Hello,
are you sad? Your 3 inch Disc Drives are not working safe. Replacing the Belt annoying you? Mechanics is old and faulty? Welcome in the year 2010, your hardware is 25 years old, so no wonder....
Thanks Lotharek we all got a new SD Card HxC for your CPC. But hey, wouldnt it be nice to get this thingy inside your good old Arnold, without doing rough mods or cutting out out big holes into the poor case?
Sure it would be..... i tell you how to do that.
Watch out you need the following items.
an old faulty 3"inch disc drive ( i bet you all have one or more under your bed)
Some doublecontacted perfboard
Soldering Iron / solder
Vacuum Pump for Desoldering (if you do a mistake)
40 wire Ribbon Cable
26 Pins Socket Connector
40 Pins Socket Connector
a sharp knife
a Dremel for cut, drill and to make loud noise - so all neighbours can hear you are busy in a project
an DVD Amaroy Case
3 Micro Switch Buttons
2 self glueing plastic Motherboard Distance holders
a lots of old PC Motherboard Jumpers
Patience and a big cup of coffee
Lets begin:
First we dismantle the original faulty Amstrad 3" inch Disc Drive. You will be wondered how much parts inside this old thingy.
(http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/1.JPG)
(http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/1.jpg)
We will just use the frame of the drive:
(http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/2.JPG)
(http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/2.jpg)
Now cut a perfboard to fit inside the frame. I used the Dremel for that, but you use a sharp scissor or a saw too.
(http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/3.JPG)(http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/3.jpg)
(http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/4.JPG)
(http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/4.jpg)
(http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/5.JPG)
(http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/5.jpg)
Now you use a pliers and bow down and break out the little metal tongues from the frame, so the perfboard is fitting to the metal frame.
(http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/6.jpg)
(http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/6.JPG)
(http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/7.JPG)
Looks nice eh? Well done, but still lots to do now....
Now you look under the frame and drill some holes into the old mounting holes from the Disc Drive PCB. You can use the old screws and drill them inside the new perfboard. At the upside you use some Tesa Strips for isolation of the metalscrews. Looks like that here:
(http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/8.jpg)
(http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/8.JPG)
and the downside:
(http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/9.JPG)(http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/9.jpg)
See i used the old screws from the amstrad disc drive to hold the new perfboard.
(http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/10.JPG)(http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/10.jpg)
(http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/11.jpg)
(http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/13.jpg)
Next we do a new frontplate for your old DiscDrive from an DVD amaroy case. Please open the Amaroy Case and then you cut out a piece of plastic with a sharp knife.
Its easy to do, as you see at the pictures.
(http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/%20http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/14.jpg)(http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/14.jpg)
(http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/12.JPG)
(http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/15.jpg)
(http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/17.JPG)(http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/%20http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/15.jpg)
(http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/16.jpg)
(http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/17.jpg)
(http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/13.JPG)
Next step is to cut out the Frontplate of the Amstrad Disc Drive. So we can snap in the Display of the SDCard HxC. Please remove the Display from your HxC now and use a caliper to measure out the frame and the Display. Then you cut out the frame with a dremel. It stinks and make lots of noises, but hey we love that or?
Be careful with the old plastic. Its a thermoplast and you dont need much power to cut that out. Its easy to do. After cutting out you use a file to smooth the edges. If you have done correct, the Display snaps into old Amstrad Frontplate.
(http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/19.jpg)
(http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/%20http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/16.jpg)
(http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/18.jpg)
(http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/14.JPG)
(http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/%20http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/17.jpg)
Now you cut out a Display Window in your new Amaroy DVD Frontplate. Its easy to measure and it should be possible to do this nice. Use a sharp knife and a good ruler to do that without an accident. And always remember take time to do that and you will get a nice look at your work.
(http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/20.jpg)
(http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/%20http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/20.jpg)(http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/21.jpg)
(http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/%20http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/21.jpg)
(http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/22.jpg)
Fits nice or? What a good idea by me? LOL :-) go on, you have a lot to do.....
First look WOW .... it grows and grows.....
(http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/22.JPG)
Now open you holy CPC6128 and remove the upper case. Please be careful with the Keyboard foil shoe. Open from right to left side and you will see that here:
(http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/23.JPG)(http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/23.jpg)
I bet you all know whats inside a CPC 6128 and how its looking there. But if you really open it for the first time in your life, then dont be panic. You cant nothing destroy here if you are not a really stupid tooltime worker.
Please remove the internal 3inch Disc Drive now. You need a screwdriver and open the two screws left sided the frame. Pull up the connectors and that it.
Now we can put in our new growing SDCard HxC Drive for a first look.
(http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/24.jpg)
(http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/24.JPG)
(http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/25.jpg)
(http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/25.JPG)
Wow .... yes you did it and its looking nice. But still a lot to do. So lets continue with soldering a simple LCD Cable to connect the HxC LCD Display with the board.
