Worklog I'm building the Nintendo Switch U

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Mar 15, 2021
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Hey all, I'm Ruby. About 10 months ago, while fixing the family gamepad, I thought it would be cool to stick a Switch in there. I didn't know if it was at all possible, but I kept it in mind. Here I am now, with part 1 of 3 complete on my Nintendo Switch U. Feel free to ask any questions! This was inspired by many portable gamecubes and wiis over the years, Gman, Shank, and other builders, as well as my own love for electronics (also the gamepad is super comfy).

PXL_20210316_082352474.jpg


May 2020: This is the first image of this project. Just a Switch put behind the front bezel, nothing more.
IMG_20200509_152330.jpg

March 14, 2021: I tore down the Switch and Gamepad, and mounted the Switch screen in the gamepad LCD casing. I kept the gamepad digitiser to protect the Switch LCD and to keep the original look. It doesn't work but if anyone knows if it's possible to use the gamepad digitiser with the switch, please let me know. As of now, the Switch U has no touchscreen input
PXL_20210315_040606844.jpgPXL_20210315_045423657.jpg

March 15, 2021: Once the screen was mounted, I figured out that the switch midframe can be held in place by the friction of the gamepad face button brackets. I sanded the brackets very lightly, they click in as normal and screw down, which holds the switch snugly. I reconnected the screen and it booted!
PXL_20210315_051547496.jpgPXL_20210315_061409614.jpgPXL_20210315_054446251.jpg

March 15, 2021 (late day): I got out the Dremel, and cut out the battery bay. I also trimmed a couple posts to allow the joycon mobos to fit properly later. The back cover now clips and screws in fully, and has a lil access door at the back. Marked in red is a full cut and yellow are trims. On my Dremel is a makeshift shrapnel shield, made of screwdrivers and a plastic bottle piece. It worked great!
PXL_20210316_020509759.jpgPXL_20210316_024122217_2.jpgPXL_20210316_023926960.jpg

March 16, 2021: Here it is so far! I'm waiting on my magnet wire to get here, at which point I will start wiring the gamepad sticks and buttons to the joycon boards. That'll be part 2. Part 3 will be figuring out docking. My plan is to use a working Wii U with no bluray drive to house the switch dock motherboard. More on that when i get there.
PXL_20210316_082352474.jpg

May 24, 2021: Skipped Part 2 due to joystick wiring complications. Will get back to it. On Part 3 now, figuring out docking. I need to extend the USB C port on the switch about 14mm. I got this extension from aliexpress and it fits nearly perfectly in the small space i have to work with. Problem: It doesn't have every single connection. I tried to remedy this by finding pins without continuity and adding wires for them. After doing this, and testing docking, i found it would show an image on the TV for a split second. This was caused by the original ribbon wires breaking from being bent at such an angle. Anyone have any ideas? Short of wiring all 24 wires 1:1 for the extension, I'm stuck.
PXL_20210522_070113247.jpgPXL_20210525_030910474.MP.jpgPXL_20210525_042205228.jpgPXL_20210527_045628844.MP.jpg


-Ruby!
 
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Stitches

2 and a Half Dollarydoos
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Why is it that my brain says the DIY spark catcher is cooler than the build........ build's hecking cool tho, I like it
 
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Yo, I was actually thinking about something like this a while back!
Can't wait to see how this goes, might actually do this one day if I can afford a junk switch lol
 
Joined
Aug 24, 2021
Messages
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Hey all, I'm Ruby. About 10 months ago, while fixing the family gamepad, I thought it would be cool to stick a Switch in there. I didn't know if it was at all possible, but I kept it in mind. Here I am now, with part 1 of 3 complete on my Nintendo Switch U. Feel free to ask any questions! This was inspired by many portable gamecubes and wiis over the years, Gman, Shank, and other builders, as well as my own love for electronics (also the gamepad is super comfy).

View attachment 16360

May 2020: This is the first image of this project. Just a Switch put behind the front bezel, nothing more.
View attachment 16361

March 14, 2021: I tore down the Switch and Gamepad, and mounted the Switch screen in the gamepad LCD casing. I kept the gamepad digitiser to protect the Switch LCD and to keep the original look. It doesn't work but if anyone knows if it's possible to use the gamepad digitiser with the switch, please let me know. As of now, the Switch U has no touchscreen input
View attachment 16362View attachment 16363

March 15, 2021: Once the screen was mounted, I figured out that the switch midframe can be held in place by the friction of the gamepad face button brackets. I sanded the brackets very lightly, they click in as normal and screw down, which holds the switch snugly. I reconnected the screen and it booted!
View attachment 16364View attachment 16366View attachment 16365

March 15, 2021 (late day): I got out the Dremel, and cut out the battery bay. I also trimmed a couple posts to allow the joycon mobos to fit properly later. The back cover now clips and screws in fully, and has a lil access door at the back. Marked in red is a full cut and yellow are trims. On my Dremel is a makeshift shrapnel shield, made of screwdrivers and a plastic bottle piece. It worked great!
View attachment 16367View attachment 16369View attachment 16368

March 16, 2021: Here it is so far! I'm waiting on my magnet wire to get here, at which point I will start wiring the gamepad sticks and buttons to the joycon boards. That'll be part 2. Part 3 will be figuring out docking. My plan is to use a working Wii U with no bluray drive to house the switch dock motherboard. More on that when i get there.
View attachment 16360

May 24, 2021: Skipped Part 2 due to joystick wiring complications. Will get back to it. On Part 3 now, figuring out docking. I need to extend the USB C port on the switch about 14mm. I got this extension from aliexpress and it fits nearly perfectly in the small space i have to work with. Problem: It doesn't have every single connection. I tried to remedy this by finding pins without continuity and adding wires for them. After doing this, and testing docking, i found it would show an image on the TV for a split second. This was caused by the original ribbon wires breaking from being bent at such an angle. Anyone have any ideas? Short of wiring all 24 wires 1:1 for the extension, I'm stuck.
View attachment 17616View attachment 17617View attachment 17618View attachment 17619


-Ruby!
bro this is sick
 
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