I may have actual PCB's made for the Phoenix control board..

Want to just shoot the breeze? Forum 42 is the place!

Moderator: Moderators

Post Reply
benheck
Site Admin
Posts: 1886
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 6:00 pm
Location: Wisconsin - Land of Beer and Cheese and Beer
Contact:

I may have actual PCB's made for the Phoenix control board..

Post by benheck »

...because there's quite a bit of stuff on it! All the switches, battery connections, charge jack, power switch, all the controls, 2 regs, audio amp and speaker!

So much stuff is on it only 13 wires goto to the Atari, mostly controls and power.

With all the stuff that needs to be wired on the control board it might actually be worth having some made professional. If I did like 50 they'd be $15 each... which is probably worth the time and then I can't make circuit errors. All I do is place parts and solder them down!

What do you all think? Any experience with having PCB's made?

PS: I still want an original Atari guts in the system - that makes it more intriguing. (Before someone asks why I just don't redo the whole Atari on a PCB)
gamer2
Senior Member
Posts: 3611
Joined: Tue Jul 27, 2004 12:38 pm
Location: You spam, SANTA Jason gets you!
Contact:

Post by gamer2 »

it would be better to have the origonal Atari guts so good luck with all of that
Image
Image
G-force
Moderator
Posts: 3609
Joined: Mon Apr 19, 2004 1:43 pm
Location: Sweet home Indiana
Contact:

Post by G-force »

I still like the idea of a complete atari/controller/power board. That way no more vintage atari's would die in senseless noob slaughters (I know, I'm a tree hugger :lol: )
vb_master
Moderator
Posts: 4793
Joined: Tue Jun 08, 2004 9:52 pm

Post by vb_master »

What is it?
gannon
Moderator
Posts: 6974
Joined: Sun Apr 04, 2004 4:48 pm
Location: Near that one big lake
Contact:

Post by gannon »

/|\ His mass atari portable design
vb_master
Moderator
Posts: 4793
Joined: Tue Jun 08, 2004 9:52 pm

Post by vb_master »

Oh, I thought it was like cheap Atari 2600 boards.
Sparkfist
Forum Administrator
Posts: 6754
Joined: Tue Apr 20, 2004 7:12 am
Location: Michigan

Post by Sparkfist »

Sounds nice Ben.

Though I do wish when you get a chance see about fixing that Atari PCB you worked on a few months ago.
vskid wrote:Nerd = likes school, does all their homework, dies if they don't get 100% on every assignment
Geek = likes technology, dies if the power goes out and his UPS dies too

I am a geek.
benheck
Site Admin
Posts: 1886
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 6:00 pm
Location: Wisconsin - Land of Beer and Cheese and Beer
Contact:

Post by benheck »

Well, I've reproduced the control board design using Express PCB. Seems in lots of 50 the boards would be about $8.50 each (including setup charges etc) That's not bad considering the time I would save and the chances of error being reduced.

So I'll probably see how the molds work out and then proceed to think about getting boards done. I could make them [boards] by hand in the meantime...
gannon
Moderator
Posts: 6974
Joined: Sun Apr 04, 2004 4:48 pm
Location: Near that one big lake
Contact:

Post by gannon »

yeah, 50 phoenix units would cost a bit to make :)
SgtBowhack
Posts: 831
Joined: Wed Dec 08, 2004 5:16 am
Location: Chicago, USA

Post by SgtBowhack »

I think the boards are a good idea for the reasons you already stated (fewer mistakes) and, when you think about it, $8.50 isn't bad, considering you're asking $350 for each unit (unless that price has/will have changed) with a tradein. And even if 50 people don't bite, I'm sure some people on the boards would buy a board or two from you to simplify their designs as well.
bicostp
Moderator
Posts: 10491
Joined: Mon Mar 07, 2005 5:47 pm
Steam ID: bicostp
Location: Spamalot
Contact:

Post by bicostp »

If you have PCBs made of the Atari 2600, and not enough people want a Pheonix, could you sell the boards individually for, say, $25 plus shipping? It would sure make my life easier, because all I have to work with is a 1978-ish Sunnyvale heavy sixer, a re-designed 1980 6-switch, and an original Sears Video Arcade (none of which I want to take apart, knowing my soldering skills :lol: )

Boy, commas, sure, are, fun,!,!
benheck
Site Admin
Posts: 1886
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 6:00 pm
Location: Wisconsin - Land of Beer and Cheese and Beer
Contact:

Post by benheck »

If I used the Production services from Express PCB (once I made a couple protos and they worked OK) they boards would be $5.96 each in lots of 100. This includes silkscreen and soldermask. Pretty neat!

I probably WILL have this done once I start making Phoenix(es) If I don't sell them all I'll make kits and include the boards with that (since they wouldn't be good for much else)
ladyada
Posts: 12
Joined: Sun Jan 09, 2005 9:26 pm
Contact:

Post by ladyada »

express PCB locks you into using their propietary software. you will not be able to go with any other PCB manufacturers, even if they are cheaper and/or better quality. i suggest against using them, but i also tend to open source my projects.
vb_master
Moderator
Posts: 4793
Joined: Tue Jun 08, 2004 9:52 pm

Post by vb_master »

I would be interested in getting a board if it is a reasonable price.
Post Reply