St cartridge connector

[Pacman]

Frustrating indeed!

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.

Yes, but that again may render them a little too loose if inserted into an original Atari cartridge connector. And a cartridge shifted too much to the left or right side of the connector could mean traces bridging between contact points.
Frustrating business this cartridge thing! :(

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

I had no idea about any of this.
You would think that someone in this rather speacalized, closed circle type of business would stick together with other Atari users like glue and gladly sell as much to as many who'd be interested! Very strange attitude and behaviour.
The most frustrating thing is if he's got hundreds of those connectors that you, myself and others need, but there's no willingness to sell. Go figure! :shock:

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.

I understand. And there's no unlimited supply of those either.
Hope it works out some way or another. You've got some nice projects going there and it would be a pity if this cartridge thing puts a stop to it.
The best of luck, and hopefully someone somewhere will have a good solution. In this day and age with so many possibilities I wouldn't be surprised if someone came up with a good and reasonably costing solution.

[Pacman]

Samtec offers customization of their products and might be worth looking into!
As far as I can tell the changes need not be substantial, and can keep costs down:
- slightly wider internally
- slightly wider row spacing
- longer legs, right angle
- possibly slight differences to the external plastic (so as to be 100% identical to the Atari connectors)

We have the Atari datasheet as well as the ability to check and measure original Atari connectors to compare with.
As far as I understand the internals of the Samtec connector matchines an Atari card-edge (i.e. cartridge device, cartridge or dongle) apart from the narrower width meaning the metal connectors are fine internally. Changing the row spacing slightly might not even need much (if any) changing to the internal design, saving a lot of work.

It might be worth considering.