(http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/26.jpg)
Its easy to do. I used some really simple Parts and PC Jumpers for connection. I had 1000 of them in my room and so i decided to use them for it. You can buy a real connector if you like a better look. I am a nerd so i am using jumpers. LOL
(http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/26.JPG)
(http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/27.JPG)
(http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/28.jpg)
(http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/28.JPG)
the scratch at my LCD was there since i open the parcel ( i swear Lotharek - i swear...) but the Display is still in function and if you solder it correct you should see that:
(http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/29.jpg)
(http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/29.JPG)
(http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/27.jpg)
Well done, you did your first soldering for today and a good job if your LCD is still working correct. So next steps.....
(http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/30.jpg)
Change the red and the orange wire of the Disc Drive power connector inside your CPC6128 and please remove the 12V spiral cable. You will never need it again in the rest of your life. The CPC has got a changed connector from Amstrad, 12V and 5v are not used in normal way. So we change it back to normal connector. 5Volt at the correct side please. I used a micro screwdriver to hold up the little white pin and pull out the cable. Then simply change the place of it. It clicks smoothly inside....done.....
(http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/31.JPG)(http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/31.jpg)
Now you drill a big hole at the left side of your new perfboard pcb and file it clean and smoothly like i did it here:
(http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/32.JPG)(http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/32.jpg)
Now i crimped a CPC6128 internal 3,5" Disc Drive adapter cable. You can find the instructions to do that at the spanish CPC sites or watch out this piccy. Its speaking for itself and you can crimp it like its done here. I used the same picture and its working fine. Dont solder a Side Select Switch. The HxC Dont need a side switch. I kept the bridge open and NOT soldered together. The other bridges are soldered together like in the picture:
(http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/kabel.jpg)
(http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/kabel.jpg)
I cut the wires so its more flexible and fits fine into the new drilled hole of your perfboard PCB. I used some Tesa Strips to fix the cable and the connector at the perfboard.
(http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/33.jpg)
(http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/33.JPG)(http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/34.jpg)
(http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/34.JPG)(http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/35.jpg)
(http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/36.jpg)
(http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/35.JPG)
(http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/36.JPG)
Now you need a hotglue pistol to glue the connector to your perfboard PCB.
(http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/37.JPG)(http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/37.jpg)
Its looking like a real 3"inch Drive isnt it?
(http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/38.JPG)(http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/41.jpg)
Now you can mount the metal bracket back to the frame. Please install the LCD now and fix it with a small strip of Tesa or some hotglue.
(http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/42.jpg)
(http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/39.JPG)
(http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/43.jpg)
(http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/40.JPG)
(http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/41.JPG)
(http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/42.JPG)
You see i did a nice cable tree and its flexible enough not to hurt the HxC PCB or the LCD.
Please connect your new 3inch HxC now to your CPC and do a full function test. If its working fine, we continue now with some great case mod.
(http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/44.jpg)
(http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/44.JPG)
(http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/45.jpg)
(http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/45.JPG)
The next steps should be done very slow, with lots of patience and please do an exactly measurement for cutting out the slot and the micro switches.
The Slot is 3cm over the tableplate and its a bit tricky to do that now. But i know you can do it. Patience is most important and you will get a good result.
Lets see, drill, cut and file now:
(http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/46.jpg)
A bit rough or? Not looking nice..... i can do that better !
(http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/46.JPG)
Promise....
(http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/47.jpg)
(http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/47.JPG)
Next step is to drill the 3 holes for the microswitches. I am using the same switches like Lotharek did but with an longer axis. the axis length is 8mm. I soldered 3 microswitches at a perfboard pcb in a row. The space between them is about 0.75 cm but please do a self measurement. I used the middle and did it like that:
(http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/48.jpg)
(http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/48.JPG)
(http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/49.jpg)
(http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/49.JPG)
yes yes i know there is a scratch at my case. Its there since 20 years so i am okay with that. LOL its not an accident of my case mod. It was my brother long time ago with his old digital watch...... fairy tales.... lets go back to work now.
You can see i am using self adhesive PCB distancer to mount the microswitch pcb. its so simple to do, if you drilled the holes correct you just need to press it inside and voila its done. Look here:
(http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/52.jpg)
(http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/51.JPG)
(http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/51.jpg)
(http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/52.JPG)
Do you see how smooth the SD Card is fitting in your new case mod? WOW, and there is still enough place for your sausagefingers to pull it out again. Its working fine and looks perfect.
(http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/50.jpg)
(http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/54.JPG)
NOW YOU ARE DONE.... Congratulations you did a great job. Lets do an intensive function test with loading a Demo or some games. If everything is working fine, you can screw the case again and you are done. I did some more mods and changed the Power LED from RED to a pink one now but thats just fun.
(http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/55.jpg)
(http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/55.JPG)
(http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/56.jpg)
(http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/56.JPG)
(http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/57.jpg)
(http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/57.JPG)(http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/58.jpg)
(http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/58.JPG)
............... DONE for now.......
Still to do if you like:
Desolder the SMD LED from HxC PCB and add some nice LED to the CPC Case. I havnt done now, cause its so fuzzy to do that with a SMD soldering iron - maybe i will do that in future.
There is still a lot of space inside your CPC6128 now. You can add a harddisc or a memory expansion under the new 3inch SD Card HxC Drive. I will check out if its possible to add a 3,5inch B: Drive internal. Maybe i will try that with a slimline Disc Drive. The result is that you have a complete all in one CPC6128 and no external periphery at your desk. Well we will see......
