Amiga 1200 edge connector pursuit

[majsta]

Hi, on some other forums I have wrote the same but response was low. Maybe this forum is more visited than others. So here we go. In the process of making Vampire 1200 I have found only one problem. Card edge connectors with 150 pins are extremely hard to find. Fujitsu made them and discontinued in 2000 and they don't have replacement part. Part number is: FCN-225J150-G/A I got an offer from NOS, Sullins and some Taiwan companies. In fact so far I have sent anywhere between 200-300 mails and made lot of phone calls with every person who had in his hand connector similar to what we need here. Searched over old newsgroups, tracked down people who owned amiga shops 20 years ago. Even talked to Fujitsu directly. Most challenging was to read Japanese and Chinese web pages to be able to search in their stocks. So far result is like this. In the existence there is 174 NOS connectors with insane prices and tooling fees with Sullins and Taiwan companies are huge for Amiga hobby projects. So any kind of information's if you see that I m missing something here, some replacement part number someone used or some NOS I haven't checked(I doubt that but you never know).

[Daedalus]

I know it's not ideal, but have you considered splicing two connectors yourself? The Mediator adaptor boards use this technique for their accelerator connection. I only realised that was the case when I sacrificed one of the adaptor boards to get a connector myself and found that it was actually two very well cut halves. Worth thinking about anyway if you're stuck.

[roomeo]

Don't Individual Computers have tooling to make these?

[gulliver]

Originally Posted by roomeo

Don't Individual Computers have tooling to make these?

Yes they do have the tooling.

But I am not sure if they have the will to support their competition.

[roomeo]

Originally Posted by gulliver

Yes they do have the tooling.

But I am not sure if they have the will to support their competition.

That i understand. This has probably been pointed out before, but the best would have been a collaboration between those two camps. Let IComp manufacter the v1200, to the benefit of the entire amiga community.

Some sort of licensing of the v1200. and everyone would make buck on it.

Well.. im a dreamer..

[idrougge]

Well, they can talk when the Vampire is production-ready. So far it looks more like just the support headache Jens wants to avoid.

[voyager]

I thought Alex had offered to make some, have to look it up there is so much vampire information scattered around the place.

[seb132]

I thought keeper2k worked on this before...

[emufan]

someone was talking about a way to make some edge connectors with a highres 3D printer,
just some days ago - but I cannot find the posting. Zetro, Akira or Alexh? - i cannot remember exactly.
can anyone find the posting?

#1) found it:

Originally Posted by Zetr0

The only bad thing I can find about the V2-500 is the damn fact I have to save pocket money and buy two of them =)

Quick serious note on A1200 150 pin connector

I have a pretty damn good resolution 3d printer to hand, I could look into moulding and tooling these - would there be any STL / CAD files for the 150 pin connector shroud?

While I cannot promise anything, I suspect with a couple (2) of months of play (methodically developing a tooling / moulding process) I could get them down to about $5 or lower per unit.

Originally Posted by Daedalus

The Mediator adaptor boards use this technique for their accelerator connection.

I think it is the connector board on the right side (see image attached).
which connector types they did cut apart to make the a1200 trapdoor compatible one?
does anyone got a highres image of this adapter?

(image taken from BBoAH)

[Daedalus]

Originally Posted by emufan

I think it is the connector board on the right side (see image attached).
which connector types they did cut apart to make the a1200 trapdoor compatible one?
does anyone got a highres image of this adapter?

Yes, that's the board I used. Once I desoldered it, it was two cleanly cut connectors butted together. I don't think there's anything special about the connector really, it's a standard pitch (0.05" / 1.27mm either side), so the only things Amiga-specific about the trapdoor connector are the number of pins (150) and the key slot (which can be ignored as is the case with the Mediator adaptor). Standard PCI connectors match the pitch specification and are also available in right angle varieties, so it's possible Elbox use these.

In fact, why not ask Elbox about selling their modified connectors?

Anyway, here are possible cuttable connectors:
http://www.morethanall.com/products/..._id/60/id/2599

And its mirror image to make the other half of the connector:
http://www.morethanall.com/products/...e_id/60/id/681

No pricing without an account unfortunately, but they're off-the-shelf so at least there wouldn't be tooling costs.

Edit: Here are some photos of my connector removed from the adaptor PCB. Click on the images for larger versions. Oh, and excuse the slightly sloppy soldering - it was a quick temporary job that has ended up being permanent...

[emufan]

@Daedalus: nice work on your projects, thank you for all the infos

[Daedalus]

Originally Posted by emufan

nice work on your projects, thank you for all the infos

Thanks very much!

[hese]

Originally Posted by seb132

I thought keeper2k worked on this before...

Yes, he was:
http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?t=72221

[Zetr0]

I did have a rough go at this last week, I have been having a play in auto-cad to develop it further - with a bit of luck I might be able to print a prototype out this weekend.



I was, shall we say - inspired by the ACT connector, as this is simpler than the more common 3 way staggered 90d angled connector - to retain a structural strength, as you can see I used sleeves, 4mm groove, for the Adaptor card to snugly fit to reduce insertion tension.

I still need to ensure I can make a mould from the prototype and then look in to building a tooling system for the pins - while its unlikely I could get this in time for the V1200 adaptor it may make it much easier and cheaper for the future adaptors for the A1200.

[springycz]

Really cool approach! Keep my fingers crossed for it works.

[Mr.Flibble]

So what happened with the 200 connectors Kipper managed to get his hands on last time?

http://kipper2k.com/a1200prelim.pdf

With all of that above, it looks like we only have four options?

1. New edge connectors manufactured by ??? for £££

2. Someone stumbles on some NOS stock in some dusty warehouse.

3. Cut and shut method Elbox used?

4. Work Zetr0 to the bone

Amiga.org thread for cross-reference: http://www.amiga.org/forums/showthread.php?p=808070


Edit: Digging for NOS:

390 - https://www.usbid.com/parts/FCN225J150GA
174 - http://www.odysseyelectronics.net/re...1=Start+Search
218 - https://www.sierraic.com/FCN225J150G

Everywhere else quotes the same 174 figure the middle one lists...

How many are we looking for, and what unit price are we looking for? (Other than as cheap as possible!)

[majsta]

@Mr.Flibble lot of things I found out myself, price goes for NOS up to 49USD per one connector and that's insane. In reality looking at similar connectors and their prices there is no reason for this connector to cost more than 4USD.

[Mr.Flibble]

@majsta Yeah, that's about the unit price I'd expect too, ~$5 per connector... I wonder if some weird bit of military/healthcare hardware uses the same connector, hence the silly prices...

[dirkies]

even if you would buy all NOS you can find on the web (assuming cheap!) + what kipper already obtained, it would be limited to manufacturing 1000 A1200 Vampires, then it is game over.
Would that be worth taking the risk?

[majsta]

Yes because later other options will be available. Later after first 2 batches we can manufacture connector. Right now we need to have enough to start.