St cartridge connector

[stephen_usher]

Other than the right-angle and the ends what's the main problem with easily obtainable edge connectors, the pitch and board thickness?

[Pacman]

I think I found the one you'd found Exxos

https://www.samtec.com/products/mec2-20-02-l-th1-np-wt
Or
https://www.samtec.com/products/mec2-20-01-l-th1-np-wt
They had an option for a free sample so I'll see what comes of it. If not I'll get in touch with best ^-^

I know it's been a while, but did you receive the samples and see which specific model is (mostly) compatible with the original Atari cartridge connector?
I see from Samtec's datasheets that there are quite a few variations of these, making it confusing to locate the correct one.

Meanwhile, here are some photos I took (sorry about the quality) with measurements of the original Atari ones:

Atari cartridge connectors dimensions 3.jpg

Atari cartridge connectors dimensions 2.jpg

Atari cartridge connectors dimensions 1.jpg

[Pacman]

I think I found the one you'd found Exxos

https://www.samtec.com/products/mec2-20-02-l-th1-np-wt
Or
https://www.samtec.com/products/mec2-20-01-l-th1-np-wt
They had an option for a free sample so I'll see what comes of it. If not I'll get in touch with best ^-^

Did you get any free samples from Samtec?
There's also the non-weld tab (-NP instead of -NP-WT) version to consider:
MEC2-20-01-L-TH1-NP
(I couldn't find a MEC2-20-02-L-TH1-NP)

The datasheets are very confusing and contradicting, so it would be nice to have confirmed by other Atari users which particular model(s) works.
According to one of the datasheets I've studied it appears the distance between each row doesn't match the Atari connector, but I'm not sure.
The tight fit (the inner length of the Atari connector is slightly longer than the Samtec) can likely be rectified with a little filing on its plastic sides.

[exxos]

There's another thread on the ones I got from samtec years ago. Unfortunately they are not wide enough to accept the cartridge PCBs . You can force them to fit, but basically it needs 1mm (or maybe 2mm) each side to accept the PCB properly. Plus a bigger problem is no right angled version.

As per my proposal here..

viewtopic.php?p=115076#p115076

Nobody came forward to help. So I abandoned the idea.

Same with getting custom ones made. I gave up looking.

[Pacman]

There's another thread on the ones I got from samtec years ago. Unfortunately they are not wide enough to accept the cartridge PCBs . You can force them to fit, but basically it needs 1mm (or maybe 2mm) each side to accept the PCB properly. Plus a bigger problem is no right angled version.

Yes, I know about that thread and was wondering about the specific Samtec model. If you're able to check it would help a lot :D

Regarding the width -perhaps filing away a little of the plastic on each side would solve that issue. A lacking right-angle version however is a more frustrating issue, which might be best solved with small PCB as I think someone already suggested in some thread.
Fortunately in my case I can do with straight connectors like the Samtec ones are.

[exxos]

Yes, I know about that thread and was wondering about the specific Samtec model. If you're able to check it would help a lot :D

MEC2-20-01-L-TH1-NP

Regarding the width -perhaps filing away a little of the plastic on each side would solve that issue.

I don't think the plastic is thick enough for that. You could 3-D print a larger housing and do it that way but I don't think it's worth the effort.

A lacking right-angle version however is a more frustrating issue, which might be best solved with small PCB as I think someone already suggested in some thread.

That's the problem, and why I basically abandoned the idea, because by the time you have done the PCBs and messed about with it all, you might as well just buy them from BEST anyway. Sucks I know, but I don't think there is simply any alternative :(

[Pacman]

Yes, I know about that thread and was wondering about the specific Samtec model. If you're able to check it would help a lot :D

MEC2-20-01-L-TH1-NP

Ah! That's the same one I've been considering along with the "-WT" (weld tab) version:
MEC2-20-01-L-TH1-NP-WT

3D model image -TH1-NP-WT.png

Regarding the width -perhaps filing away a little of the plastic on each side would solve that issue.

I don't think the plastic is thick enough for that. You could 3-D print a larger housing and do it that way but I don't think it's worth the effort.

The -NP-WT version above is the same as the one you've got as far as the mating Atari card-edge connector goes, but is externally longer, so there should be more plastic available to safely file off a bit on each side without risking structural damage.
Still no right-angle mounting, but hopefully one problem solved.

