Some say necessity is the mother of all creation. Though this really has nothing to do with that in the sense that this hobby as a whole isn’t “necessary” really, in context this new side project is pretty useful. While working on my current project, I was unexpectedly taken down another path that will help in the testing of said project as well as future projects all together.

When I was preparing to test my new controller for the three Nintendo systems being put into my desk, I came across a rather frustrating constraint. 3 systems, all with three different power supplies and well as the need to have each one wired up to a custom rigged screen to test if the controls were working properly. I soon became lost in a tangle of wires and more wires without a single square inch of my work desk visible.

This got me thinking, “wouldn’t it be nice if I had just one outlet to plug into that also acts as an Audio/Video interface for the systems”? It couldn’t have smacked me harder!

Now there is no work log set up for this yet, but the basics are as follows. What I’m working on is a quick release, multi-voltage output control box which will allow me to quickly hook up to the desired voltage, as well as allowing me to hook up to two different voltages at once, or to add the two selected voltages together to get the required value. It will be controlled by a series of step-down regulators with the two voltage inputs being donated by Game Cube PSUs.

More to come on this shortly, but I am quite excited about this project as 80% of it is being done simply with recycled parts I had laying around the shop. Stay tuned in the next couple of weeks or so for some really cool tests of it in action!

Oh and sorry for the grammar on this one. Must have corrected it about 6 times by now…can’t win them all!

As my 3 week vacation is quickly coming to an end, the modding time has intensified. Spending close to 5 hours straight in my basement today alone, I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m either obsessed the extraordinary, or bored with the ordinary, can’t figure out which…

Anyway, that really doesn’t matter.

In a combined effort from yesterday and today, I completed several tasks that have made the controller almost ready for testing. This was quite a post over on the MBB forums so for the fine details and more photos, I’ll again send you in that direction. But a quick list of what was completed since Friday;

  1. Vacuum-Formed the back half of the controller
  2. Cut slots for N64 Memory Card holder and VGA cable out which will be used to connect the controller to the systems.
  3. Mounted and wired N64 Controller
  4. Completed mounting of all controller buttons
  5. Added header junction for the controller’s interface
  6. Wired the D-pad and Start/Select buttons to the header.

Still lots to do but this project is drawing close to completion after nearly a year and a half in the making. More updates of course when I get more done.

Now there is something very satisfying to see an idea come around into some form of physical manifestation, even if it’s only in appearance. Show above is the painted up/mocked up version of my new controller that will take the job of playing all three of Nintendo’s early generation systems.

This controller will be able to play the NES, SNES and N64 games all from one unit. Using a parallel printer cable and connections, this will automatically flip to the unit that is powered on. The three holes you see in the center there are LED holders and house an LED that will illuminate depending on which unit is on.

It’s got a long way to go yet, but it will be getting there soon and then I can finally put this project to bed! Lots of changes over the year, but will certainly be worth it! As always, have a look at the WorkLog on the MBB Forums to get up to speed!.

My new best customer, Evil Nod from the Made-by-Bacteria Forums, last week commissioned me to to make two cases for his two new portable gaming system commissions he just took on. These again were just case shells that I made up from wooden molds. Though this was a simple design for both of them, the thicknesses were a bit of an issue and when trying to form both at once, I ran into issues and had to redo them a couple of times. But it’s still a learning process.

These cases are not fully finished in the sense that they are cut to their final thickness. Evil Nod likes to cut them down after the fact so he is sure he has enough room to make it work. Can’t say I blame him and it saves me a step, but that’s why they don’t look like they line up properly. They will when he cuts them down.

You can view his progress on both builds at the links below. Looking forward to seeing the progress when they get across the pond!

Evil Nod’s SNES Commission

Evil Nod’s N64 Commission

Also if you’re new to my work, you can see other successful portable systems that I did case shells for!

It’s probably been about 7 or 8 months of off-and-on planning, but the first part of my new vacuum former is now built!

Working with John Seik of Complex Mold & Machine of Holderness, NH we have the outer portion of the “Clamping Frame” completed. This frame has been precision cut and welded and now just in need of another length of aluminum tubing so we can make the cross mounts. The cross mounts will allow for up to 4 sizes of plastic to be used, reducing waste and allowing for short runs of multiple casings or projects at once.

It’s been very cool to see this take shape and more details can be found HERE at the MBB Forums.

I’ll be meeting with John again on Thursday and hopefully finishing off this clamp frame.  More updates as they get built!

Sure she’s pretty, but make-up doesn’t change her personality. What was supposed to be a simple LED and extended battery mod for this unit turned into merely a nice new custom paint job. Though normally this wouldn’t be a bad thing, I don’t like abandoning any project I start, much less one that got this far into. But then again, the project was never meant to take long in the first place and now I have several other projects/commissions that now need my attention.

So here it is, looks nice and plays just as well, but again without the advancements I was hoping for. Have a peek at the video below learn all about it, that is unless you’re ashamed with my apparent apathy towards project commitment!