Have kindly regards
Tom / Pentagon of Noob Inc. 2012
to be continued.......
Awesome work!
I was trying to came up with a similar solution but with the SD slot and the three buttons also in the front panel.
Congratulations!
Excellent handy work Pentagon and a really neat solution. A project you can be proud of.
Maybe you should copy it over to the Wiki DIY section ?
Bryce.
Thank you very much, i dont know how to add that to wiki and i will not touch the holy wiki. Maybe Devilmarkus can help me to make this thread sticky and to add to wiki.
Kindly regards
Tom / Pentagon of Noob Inc.
Quote from: Pentagon on 12:51, 07 July 10
Maybe Devilmarkus can help me to make this thread sticky and to add to wiki.
I am not well known to the Wiki-Syntax, but I am sure others are.
So i give this job away ;)
Topic made sticky.
You lazy ba...... ok, I'll stop there for fear of being banned :)
Ok, I'll do a Wiki page when the tutorial is finished (I assume there's more coming because it says "to be continued" ? )
However, I will have to edit or leave out the pictures with C64 literature in the background, the patented "Wiki C64 filter" would probably recognise and block these images ;)
Bryce.
http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/5.JPG
You should think about shaving your legs.
Or put Leonie here.
HAHAHHAHAAA, jajaja....
Leonie is a fakegirl and was banned in Forum64 too, cause of her rude speach and dirty profile. You shouldnt watch my legs, watch my tutorial please.
@Bryce: Thank you for doing the Wiki entry.
To be continued means that i will do a soldering out of the SMD LED in the future. I dont know when i will do that, cause its really a fuzzy work. At the moment its done and i think it could be in the wiki as it is.
Thanks again mate, for doing that.
QuoteHowever, I will have to edit or leave out the pictures with C64 literature in the background, the patented "Wiki C64 filter" would probably recognise and block these images
HEHEHE i knew somebody would recognize that..... gotcha.
Regards
Tom
Hi Pentagon,
I've done the wiki page here: http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/HxC_SDCard_Internal
I didn't put all the pictures in 'cos some of them were blurred and because there were just so many. I also fixed up the english a little, I hope you don't mind :)
Anyway, if you don't like anything there you can change it of course.
Bryce.
Thank you so much Bryce, you did a great favour to me. My english is very poor, so i am okay with fixing my grammar / spell - thank you very much for help.
Danke
Kindly regards
Tom / Pentagon of Noob Inc.
Quote from: Pentagon on 11:56, 07 July 10
are you sad? Your 3 inch Disc Drives are not working safe. Replacing the Belt annoying you? Mechanics is old and faulty?#
Well, since you ask all this questions: No, No, No and No! Everything is fine! I use a CPC :-)
hehehe, me too. But really to be honest, from my 12 drives just 4 are in full working condition. So that's the reason why i wrote that questions. Now i like to see your Plus Modded with a HxC please?
Kindly Regards
Tom
Quote from: Pentagon on 17:27, 07 July 10
hehehe, me too. But really to be honest, from my 12 drives just 4 are in full working condition. So that's the reason why i wrote that questions. Now i like to see your Plus Modded with a HxC please?
Kindly Regards
Tom
Sorry for your floppies. A question, can this floppy emulator also write data?
I don't ask you for making a test with FutureOS, because I know your oppinion about if from this c64 forum. But if somebody else has made a test already or has some informations please tell if it works.
Sure, you can ask me anything and if i can help you with testing it, i will do that for you. But after the soccer match okay? Please send me a list what i should test with Future OS and the HxC and i will do that.
Yes it can write and it works fine with Discology. The USB Version cant write, but the SD Card Version can write DSK.HFE Files and you can convert them back at your Windows PC.
Kindly Regards
Tom / Pentagon
P.S: Schreib mir ne Mail was ich genau testen soll und welche Routinen ich ausführen soll, dann schicke ich dir einen Bericht zurück ob es funktioniert hat. Sorry for my poor english.
Hi,
It's great to hear that the floppy emulator can also write data, so it's a real replacement!
About testing: Just use the copy disc function. If it works than anything should be fine.
Thanks a lot for your help!
(Das Spiel war ja leider ned sooo toll :-(
Hello Stefan,
i will flash my Inicron now with Future OS 7 or should i use the Beta 8 version? Then i check the copy disc routines. I doubt that it will work together cause of your changed timings.
But we will see if you used fixed timings it might be working if you use variabel timings then not.
Do you like screenshots too?
Regards
Tom
Quote from: Pentagon on 21:51, 07 July 10
i will flash my Inicron now with Future OS 7 or should i use the Beta 8 version? Then i check the copy disc routines. I doubt that it will work together cause of your changed timings.
But we will see if you used fixed timings it might be working if you use variabel timings then not.
Do you like screenshots too?
Hi Tom,
Doesn't matter which version you use. Beta .8 is not altered in disc I/O.
About the timings, there are no timings in the conventional way. As soon as the drive tells ready the routines do their job. So no spin-up time is used. But this shouldn't be a problem.
Further the step-rate is altered, but since there is no physical head in the floppy simulator, it should be fine too.
Just check the copy of a disc. If the copy is ok, then all the routines will work.
