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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: amigadave on September 19, 2007, 03:48:32 AM
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PCBs are completed, I am sure components are arriving and soldering irons and/or ovens are heating up. Who will be the first to complete their very own MiniMIG. Unless I am mistaken, Dennis produced 4 MiniMIGs, kept one and gave the other three to friends of his. Who will own working MiniMIG number 5?
Hopefully my bare PCB of the v1.1 MiniMIG will be arriving soon, but I doubt I will be first to complete the project.
So speak up and let us know when yours is working and of any changes, or problems you come across in the process.
P.S. I am looking for someone that has SMT tools and expertise to install the SMT parts on my board so I can finish the rest of the project myself. If you have these skills, or know of anyone else that can help me, send me a PMail, or post the answer here for others that may also need the help.
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:bump:
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I wonder if some people is working on improving it with:
-hardfile support
-more ram
-HD controller
-Real floppy controller
-using a 060EC. These cpus are cheap, work with 3.3v and since you can change the FPGA to work with it, you wouldn't need to convert the 060 bus into a 030 bus so it would be very fast
-AGA support?
-some chips to handle 5v signals so you can fit an A2000 cpu accelerator?
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Crumb wrote:
I wonder if some people is working on improving it with:
-hardfile support
-more ram
-HD controller
-Real floppy controller
-using a 060EC. These cpus are cheap, work with 3.3v and since you can change the FPGA to work with it, you wouldn't need to convert the 060 bus into a 030 bus so it would be very fast
-AGA support?
-some chips to handle 5v signals so you can fit an A2000 cpu accelerator?
Egads guy, walk before you can run!
My own PCB (still only halfway etching it, damn this 24-hour day) has an A500-style slot on it, but it's 3.3v rather than 5v.
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@Amigadave
P.S. I am looking for someone that has SMT tools and expertise to install the SMT parts on my board so I can finish the rest of the project myself. If you have these skills, or know of anyone else that can help me, send me a PMail, or post the answer here for others that may also need the help.
I have SMT rework tools here, dunno if I'd be of any help though heh, I'm in Sydney, Australia... Shipping your board here would cost an arm, a leg and a testicle :P
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I am building one using a V1.1 pcb from Nusim.
I have 95% of the components but there are still a few that I am having trouble with.
I am using a cheap temp controlled iron with a .4mm bit and .3mm solder and a bloody big magnifying glass!
As soon as I finish I will post my component list with RS and Digikey part numbers that I can verify are good (In both the mechanical and electrical senses). :-)
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Colin_Camper wrote:
I am building one using a V1.1 pcb from Nusim.
I have 95% of the components but there are still a few that I am having trouble with.
I am using a cheap temp controlled iron with a .4mm bit and .3mm solder and a bloody big magnifying glass!
As soon as I finish I will post my component list with RS and Digikey part numbers that I can verify are good (In both the mechanical and electrical senses). :-)
How is your project going? did you get all components from digikey?
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95% from Digikey
I think I got the wrong SD card.
The memory, FPGA and 68k are all slightly different.
I guess I'll have to suck it and see!
Nearly everything I got from RS was not really right. E.g. the VGA connector was just the shell, etc etc.
I have my components on a spreadsheet - when I check the components I put a P for physical fit and an E for electrical compatibility. Obviously no components will have an 'E' until I build the board up and test it.
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Colin_Camper wrote:
95% from Digikey
I think I got the wrong SD card.
The memory, FPGA and 68k are all slightly different.
I guess I'll have to suck it and see!
Nearly everything I got from RS was not really right. E.g. the VGA connector was just the shell, etc etc.
I have my components on a spreadsheet - when I check the components I put a P for physical fit and an E for electrical compatibility. Obviously no components will have an 'E' until I build the board up and test it.
Im about to order the memory, FPGA, PIC and the 68K from digikey tonight, rest of the components ill try to find here in Finland.
