GOLD-OEM/373014056812 The "Lasts 33 times longer than the original" in the descriptions certainly makes it appear that this is a reseller of old stock of the Best PCB. The gold board is very well made but it has a very different feel from the original...Best has some sound clips on their website demonstrating this. I just rebuilt a CX40 using an Atari Service repair kit from B&C I bought in 2005. I also used another kit I bought from Amazon which I put in my saved items long ago and just became available again: https://www.amazon.com/Restore-Rebuild-Atari-2600-Joystick-Controller/dp/B01MT1PZ44/ - the handle is the heavy duty variety with no markings on it - the button top has an aftermarket profile - the button spring is conical - the black screws have a non-standard thread pitch but do thread in This joystick now feels just like I remember. Edited February 25, 2021 by ratwell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ratwell Posted February 25, 2021 Author Share Posted February 25, 2021 (edited) How about this one? Is this PCB from Atari's OEM or is it aftermarket? Edited February 25, 2021 by ratwell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilsaluki Posted February 25, 2021 Share Posted February 25, 2021 2 hours ago, ratwell said: How about this one? Is this PCB from Atari's OEM or is it aftermarket? That's an Atari-made board. There were several versions, layouts. All will work. Bests' are indeed, The Best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ratwell Posted February 25, 2021 Author Share Posted February 25, 2021 Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Nezgar Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 Also just stumbled across a replacement CX40 PCB design on OSH park for "low profile Alps tactile smd switches" https://oshpark.com/shared_projects/QQRnyHo5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_The Doctor__ Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 8 hours ago, Nezgar said: Also just stumbled across a replacement CX40 PCB design on OSH park for "low profile Alps tactile smd switches" https://oshpark.com/shared_projects/QQRnyHo5 @mozzwald sent that up there yes? although for some reason osh wants almost $20.00 a pcb? that can't be right Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Nezgar Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 12 minutes ago, _The Doctor__ said: osh wants almost $20.00 a pcb? that can't be right I see 38.45 for minimum 3, or 12.82 each. or 76.90 for minimum medium run of 10 (7.69 each) Other pcb fabs may do it cheaper. These boards do have a large surface area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_The Doctor__ Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 (edited) interesting, they aren't showing the prices unless you sign up... I saw 2 and 38.45, Not cool, you really can't window shop. Oh well. Their bad and my bad for not catching it. Is that with shipping included? or is that extra as well... you kind of have to factor that in on price. Edited March 1, 2021 by _The Doctor__ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mozzwald Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 41 minutes ago, Nezgar said: 56 minutes ago, _The Doctor__ said: osh wants almost $20.00 a pcb? that can't be right I see 38.45 for minimum 3, or 12.82 each. or 76.90 for minimum medium run of 10 (7.69 each) That's the price I see when not logged in. OSHPark is more expensive than the china based fab houses, but the quality is better although it doesn't really matter for this pcb. I had 3 made and use 2 of them regularly. They seem to work ok for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Nezgar Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 51 minutes ago, _The Doctor__ said: I saw 2 and 38.45 If you type in 2, it will change to 3 if you watch carefully (the minimum order) 51 minutes ago, _The Doctor__ said: Is that with shipping included? Shipping is included/free. Even to Canada. (Yay for me!) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manterola Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 I want one PCB for me but I can order 10 for few dollars more from JLC. I don't want to waste the rest, so if you are patient I can send them your way (notice that sending to Canada might be more expensive than order a full set from China). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Nezgar Posted March 2, 2021 Share Posted March 2, 2021 5 hours ago, manterola said: I want one PCB for me but I can order 10 for few dollars more from JLC. I don't want to waste the rest, so if you are patient I can send them your way (notice that sending to Canada might be more expensive than order a full set from China). I'm not in the market for one of these myself, but maybe others would be... Personally the CX40 is my most disliked joystick. I grew up on WICO. How much cheaper is a place like JLC? I recently put in a restock order into OSH park for some other PCB's, but it was easier to just click re-order than research and start from scratch a the time with a new fab. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manterola Posted March 2, 2021 Share Posted March 2, 2021 (edited) the promotion right now is 5pcs for $2 + shipping... Sometimes adding more is not convenient since the promo goes away, like this time. So I just ordered 5. So I'll have 4 to give away. Edited March 2, 2021 by manterola 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+ZuluGula Posted March 2, 2021 Share Posted March 2, 2021 I will be interested in one shipped within US. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manterola Posted March 2, 2021 Share Posted March 2, 2021 Wow, that was fast, I guess I should have ordered more, but anyone can order there, if there is more interest. There is still one available, send the address, and I will put them in envelopes. Remember that you still need to order the switches to mouser. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manterola Posted March 22, 2021 Share Posted March 22, 2021 (edited) I got the mozzwald designed replacement PCBs. I still have one available to give away if you live in USA. I soldered the switches (as the best of my abilities) and the joystick got a bit too sensitive. I will trim the plastic part that pushes the buttons with an Exacto knife or sand paper to make more similar to my personal preference. But the joystick already feels great with a short throw and responsive diagonals. Edited March 22, 2021 by manterola 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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