FinalGROM99 cart shell solution (finally!)

[dphirschler]

My FinalGROM99 was without a proper shell for a few years.  It remained in a crappity-ass temporary shell ever since I got it (see photo).

 

The problem for me was that I had no 3D printer, and I didn't know how to CAD.  But I knew what I wanted to create.  I needed button "caps" that basically sit stop the micro buttons on the PCB and extend upwards through the cart shell.  The holes would need to be precise.  BTW, the holes in the crappity-ass temporary shell shown in the photo did not line up very well.

 

This photo shows the 3D-printed buttons I was finally able to create.  And the next photo shows the button caps sitting atop the PCB micro buttons.

 

This model shows the button cap as well as a drilling template I designed to help line up the holes properly.

 

Here we see the drilling template in place.  It snaps in pretty tight.

 

And these photos show the drilled holes.  I had to sacrifice a Home Financial Decisions.

 

Here is is with the buttons installed.  I experimented with a red button, but I like the black better.

 

And finally with the label.

 

I designed a new cart label.  I modernized the original a little.

 

And finally, I put it up on Thingiverse.  Enjoy.
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5352564

 

Darryl

 

 

[Tursi]

Haha, I actually printed those buttons myself a week or two ago - thank you! But I had no idea what the drill guide was for, and originally glued it in place!  Worked fine once I took it out, though on mine the tops of the buttons are nearly flush with the sheel. (Enough sticks up that they work, and I'm satisfied ). Thanks for releasing it!

 

 

[+videofx]

Thanks for your hard work Darryl!

 

What is the size of the hole I need to drill?

 

Thanks!

 

Bill

[dphirschler]

17 minutes ago, Tursi said:

Haha, I actually printed those buttons myself a week or two ago - thank you! But I had no idea what the drill guide was for, and originally glued it in place!  Worked fine once I took it out, though on mine the tops of the buttons are nearly flush with the sheel. (Enough sticks up that they work, and I'm satisfied ). Thanks for releasing it!

 

 

Shall I model some slightly taller buttons.  They could just be extras.

[dphirschler]

2 minutes ago, videofx said:

Thanks for your hard work Darryl!

 

What is the size of the hole I need to drill?

 

Thanks!

 

Bill

3/4" holes.  I made sure to use a common size.

[+videofx]

Thanks!

 

[+dhe]

I purchased a finalgrom from the UK a month ago. They developed an interesting solution to the LED. The case is translucent. You can't see the LED, but you can tell when it is light or blinking! Genius.

[Ed in SoDak]

19 hours ago, dphirschler said:

3/4" holes.  I made sure to use a common size.

3/4", as in .75 inch? Looks more like 1/4 in the pics. Or even 3/8".

[XLERB]

When I got mine a couple months ago, I decided to try sacrificing an Addition and Subtraction 1 cartridge. A lot of fussy cutting and drilling. I had to keep enlarging the holes because the buttons would rub up against them, so the holes came out bigger than I'd hoped. Also having to cut away some of the plastic inside to make room for some of the components (especially the card slot) means that the cartridge tends to not fit together as tightly as I'd like, but rather than gluing it, I'll just plug it in carefully.

[johnph3]

If you have an extra finalgrom99 or if you know some who does and would be willing to sell/or trade it let me know, Have been trying to find one for about 6 months but don't want to order it from over seas. Everybody I know that had them is sold out. Thanks

[dphirschler]

9 hours ago, Ed in SoDak said:

3/4", as in .75 inch? Looks more like 1/4 in the pics. Or even 3/8".

Oh man, I mean 1/4".  Yes.  Wow.  How do I edit that post?

 

Darryl

[dphirschler]

1 hour ago, johnph3 said:

If you have an extra finalgrom99 or if you know some who does and would be willing to sell/or trade it let me know, Have been trying to find one for about 6 months but don't want to order it from over seas. Everybody I know that had them is sold out. Thanks

If I had to guess, I'd say the chip shortage is causing the delay.

[+arcadeshopper]

On 5/3/2022 at 8:15 PM, dphirschler said:

If I had to guess, I'd say the chip shortage is causing the delay.

you don't have to guess, and I'm pretty sure he's already gotten that answer from me and likely the other vendors..  the CPLD used in this and TIPI is out of stock everywhere..  more finalgrom99's will be here but they will be snatched up quickly I presume. 

 

also I have like 2-3 different 3d printed finalgrom99 cart shells in my store, including the fancy one from Canada