Good luck, and let me know when you have a working minimig :-D
Do you have a list of all components in the minimig and their values? did not find that on minimigs homepage?
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is it possible to put the FPGA into something like a PLLC socket ? I'm not even sure such a formfactor exists, but it would make the minimig production 100 times easier.
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countzero wrote:
is it possible to put the FPGA into something like a PLLC socket ? I'm not even sure such a formfactor exists, but it would make the minimig production 100 times easier.
Would be the same amount of work really. You'd have to build a board for the FPGA to sit on first, as they don't come that way normally.
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where can i find a list of all needed components
maybe i can find 80% of the stuff local
how about the spartan how to put the info in it?
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You don't need to "put the info" into the the FPGA, it gets setup from the SD/MMC card. The only part that I "think" needs programming is the PIC as this is what loads the data from the SD/MMC card.
Can anyone confirm that, I'm still waiting on the boards to arrive and to get paid this month... oh and Halo3 which might hold me up just a wee 'lil bit :-D
Andy
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i ordered 1 board too...for 14,99 i can mess up a bit :P
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Colin_Camper wrote:
I am using a cheap temp controlled iron with a .4mm bit and .3mm solder and a bloody big magnifying glass!
Have you successfully soldered the FPGA this way?
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I got my self a PCB too. It would be VERY helpful if someone could give us a complete list with all parts and where we can buy them...
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Has anyone got a working one yet?!
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I am within a week of this, Boards arriving along with the parts.
The biggest stubmling block right now, will be the lack of ability to understand the FPGA core compiling software (ISE), and PIC firmware compile.
Without those, nobody can go anywhere.
One stays with me in Australia, two will end up in the USA, with an ultimate destination of some obscure Chinese factory to be dissected again for *MASS* production.
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I will post the FPGA compiled core that was created from Xilinx ISE later today on rapid share.
:-)
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whiteb wrote:
One stays with me in Australia, two will end up in the USA, with an ultimate destination of some obscure Chinese factory to be dissected again for *MASS* production.
Here is hoping it can be done cost effectively. How much has it cost you so far if you don't mind me asking?
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Great, thanks for that jk
Just the Pic firmware now. Needs compiling in a 18LF252 compatible C compiler.
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tonyyeb wrote:
whiteb wrote:
One stays with me in Australia, two will end up in the USA, with an ultimate destination of some obscure Chinese factory to be dissected again for *MASS* production.
Here is hoping it can be done cost effectively. How much has it cost you so far if you don't mind me asking?
ROFL, Dont ask.
In an ideal world, I would have just done 100 and reaped the discounts, but I saw what happened with Xenepp, and with definate people with a YES, and Reserve, he was still left with boards he couldn't ship.
All up, so far its worked out to 98 GBP, 208 USD, or 230 AUD. (EACH).
On top of that, will be the cost of an MMC card, and a powerpack.
The biggest hit, was $70USD postage from Digikey. (FPGA, Ram etc).
Made a MASSIVE error on Ebay with the boards, Instead of ordering three boards, I had ordered 3 lots of three, but that was sorted out quicky.
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£98!!! Bargain! Mass produced should be even cheaper!
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Here is the rapid share link to the complete ISE project for MiniMIG1 Spartan3 FPGA including the Compiled FPGA code and sources. The file minimig1.bit is the binary image to the Spartan3 FPGA. This code is under GPL etc ......
http://rapidshare.com/files/60756155/MiniMIG1_Verilog.zip
Also, I am still assembling my MiniMIG1; thus, I have not been able to test the binary FPGA code yet.
:-)
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The biggest hit, was $70USD postage from Digikey. (FPGA, Ram etc).
So do you have a copy of that parts invoice from digikey? I'm thinking I could just place the same order with my account.
Plaz
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Thanks JK, now I just need that PCB to arrive and place my order at digikey.
Plaz
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Mass production costs still require pruchase of the MC68000 and FPGA chip, those prices will be hard to adjust and I've been informed that there are no low cost Chinese replacement parts for these chips.
