Help Fund The A4000 Replica Project

[cgutjahr]

We're living in a post-Timberwolf world, so whe should make sure crowdfunding descriptions do not leave much room for interpretation.

This particular description needs to be updated to include the format in which the files will be released (as somebody already mentioned, this is an important issue) and which license will be used for the release.

[Vlabguy1]

I've started a Go Fund Me campaign for getting the 4000 (NON-CR) Rev B reverse engineered. All project files will be open and public. The cost for this being done by a US company is not cheap but also very fair for what we get in return. Please take a look at the page here and help if you can!

https://www.gofundme.com/amiga-4000-replica-with-schematics

So this is just for the “schematic” for the board?  Ok I think it’s cool but aren’t there enough A4000’s out there?  You still need all dem chips etc. Perhaps I am missing something, lol.

Rich

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

but aren’t there enough A4000’s out there?

Clearly there's too many.  How 'bout you give me one or two of yours?  While you're at it, have any classic cars you feel like giving away?  :lol:

[Acill]

The Rev B is the most common board. I fix rotten 4000 boards all the time and its a pain in the ass. I wanted new boards and so do a lot of others. If you are looking for a new machine made from this its the wrong thing for you. Its entire point is to have new boards for repairing old dead ones. The other project is for the CR and is a much rarer board. It does no good for those looking to get a repair done on a Rev 2. This also will be fully public and all files released as well. The last thing was i had to give up my good 4000 for this and have it reverse engineered, so as far as being a money grab I lost money, not gained any.

As far as getting money, did you look at my go fund me I have the invoice right on it show exactly what it will cost and what is delivered. This included CAD files, schematics, gerbers and manufacturing data all needed for the production of new boards.

[Acill]

While the effort is admirable, the fact that PADS is being used is problematic to me. it is very high-end software, which very few people have access to.

Porting between EDA packages is a pretty dicey proposition - errors are often introduced, layouts munged, etc.

I think that the effort would be tremendously more interesting, valuable, and would get more support if it was done in KiCad. There would never be a question of anyone being able to access the information. Eagle doesn't achieve that, especially as Autodesk is closing that package off (and a board that size, and with the likely stackup, isn't going to load into "free" Eagle anyways).

My $.02

Yeah, i am using a very high end professional design company to do this. If your interested in a hobby level one you can take advantage of the Henes project. The ability to convert to Altium and maybe Eagle is there once done. I have been ensured I can get Altium exports done. The entire point of this is for new PERFECT boards done on very high level precision equipment. The fact I was able to get it done for only $5k is a huge perk and an amazing deal. If you look into what this can cost to have a professional board lay out done you will see its 10's of thousands usually.

[kolla]

I don't have any certain info on this, but I think a lot of the Model D A4000CR systems went not so much to end users, but rather to companies like SCALA, for kiosk systems etc.

[tonyvdb]

I think this is a very good idea and will be donating. I've managed to keep my 4000 running but wonder when it will finally give up on me. Having an option like this available will save a lot of agrivation for many.

[TribbleSmasher]

Have you seen this yet?
https://github.com/scratje/a4000
This is created from the amigapcb.org data.

[Acill]

Have you seen this yet?
https://github.com/scratje/a4000
This is created from the amigapcb.org data.

He released that to help, but it's not accurate enough to use for boards, it's helped a lot with getting started though.

[nicholas]

Personally I'd like to see something more advanced, like an ATX form factor board with PCI slots replacing the ISA slots.

With an FPGA CPU

[kolla]

With an FPGA CPU

If you want a FPGA system with PCI slots, then you may just as well look outside the Amiga realms. Quite frankly I don't quite get what the PCI is for, there isn't much one can do with PCI that one cannot do with USB, except perhaps graphics, but then you may very well be better off with graphics in the FPGA. So, essentially a Vampier V4, or any other FPGA board around

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

Quite frankly I don't quite get what the PCI is for

Personally I would love to build an A4000D with Mediator and Radeon someday. That would be the perfect mix of "old + new" for me. But obviously other folks prefer different. :lol:

[mechy]

donated!

[madgrizzle]

What do you think the production cost of the boards will be?

[AltRN8]

This is such a great project idea. Just donated!

[AmigaGTI]

Great Idea. I think it is a good to make replacement boards. I have 3 brocken A4000D Boards here and it  would be great to make some new Amiga Boards with the parts.