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CX40 Parts Identification


ratwell

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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?

 

PCB-WhoMadeIt.jpg

Edited by ratwell
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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?

 

PCB-WhoMadeIt.jpg

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 

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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.

 

Joystick-Rebuild.jpg

CGS-Stick1.jpg

CGS-Stick2.jpg

CGS-Button.jpg

Edited by ratwell
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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

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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.

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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 by _The Doctor__
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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.

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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!)

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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).

 

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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. :D

 

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. :)

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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. 

 

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  • 3 weeks later...

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 by manterola
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