Advantage of getting this done is China is that most every other part can be made from Chinese suppliers for lower cost. You still have to pay for packaging, power supply, MMC card, Shipping & distribution.
First costs for a case work is $5 per cost per unit in numbers of 1000. These numners are FIRST COST and do not reflect markups from the agent, and shipping and development costs. Someone would have to design and output a case design and that is even more cash on top of the tooling costs. Initial runs would be more expensive to help cover tooling cost.
Also... tooling a case ads a few months to develpment time (AT LEAST 90 DAYS from turnover of finished model to first shot out of the mold) and initial production units)
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Plaz wrote:
The biggest hit, was $70USD postage from Digikey. (FPGA, Ram etc).
So do you have a copy of that parts invoice from digikey? I'm thinking I could just place the same order with my account.
Plaz
Yes I do.
You could probably get a large number of the items from Digikey, but it was easier (And cheaper for me) to get SOME items from Farnell in AU$.
From Digikey, I got.
122-1519-ND (FPGA)
706-1048-ND (SRAM)
MC68SEC000AA16-ND (CPU)
PIC18LF252-I/SP-ND (PIC)
296-8326-5-ND (74HC4060)
P833-ND (100uf 16V elect)
PCC1828CT-ND (.1UF 0805)
478-1617-1-ND (Tant 100uf 6.3V)
PCC103BNCT (10000pf 0805)
P819-ND (22uF 35V elect)
PCC220CNCT (22pf 0805)
PCC470CGCT-ND (100pf 0805)
Cp-102AH-ND (Power jack)
160-1579-1-ND (Blue Led)
L6241CT-ND (Red Led)
160-1414-1-ND (Green LED)
401-1828-ND (Push button Switch)
BAV99FSCT-ND (Sot23 Diode)
AE9828-ND (IC Socket for PIC)
Farnell:
1200113 (PS2)
9778187 (LM117MP-ADJ)
1099289 (9Pin R/A Female for Serial, and Joy)
9712739 (4.33619 xtal)
9712755 (20 mhz Xtal)
9333363 (560R)
1160303 (1M Res)
9332383 (1000R)
9332812 (2K2/2.2K Resistor)
9333266 (4k7 Res)
9332375 (100R)
9332936( 270R)
9332707 (180R)
1215639 (Dsub 15 R/A for VGA)
1248135 (2x5 header)
3418297 (1x3 Header)
3417888 (1x6 Header, Jtag)
9386947 (RS-232, this is the *NEW* suggested Item from Dennis)
9186212 (MMC)
152204 (3.5 Jack, Audio)
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Crom00 wrote:
Mass production costs still require pruchase of the MC68000 and FPGA chip, those prices will be hard to adjust and I've been informed that there are no low cost Chinese replacement parts for these chips.
If there was any, you would probably find some pretty awful side effects in the opcode no doubt.
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jkonstan wrote:
Here is the rapid share link to the complete ISE project for MiniMIG1 Spartan3 FPGA including the Compiled FPGA code and sources. The file minimig1.bit is the binary image to the Spartan3 FPGA. This code is under GPL etc ......
http://rapidshare.com/files/60756155/MiniMIG1_Verilog.zip
Also, I am still assembling my MiniMIG1; thus, I have not been able to test the binary FPGA code yet.
:-)
Okay, according to the manual, Minimig1.bit, must be called MINIMIG1.BIN, along with KICK.ROM in the MMC's ROOT Directory.
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Can I ask what you guys are going to do with them once they are built?
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jimbo100 wrote:
Can I ask what you guys are going to do with them once they are built?
Sacrifice them to the Semiconductor God. What do you think ? :)
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whiteb wrote:
jimbo100 wrote:
Can I ask what you guys are going to do with them once they are built?