Okay i will do that now with FOS V7. Give me some time i need to backup my Inicron first and install your roms.
Cu later....
Tom
I am having a serious problem at the moment. If i connect my B: Drive to the CPC with internal SD HxC the B: Drive is not working. I just get a read fail. At the other CPC its working fine.
Now i need to check my cpc first, did i make a mistake in hardware wiring, or is the problem the HxC wich might not be able to work with parados? The B: Drive works fine at normal CPC.
Does anybody know something about an issue of the HxC together with Parados ?
Regards
Tom
Quote from: Pentagon on 22:47, 07 July 10
I am having a serious problem at the moment. If i connect my B: Drive to the CPC with internal SD HxC the B: Drive is not working. I just get a read fail. At the other CPC its working fine.
The only stupid idea I would have is that the Drive Select on the Floppy Emulator is wrong. Wish you the best for your drive!
Thank you for your help, that was also my first intension and now i put out the HxC from A: port and did an Chinon FZ354 inside. Et voila, my B: Drive is working again. So i am sure that my crimped adapter cable is working fine.
I jumpered the HxC Floppy emulator as described in the tutorial. Its jumpered to A: and from my cable its DS:0 - so i think there must be an issue with it.
Strange, cause when i plug it as B: drive its working fine with both drives. Dont know what i should do know. My soldering and crimping is done correct, thats most important.
Maybe i can use the HxC just as B: Drive and use an ABBA Switch to make it A:? That would be really a pity cause i like to have it internal as A: and together with my 80 tracks Parados drive. grmmmpf.
Regards
Tom
Quote from: Pentagon on 23:19, 07 July 10
Thank you for your help, that was also my first intension and now i put out the HxC from A: port and did an Chinon FZ354 inside. Et voila, my B: Drive is working again. So i am sure that my crimped adapter cable is working fine.
I jumpered the HxC Floppy emulator as described in the tutorial. Its jumpered to A: and from my cable its DS:0 - so i think there must be an issue with it.
Strange, cause when i plug it as B: drive its working fine with both drives. Dont know what i should do know. My soldering and crimping is done correct, thats most important.
Maybe i can use the HxC just as B: Drive and use an ABBA Switch to make it A:? That would be really a pity cause i like to have it internal as A: and together with my 80 tracks Parados drive. grmmmpf.
Regards
Tom
I was reading in another thread here that you have to switch the HxC to drive-A if you want to use it a B-drive. But that's all I know. Hope that somebody can help with this issue here.
Oh, another thing!!! Like I've read the HxC emulated BOTH the A-drive and the B-drive, or at least it can do it. But I don't know anything else than written in the docs. There should be a way to program/or jumper it.
UPDATE:
I figured out a new jumper setting for CPC with Internal SD Card HxC and external Disc Drive B:
(http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/jumper.JPG)
Its described in the docs for standard shugart drives at a PC. I tried that and it seems to be working now. This setting is working for Amstrad CPC too !
Kindly regards
Tom
This is a seriously wicked mod and an awesome guide! I'm gone for two days and I when I get back I find this!
The cup of coffee in the first page should have clued me in about the guide's length! So, how much for you to do it for me if I send you my machines? :D
@Bryce: thanks mate, awesome quick job there! Can you put a link to this thread in the wiki article? I don't want to do it myself because I'll appear in the contribs too :)
Hello Gryzor,
thank you very much.
QuoteSo, how much for you to do it for me if I send you my machines?
ummmmmmmm, what about a CPC6128 board with centronics connectors?
If you seriously like that mod, i can do that for you. EMail me and lets talk ;-) - i can help you. I am not interested in money, but i need a new CPC6128 mine are all faulty and old LOL
Deal? Deal ! ^^
Regards
Tom
@Gryzor: Link done. And that's why I don't like the "Contributors" part of the wiki pages, it unfairly shows me as the soul contributor although it's actually all Pentagons work. This is why I made sure he was named as the author at the bottom of the article.
Bryce.
Well, we do know that 'issue', that's why, as I had said, it's not 100% indicative. Also, nobody said "contributor" and "creator" are the same people. There's a lot of material in here that comes from elsewhere. Proper attribution is key, but has no relevance to contribution...
Quote from: Gryzor on 07:56, 09 July 10
Well, we do know that 'issue', that's why, as I had said, it's not 100% indicative. Also, nobody said "contributor" and "creator" are the same people. There's a lot of material in here that comes from elsewhere. Proper attribution is key, but has no relevance to contribution...
Well... it somebody tries to delete a page (for example) (like Kangaroo did), then this person is also named. It's a bit puzzling that you can do something bad to site and that will become famous for it ::) It would be good if (at least the Admins) can change the contributors list... But that's probably rather a technical issues. And it's maybe not needed to waste that much time for it.
That's why I suggested just turning it off completely. It's not like this information is of any value.
Bryce.
Given that the wiki is sailing pretty much trouble-free I consider the odd problem or two of no consequence. How many instances are there where someone is credited when they should not be?
Quote from: Gryzor on 08:51, 12 July 10
Given that the wiki is sailing pretty much trouble-free I consider the odd problem or two of no consequence. How many instances are there where someone is credited when they should not be?
Boiled down it's ending with a philosophical question. What is our aim?
