NES Cart PCB Dimensions

Discuss hardware-related topics, such as development cartridges, CopyNES, PowerPak, EPROMs, or whatever.

Moderator: Moderators

User avatar
neonempyr
Posts: 7
Joined: Mon Apr 20, 2009 8:35 am
Contact:

NES Cart PCB Dimensions

Post by neonempyr »

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.
User avatar
Memblers
Site Admin
Posts: 4044
Joined: Mon Sep 20, 2004 6:04 am
Location: Indianapolis
Contact:

Post by Memblers »

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.
User avatar
Memblers
Site Admin
Posts: 4044
Joined: Mon Sep 20, 2004 6:04 am
Location: Indianapolis
Contact:

Post by Memblers »

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?)
User avatar
neonempyr
Posts: 7
Joined: Mon Apr 20, 2009 8:35 am
Contact:

Post by neonempyr »

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?
User avatar
Bregalad
Posts: 8056
Joined: Fri Nov 12, 2004 2:49 pm
Location: Divonne-les-bains, France

Post by Bregalad »

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.
Useless, lumbering half-wits don't scare us.
User avatar
neonempyr
Posts: 7
Joined: Mon Apr 20, 2009 8:35 am
Contact:

Post by neonempyr »

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!
User avatar
neonempyr
Posts: 7
Joined: Mon Apr 20, 2009 8:35 am
Contact:

NES Cartridge Dimensions

Post by neonempyr »

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
User avatar
Memblers
Site Admin
Posts: 4044
Joined: Mon Sep 20, 2004 6:04 am
Location: Indianapolis
Contact:

Post by Memblers »

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.
User avatar
neonempyr
Posts: 7
Joined: Mon Apr 20, 2009 8:35 am
Contact:

NES Cartridge Dimensions rev. 02

Post by neonempyr »

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
User avatar
neonempyr
Posts: 7
Joined: Mon Apr 20, 2009 8:35 am
Contact:

Post by neonempyr »

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

Peace
User avatar
Memblers
Site Admin
Posts: 4044
Joined: Mon Sep 20, 2004 6:04 am
Location: Indianapolis
Contact:

Post by Memblers »

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).
User avatar
neonempyr
Posts: 7
Joined: Mon Apr 20, 2009 8:35 am
Contact:

Post by neonempyr »

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
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Jun 23, 2010 4:28 am
Location: Toulon, France
Contact:

Post by fmauNeko »

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
Posts: 163
Joined: Tue May 05, 2009 6:12 pm
Contact:

Post by hyarion »

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
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Jun 23, 2010 4:28 am
Location: Toulon, France
Contact:

Post by fmauNeko »

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 ;)
Post Reply