By the way, does your Samtec cartridge connector fit into the exact same through-hole footprint of the original Atari cartridge connector? I'm asking because I measure approx 4.5 to 5mm row-spacing (the Atari datasheet says 4mm) while the various datasheets from Samtec say 4.66mm and 3.80mm so it's hard to know what's correct. At least the spacing between each pin is 2mm.

Atari cartridge connector datasheet.png

A lacking right-angle version however is a more frustrating issue, which might be best solved with small PCB as I think someone already suggested in some thread.

That's the problem, and why I basically abandoned the idea, because by the time you have done the PCBs and messed about with it all, you might as well just buy them from BEST anyway. Sucks I know, but I don't think there is simply any alternative :(

Yeah, it's a pity. Atari made some bad decisions (in my opinion) when it came to choice of components at times, including the non-standard CPU PLCC sockets (when they easily could have chosen standard ones with the exact same number of pins) and likewise a more standard solution for the cartridge. Power without the price. Replacement components without availability! :lol:
How do you plan to solve the cartridge issue for the H4/H5?

[exxos]

The -NP-WT version above is the same as the one you've got as far as the mating Atari card-edge connector goes, but is externally longer, so there should be more plastic available to safely file off a bit on each side without risking structural damage.

I don't see how its physically possible to file internally.

By the way, does your Samtec cartridge connector fit into the exact same through-hole footprint of the original Atari cartridge connector? I'm asking because I measure approx 4.5 to 5mm row-spacing (the Atari datasheet says 4mm) while the various datasheets from Samtec say 4.66mm and 3.80mm so it's hard to know what's correct. At least the spacing between each pin is 2mm.

The row to row pitch is smaller.

IMG_5061.JPG

How do you plan to solve the cartridge issue for the H4/H5?

I don't. I tried for along time to get manufactures to consider making them, but they not interested. Most want 1,000 minimum run, that's even if your lucky. Plus they want tooling costs.. So just not a viable solution.

The solution is as I said before, someone helps group buy connectors from BEST and people will have to accept they will be expensive. Beyond that, I was taking connectors of scrap motherboards, but that stock ran out ages ago.

[Pacman]

The row to row pitch is smaller.

Hmmm.. looks like 3.8mm row-spacing could be the correct info.
I'm guessing it can be pushed into an existing Atari footprint and soldered a few mm above the motherboard (if you're replacing the existing Atari cartridge connector), but it won't be an ideal solution -and certainly not with the straight connection instead of right-angled.

How do you plan to solve the cartridge issue for the H4/H5?

I don't. I tried for along time to get manufactures to consider making them, but they not interested. Most want 1,000 minimum run, that's even if your lucky. Plus they want tooling costs.. So just not a viable solution.

The solution is as I said before, someone helps group buy connectors from BEST and people will have to accept they will be expensive. Beyond that, I was taking connectors of scrap motherboards, but that stock ran out ages ago.

Frustrating :(
So Best electronics still have them for sale?

I'm still going to have a go with the Samtec connectors for my projects. At least I don't have the same challenges and can do with straight pins and a slightly smaller footprint. And I'm going to see if I can file the sides without damaging it (probably the -NP-WT version).
Thanks again for sharing the Samtec model number.

[exxos]

Hmmm.. looks like 3.8mm row-spacing could be the correct info.
I'm guessing it can be pushed into an existing Atari footprint and soldered a few mm above the motherboard (if you're replacing the existing Atari cartridge connector), but it won't be an ideal solution -and certainly not with the straight connection instead of right-angled.

It could be forced fitted. But the "simple" solution might be to file the cartridge PCBs to fit if you *have* to use new connectors.

Frustrating :(
So Best electronics still have them for sale?

I haven't contacted them for years, there wasn't any point as I cant buy them anyway.

Part of the problem with dealing with Brad is he seems a bit "funny" about selling stuff in bulk. People have reported visiting him person and buying in bulk, but I don't remember who those people were. It's a long term "annoyance" with him. I wanted to buy stuff in bulk to help more UK/EU customers going back like 20 years ago, he doesn't seem to like the idea of his stuff being resold by others. Even though he could have had a lot of easy sales.. I kinda gave up trying to figure that guy out a long time ago.

When myself and Alison built PeST, we contacted him to see if he would be interested in stocking them for USA customers. He offered £2 a PeST. We couldn't even buy the PIC chip for that. So was somewhat insulting really, and not very supportive of the community either. Would rather someone else deal with him these days.

It's not just the connectors though. You need the metal bracket ( I don't know if Brad has any of those) . So removing from donor boards tends to be the only solution.

..and yes.. Frustrating.