Final Cartridge III+ PCB / Kit Pre-Order
- Thread starter SkydivinGirl
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SkydivinGirl
Retro Girl
Thanks Allen! I got the color of green from the original Final Cartridge 3 box. Here's one of the other labels printed on paper.
I need to make it a little bigger and lessen the curve on the corners, but I think it looks great on the blue shell. I'll post new versions tomorrow.
Heather
I need to make it a little bigger and lessen the curve on the corners, but I think it looks great on the blue shell. I'll post new versions tomorrow.
Heather
SkydivinGirl
Retro Girl
Good news! The PCBs shipped yesterday and I now have a tracking number. They should arrive some time next week!
I also received the weatherproof shipping labels and I think they are going to work out great. They have the same sheen as a vinyl label and I think they will hold up to a fair amount of abuse.
I fixed the dimensions on the labels and updated my previous post and the first post in the thread with the new versions. I put the PNG files into the template for the labels and printed a test. Other than a small bit of alignment, I think they turned out great! I'll test at least one of them on a real cartridge shell tonight.
*Sorry for the fuzzy picture*
Heather
I also received the weatherproof shipping labels and I think they are going to work out great. They have the same sheen as a vinyl label and I think they will hold up to a fair amount of abuse.
I fixed the dimensions on the labels and updated my previous post and the first post in the thread with the new versions. I put the PNG files into the template for the labels and printed a test. Other than a small bit of alignment, I think they turned out great! I'll test at least one of them on a real cartridge shell tonight.
*Sorry for the fuzzy picture*
Heather
SkydivinGirl
Retro Girl
Thanks Merlin!
Here's the real labels on a couple carts. I don't like the green on the clear cart but it should look great on black. Unfortunately, all my cart shells are either blue or clear.
Heather
Here's the real labels on a couple carts. I don't like the green on the clear cart but it should look great on black. Unfortunately, all my cart shells are either blue or clear.
Heather
SkydivinGirl
Retro Girl
I've ordered more EEPROMs but it will be a couple weeks before they arrive. If you don't mind waiting then I can get you a kit. I'd still need payment right away to order the rest of the parts. I'll send you a PM with payment details. 
Heather
Heather
SkydivinGirl
Retro Girl
Updated payment statuses in first post and sent a PM with payment details to 1200Danny.
Tracking information for the PCBs show that they are in Ohio. They should be here early in the week.
Heather
Tracking information for the PCBs show that they are in Ohio. They should be here early in the week.
Heather
SkydivinGirl
Retro Girl
Look what arrived this morning!
I also worked on the Commodore style cartridge labels this weekend and added a red background option to the labels. I think the red background option is the best for the clear cartridge shells. Here's an example label printed on paper.
I've updated all the labels in the first post. The labels that look like they have a gray background are actually transparent backgrounds. Since the labels are white, all the transparent backgrounds are white.
What to expect next:
1. I will weigh a complete kit to get accurate shipping costs.
2. I will assemble a kit to write directions and to test all the components.
3. Once one kit is built and tested, all the parts for the kits will be purchased. Kits can be ordered until I place this order.
4. After the parts arrive, kits will be organized.
5. Final shipping costs will be calculated and money for shipping will be requested.
6. Shipping will commence.
Thanks everyone!
Heather
I also worked on the Commodore style cartridge labels this weekend and added a red background option to the labels. I think the red background option is the best for the clear cartridge shells. Here's an example label printed on paper.
I've updated all the labels in the first post. The labels that look like they have a gray background are actually transparent backgrounds. Since the labels are white, all the transparent backgrounds are white.
What to expect next:
1. I will weigh a complete kit to get accurate shipping costs.
2. I will assemble a kit to write directions and to test all the components.
3. Once one kit is built and tested, all the parts for the kits will be purchased. Kits can be ordered until I place this order.
4. After the parts arrive, kits will be organized.
5. Final shipping costs will be calculated and money for shipping will be requested.
6. Shipping will commence.
Thanks everyone!
Heather
SkydivinGirl
Retro Girl
I did the test build on one of the PCBs and everything appears to be working great! I'll do more in-depth testing Tuesday evening but I don't foresee any issues.
*IMPORTANT*
I am going to place the order for the rest of the parts for the kits Wednesday at Noon (GMT-5). All kit pre-orders must be paid unless you contact me via PM to let me know when you can pay. There are no plans to offer kits again so you need to order all kits before I place the order.