- To make it better.
- To make it perfect.
Usually I'm very fine with the first aim! Because the latter aim is in reality only very hard to accomplish (managed it only once in a live ;-).
...is what I was thinking all along since I first saw that floppy emulator.
Offering a 5.25" faceplate (or even a black/"computer grey" pair of them) prepared with appropriate notches to (literally) break it down to 3.5" or 3" (if need be) would surely enable many buyers more to use these units as a drop-in replacement for drives on a wide variety of systems (probably justifying larger-scale production runs) even without TFM's "l33t Dr3m3l & s0lder1ng sk1llz". ;-)
All you need is a front panel... and the HxC Floppy Emulator already offer a connector for it:
Pinout page 17:
http://hxc2001.free.fr/floppy_drive_emulator/SDCard_HxC_Floppy_Emulator_User_Manual.pdf
There are also another approach :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnyC5te6Mn0
;)
Quote from: Jeff_HxC2001 on 13:39, 18 July 10
All you need is a front panel... and the HxC Floppy Emulator already offer a connector for it
Oh I do very much appreciate your accomplishments (and lotharek's in selling, soldering and shipping the units one by one), and wouldn't have expected to see a CPC menu system announced mere days after the ST one, and on par with the latter.
All I'm saying is that prefabricated front panels/cases (adaptable to various form factors as has been the case e.g. for streamers through the years) and an emulator adapted to their dimensions would make your impressive device easily usable to a much wider user base (e.g. musicians and industrial machinery techs who have been hunting for the very same replacement drives as the 8-bit crowd for the past decade or so).
Bringing everything (LEDs, LCD, buttons and the SD slot) to the front plate seems like a logical choice as this area is kept fully accessible for mounted drives on the majority of computers.
Certainly your design is ready for giving the likes of http://www.SeeedStudio.com (and molders) a call to discuss ramping up production like http://HackADay.com and http://DangerousPrototypes.com have done. :)
This is soooo cool. I might have to find a 6128 to crack open and do this hack
I have this device too... My problem is, I have games and programs I cannot find on the internet, and need to copy from cpc to a card or PC first... before I can do the converstion
If I do find a tape game on ebay not seen any were, would copy it with the bonzo and supper medler hacking disks. I wonder if they would work with the Hxc Floppy emulator. I not have the the leads to try it yet. Can any one advice me..
Well, probably this is not new for you...
However, I would search the CPC Games CD first:
http://webs.ono.com/cpcgamescd/ (http://webs.ono.com/cpcgamescd/)
Else, you have to use CPCDiscXP to create a DSK for PC first then convert it to the HxC format. However you do it once a live ;-)
Quote from: TFM/FS on 23:57, 06 January 11
Well, probably this is not new for you...
However, I would search the CPC Games CD first:
http://webs.ono.com/cpcgamescd/ (http://webs.ono.com/cpcgamescd/)
Else, you have to use CPCDiscXP to create a DSK for PC first then convert it to the HxC format. However you do it once a live ;-)
You can also simply use the new read/dump tool of the hxc floppy emulator software ;-).
thank you jeff, will try it when I get the leads.. Hope you not mind there probly be more questions.. All this is new to me, on the cpc 6128... Thanks again
i think next payday i might buy one of these beauties, then find a 6128 on ebay i wont mind opening up. Cant harm my original one :-\
Quote from: khisanth on 21:08, 08 February 11
i think next payday i might buy one of these beauties, then find a 6128 on ebay i wont mind opening up. Cant harm my original one :-\
Meanwhile you can add the HxC as B-drive ;-)
Dear friends, how are you? I´m a newbie here. Got myself a 6128 off of eBay UK and am waiting for it to arrive here in my country.
So, I'd like to use it (externally) with Lotharek's disk drive emulator, this one: http://lotharek.pl/product.php?pid=18 (http://lotharek.pl/product.php?pid=18)
I understand I'll have to buy this special cable as well, right?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Amstrad-CPC-Spectrum-3-ribbon-cable-SD-floppy-emulator-/230714699869 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Amstrad-CPC-Spectrum-3-ribbon-cable-SD-floppy-emulator-/230714699869)
Other than those, do I need any other thing? I mean, I'll need to convert the game files to the HxC format and put them on the SD card alright. Will the HxC immediately work as drive 1 if I type CAT?
Sorry for these dumb questions, I'm a total newbie in terms of the CPC. In my country the ZX Spectrum is way more popular and common.
Thanks in advance!
Hi Garrett,
yes, generally, that's all you'll need, but you'll also need to supply it with 5V, so you'll need to take a splice of the CPCs 5V supply somewhere.
However, there are a few details you should know. If you are using it externally, the Drive will be Drive B: not A: unless you make an ABBA switch. Alternatively you can configure the HxC so that it is also A: but the internal Drive will not be B: The reason why this is important, is that the majority of games will only load from Drive A:, starting a game from Drive B: only works in some very rare cases.
Bryce.
Quote from: Bryce on 13:21, 05 January 12
Hi Garrett,
yes, generally, that's all you'll need, but you'll also need to supply it with 5V, so you'll need to take a splice of the CPCs 5V supply somewhere.
