I'm sorry if this has been discussed before, but I did a search and couldn't quite find what I was looking for.
I have some extra money and time available currently, and was looking at starting this project. I was just wondering if someone with somewhat limited mechanical ability could do this with the help of the book, or if I will just end up frustrated and with a half-finished project. Also, if I were to start this, which kit would be better (the CNC-cut kit for the hand-built project, or the kit for the CNC project)? I'm not too sure what the difference is, but the easier the project the better in my case.
Any help to this newbie would be appreciated.
I've created Ben's handbuilt one, and I have to be honest with you, it was hard. All the minute details were very hard to get just right, especially when creating the casing. I now have a great respect for Ben, as he seemed to pump this portable out without too much of a struggle.
However, since you said that you'd probably be purchasing a kit, that would make the job a heck of a lot easier. You wouldn't have to labor away for hours cutting out the plastic with an X-acto knife. I'd say, if you really want to, then go for it. Its definitely rewarding when you finish.
I'm not trying to discourage you from creating a SNESp. I'm just letting you know my experiences with trying to assemble Ben's portables. Perhaps you might consider designing your own case; that way you can add your own little touches which give it a little of your own personality. Hope that helped.
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If you have the money to afford Ben's CNC case, go with that, if you have access to a scroll saw or very skilled with an exacto knife do the hand-built, if neither is good for you go with the hand-built for the simple fact it's easier.
As for the difference, Well this is the hand-built. and this is the CNC. To explain if you don't want to look, the hand-built use the PSone screen, the CNC uses a 3" TV screen. Further hand-built is in landscape while CNC is Portriate.
If you have anymore questions, be specific as to what they are please.
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
Well I have the money right now for a kit.. I'm more interested in the hand-built kit, because of the larger screen, but if the CNC kit is easier then by all means that's what I'm going with. It would be nice to add my own personal flair, but I'm entirely too new at this to feel comfortable doing anything like that when I could just buy a kit and do it that way.
Also, I'm good with intricacies, so as long as the directions are explicit I should be fine.
[Edit] -- And apparently I can't read, because I was told above that the hand-built is easier anyway. With the hand-built, if I buy his kit, what sort of extra work do I really have to put into it? I mean I saw where it doesn't come with sides or something like that, but what does that really entail?
Well the CNC kit is really just a case made out of acrylic plastic. This is just a case so you do all the work on the sytem and screen then drop it in. The hend-built is made of two sheets (top and bottem, though there's also the battery compartment) and a side wall made of 1/16" aluminum banding (about a inch or two wide). This case can be changed to better fit anything you did/didn't do so it can be made bigger or smaller, it also has more room for decals.
I'm sure when you think kit you think like RadioShack project kits. That's not what is ment by that here. You will have to buy the system, controller, and the screen on your own. Go ebay for the SNES, and you might even find the TV screen there for cheaper.
Also if you do have Ben's book you likely will not need help. The instructions are straight-forward and very well detailed. Not to mention the SNES is the easiest portable in the book, you should have one up and running in no time.
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
No, I did realize that by "kit" he just means "casing." I've been looking on ebay for the other major components and have been pretty pleased at how relatively inexpensive they are.
So, at this point, it sounds as though my best bet is the hand-built project since I can make it bigger or smaller if need be, and also personalize it a bit more? Also, the prices do seem a bit steep just for casing - how hard WOULD it be for me to just make my own, with (as previously stated) limited mechanical ability?
I really don't know if it matters what ability level you are. It all depended for me on how much patience I had. If you have the patience to cut out each line in the casing several times, then go for it. A rotary tool would also help (commonly known as a Dremel). I sure wish I'd had one when creating the casing.
I think it would be more beneficial to make the plates yourself. The plates cost $75 pre-made, whereas if you make them yourself, they will only be a few bucks + hours of X-acto knifing/dremeling. I know I said earlier that it would be easier to buy the pre-cut kit, but after thinking some more I came up with this.
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Haha, well right now I'm just trying to compile a shopping list. It's getting pretty long, as I am not at home with access to all my Dad's tools - so I'm just gonna buy a new one of everything for myself, since I'm gonna want these tools sooner or later in life anyway. It's gonna be an expensive adventure!!
I know Ben says that trophy shops are a good place to get engraving plastic, but does anyone know of someplace else? I'm not having much luck in my search.
I ended up getting mine from a trophy shop, however I've heard some hobby shops sell engraving plastic; so do most local plastic companies. Also, ABS and plexiglass are perfect substitutes for engraving plastic, just a bit tougher to cut. These can be found at pretty much any Lowes, Home Depot, etc. There are also numerous online vendors for engraving plastic.
Yeah, when I looked into trophy shops, they tried to sell me a 12x12 piece of engraving plastic for $20 or something. I ended up buying Plexiglass and a cheapass dremel knockoff. Dremels are handy anyways.
I actually just found a trophy shop willing to sell me some yesterday afternoon. He's selling me both sizes that I need for about $10. The plastic is blue and white, which has nothing to do with Nintendo colors, but it was all he had in stock and it sounds pretty anyway.
I did the Dremel thing too, and boy am I glad. That little tool is so much fun! I keep going back to Lowe's to buy bits for it, and it's like setting a little kid loose in a candy store.
