Bacteria's Multi-Console System: Screen+Case+N64 - FINISHED

Zereo_XI · Post by **Zereo_XI** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 6:43 am

bacteria- Pretty nice, I have a N64 laying in my closet so I guess my second portable will definetly be that (When i'm done with my NESP) + this thread is almost a Step by Step guide to make a N64P.
Thanks.

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 7:07 am

Zereo_XI wrote:bacteria- Pretty nice, I have a N64 laying in my closet so I guess my second portable will definetly be that (When i'm done with my NESP) + this thread is almost a Step by Step guide to make a N64P.
Thanks.

Good, my work is intended to help people make their own systems from scratch. When I get the website going, there will be far more detailed information and step-by-step. "Pretty nice"

- it is nice! Things always look less good when doing close-ups or focusing on a specific area. Bear in mind also please that this is hand made as I don't have any fancy laser cutting machinery!

Just uploaded a mini video (previous post). As you see, nice and snug fit!

Dbstew · Post by **Dbstew** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 2:04 am

Great idea for the joystick mod.

In this pic, it looks as if the N64 connector is all molten on the sides and in the gaps. Is this just the picture? If not, does it still make proper contact with the system part?

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 7:15 am

Dbstew - I dremeled down the cart connector down to the connector pins themselves, after removing the half dozen longer pins. This is as low you can sand down the cart connector before damaging the pins. I did this as otherwise there would have been no space for the cart connectors to go into them and also be secured to the casing of the system section.

Update - did the other side too, although not as perfect as the other side. I will probably put a piece of printed paper on top in any case, to show the joystick orientation options.

Tested Doom 64 in the system, it now works great.

I have to get cracking on with making the rest of the system case now, and also install the "Z" button. At least I seem to be on the home straight now...

These pics below don't look great, but functional. Shows Doom 64 playing (Doom 64 is a dark game), and the reverse with the battery compartment top in place. I need to paint the battery compartment top the same colour as the rest of the system and varnish it. The back of the casing will remove the current "bulge" with the battery section as the game cart section is going to be raised.

I used a few rubber bands to keep the game cart in place, so it didn't fall off when the system was upside down and damage the wiring on the cart slot.

Quite a bit of work to do yet.

I probably won't post many more pics until this work is done; for maximum effect!

ShockSlayer · Post by **ShockSlayer** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 3:40 pm

Lookin Sweet, You gotta be a masta!

SS

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Fri Jun 13, 2008 7:51 am

SS -

UPDATE TIME

I wasn't going to post many pics until project ends, but what temptation took over, especially as there seem to be a good stream of people awaiting updates on this project!

Got the backing perspex cut, in three sections, as the middle piece needs to be raised, as the cart relocation wires and the heatsinks require extra height.

I also put in a Z button, the grey one in the left, it was from a shoulder button from an old controller, the rubber contact is secured to the mobo, ideal, as this stops it moving about.

Rather than relocating the switch on the JoyTeck memory card/rumble unit, which isn't easy to do now, I made a way to access the switch from outside the case (at 90 degrees), by using a small bead, with a hole drilled through and a nut hot glued to it; once the case is on I can simply screw a screw into this and job dine - easy also to remove if I need to.

Fan in place

Hot glued cart slot in place, as you see there is only a millimeter between the metal holding the cart in place and the expansion pack. I used the metal pieces from the removed from the N64 case, right size.

Some pics:

Hole for fan is just short of the game cart, nice.

I need to raise the middle section 8mm

By the time the top is on, it will be about level with the top of the battery cover (top off).

I need to secure the raised middle bit by some 90 degree plastic I have, inside the casing; and make the top to conceal the game cart area. Airflow comes in from the cart slot area and expansion pack; and blows out through the fan. This means I have direct airflow via the expansion pack and memory chips.

I covered the casing with paper, before I finish I will paint it.

Incidentally, the N64 section removes nicely from the two connectors the system connects to the screen/control section - quite easy to remove and quite easy to insert. I will post pics at some point.

I also need to make small circles to go onto the tact switches for the shoulder buttons at some point, to make them easy to press and to look nicer. So much work left to do!!

Back to work!!

