External HxC Case Idea!

[fitzsteve]

Just bagged one of these:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=310242432971&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Airey36 is having a clearout

So when that arrives I'm thinking of making a Clear Perspex enclosure for my HxC with all the internal gubbin's on show.

What do you think?

 

[JLPedro]

Is it possible to boot (and use multiple disk games) NDOS disks from the external drive?
I also have and HxC Drive Emulator and really love to see the progress on this!

 

[fitzsteve]

Is it possible to boot (and use multiple disk games) NDOS disks from the external drive?
I also have and HxC Drive Emulator and really love to see the progress on this!

Im not 100% sure on that but I know that we can hack the Mobo so that the external drive is DF0 if we need to.

I found (hopefully) a source for the perspex who can supply it cut to the right sizes so all I have to do is glue and cut the slot for CF/Buttons/cables and mount the screen

Will update when I have the bits...

Steve.

 

[rkauer]

From 2.04+ ROM you can boot from any floppy device you like, but some games doesn't allow this feature.

 

[ChrisUnionNJ]

Well on a 1200 if you disconnect the internal drive and connect a external it see's the external as DF0:..
I plan to put a slim CD-rom were DF0: was..

Chris

 

[JLPedro]

From 2.04+ ROM you can boot from any floppy device you like, but some games doesn't allow this feature.

Yes I know that you can boot mostly any game by pressing booth mouse bottoms at start and choosing DF1 as boot device, but will this work with a 2 floppy game (when the game asks to change floppy my guess is it will be for DF0)??

 

[fitzsteve]

Well I sorted the case, an ebay seller who does the perspex is going to cut it to the right sizes for me, £3.50 inc P&P.

That just leaves me to drill holes for the buttons/cables, file a slot for the SD Card, mount the screen and glue it all together.

Wish me luck...

Steve.

 

[ChrisUnionNJ]

Well on a 1200 if you disconnect the internal drive and connect a external it see's the external as DF0:..
I plan to put a slim CD-rom were DF0: was..

Chris

I was 100% wrong about this I have to stop messing around on the amiga after I take my sleeping pill,, sorry guys..

Chris
oh:

 

[fitzsteve]

Well on a 1200 if you disconnect the internal drive and connect a external it see's the external as DF0:..
I plan to put a slim CD-rom were DF0: was..

Chris

I was 100% wrong about this I have to stop messing around on the amiga after I take my sleeping pill,, sorry guys..

Chris
oh:

lol, no worries. You can modify the mobo so it thinks DF1 is DF0 though.

My perspex arrived today so just waiting for the internal FDD gubbins'

Steve

 

[fitzsteve]

Hopefully the FDD gubbins' arrive today, so want to make a start with the plans on this.

Anyone know what sort of buttons I need? I can leave a gap on the ftont as a temp stop gap to use the built in buttons but would like to mount the screen and buttons on the front idealy. I understand external buttons can be soldered to the PCB.

I've attached a basic plan of my idea...

 

[ChrisUnionNJ]

Hopefully the FDD gubbins' arrive today, so want to make a start with the plans on this.

Anyone know what sort of buttons I need? I can leave a gap on the ftont as a temp stop gap to use the built in buttons but would like to mount the screen and buttons on the front idealy. I understand external buttons can be soldered to the PCB.

I've attached a basic plan of my idea...

Plastic rod,spring,and pins were the first thing that comes to mind..

Still working out the pressure since I can only go by pic's but it's a start..

Kind of like the reset buttons on a PC the spring part of it..


Chris

 

[fitzsteve]

Well the bits arrived, I hooked them up to my A600. it works and disks start to load as far as the crack into then they won't load any further, I'm guessing this is to do with booting from DF1.

So I guess I'll need to trick miggy into thinking DF1 os DF0

Something to mess about with over the weekend...

 

[fitzsteve]

Just an update really, the system works fine as I managed to get some games (Like IK+) to work

So I'll look at the switch mod, but first I'm going to start to make my enclosure.

Pics to follow over the weekend...
Oh, actually I do have another question for the Guru's

There is an earthing point on the power/connector cable that I guess is supposed to connect to part of the external drive casing. However using a perspex case I wont have an earthing point. Seems to work without being earthed but is there going to be any problems?

Cheers!

 

[TheCorfiot]

There is an earthing point on the power/connector cable that I guess is supposed to connect to part of the external drive casing. However using a perspex case I wont have an earthing point. Seems to work without being earthed but is there going to be any problems?

Cheers!

If it's a perspex case you can ignore it mate

TC

 

[fitzsteve]

There is an earthing point on the power/connector cable that I guess is supposed to connect to part of the external drive casing. However using a perspex case I wont have an earthing point. Seems to work without being earthed but is there going to be any problems?

Cheers!

If it's a perspex case you can ignore it mate

TC

Thanks mate

 

[fitzsteve]

Hey Guys!

Here's some pics of the prototype

Its just put together with a few blobs of hot glue for now, I need to work on the front/back and buttons/screen.

 

[SkydivinGirl]

Wow! That is looking quite nice!

Great job!

Heather

 

[fitzsteve]

Wow! That is looking quite nice!

Great job!

Heather

Thanks Heather

Its a bit basic at the moment, but you get the idea where I'm going with this.

Steve.

---------- Post added at 22:34 ---------- Previous post was at 20:51 ----------

I've made a little demo Video for my Youtube page:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osMQzL1jVME

Enjoy!

 

[ChrisUnionNJ]

Very nice job Steve..

Also that switch on the back is that for setting it to df0: or to disable the drive?

Chris

 

[fitzsteve]

Very nice job Steve..

Also that switch on the back is that for setting it to df0: or to disable the drive?

Chris

Thanks =)

I'm pretty sure that's an On/Off Switch on the unit, I've not pressed it yet though!

If you spotted the hidden switch on the A600, that's a Rom Switch 1.3 and 3.1 Roms.

Steve.