However, there are a few details you should know. If you are using it externally, the Drive will be Drive B: not A: unless you make an ABBA switch. Alternatively you can configure the HxC so that it is also A: but the internal Drive will not be B: The reason why this is important, is that the majority of games will only load from Drive A:, starting a game from Drive B: only works in some very rare cases.
Bryce.
Dear Bryce, thanks for your reply!
Since I haven't got the Amstrad monitor, I'm buying this power supply (two in fact) to use with both my 6128 and the HxC emulator:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250891878747&ssPageName=ADME:X:AAQ:GB:1123 (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250891878747&ssPageName=ADME:X:AAQ:GB:1123)
PS: I won't be powering the original 3" disk drive, it will be inactive.
By changing the configuration of HxC to drive A, wouldn't a conflict exist between the original drive and the HxC?
Yes, it would cause a conflict, you need to disconnect the internal drive for this to work. There is more information about this in Jeffs user Manual on page 11: http://hxc2001.free.fr/floppy_drive_emulator/SDCard_HxC_Floppy_Emulator_User_Manual.pdf (http://hxc2001.free.fr/floppy_drive_emulator/SDCard_HxC_Floppy_Emulator_User_Manual.pdf)
Also, one of those supplies would have been enough to power both the CPC and the HxC at the same time.
Bryce.
Quote from: Bryce on 14:11, 05 January 12
Yes, it would cause a conflict, you need to disconnect the internal drive for this to work. There is more information about this in Jeffs user Manual on page 11: http://hxc2001.free.fr/floppy_drive_emulator/SDCard_HxC_Floppy_Emulator_User_Manual.pdf (http://hxc2001.free.fr/floppy_drive_emulator/SDCard_HxC_Floppy_Emulator_User_Manual.pdf)
Also, one of those supplies would have been enough to power both the CPC and the HxC at the same time.
Bryce.
Thank you very much.
I´ve heard about a different solution for loading games, the Symbiface II. Do you guys know that?
There are many methods. The SF2 is just one, but very rare and hard to find these days. The HxC has the advatage of being able to convert and transfer any disk image in minutes to your CPC.
Bryce.
All pictures are uploaded again and the thread is reconstructed.
Have fun
Tom / Pentagon
Thanks!
Really Awesome work it looks amazing!! this is something i will be doing IF/When i get an HXC
Pentagon, awesome post, now I want to do this project :laugh:
I think this mod is really cool 8) and looks good ;)
I don't think I could do it though, I don't like the idea of cutting into my computer. ::)
It's a great mod though. :)
I have just installed my brand new HxC as 'B' drive, prepared SD card with conf and some sample files, set the jumper but it does not work correctly... :(
With basic command |B and CAT it looks like bad format, faulty disckette etc. and after severall tries displeys: "read error -retry...".
'A' drive works fine.
Interesting thing is, that under CPM it works ok! Verify, copy, format, dir, running programms work 100% ok. I have no idea where is the problem, help me please.
Problem is solved! I have refreshed few times hxc cfg file and it started to work, anyway I don't know why... :o
Thank you for your attention.
@Gryzor is there any way to revive the screenshots from the initial post? I am not sure where they came from, but they are gone on any of my devices with any browser.
Quote from: SerErris on 18:49, 01 March 22@Gryzor is there any way to revive the screenshots from the initial post? I am not sure where they came from, but they are gone on any of my devices with any browser.
If you scroll down a bit, in message #8 Bryce has provided a link to the wiki, where he copied over the whole thing incl. the images.
https://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/HxC_SDCard_Internal
But to be honest, compared to this, a GOTEK replacement with a 3D printed frame is so much less effort and doesn't require to cut a hole into your CPC case, I would definitely not go for such a solution anymore.
