checking interest on new Amiga 600 case fabrication

[kipper2k]

Hi all, i do have the capability of getting new A600 cases made. I do not know if there is already something in the process of being released already for this. If someone has already got something going then let me know

I am just trying to get an idea of whether there is a sufficient interest by people to get new cases. Cases would be injection moulded and using an anti UV plastic. I do not think the cost of these would be high and they would be made in China (as is most plastics nowadays).

My basic idea would be to act as the middle man and have the factory produce and mail the cases directly to the customer. I am not in this for the money. As long as i can get a few cases for myself free is pretty well all i am after. i am hoping the costs would be less than $50 each depending on volume sold. For the actual design i have a couple of choices, go with someones design already done or just get the factory to scan an original case to get their model..

Timeframe for this to happen would be approx 5 months from the time i say "Its a go".

Let me know your thoughts - good. bad, constructive and indifferent.

[Matt_H]

As far as I am aware, no one has yet replicated the A600 case, right? I don't need one right now, but it would be good for these to exist. I imagine we'll eventually have new A600 keyboards, too, so the combination would be an ideal home for an FPGA Amiga board.

[amiman99]

There is someone here on EAB who designed one A600 case for 3D printing (in pieces).

[jasonsbeer]

Originally Posted by Matt_H

As far as I am aware, no one has yet replicated the A600 case, right? I don't need one right now, but it would be good for these to exist. I imagine we'll eventually have new A600 keyboards, too, so the combination would be an ideal home for an FPGA Amiga board.

I echo this sentiment. I'm not sure how many A600's in the wild need a new case. I'm sure there are some out there. A more likely use case is to use newly manufactured cases for an FPGA board. Combined with the correct form factor keyboard, they would be great for that purpose.

[ubermick]

I think, and probably get kicked up the arse for it, a better bet is to focus new materials on newer technology. As more and more boards fail, cases will trickle into the marketplace. But something like a replica A600/1200 case and modern keyboard for FPGA purposes would be fantastic. It would mean people can get functioning systems built on newer (and readily available) tech that's not prone to failure, while still hanging onto the nostalgia.

I'm currently printing this out for my MiSTer build, but even though it LOOKS kinda similar, it won't be the same...

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4721208

I would personally LOVE a case that you could insert a 60% keyboard in, or better yet an A1200 style case that you could put a proper full sized one in.

[seb132]

Hello kipper2k.
I have 12-14 A600 (some boxed, some assembled, some in parts...) and few of them have cases in desperate conditions so I’d love to see a quality solution coming out (ie injection moulding, not 3D poo-poo printing...).
I’d probably be up for up to 10 of them, pending pricing and design.
To me design must be identical to original.
I have tried to push the A1200.net team for years but they believe the market is too small... not if I look at my collection!
So yep, all in. But need some details.
I know the industry well and designing a mould is anything but cheap, how will they amortise the design??

[alexh]

Even though I have a brand new NOS non yellowed A600 case and keyboard from Vesalia I'd still be interested if it came with some enhancements.

A removable panel where the modulator currently is would be the best upgrade with a panel for the indivision ECS or the new rgb2hdmi to come out (yes I know there's no A600 adapter yet)..

Perhaps a taller pcmcia slot for CF cards?

Are A600 keycaps different shape to A500/A1200 ones?

[seb132]

Keycaps are same between 500/600/1200, except colour.

What’s the issue with PCMCIA? I’m using keeper2k extension boards to bring CF above PCMCIA in all my A1200/A600 machines without issue...

[roondar]

I'd really like the option for an A600 case. I have a pretty nice A1200 one, but my A600 is looking errr - "yellow" these days.

[nikosidis]

For that price I will for sure buy one when my A600 gets ugly in the future

[Mick]

I'd be interested but my preference would be to try to keep it as original as possible, except maybe improving/strengthening the clips, if they're going to be more than just a limited run it's not so important though.

[alexh]

Originally Posted by seb132

What’s the issue with PCMCIA? I’m using keeper2k extension boards to bring CF above PCMCIA in all my A1200/A600 machines without issue...

?? They don't fit without increasing the height of the PCMCIA slot opening just a little usually with a file.

[seb132]

Alexh: of course, the opening is just for PCMCIA cards. So it needs a bigger opening if you stack a CF above. That could be per-cut, indeed.

[idrougge]

It all depends on looks and finish. I wouldn’t want to have something looking like a 3d printed nightmare on my desk.

[duga]

I presume it wouldn't be more than 10% cheaper to manufacture compared to the A1200 cases. Maybe a bit cheaper to ship thanks to the somewhat smaller and lighter case.

[Lemaru]

Originally Posted by seb132

Keycaps are same between 500/600/1200, except colour.

Unfortunately that is not always the case. There are a couple of different style keycaps on the A600.

The standard Mitsumi Hybrid switches are interchangeable between them all. But Mitsumi Miniature (I believe that are known as), with the square connection and no springs, are quite common. For example the 3x A600s I have all use the Mitsumi Miniature

[Amiga1992]

Originally Posted by jasonsbeer

I echo this sentiment. I'm not sure how many A600's in the wild need a new case.

What? I'd say most.
The tabs that hold these cases together break too easily.

With that said, if you're gonna make a 1:1 reproduction of the A600 case, don't even bother. These latches need to be re-developed/fixed so they don't break as soon as you look at them funny. It's a terrible design.

If you can make a case that latches together and doesn't break like the original, I'd be very interested.

(But also pretty sure I am not willing to pay like $70 for the privilege)

[Lemaru]

I'd be up for a couple of these if they are affordable. Been waiting for someone to do a repro 600 case for years.

Personally I'd like it as close to the original case as possible, with maybe a screw on the right of the case near the floppy drive, rather than the crappy clip.

Also maybe a slight mod to the case near the joystick ports to allow for standard 9pin D-types to fit in both sockets without having to mod them

[ealm]

I'm in! My dream Amiga is a V4 in an A600 case. Smallest and neatest and most powerful real Amiga ever! Yes "real Amiga".. The 080 is the most Amiga compatible architecture you can find – much more so than Motorola 040 or 060. And it's made by the Amiga community!

But I echo what someone else wrote: the case would have to be identical to the A600! Anything else and I can as well just keep the V4 standard case. Rather 150 USD for the real deal than 50 USD for an "almost A600"-case.

[Predseda]

Transparent? Glowing? $50 / each? I am in. But Just white one for 150 Eur (I do not believe it can be made for 50 USD) is not of my interest.