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Fri Jun 13, 2008 9:00 am

Out of time today.

Got some 90 degree plastic from hardware store, ideal.

Attached to the 8mm side, stuck it on, dremelled it down, put some more on as tabs to secure screws into.

One one side, other side to complete.

Neildo_64 · Post by **Neildo_64** » Fri Jun 13, 2008 12:31 pm

Its great to see this project coming along so nicely. By the way, not sure how many people have said this, but thanks for taking so many pics. It's always nice to see progress pics. Good luck.

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Fri Jun 13, 2008 2:55 pm

Thanks. It takes a colossal amount of time to make a case like this, so many parts need to be made to fit together. Once I have finished the sides I need to cover the remaining parts with paper so the paint can stick to the surface, sand some of the corners and edges down a bit, add a bit of filler here and there; paint, varnish. Many hours of work left. Hoping to finish, or near finish, by end of next week.

Using lots of small screws, only source I found from them are old controllers! I am using so many screws as it enables me to remove sections as needed, rather than large sections. I also need to find some more beads soon (used as screwposts).

kasar · Post by **kasar** » Sat Jun 14, 2008 5:52 am

excellent work bacteria, your portable topic is helping me a lot to get done my second project

NixonTech2071 · Post by **NixonTech2071** » Sat Jun 14, 2008 7:23 am

Bacteria. This project has to be the only thing that has never been attempted by others! YOU ARE GOD! WIN EPIC WIN

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Sat Jun 14, 2008 9:07 am

NixonTech2071 wrote:Bacteria. This project has to be the only thing that has never been attempted by others! YOU ARE GOD! WIN EPIC WIN

I believe this is the case, it certainly seemed to be the view before I started the project, along with comments along the lines that it has been discussed many times by various members in the past but never came to anything - mine has, so I guess it does make it the "first" working concept of a multi-console upgradeable and adaptable system and therefore original. There is no reason other people can't copy my design and make their own; if you intend to make several portables, my method will save you bucket-fulls of cash.

johnbjuice · Post by **johnbjuice** » Sat Jun 14, 2008 12:42 pm

bacteria is the new god of the benheck forums...

besides benheck himself of course. (:

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 4:44 am

johnbjuice wrote:bacteria is the new god of the benheck forums...

besides benheck himself of course. (:

Update time!

The idea of the screw through the bead worked, but there was too much play with the switch, so it wasn't good enough. I therefore ditched that and cut a strip of perspex to act as a lever to move the switch; works fine! In pics, the game cart was removed from the slot so it looks further out.

Finished the other side of the perspex to support the mid section

Cut a piece for the top, the cart slot will be concealed however most of the game sticker on the cart will show, which is nice.

Two pics:

I turned the system on and played a couple of minutes of Doom 64, everything works fine (including the fan), and the Z button I positioned works fine. I then plugged in Tonic Trouble, as this game is fussy about memory cards, if they aren't working properly the game tells you! Anyway, worked fine, which is great news.

I don't appear to be having any issues with the wiring (cross talk, interference, etc), works lovely!

I need to finish the case, then I can disconnect it from the screen section and sand the perspex a bit to make it nicer, cover in paper and paint. I have decided the section I made for the battery cover is ugly and I will change the design. I will probably dremel down the enclosure a bit to make more of a slot design, anyway, I need to give this more thought. I want it to look better. When I get to doing more painting, I might give the sides of the system case a light sand and chance my luck with applying a new layer to make it more uniform too.

At least I am at the stage when everything is on firmly enough to have been able to pop in the batteries and play the system properly!

I am very happy so far with this project, especially as it works great.

One slight pain is that the yellow joystick top has the "C" lettered on it (from GameCube); when I use the joystick it will be orientated as "C" but on PlayStation it will be a "C" on its side!

As it is important in the future to be able to remove sections of the casing, I will remove the two screws on the side by the game cart and make a section to hold the top bit and screw it to the side instead, which will also hold the mid section in place firmly. I can then simply remove the top and I have instant access to most of the system guts.

khaag · Post by **khaag** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 12:56 pm

This is looking incredible, John! Your ingenuity just floors me. Congrats on the good work and keep it coming!