Yeah, unfortunately that's not a forum issue, that's an external host issue:
Hello,<br /><br />are you sad? Your 3 inch Disc Drives are not working safe. Replacing the Belt annoying you? Mechanics is old and faulty? Welcome in the year 2010, your hardware is 25 years old, so no wonder....<br /><br />Thanks Lotharek we all got a new SD Card HxC for your CPC. But hey, wouldnt it be nice to get this thingy inside your good old Arnold, without doing rough mods or cutting out out big holes into the poor case?<br /><br />Sure it would be..... i tell you how to do that.<br /><br />Watch out you need the following items.<br /><br /><br />an old faulty 3"inch disc drive ( i bet you all have one or more under your bed)<br />Some doublecontacted perfboard <br />Soldering Iron / solder<br />Vacuum Pump for Desoldering (if you do a mistake)<br />40 wire Ribbon Cable<br />26 Pins Socket Connector<br />40 Pins Socket Connector<br />a sharp knife<br />a Dremel for cut, drill and to make loud noise - so all neighbours can hear you are busy in a project<br />an DVD Amaroy Case <br />3 Micro Switch Buttons<br />2 self glueing plastic Motherboard Distance holders<br />a lots of old PC Motherboard Jumpers<br />Patience and a big cup of coffee<br /><br /><br />Lets begin:<br /><br />First we dismantle the original faulty Amstrad 3" inch Disc Drive. You will be wondered how much parts inside this old thingy.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/1.JPG" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><img src="http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/1.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><br />We will just use the frame of the drive:<br /><br /><img src="http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/2.JPG" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><img src="http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/2.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><br />Now cut a perfboard to fit inside the frame. I used the Dremel for that, but you use a sharp scissor or a saw too.<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/3.JPG" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><img src="http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/3.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/4.JPG" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><img src="http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/4.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/5.JPG" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><img src="http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/5.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><br />Now you use a pliers and bow down and break out the little metal tongues from the frame, so the perfboard is fitting to the metal frame.<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/6.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><img src="http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/6.JPG" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/7.JPG" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Looks nice eh? Well done, but still lots to do now....<br /><br /><br />Now you look under the frame and drill some holes into the old mounting holes from the Disc Drive PCB. You can use the old screws and drill them inside the new perfboard. At the upside you use some Tesa Strips for isolation of the metalscrews. Looks like that here:<br /><br /><img src="http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/8.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><img src="http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/8.JPG" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><br />and the downside:<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/9.JPG" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><img src="http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/9.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br />See i used the old screws from the amstrad disc drive to hold the new perfboard.<br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/10.JPG" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><img src="http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/10.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/11.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/13.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Next we do a new frontplate for your old DiscDrive from an DVD amaroy case. Please open the Amaroy Case and then you cut out a piece of plastic with a sharp knife.<br />Its easy to do, as you see at the pictures.<br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/%20http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/14.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><img src="http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/14.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/12.JPG" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><img src="http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/15.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><u><img src="http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/17.JPG" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"></u><img src="http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/%20http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/15.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/16.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/17.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><img src="http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/13.JPG" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br />Next step is to cut out the Frontplate of the Amstrad Disc Drive. So we can snap in the Display of the SDCard HxC. Please remove the Display from your HxC now and use a caliper to measure out the frame and the Display. Then you cut out the frame with a dremel. It stinks and make lots of noises, but hey we love that or?<br />Be careful with the old plastic. Its a thermoplast and you dont need much power to cut that out. Its easy to do. After cutting out you use a file to smooth the edges. If you have done correct, the Display snaps into old Amstrad Frontplate.<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/19.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><img src="http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/%20http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/16.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><img src="http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/18.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><img src="http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/14.JPG" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><img src="http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/%20http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/17.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br />Now you cut out a Display Window in your new Amaroy DVD Frontplate. Its easy to measure and it should be possible to do this nice. Use a sharp knife and a good ruler to do that without an accident. And always remember take time to do that and you will get a nice look at your work.<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/20.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/%20http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/20.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><img src="http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/21.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/%20http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/21.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><img src="http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/22.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><br />Fits nice or? What a good idea by me? LOL :-) go on, you have a lot to do.....<br /><br />First look WOW .... it grows and grows.....<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/22.JPG" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><br />Now open you holy CPC6128 and remove the upper case. Please be careful with the Keyboard foil shoe. Open from right to left side and you will see that here:<br /><br /><img src="http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/23.JPG" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><img src="http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/23.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><br /><br />I bet you all know whats inside a CPC 6128 and how its looking there. But if you really open it for the first time in your life, then dont be panic. You cant nothing destroy here if you are not a really stupid tooltime worker.<br /><br />Please remove the internal 3inch Disc Drive now. You need a screwdriver and open the two screws left sided the frame. Pull up the connectors and that it.<br />Now we can put in our new growing SDCard HxC Drive for a first look.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/24.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/24.JPG" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/25.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><img src="http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/25.JPG" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Wow .... yes you did it and its looking nice. But still a lot to do. So lets continue with soldering a simple LCD Cable to connect the HxC LCD Display with the board.<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/26.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><br />Its easy to do. I used some really simple Parts and PC Jumpers for connection. I had 1000 of them in my room and so i decided to use them for it. You can buy a real connector if you like a better look. I am a nerd so i am using jumpers. LOL<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/26.JPG" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><img src="http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/27.JPG" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><img src="http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/28.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/28.JPG" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><br /><br />the scratch at my LCD was there since i open the parcel ( i swear Lotharek - i swear...) but the Display is still in function and if you solder it correct you should see that:<br /><br /><img src="http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/29.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><img src="http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/29.JPG" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><img src="http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/27.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><br />Well done, you did your first soldering for today and a good job if your LCD is still working correct. So next steps.....<br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/30.