NES Cart PCB Dimensions

neonempyr · Post by **neonempyr** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 8:41 am

Does anyone have dimensions for a standard Mario Bros. cart PCB outline? I'm about to order a prototype but I need to put the outline on the edges layer. Last time I measured with digital calipers (which were quite accurate) it didn't come out quite right, so I'd like a second opinion. I'd like to be able to put it into a cartridge case.

So far, here is the data I have so far from the forums:

Pin width: 2.0 mm
Pin pitch: 2.5 mm

I also saw the location of the screws on a post somewhere, but it didn't say where 0,0 origin was.

Post by **Memblers** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 1:48 pm

The basic outline for a full-size PCB is 110mm x 100mm. But the cutouts are somewhat complex to describe. I'll try to draw up a pic here that you (or anyone) can use.

Post by **Memblers** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 2:39 pm

Here you go. I can't guarantee accuracy, so use at your own risk. I've made minor changes and adjustments through my designs, this could be a wrong one as I've lost track. But it should be really close. I know it was a tight fit in one of the tetris-block-shaped cutouts (heheh).

http://memblers.com/NESdev%20files/NES% ... ate%29.png
(should I phpBB3?)

neonempyr · Post by **neonempyr** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 7:35 am

Fantastic. Thank you very much. I will test a cutout of these dimensions in a cart case. Perhaps we should post this on the Wiki after it's tested?

Bregalad · Post by **Bregalad** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 9:13 am

I've sucessfully (on the mechanical viewpoint) designed a board that fits in the case, and with the two holes in the center. I could post a scan of the sheet with the dimentions if I ever found it again.

neonempyr · Post by **neonempyr** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 9:58 am

Feel free to do so. I'm going to draw up a nice quality draft in xdraft and post a .fig and .png file of the drawing on the wiki. I'll be sure to show the location of the spacers and holes.

I'm also measuring a cart PCB with some digital calipers that can read 0.01 mm

Memblers, your drawing is actually quite accurate!

neonempyr · Post by **neonempyr** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 2:08 pm

So, here is what I have so far. Below are links to the PDF output of an XDraft .dr file (http://xdraft.sf.net). Please let me know what you think. Maybe we can add this to the wiki?

NES Cartridge Dimensions PDF

NES Cartridge Dimensions XDraft source file

Post by **Memblers** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 3:13 pm

Looks good. Don't forget the other 3mm diameter hole, a little north-north-east of the 5mm one.

Memblers, your drawing is actually quite accurate!

Thanks, I owe it to kevtris since he helped me do that one originally (I had no clue otherwise). It followed one of Koei's MMC5 boards (which also used almost all of the cart case). I did the paper cut-out thing too, that's when I made adjustments. Probably if the bit used to route the board was slightly bigger (than used on the ones I had made) it would fit more comfortably.

Also there are 2 plastic stand-off thingies up towards the top, I have them marked on one of my layouts (and I also promptly ignored them - it's right in the middle of a DIP IC, heheh). They're small in size and asymmetrical in placement.

neonempyr · Post by **neonempyr** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 5:55 pm

Thanks for your input, Memblers.

Here are some links to the updated docs with the additions you suggested.

NES Cartridge Dimensions PDF

NES Cartridge Outline PDF

NES Cartridge Dimensions XDraft source file

neonempyr · Post by **neonempyr** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 9:17 am

Placed these documents and a new Pin Dimension document in the wiki under Hardware:Cartridge_Dimensions.

Peace

Post by **Memblers** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 1:59 pm

One more bit of vital info, the thickness of the board. Specify as .45" (1.2mm). This is a little unusual, some board places only do .62" (particularly discount ones).

neonempyr · Post by **neonempyr** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 7:00 am

Good point. I added that to the drawing. I think I'll make a simple table of the basic dimensions at the bottom as well.

Thanks so much for your help on this. I hope someone else can find it useful or interesting, at least.

fmauNeko · Post by **fmauNeko** » Wed Jun 23, 2010 5:38 am

I know this thread is more than 1 year old, but if someone still has the files, could he reupload them, because the links are dead.

Thanks

hyarion · Post by **hyarion** » Wed Jun 23, 2010 10:12 pm

fmauNeko wrote:I know this thread is more than 1 year old, but if someone still has the files, could he reupload them, because the links are dead.

I should have an eagle file somewhere with the dimensions and the cart edge connector footprint, i can try to find it if you are interested

fmauNeko · Post by **fmauNeko** » Thu Jun 24, 2010 5:36 am

hyarion wrote:I should have an eagle file somewhere with the dimensions and the cart edge connector footprint, i can try to find it if you are interested

That would be awesome ! Thank you

nesdev.com

NES Cart PCB Dimensions

NES Cart PCB Dimensions

NES Cartridge Dimensions

NES Cartridge Dimensions rev. 02