Sacrifice them to the Semiconductor God. What do you think ? :)
So it's true, you have no idea then! :-D
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Sell some of my other museum pieces, that way I got room to set it up, and play games.
I mean, its the size, square, that a CD/DVD is round. Its footprint is BLOODY SMALL, compared to the space being taken up by my 2 A500's, A1200, and A4000.
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For those of you who are inexperienced with soldering or want an easy way. Try this method. (http://www.seattlerobotics.org/encoder/200006/oven_art.htm)
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jimmyboy wrote:
For those of you who are inexperienced with soldering or want an easy way. Try this method. (http://www.seattlerobotics.org/encoder/200006/oven_art.htm)
Its not the soldering thats foremost on my mind, its getting the Pic firmware compiled. .........
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whiteb wrote:
jimmyboy wrote:
For those of you who are inexperienced with soldering or want an easy way. Try this method. (http://www.seattlerobotics.org/encoder/200006/oven_art.htm)
Its not the soldering thats foremost on my mind, its getting the Pic firmware compiled. .........
I dont think it was aimed at people like you. I found it interesting though being a noob solderer!
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Maybe someone could put up a link to a minimal fuss PIC18 lpt port programmer ..?, I guess it will be needed soon.
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I have updated my website with binary versions of the PIC code and the FPGA core. Also, I have put up some building tips.
Dennis
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(deleted)
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I've been informed that there are no low cost Chinese replacement parts for (68000) chips.
I read some time ago (but I can't find the link) that freescale does licence the ip of their chips for manufacture by third party. As a matter of fact back in the day motorola licences the 68000 to Hitachi, Mostek, Rockwell, Signetics, Thomson/SGS-Thomson and Toshiba; so it would be feasible to produce low-cost replacements if the demand justifies it. I am surprised to hear there is no one in china already producing 68000 chips since I think I have seen some toys with "16-bit graphics" that resemble some sega genesis games.
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@whiteb
Thanks for that list. The shipping cost from Oz to the US is probably going to offset any savings for me, but I might have a look anyway.
Plaz
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jimbo100 wrote:
Can I ask what you guys are going to do with them once they are built?
My tentative plan is to mount mine the the new Mame cabinet (example) (http://mame.velociworks.com/) I'm building giving me Amiga emulation as well as all the old arcade choices on a 27inch screen. I could use UAE I guess, but having a miniMig in there would just be cooler. :-)
I'm about half the way finished with cabinet construction and working on the wiring. It will probably take me a couple more months to finish as free time is short these days. I've taken shots of the construction phase and plan to post pictures.
Plaz
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CodePoet wrote:
@Amigadave
P.S. I am looking for someone that has SMT tools and expertise to install the SMT parts on my board so I can finish the rest of the project myself. If you have these skills, or know of anyone else that can help me, send me a PMail, or post the answer here for others that may also need the help.
I have SMT rework tools here, dunno if I'd be of any help though heh, I'm in Sydney, Australia... Shipping your board here would cost an arm, a leg and a testicle :P
The testicle I wouldn't miss as they are both disconnected now anyway, the arm and leg are another story. :lol:
Anyone else in the USA have these skills, or am I going to have to use the toaster oven method?
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Some people have started used the bread roster. Much smaller at least :-D
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Well, if it works, great for them....., but Some people have wives that like to use Toaster Ovens for food and *FREAK RIGHT OUT* if you use it for something like that.
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Dennis wrote:
I have updated my website with binary versions of the PIC code and the FPGA core. Also, I have put up some building tips.
Dennis
Awesome, thanks Dennis!
Plaz
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whiteb wrote:
Well, if it works, great for them....., but Some people have wives that like to use Toaster Ovens for food and *FREAK RIGHT OUT* if you use it for something like that.
Never mind the Wife! Get your Minimig done!
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Some people have wives that like to use Toaster Ovens for food and *FREAK RIGHT OUT* if you use it for something like that.
My wife uses our toaster oven every day...
