VIC cartridge PCB eagle

[norm8332]

I'm planning on making up a basic cartridge PCB for 27XX EPROMs. I want a way to make single game carts for myself. I can already make the 3-D printed cases. Before I start designing the PCB myself in Eagle, I was wondering if a design is already available in the wild? If not I will start from scratch. Thanks.

Norm

[mrr19121970]

You saw this ?

https://www.thefuturewas8bit.com/vic-8k-pcb.html

[norm8332]

Yeah, I saw that. I was going to make at least 20 and it will be much cheaper with shipping to have the boards made in China. I also want a design file so more can be made. I will probably release the design to the public so anyone can produce them if a file isn't already available somewhere.

[srowe]

I have a library file that I've used. The width came out a little short on the one board I produced so it needs editing.

[norm8332]

I have a library file that I've used. The width came out a little short on the one board I produced so it needs editing.

Thanks, that will help! I wasn't aware there was a library available. I will make sure to fix the size.

Norm

[srowe]

I can't remember where I got it from. The pinouts were all wrong, I ended up re-doing it from scratch.

[norm8332]

OK, I had a go at a basic 8K cart. I'm a novice at cart design so please let me know about all the errors and how I am going to blow up my VIC! It's basically a copy of the commodore 8k except (hopefully) adapted to a 2764.Thanks in advance. Any comments are welcome.

Norm

[norm8332]

This is the latest one I switched the lines used for CS. I'm also starting on a 2-bank 16K with a 74ls00. When these are complete and tested, the eagle design files will be released to the wild. I can't hardy believe no one has ever done this. But after searching for weeks and not finding them I decided to clone the C= boards (for the most part). I like making custom "single" carts, and I think there may be others too that may want to make them without having to design a PCB or purchase the boards at triple the price. My total estimated material cost for a completed cartridge including board, EPROM and 3d printed case with label is only $4.00 each..Quite a bargain and I have the fun of building them.

[alexjlopez]

Cool! If you don't mind me asking, where do you get the 3D printed cases and the vic labels?

[beamrider]

Sorry for being behind the curve but how do you actually get the board made once you have a satisfactory design file?

[norm8332]

Cool! If you don't mind me asking, where do you get the 3D printed cases and the vic labels?

Well there are a couple of big caveats to this, you have to own a 3-d printer and a color laser printer. I built 3 3D printers in 2014 during my "3D printer phase" that are mostly idle now and I own a couple nice color laser printers left over from a business I used to run. I am only taking consumables into consideration for the price of the case and label.

Sorry for being behind the curve but how do you actually get the board made once you have a satisfactory design file?

I have used DirtyPCBs.com. They take the Eagle .brd file directly on the ordering page and provide a board preview instantly in the shopping cart. If you select slow shipping it is really cheap and the boards I received were good quality. For the hobbyist the slow shipping doesn't matter, but for production it takes too long. I have no plans on selling these though. The EPROMs come from ebay new at $1.00 each shipped from china.

[Floopy]

The EPROMs come from ebay new at $1.00 each shipped from china.

Where can I find some, the cheapest I see are about 3.00$ each

[Mike]

Any comments are welcome.

You should consider routing the data lines CD0 and CD1 with vias, and CD3..CD7 between the left-hand side pins of the chip.

No reason to copy the original design in that point really. One could easily route a trace between through-hole pins already in those days; nowadays, you could fit an entire motorway in.

A really *good* design would involve a proper ground-plane on both sides, connected with a regular grid of vias, and the trace between stabilizing capacitor and Vcc pin of the EPROM as short as possible. That's one for the experts.

[norm8332]

You should consider routing the data lines CD0 and CD1 with vias, and CD3..CD7 between the left-hand side pins of the chip.

No reason to copy the original design in that point really. One could easily route a trace between through-hole pins already in those days; nowadays, you could fit an entire motorway in.

A really *good* design would involve a proper ground-plane on both sides, connected with a regular grid of vias, and the trace between stabilizing capacitor and Vcc pin of the EPROM as short as possible. That's one for the experts.

Yeah, I agree fully. I just copied the original design because it was easy to do and it works. I am going to take your suggestion on adding a ground plane. The 16K will be routed between the pins like you point out. Thanks for the input.

Where can I find some, the cheapest I see are about 3.00$ each

I got some here: (these have been tested)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/172447472569 and http://www.ebay.com/itm/172481257448

Norm

[Floopy]

Thank you!