
However one year later, encouraged by a few requests, I finally decided to design AnodeSNES.
About the name: AnodeSNES combines the word anode (refering to the finishing process, anodizing) and the SNES acronym (which stands for Super Nintendo Entertainment System), refering of course to the game system the adapter supports the controllers of.
Concept
The upper face of the enclosure is square with the connectors are centered. The distance
between connectors has been minimised and based on the geometry of existing game
controllers (measurements taken on Nintendo and 3rd party controllers). The weight
of the enclosure, increased by the use of thick stainless steel for the bottom
cover, yields good stability.
The casing is machined in a single aluminium block on a CNC milling machine and is designed to ease fabrication using this technique:
The casing is machined in a single aluminium block on a CNC milling machine and is designed to ease fabrication using this technique:
- Keep as much material as possible. Primarily inside the enclosure, this implies not removing material unless necessary due to interference with the circuit or connectors.
- Filleting concave corners.
- Straight sides (In the Z axis)
- Design thought to keep setups to a minimum (1: Machine the pocket for the PCB and the contour, 2: Machine the USB connector slot)
Circuit board
The PCB used for AnodeSNES is the one used first by Acrylic SNES and
is simply an implementation of 4nes4snes using an
Atmega168a micro-controller.
Assembly and pictures
The connectors mate with the enclosure so tightly that they cannot be installed beforehand
on the PCB. First, proper alignment is critical (They'd have to be soldered perfectly straight).
Second, the protruding USB connector does not make installation possible without tilting
the PCB.
Assembly is therefore done in the following order:
Assembly is therefore done in the following order:
- Inserting the SNES connectors
- Inserting the PCB
- Installing the PCB fixation screws
- Soldering the connectors
- Installing the bottom cover
- Installing an anti-slip pad (not shown)