4 ms·

This is really cool! I like the attention to detail on the front panel, it's something I'd be proud of showing on a carefully built retro PC. I could see using

by accrual 11mo ago

This is really cool! I like the attention to detail on the front panel, it's something I'd be proud of showing on a carefully built retro PC. I could see using this over CF to IDE adapters which work well but this is a cleaner solution. Good luck with your launch, I'll be happy to order one!

userbinator 11mo ago
Personally I think the half-melted (literally) rough 3D-printed look is rather ugly, and would prefer a stamped steel plate --- like this (floppy emulator): https://lotharek.pl/productdetail.php?id=28 https://lotharek.pl/productdetail.php?id=28
- polpo 11mo ago
  A stamped steel plate is not possible at my planned price point. But one thing I will note is that this 3D printed front panel is only a prototype.
  - marcosscriven 11mo ago
    On the contrary, I think you’ve done a fantastic job with the enclosure. Far from looking “half melted”, you’ve made good use of the bed texture, and the design is top notch.
  - Palomides 11mo ago
    as an aside to anyone else reading this, laser cut and bent sheet metal has gotten pretty cheap and easy, I think you could have an okay (unpainted) tray/case like this made for maybe $5 to $10 at 100 units
    - marcosscriven 11mo ago
      Where, out of interest?
    - polpo 11mo ago
      BTW I'm pretty well versed in getting laser cut and bent sheet metal made, both in China and via US-based providers like SendCutSend - my PicoIDE project uses a metal bracket. In fact when so many other projects were using 3D printed brackets, I decided that was not good enough and dove in and did the work to get nice brackets made affordably. It really elevates the project to a higher level of professionalism. That being said, $5-$10 sounds about right (if maybe a little on the high side) for something the size of PicoIDE, but unfortunately that is too much for the price point I want to hit. Affordability is a major target for PicoIDE. And also, WiFi is a feature of the front panel and for that reason, metal is a no-go. The WiFi antenna is at the front of the device to give it the best chance of decent reception, so it needs to be plastic.
      - Palomides 11mo ago
        totally reasonable, the cost tradeoffs on these types of products seems very challenging
- marcosscriven 11mo ago
  The one you linked looks ugly. Horrible seams, odd and too-long red buttons, unaligned slots.

by accrual 11mo ago

userbinator 11mo ago

Personally I think the half-melted (literally) rough 3D-printed look is rather ugly, and would prefer a stamped steel plate --- like this (floppy emulator): https://lotharek.pl/productdetail.php?id=28 https://lotharek.pl/productdetail.php?id=28

polpo 11mo ago
A stamped steel plate is not possible at my planned price point. But one thing I will note is that this 3D printed front panel is only a prototype.
- marcosscriven 11mo ago
  On the contrary, I think you’ve done a fantastic job with the enclosure. Far from looking “half melted”, you’ve made good use of the bed texture, and the design is top notch.
- Palomides 11mo ago
  as an aside to anyone else reading this, laser cut and bent sheet metal has gotten pretty cheap and easy, I think you could have an okay (unpainted) tray/case like this made for maybe $5 to $10 at 100 units
  - marcosscriven 11mo ago
    Where, out of interest?
  - polpo 11mo ago
    BTW I'm pretty well versed in getting laser cut and bent sheet metal made, both in China and via US-based providers like SendCutSend - my PicoIDE project uses a metal bracket. In fact when so many other projects were using 3D printed brackets, I decided that was not good enough and dove in and did the work to get nice brackets made affordably. It really elevates the project to a higher level of professionalism. That being said, $5-$10 sounds about right (if maybe a little on the high side) for something the size of PicoIDE, but unfortunately that is too much for the price point I want to hit. Affordability is a major target for PicoIDE. And also, WiFi is a feature of the front panel and for that reason, metal is a no-go. The WiFi antenna is at the front of the device to give it the best chance of decent reception, so it needs to be plastic.
    - Palomides 11mo ago
      totally reasonable, the cost tradeoffs on these types of products seems very challenging
marcosscriven 11mo ago
The one you linked looks ugly. Horrible seams, odd and too-long red buttons, unaligned slots.