Original Post

I was playing around with carbon fiber 3D printed cases in addition to the link cable work. The Onyx prints didn’t come out so well but the SLS HP PA12 prints are not bad. Still too expensive though at $24 per case.

The SLS prints also seem to mark up easily as well. Seems like the cart dust cover model here on PlanetVB may be too tight in dimensions. The SLS dust cover won’t go on the VB connector without pushing pretty hard. The cases are a bit tight as well. The plain case less so than the fully detailed one.

The plain covers print better than the fully detailed one with Nintendo writing on the back. The current models have the text too shallow for 3D prints. Virtual Boy shows up on the back using a 75um SLS print and an 100um FDM Onyx print but the smaller text at the bottom doesn’t show well with SLS and not at all with FDM Onyx.

I think the 3D models also have the screw depths too short or the screw on the back cover too deep as when you tighten the screws down they want to push through the front covers. You can see it in the pics of both the FDM Onyx and the SLS HP PA12 prints.

I’d like to try an SLA Formlabs Tough Resin print as well but they’re even more expensive than SLS. Seems like at this point donor carts are still the best option.

76 Replies

MortoffGames wrote:
Levine91 contacted me over at Atari Age to discuss if I could have the cartridge shells re-made. Its something I am pretty familiar with and should be able to accomplish. I will keep you all informed about my progress. Won’t be until likely January that they would be done.

Off topic but just wanna say thank you for damn near always having what I need in your online store. I’ve sent countless people your way and spent even more there lol.

retronintendonerd wrote:

MortoffGames wrote:
Levine91 contacted me over at Atari Age to discuss if I could have the cartridge shells re-made. Its something I am pretty familiar with and should be able to accomplish. I will keep you all informed about my progress. Won’t be until likely January that they would be done.

Off topic but just wanna say thank you for damn near always having what I need in your online store. I’ve sent countless people your way and spent even more there lol.

I sincerely appreciate it. Its great people like yourself that makes me love what I do and allows me to get projects like these shells into the market.

Do the 3D scanners work to scan a cart and and get the proper dimensions?

Sorry bit late in getting to edit my model.

In reading this I saw the screw hole depth being too short and you can see the screw pushing material out in assembly photo, I have made this hole 0.5mm deeper, -rev1 STL model here in case its of use.

BTW these clear ones look good, red would be great.

MortoffGames wrote:
I sincerely appreciate it. Its great people like yourself that makes me love what I do and allows me to get projects like these shells into the market.

You’ll likely be getting more money from me shortly lol. I need to fix up my DMG and Sega CD <3

retronintendonerd wrote:

MortoffGames wrote:
I sincerely appreciate it. Its great people like yourself that makes me love what I do and allows me to get projects like these shells into the market.

You’ll likely be getting more money from me shortly lol. I need to fix up my DMG and Sega CD <3

Its much appreciated, makes projects like these possible.

Unfortunately due to circumstances outside my control this project cannot move forward at this time. I apologize for any inconvenience this has caused. I wish the community well and hope you are able to find a good source of these.

Unfortunate to hear. Thank you for offering to help though.

I have an updated FormLabs print coming. And when I asked about red translucent prints they said they have new materials and colors coming in the new year.

mellott124 wrote:
I have an updated FormLabs print coming. And when I asked about red translucent prints they said they have new materials and colors coming in the new year.

Formlabs announced new color kits today. Red is one of them. Anyone got a Formlabs 2 printer?

mellott124 wrote:

mellott124 wrote:
I have an updated FormLabs print coming. And when I asked about red translucent prints they said they have new materials and colors coming in the new year.

Formlabs announced new color kits today. Red is one of them. Anyone got a Formlabs 2 printer?

Also got the updated print from Formlabs in the translucent blue. No more warp or so much flexibility because they cured it correctly. If the tough resin could be died red it would be pretty awesome. Some risk it would be slightly purple because of dying a blue part red. I don’t have any experience with dying resin to know for sure.

Well, the company where I work is buying a Formlabs 2 printer so I’ll soon have access to one. 🙂

I’ve also been talking with Formlabs and they seem fairly confident that they can print a functional VB connector using the Formlabs 2. So I’ve started buying pins to see which will work best with the VB. I’ll also be working on my own model of the connector.

I’m hoping to see a 3D printed case and connector assembled this year into a full cartridge. Fingers crossed!

Wow, great news.

Great news, Mellott! I cannot wait to see them.

ending the donor problem is one issue I’ve wanted to see addressed for a long time. I am really looking forward to more news. thanks Kevin.

This sounds really promising. I don’t know how you find time to have a real job Kevin, seems to me like you have enough on your plate with these virtual boy side projects.

Yea… This is definitely some great news. Can’t wait to see the final results!

OK for a few prototypes, but a mould is going to be needed to make cases / connectors in volume.

Agreed. But until someone, or a group, is willing to pony up $10,000+ per mold, this is going to be the best I think can be done.

That or we keep waiting for mold pricing to come down but I don’t see it happening anytime soon.

Then we still have the issue of the pins in the connector.

MineStorm wrote:
OK for a few prototypes, but a mould is going to be needed to make cases / connectors in volume.

Well, I would donate a few hundred to that. But getting enough people to do that…? I dunno.

 

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