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><br /><br />Change the red and the orange wire of the Disc Drive power connector inside your CPC6128 and please remove the 12V spiral cable. You will never need it again in the rest of your life. The CPC has got a changed connector from Amstrad, 12V and 5v are not used in normal way. So we change it back to normal connector. 5Volt at the correct side please. I used a micro screwdriver to hold up the little white pin and pull out the cable. Then simply change the place of it. It clicks smoothly inside....done.....<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/31.JPG" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><img src="http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/31.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><br />Now you drill a big hole at the left side of your new perfboard pcb and file it clean and smoothly like i did it here:<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/32.JPG" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><img src="http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/32.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><br /><br />Now i crimped a CPC6128 internal 3,5" Disc Drive adapter cable. You can find the instructions to do that at the spanish CPC sites or watch out this piccy. Its speaking for itself and you can crimp it like its done here. I used the same picture and its working fine. Dont solder a Side Select Switch. The HxC Dont need a side switch. I kept the bridge open and NOT soldered together. The other bridges are soldered together like in the picture:<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/kabel.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><img src="http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/kabel.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I cut the wires so its more flexible and fits fine into the new drilled hole of your perfboard PCB. I used some Tesa Strips to fix the cable and the connector at the perfboard.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/33.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><img src="http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/33.JPG" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><img src="http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/34.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/34.JPG" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><img src="http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/35.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/36.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><img src="http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/35.JPG" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/36.JPG" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><br /><br />Now you need a hotglue pistol to glue the connector to your perfboard PCB.<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/37.JPG" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><img src="http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/37.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><br /><br />Its looking like a real 3"inch Drive isnt it?<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/38.JPG" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><img src="http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/41.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><br /><br />Now you can mount the metal bracket back to the frame. Please install the LCD now and fix it with a small strip of Tesa or some hotglue.<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/42.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><img src="http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/39.JPG" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><img src="http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/43.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><img src="http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/40.JPG" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/41.JPG" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/42.JPG" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br />You see i did a nice cable tree and its flexible enough not to hurt the HxC PCB or the LCD. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Please connect your new 3inch HxC now to your CPC and do a full function test. If its working fine, we continue now with some great case mod.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/44.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><img src="http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/44.JPG" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><img src="http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/45.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><img src="http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/45.JPG" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><br />The next steps should be done very slow, with lots of patience and please do an exactly measurement for cutting out the slot and the micro switches.<br />The Slot is 3cm over the tableplate and its a bit tricky to do that now. But i know you can do it. Patience is most important and you will get a good result.<br /><br />Lets see, drill, cut and file now:<br /><br /><img src="http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/46.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br />A bit rough or? Not looking nice..... i can do that better !<br /><br /><img src="http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/46.JPG" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br />Promise....<br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/47.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><img src="http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/47.JPG" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><br /><br />Next step is to drill the 3 holes for the microswitches. I am using the same switches like Lotharek did but with an longer axis. the axis length is 8mm. I soldered 3 microswitches at a perfboard pcb in a row. The space between them is about 0.75 cm but please do a self measurement. I used the middle and did it like that:<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/48.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><img src="http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/48.JPG" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><img src="http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/49.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><img src="http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/49.JPG" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br />yes yes i know there is a scratch at my case. Its there since 20 years so i am okay with that. LOL its not an accident of my case mod. It was my brother long time ago with his old digital watch...... fairy tales.... lets go back to work now.<br /><br /><br /><br />You can see i am using self adhesive PCB distancer to mount the microswitch pcb. its so simple to do, if you drilled the holes correct you just need to press it inside and voila its done. Look here:<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/52.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><img src="http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/51.JPG" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><img src="http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/51.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/52.JPG" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Do you see how smooth the SD Card is fitting in your new case mod? WOW, and there is still enough place for your sausagefingers to pull it out again. Its working fine and looks perfect.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/50.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><img src="http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/54.JPG" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><br /><br />NOW YOU ARE DONE.... Congratulations you did a great job. Lets do an intensive function test with loading a Demo or some games. If everything is working fine, you can screw the case again and you are done. I did some more mods and changed the Power LED from RED to a pink one now but thats just fun.<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/55.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><img src="http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/55.JPG" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><img src="http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/56.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/56.JPG" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><img src="http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/57.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/57.JPG" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><img src="http://www.wirtzmann.de/CPC/hxc/58.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.cpc-imperium.de/sdintern/58.JPG" alt="" class="bbc_img" loading="lazy"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />............... DONE for now.......<br /><br /><br />Still to do if you like:<br /><br /><br />Desolder the SMD LED from HxC PCB and add some nice LED to the CPC Case. I havnt done now, cause its so fuzzy to do that with a SMD soldering iron - maybe i will do that in future.<br /><br />There is still a lot of space inside your CPC6128 now. You can add a harddisc or a memory expansion under the new 3inch SD Card HxC Drive. I will check out if its possible to add a 3,5inch B: Drive internal. Maybe i will try that with a slimline Disc Drive. The result is that you have a complete all in one CPC6128 and no external periphery at your desk. Well we will see...... <br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Have kindly regards<br /><br />Tom / Pentagon of Noob Inc. 2012<br /><br /><br />to be continued.......
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Quote from: Gryzor on 09:39, 02 March 22Yeah, unfortunately that's not a forum issue, that's an external host issue:
That's always a problem if people upload images to other hosts: at some point they disappear and the information is gone.
Quote from: eto on 19:04, 01 March 22Quote from: SerErris on 18:49, 01 March 22@Gryzor is there any way to revive the screenshots from the initial post? I am not sure where they came from, but they are gone on any of my devices with any browser.
If you scroll down a bit, in message #8 Bryce has provided a link to the wiki, where he copied over the whole thing incl. the images.
https://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/HxC_SDCard_Internal
But to be honest, compared to this, a GOTEK replacement with a 3D printed frame is so much less effort and doesn't require to cut a hole into your CPC case, I would definitely not go for such a solution anymore.
Now with pictures much better ...
I like the idea of the pcb as a a carrier inside the existing drive frame (only if you have a drive frame from a salvaged drive of cause). But also there are pretty simple 3D print gotek carriers out there.