Cloning the SEGA Saturn 3D pad cable.

[Arthrimus]

Hey guys, I have a couple of 3D pads with the cables missing, and browsing through ebay this seems to be a common problem. There doesn't seem to be a source for replacement cables that I can find so I plan to design a replacement cable of my own. There will be a 3d printed housing for the connection to the 3D pad, and there will be a custom PCB to interface with the card edge connector on the controller. This will be a free project that I will release on OSHPark and Thingiverse when it is done.

With all of that said I do need some help from a benevolent soul who has both a Saturn 3D pad with the factory cable, and a multimeter who can probe out both ends of the cable and help me produce a pinout so I can design a PCB for the controller side connector. I'd do it myself, but I do not actually own a single Saturn 3D pad cable, so I don't have a way to without buying another 3D pad; something I'm not eager to do.

Here are the pin numbers for both the plug going to the Saturn Controller port, and the edge connector on the plug going to the 3D pad.

Code: Select all

Saturn Controller Plug      3D Pad Plug Edge Connector
    /-----------\                 1  3  5  7   9
    | 987654321 |                  ____________
    |___________|                 |____________|
 Looking into the plug            2  4  6  8  10
                             Looking into the connector 
                           Back of connector facing down

If someone could probe out this cable and tell me which pins from the Saturn controller plug connect to which pins on the 3D pad cable's edge connector I would be deeply grateful, and I will credit you when I release the project files for this replacement cable.

[hellbelly]

Very cool project!

I took apart the 3D Pad Plug just to make it easier to probe it, and it has it's own numbering which is different to how you guessed it, so I have redrawn it here and you'll see why in a moment...

Code: Select all

Saturn Controller Plug      3D Pad Plug Edge Connector
    /-----------\                10   8  6  4  2
    | 987654321 |                  ____________
    |___________|                 |____________|
 Looking into the plug            9   7  5  3  1
                             Looking into the connector
                           Back of connector facing down

                      Mapping
          1----------------------------1
          2----------------------------2
          3----------------------------3
          4----------------------------4
          5----------------------------5
          6----------------------------6
          7----------------------------7
          8----------------------------8
          9----------------------------9 + 10

Let me know if you want any photos or measurements of anything?

Pete

[hellbelly]

Just remembered I have some bust up regular pads, so dug them out and can confirm the regular pad uses the same cable as the 3D pad with the same connector that goes onto the circuit board (not necessary for what you're doing, but I though it was interesting)



Then found a cable with a bust plug.



Anyway, whilst I had it in pieces, I took some photos anyway...

[Arthrimus]

Just remembered I have some bust up regular pads, so dug them out and can confirm the regular pad uses the same cable as the 3D pad with the same connector that goes onto the circuit board (not necessary for what you're doing, but I though it was interesting)



Then found a cable with a bust plug.



Anyway, whilst I had it in pieces, I took some photos anyway...

Thanks so much, If you could take some measurements of the housing that would be great. Specifically I need to know the length of each face of the back plate of the housing from a side profile. I should be able to extrapolate the rest of the design from those measurements.

[hellbelly]

No problem. Let me know if you need anything else.



Pete

[Arthrimus]

Thanks for the measurements, I had time to model a first prototype this evening. It's a perfect physical fit for the 3D controller, but it still needs some internal adjustments to fit the PCB.

[Konsolkongen]

Neat :O

[hellbelly]

Wow, you didn’t waste anytime, looks very nice, and a great fit.

If you do give me any credit, use the name mmmonkey, I should really update my account on here to reflect that too I suppose, been meaning to do it.

Pete

[Arthrimus]

Ok, so I have the PCB designed now also.


Here it is on OshPark

I'll be uploading the STL for the 3D print soon.

EDIT: 3D printed housing is up on Thingiverse

[hellbelly]

Nice work, looking forward to seeing the finished product. Will you use extension leads for the cable and console plug?

Pete

[Arthrimus]

Nice work, looking forward to seeing the finished product. Will you use extension leads for the cable and console plug?

Pete

Yes, that is the plan. If you crack open the housing of the female end of one of these currently produced extension cables and remove the leads to the female connector you get a cable complete with strain relief that will fit this 3D print perfectly.

[SGGG2]

Can you reuse the housing from an original 3D connector for the PCB?