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

Not carbon fiber but Formlabs Tough Resin SLA. All the features come out and it looks quite good. Came out a bit flexible which I read is not correct and due to them over curing or washing the resin. Going to try to get another print done but this is the best I’ve seen in 3D print cases so far. Color is fixed in blue unfortunately. These would be too expensive to have a company print but if you have a Formlabs printer then its only $8 in material for the top and bottom case covers.

Damn, those look great. Can only imagine how slick they would look in red.

this will have to be the future of this community. we can not use donors forever. i really like these and would like to try a few with my 1-off carts if they ever become available.

Lester Knight wrote:
this will have to be the future of this community. we can not use donors forever. i really like these and would like to try a few with my 1-off carts if they ever become available.

If anyone in the group has a Formlabs form2 printer, or access to one, that would help quite a bit. I need to check that I have permission to post the cart design files. Then anyone could have them printed. But like I mentioned $8 is the material cost. A vendor will add profit to that and then add labor and machine costs.

I had cart printed with dust cover and the VB connector and it was just under $100. We need access to a machine that we can use for free and just pay material costs. Then it might be worth it.

Clear ones, huh? Looks fantastic!

KR155E wrote:
Clear ones, huh? Looks fantastic!

those are cool! i hope we can see other colors in the future.

Wow those blue ones are fantastic looking! I love the clear look. It brings me back to the old days where Nintendo made almost everything translucent.

Wow. Those are awesome! My FlashBoy+ is begging to be transplanted into one of these!

Really love that clear transparent one!

Yeah the clear shell looks great. Hope you find someone who can make them for you.

How are these different surfaces when it comes to applying labels?

I think we need to have a word with this guy –

http://atariage.com/forums/topic/269536-vectrex-clear-cartridges/#entry3839450

He’s done this stuff before and he has contacts in China.

MineStorm wrote:
I think we need to have a word with this guy –

http://atariage.com/forums/topic/269536-vectrex-clear-cartridges/#entry3839450

He’s done this stuff before and he has contacts in China.

I did contact a few of the Nintendo sites that have molded cases. Got a few responses that VB interest wasn’t high enough to make them want to do it. Are you going to contact this guy?

Are you going to contact this guy?

I have done. We’ll see if he’s interested.

Has anyone seen this? They only do white, but maybe it could be dyed. I haven’t gotten a quote, but it sounds pretty cheap.

BTW, they also do PCBs, laser-cut acrylic, and molded cables (only using standard connectors, though).

Just got this reply from the guy on AtariAge –

Greetings

Should be something easy to have made. I will obtain some samples. Seems like it would be reasonable to make the dust caps at the same time

William

MineStorm wrote:
Just got this reply from the guy on AtariAge –

Greetings

Should be something easy to have made. I will obtain some samples. Seems like it would be reasonable to make the dust caps at the same time

William

Progress! Won’t get too excited, but this sounds very promising.

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.

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.

Great news! We really need it, especially with new games on the way.

Interesting… I got myself suckered in to a 3D printer project on Kickstarter that looks to be delivering by the end of year if no other hiccups occur. I’m curious to see how well it handles (or doesn’t handle) smooth surfaces for something like this. It’s admittedly kind of insane to me that the materials alone for that slick blue number are $8, but I’m sure material costs will also start to decrease as the medium becomes more common.

 

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