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Worklog MG&C's GameCube Advance

Which hinge?

  • GBA SP hinge

  • DS Lite hinge

  • 3DS XL hinge


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Joined
Feb 18, 2024
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Portables
working on No.1
Alright, time to pull a @Shank & @Gman and re-make the portable that inspired me.

I'm sure we are all familiar with @GingerOfOz 's Nintendo FakeCube:

Unlike most people, this was the first video about portables that I ever saw, and having grown up with the white slab that was the Nintendo Wii, my first thought was:

This

is

MIND BLOWING!!!!!!


So, to fulfill the inner Nerd that wanted that thing in my hands, I am going to finally re- create and improve that design, and fully open-source it for anyone like me who was inspired by it.

Goals:
  • To improve the battery life to about 3 hours, give or take
  • Fix the weird grips/get rid of the Mikey Mouse ears
  • to design the custom PCBs so they are good enough to use
  • to improve the usability so it can be more than just a pretty shelf piece
  • Open source the build
If i don't update regularly, please ask if there are any updates so i can get back on track.

Wish me luck :XD:
 
Joined
Feb 18, 2024
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Portables
working on No.1
Update:

Designed the screen holder. can't confirm the screen will fit nicely, as I don't have it, but I have checked it against a piece of paper of the same dimensions.
1714546548707.png


The major road block I've hit is the hinges. I plan to use DS Lite hinges like in ginger's video, but I simply cannot re-create the ds lite hinge holes, as I don't have a ds lite.

could anyone help me with that? I would be really grateful to anyone who could help at all.
 
Joined
Apr 30, 2024
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Location
north korea
Portables
-1 learning
y have a proposal woudent it be better to have a wii disk drive (with a switch to turn it on and off for battery life ) and build the portable around the disc drive that would be cool
so its big to bee confortable but not too much to be a pain in the ass?
(edit) it could also be an external disk drive to save space ( it conects via usb )
 
Joined
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Messages
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Portables
working on No.1
y have a proposal woudent it be better to have a wii disk drive (with a switch to turn it on and off for battery life ) and build the portable around the disc drive that would be cool
so its big to bee confortable but not too much to be a pain in the ass?
(edit) it could also be an external disk drive to save space ( it conects via usb )
maybe.
it would be a pain, but I might design one that can connect via usb, but it isn't very likely I could get it working.
putting it inside would make it significantly thicker, and i wouldn't have space for batteries either.
 
Joined
Feb 18, 2024
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Portables
working on No.1
Long overdue update:

I have finished the screen holder, and created a awful prototype hinge.


1714964936002.png

1714964972935.png


I have decided against using ds lite hinges, instead I am going to either use GBA SP hinges, or 3DS XL hinges.

I also mostly designed the lid piece, however, I can't do test prints, as my printer decided to fill itself with filament instead of printing what I wanted to print, so for now I am stuck cleaning blue PLA from the inside of the extruder, so:(

But besides that, it's been going well! I did end up going back and ironing out some minor issues in the screen holder, and fleshed out the geometry a little.

Fingers crossed I get my printer working!
 
Joined
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Portables
working on No.1
WAY overdue update:

Printer almost fixed, I decided to use 3DS XL Hinges, and I'm beginning to design the controller slate.

I designed some GameCube ABXY buttons that are 85% the size of OEM buttons and button wells for them.
Screenshot 2024-05-12 161754.png
Screenshot 2024-05-12 161937.png
Screenshot 2024-05-12 161919.png
Screenshot 2024-05-12 161859.png
Screenshot 2024-05-12 161838.png


I've also finished the lid piece, which I am proud of. I used @jefflongo 's GameCube logo, and had a good crack at the geometry.
Screenshot 2024-05-12 162004.png


I'm currently nailing down the hinges, so keep an eye out for more (hopefully more regular) updates :)
 
Joined
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working on No.1
UPDATE:

Pretty much finished the hinges, screen holder and lid piece. I just need to add a few screw posts, holes for the screen wires and some latticework to secure the lid piece to the screen holder and hold the screen in position.
Screenshot 2024-05-18 183102.png
Screenshot 2024-05-18 183154.png
Screenshot 2024-05-18 183221.png


Printer repairs are at a stand still. I haven't had time to finish the repairs, as I am a full time student and haven't had much spare time lately. i will try to finish fixing it tomorrow, but we'll see :D .
 
Joined
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working on No.1
UPDATE TIME:


did some more work on the controller slate, now has speaker holes and mounting points for the hinges.
Screenshot 2024-06-11 090739.png



Printer is STILL Broken, haven't gotten to finish fixing it as I have been busy with schoolwork.

Progress will be very slow, as I don' have much time to just sit and do design work. :(
 
Joined
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working on No.1
That's an Amazing project! Good Luck for finish it
(When it will be finish, Can you put the files AT the end? Because I would like to do one by myself but I don't have the skills for the pcb and 3d models.)
Thank you for the kind words!

To answer your question, yes I do plan to open source it when I’m finished. I hope to work on it more soon as my school holidays are starting next week. Stay tuned!
 
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