"No honey it's fine. All I did was bake some *lead paste* in there last time." :lol:
I'd be sent out at the same moment to buy a new one.... or else.
Plaz
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Don't worry, getting it done.
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I am surprised to hear there is no one in china already producing 68000 chips since I think I have seen some toys with "16-bit graphics" that resemble some sega genesis games.
Will pass this info along to the factories.
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whiteb wrote:
Well, if it works, great for them....., but Some people have wives that like to use Toaster Ovens for food and *FREAK RIGHT OUT* if you use it for something like that.
Well ofcourse you buy a seperate 22 EUR bread roaster. That your wife never sees :-D
I would never mix stuff used for food and electronics containing various heavy metals. ;-)
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Somehow I have messed up my order.
My 15 pin (For VGA) is *NOT* a HIGH DENSITY.............
Its a normal density.
HIGH DENSITY is P/N 107-5303 (Farnell).
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I am surprised to hear there is no one in china already producing 68000 chips since I think I have seen some toys with "16-bit graphics" that resemble some sega genesis games.
The chips are useless for MiniMig. Made by Radica they use a custom ASIC just like the C64 DTV. The 68k is deep inside the ASIC and it is unlikely that all the signals we need are on pins.
http://www.radicagames.com/playtv-legends-sega-genesis.php
Ben Heckendorn converted one into a hand held genesis, you see he mentions that it is only one chip (GOAC)
http://benheck.com/Games/Sega_projects/Exodus/Exodus.htm
Why he did this I dont know, as the Genesis/Megadrive has a great official portable called the Nomad!
The 68k remake inside the Genesis/Megadrive DTV must be pretty compatible... I wonder who created this? And (assuming it's not Sega) if they are willing to share the HDL ;-)
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Ben Heckendorn converted one into a hand held genesis, you see he mentions that it is only one chip (GOAC)
http://benheck.com/Games/Sega_projects/Exodus/Exodus.htm
Why he did this I dont know, as the Genesis/Megadrive has a great official portable called the Nomad!
Because Nomads go for about £300 on ebay? and are also nearly as old as Amiga hardware is getting! :-D
Also they fall into the category of extremely rare as they never sold many of them in teh first place.
Andy
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@alexh
Here are some links, I admit this is no definitive proof, but I think at last one of them oughtot have a 68000.
http://www.sz-wholesale.com/P/TV-GAME/TV-Game-------16bit-TV-game-1243.html
http://www.sz-wholesale.com/P/TV-GAME/TV-Game-------16bit-TV-game-1243.html
http://www.sz-wholesale.com/P/TV-GAME/16-bit-TV-game-1236.html
http://www.sz-wholesale.com/P/TV-GAME/TV-game-1242.html
http://www.sz-wholesale.com/P/TV-GAME/TV-game-1244.html
Oh, this is by no means an exhaustive search, there are tons of sites like that one :-o
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I have my first minimig running
http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?p=365299#post365299
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Is there anyone in the USA that has bought all their parts for building a MiniMig that could send me the BOM and the names of the suppliers they used? I am expecting the delivery of my v1.1 MiniMig PCB within the next 7 to 10 days now since the Royal Mail strike has allowed some shipments.
Thanks in advance
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wizard66 wrote:
I have my first minimig running
http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?p=365299#post365299
Good work It was nice to see that 2.0 boot screen. Please let us know you're experiences with it and how the games play. :-)
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amigadave wrote:
Is there anyone in the USA that has bought all their parts for building a MiniMig that could send me the BOM and the names of the suppliers they used? I am expecting the delivery of my v1.1 MiniMig PCB within the next 7 to 10 days now since the Royal Mail strike has allowed some shipments.
Thanks in advance
SOME shipments ?????????????
I have officially been waiting 2 weeks so far and my guy I lined up to do my soldering is packing up and leaving the state. So here i sit, with all the parts, Boards "Supposedly" somewhere, and nobody to solder.