Show us your Project Boxes!

[nk4e]

can someone make a tutorial on project boxes? Do the pcb’s need to all have common ground to keep the button wireing consistant?

Its like building a regular stick but using something else from what I have seen.

[Trevor_spencer]

I love project boxes cause i can use my old trusty HRAP1 that ive owned since new , anyway 1st up is xbox 360 , please ignore my drilling this was my first project box i ever made , its not quite straight

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v358/trev1976/Stick003.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v358/trev1976/Stick002.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v358/trev1976/Stick005.jpg

2nd is my DC project box which i spent a bit more time on and im really pleased how this one turned out

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v358/trev1976/Stick007.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v358/trev1976/Stick008.jpg

3rd is my PS3 Cthulhu PCB project box , quite pleased with this one to

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v358/trev1976/Stick012.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v358/trev1976/Stick013.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v358/trev1976/Stick014.jpg

And this is my stick set up with 360

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v358/trev1976/Stick015.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v358/trev1976/Stick016.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v358/trev1976/Stick001-1.jpg

Im planning on doing a saturn project box then ill be set.

For WII and xbox i have decent converters , and my sticks also work fine with JAMMA

[FrakkinToaster]

Madcatz 4716 (360), DB-15, VHS box + 20mm button for Guide

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v339/kiki_daiso/Arcade%20sticks/360.jpg

Cthulhu, DB-15, Sistema 200ml box + 20mm button for Home

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v339/kiki_daiso/Arcade%20sticks/PS3.jpg

Those are awesome! What was the second one, a GPS? I’m thinking about making a Dreamcast Project Box out of an old Walkman, with the pop-out slot for cassette tapes revealing the VMU port.

[FrakkinToaster]

Anyone know of a good website for getting slim project boxes? I checked out http://www.polycase.com/item/sl-68p.html but $9 shipping is crazy.

[LuppyLuptonium]

How did I miss this thread. I thought this was an ancient and lost art… Didn’t think people made these things anymore.

[kikimaru024]

Those are awesome! What was the second one, a GPS? I’m thinking about making a Dreamcast Project Box out of an old Walkman, with the pop-out slot for cassette tapes revealing the VMU port.

:wgrin: It’s actually a foodbox for holding cheese!
I just painted it black & dremeled in DB-15 & USB ports.

[gns]

Here are my family of project boxes (mcthulhu from toodles, DC pcb from agetec, saturn pcb from twin sticks) and the sticks that go with them

Latest addition

[rtdzign]

Sorry for the late reply. This thread fell down before I got to it. The project box connector is fine. The pcb and plastic is actually light, and if you did happen to get a lose connection, I think the still have DB-25 male to female cables. For me after all these years it is a non issue.

I don’t even use this stick anymore since It is set up non common ground, and all Happ (but 1999 IL Quality Happ). But am nostalgic for it since It is the first quality stick I made a few years back.

May get it prepped for MAHVEL BayBEE! Gotta get Pringles with mah Curly Mustache!

Wow, these are some really slick project boxes you guys have here. That settles this, I’m converting to project boxing RIGHT NOW. Boo-yah!

Also, rtdzign, how well does that lone DB-25 connector hold those boxes in place? Do you feel that there’s any strain on the pins, or that the boxes are too heavy for that connector?

[drunkninja42]

Any reason some of the people here went with DB-25s over DB15s? Just running through some diagrams myself, and it seems like a DB-15 is all you would ever need unless you run an 8 main button setup, and even then, you only go over the maximum connections by 1. As far as I can see, these are the only wires you need to route through your connector (please correct me if I am wrong):

6-8 for your main action buttons
2-3 for Start/Select/Guide buttons
4 for each direction on the stick
1 for ground

Voltage wouldn’t be necessary, right? Since I assume power would just come from the pads connection to the system itself. So that leaves 13-16 connection points needed. In my case, all I’d need is 14, and I’m pretty sure that would cover any system I have in mind.

[drunkninja42]

Well, got some parts for my project now. Ordered some DB-15 F connectors on eBay, bought a M-M DB-15 cable on Monoprice, and just picked up 5 black VHS cases for 10 each at a local flea market (much better deal than buying those online). Now I just need my PCBs and tools for all the systems I want…

[rtdzign]

You need a DB-25 if you plan to work with pads that are non common ground

You need a DB-25 if you plan to work with pads that are non common ground. That was the case at the time I made this when it was hard to find and didn’t want to kill official Saturn controllers and used an Eclipse pad. Also the xbox box I attempted wasn’t common ground either and was trying to get this to work for DOA and SC2, but the hack went all bad. When I built the stick originally it was housed in a speakerbox covered in wood, but only about a year ago put it in the better sized box pictured above.