I am going to begin getting shipping quotes to everyone. I'll update the thread when that begins.
Please let me know if you have any questions. I'm really excited that the project is coming together and I look forward to getting everything out to you.
Heather
*IMPORTANT*
I am going to place the order for the rest of the parts for the kits Wednesday at Noon (GMT-5). All kit pre-orders must be paid unless you contact me via PM to let me know when you can pay. There are no plans to offer kits again so you need to order all kits before I place the order.
I am going to begin getting shipping quotes to everyone. I'll update the thread when that begins.
Please let me know if you have any questions. I'm really excited that the project is coming together and I look forward to getting everything out to you.
Heather
SkydivinGirl
Retro Girl
A few people have asked me where they can find cartridge shells for this project. Here's the only ways I know how.
1. Re-purpose an old Commodore branded cartridge. This is probably the least expensive option. You may not be able to use chip sockets on the FCIII+ when using this type of shell. I'll double check tonight to be sure.
2. Purchase a new Commodore styled cartridge from shareware_plus on eBay. I don't know anything about his cases. You may or may not be able to use the chip sockets when using this shell. However, I notice that his EasyFlash kit has sockets so it's very possible it will have room.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/shareware_plus/m.html
3. The icomp.de shells. I know these work perfectly with this project. You can find these at multiple online retailers.
http://amigastore.eu/en/138-cartridge-case-shell-for-c64.html
http://www.vesalia.de/e_c64cartshell.htm
Heather
1. Re-purpose an old Commodore branded cartridge. This is probably the least expensive option. You may not be able to use chip sockets on the FCIII+ when using this type of shell. I'll double check tonight to be sure.
2. Purchase a new Commodore styled cartridge from shareware_plus on eBay. I don't know anything about his cases. You may or may not be able to use the chip sockets when using this shell. However, I notice that his EasyFlash kit has sockets so it's very possible it will have room.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/shareware_plus/m.html
3. The icomp.de shells. I know these work perfectly with this project. You can find these at multiple online retailers.
http://amigastore.eu/en/138-cartridge-case-shell-for-c64.html
http://www.vesalia.de/e_c64cartshell.htm
Heather
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SkydivinGirl
Retro Girl
Hi everyone,
I had to place the order for the components today instead of waiting until tomorrow. This was due to the fact that one of the components had lower stock than the total number of kits that I need and I didn't want to miss out on any stock they had. All of the other components are in stock.
For the low stock chip (SN74ALS133N), I was able to get 78 of them so it will cover nearly all the orders. Please PM me if you don't mind getting your kit a little later. I am going to wait on the back ordered chips to arrive for my kits. In the meantime, I'll see if I can find more stock elsewhere.
PCB only buyers should PM their shipping information to me so I can get shipping quotes. They are ready to go.
Thanks again everyone!
Heather
I had to place the order for the components today instead of waiting until tomorrow. This was due to the fact that one of the components had lower stock than the total number of kits that I need and I didn't want to miss out on any stock they had. All of the other components are in stock.
For the low stock chip (SN74ALS133N), I was able to get 78 of them so it will cover nearly all the orders. Please PM me if you don't mind getting your kit a little later. I am going to wait on the back ordered chips to arrive for my kits. In the meantime, I'll see if I can find more stock elsewhere.
PCB only buyers should PM their shipping information to me so I can get shipping quotes. They are ready to go.
Thanks again everyone!
Heather
SkydivinGirl
Retro Girl
I tested the completed kit in an original Commodore cartridge shell and here are the results. It looks like it will be a very tight fit but you *MIGHT* be able to use the chip sockets with it.
For comparison, here is the same angle on an icomp.de cartridge shell. As you can see, there's much more clearance.
Heather
For comparison, here is the same angle on an icomp.de cartridge shell. As you can see, there's much more clearance.
Heather
They are standard sockets that you've used. If you use low-profile sockets you'll have about another 0.5mm free.
Low-profile sockets look like this: http://cdn-reichelt.de/bilder/web/xxl_ws/C130/GS_16P.png
Bryce.
Low-profile sockets look like this: http://cdn-reichelt.de/bilder/web/xxl_ws/C130/GS_16P.png
Bryce.
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SkydivinGirl
Retro Girl
Thanks Bryce. Unfortunately, those types of sockets are a lot more expensive and would have driven up the price of the kits. Still, like plazma said, I think they will fit. I should try to finish this cartridge using one of the C= shells to be certain.
Heather
Heather
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