[Coco] FW: CoCo ROM cartridge casings/enclosures.

[Joel Ewy]

On 12/16/2013 12:49 AM, Chad H wrote:
> I've got some projects I'm working on in my spare time, some CoCo related,
> some not but several are making me think  more and more about investing in a
> 3D printer to build custom enclosures, face panels, etc.  I'm curious as to
> what a demand would be for CoCo ROM cartridge cases/enclosures would be if
> they were to be made?  I'm surprised someone isn't already doing this. If
> they are, please point me to the source!
>
>
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I have designed a CoCo cartridge housing in OpenSCAD that just barely 
fits on the build platform of my Makerbot Thing-O-Matic. I've been busy 
with other stuff and haven't gotten back to that project.  I did a test 
print that failed because the part peeled up from the build platform, 
but I'm pretty sure I can get it to print with a little more diligence.

As for demand, if you're thinking in terms of mass-production, there 
isn't any.  But 3D printers and desktop CNC machines aren't limited by 
the same requirements.  The virtue of such tools is in their 
programmability and customizeability. Once I have the basic design of a 
CoCo cartridge housing, for example, I can add holes for switches, LEDs, 
LCDs, pushbuttons, ribbon cables, ventilation, or whatever, just by 
editing the CAD file.  It doesn't make sense to get a machine like this 
just to make one product the way the industrial paradigm taught us to 
think.  But it gives you the capability to build an ever-expanding 
catalog of things that never have to go out of production and can be 
personalized to the needs of individual customers.

Here's what it looks like in OpenSCAD: 
http://8littlebits.wordpress.com/2013/04/16/cartridge-housing-cad/

I'll try again to make a good print.

JCE