Any reason some of the people here went with DB-25s over DB15s? Just running through some diagrams myself, and it seems like a DB-15 is all you would ever need unless you run an 8 main button setup, and even then, you only go over the maximum connections by 1. As far as I can see, these are the only wires you need to route through your connector (please correct me if I am wrong):

6-8 for your main action buttons
2-3 for Start/Select/Guide buttons
4 for each direction on the stick
1 for ground

Voltage wouldn’t be necessary, right? Since I assume power would just come from the pads connection to the system itself. So that leaves 13-16 connection points needed. In my case, all I’d need is 14, and I’m pretty sure that would cover any system I have in mind.

[Orecets]

Kyle, I have to get off my ass and hack one of my saturn controllers to that.

Frakkintoaster, nice idea.

Love your use of the genesis boxes but gotta agree why ecco.

I have 4 project boxes myself and working on a 5th (xbox360). These go with the gutted agetec with light up mod and my tv table top (also in pic)

Three are shown here: mccthulhu (ps3/pc), ps2 (old madcatz), dc (from agetec). Used a DB15, should’ve used db25.

The one not shown is a mcthulhu all in one test rig (ps3,pc,ps2,ps1,xbox,gc) with the nuby SCII cord hack.

I had the same idea for the tv tray stand, but I thought it might be a bit wobbly in play.

Did it turn out stable for you?

[gns]

It is wobbly. But I am pretty light on the controls so it doesn’t bother me that much.

I think someone else just recently posted on “check my stick” thread where he bolted the table secure. I prefer to leave it foldable.

Why not give it a shot? You can get them from walmart for about 7$ … if you dont like it reuse the parts for a real box build.

[drunkninja42]

You need a DB-25 if you plan to work with pads that are non common ground. That was the case at the time I made this when it was hard to find and didn’t want to kill official Saturn controllers and used an Eclipse pad. Also the xbox box I attempted wasn’t common ground either and was trying to get this to work for DOA and SC2, but the hack went all bad. When I built the stick originally it was housed in a speakerbox covered in wood, but only about a year ago put it in the better sized box pictured above.

Ah, that makes sense.

Just got started building my boxes. DC one is pretty simple (Green Goblin PCB), and I have a Cthulhu and 360 Fightpad on the way for a few more boxes. Also got some screws that will make it much easier to open my HRAP EX, so once I get my other boxes built, I’ll probably get that setup.

[drunkninja42]

Well, got my PCBs in, and have my first batch of project boxes up and running!

Here’s my HRAP EX with the DB-15 port installed (all internal PCBs removed except for the guide button PCB, I was able to wire it up like another button):

http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/2244/img0309v.jpg

All the boxes laid out with labels for their system (used 10 cent VHS boxes from the flea market as cases):

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/6589/img0310w.jpg

Internals of DC box:

http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/4596/img0311.jpg

Internals of PS3 box:

http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/9411/img0312.jpg

Internals of 360 box:

http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/6351/img0313w.jpg

Next up on my list is a Saturn and SNES box. Sorry for the blurry pics, low lighting + iPhone = bleh. I really need a real camera.

[rtdzign]

Awesome. If you found a DB-15 M-F cables then you would not have to have the project box hang off the stick.

The other reason I used DB-25 is that DB-25 cables M-F are easier to find.

[Sephiru]

Awesome. If you found a DB-15 M-F cables then you would not have to have the project box hang off the stick.

The other reason I used DB-25 is that DB-25 cables M-F are easier to find.

Couldn’t you just use 2 female db15 connectors in your stick and project box and just use a regular vga cable (which are cheaper and easier to find)?

[drunkninja42]

Awesome. If you found a DB-15 M-F cables then you would not have to have the project box hang off the stick.

The other reason I used DB-25 is that DB-25 cables M-F are easier to find.

I’ve got a 6’ DB-15 cable, so that’s not a big deal to me, the box simply plugs into the stick and then goes to the system while it just sits on the floor.

[rtdzign]

Posting my Old skool book stick here to keep this thread alive.

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/BookStick/BookStickCloseUp.jpg

works with all these systems.

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/BookStick/th_CompatibleSystems.jpg

View from the bottom.
http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww301/rtdzign/BookStick/th_DSC03291.jpg

album of sticks at various states.

I think I’m going to make a tutorial on how a project box stick works with db-15 and db -25 and do the DB-15 with neo geo in mind.

[Kyle]

Posting my Old skool book stick here to keep this thread alive.

I wired up a NES project box for my stick the other day. I completely forgot to post it.

My HSS-0130 should be here in the next week or so. It may also get project boxed since the Saturn-PS2 converters I bought aren’t working with the PS2 model I own.