Open CAD library of replacement parts for game consoles
The purpose of this project is to measure, model and archive the plastic and metal parts that make up old game consoles. These drawings can then be used to manufacture replacement parts (by CNC milling, 3D printing, moulding, ...).
In some cases, models of electronic parts (circuit boards, displays, ...) are also provided, as a tool for people designing custom cases. For these components, the focus is to locate mounting points (screw holes, etc) and other external features (button contacts, display frames, protruding components, ...) rather than a 100% accurate model of the part.
The directory structure of the repository has a depth of 3:
- Friendly system name, such as "psx"
- Friendly device name, such as "console" or "dual-shock"
- Part name (see Naming below)
Each part's directory contains at least the metadata.json file and a src/ directory
with the CAD drawings in some portable format (Recommended: OpenSCAD .scad).
Don't include the model exported to any non-editable format such as STL, there will eventually be automatic export from submitted drawing sources.
Any part or drawing found in this repository falls into one of these four classes:
- Faithful reproduction of a single original part
- Adaptation (for example, changed to be 3D-printable)
- Custom (For example, an alternate styling of a power button)
- Assembly of other parts (For example, a complete NES controller)
Please keep in mind that there are many ways to manufacture the part, and that a faithful representation of the original is the best starting point. If a part does not exist in the library, please add the original first and then adapt it for specific users (e.g. moulding).
The directory containing a part should be named in a descriptive and (if possible) short manner. If multiple revisions of the same part exist (for different releases of the same console, for example), they should be given a suffix on the form "-rev05" with an order that makes sense (for example the order in which the devices were released, or some well-known identifier for the console version).
Example of a good name:
gbc/console/A_button
If you adapt an existing original part, for example by making it suitable for 3D printing, use the same name and add a suffix that describes your adaptation.
Example of a good adaptation name:
gbc/console/A_button-3dp
Any parts you submit must either be your own work or work that you have permission to submit. Parts must be released under an Open-source license of your choice (Recommended: CC by-sa 4.0)
If the part you are designing is an external part (an outer case for example), the original may carry trademarked logos which we are not allowed to use. Please remove these logos in your CAD drawing, leaving a suitable blank space.
Each CAD drawing should represent only the size and shape of the part itself, and optionally its proper color. If the original part has logos or decals on it, please consider including the location and size of these decals in a separate "decals" layer in the CAD drawing. FIXME: Provide an example of how to do this
When adding constraints to your CAD drawing, use the ones you have measured (and which can be most easily measured by a user). For example, if you have measured the outer diameter and the inner diameter of a round part, don't add the wall thickness to the drawing. This allows others to easily compare their parts to your drawing by measuring the same lengths to determine whether to use the drawing or not.
Try to use whichever units (inches or mm) make sense for the part. If the part appears to have been designed using inches, use that in your drawing as well. If done carefully, this reduces approximation errors.
Every part is accompanied by a metadata.json file, which contains information about the part. The following fields are expected:
| Field | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| author | A name or alias for the person who contributed the original drawing. | "author" : "jimmy_p" |
| system | The game system this part applies to. Matches the directory structure. | "system" : "psx" |
| device | The device which this part fits. Matches the directory strycture. | "device" : "analog.controller" |
| partno | Optional field. If an official part number is known (from a service manual, for example), specify it here. | "partno" : "ab-12345" |
| fits | A list of specific model numbers of devices where this exact part is used. This could be a console main unit, a controller, an accessory, ... | "fits" : [ "scph-1002", "scph-5000" ] |
| license | The license of the part, which specifies how it may be reused. | "license" : "cc-by-sa-4.0" |
| class | The class (see above) of the part. This is either "original", "adaptation", "custom" or "assembly". |
"class" : "adaptation" |
| description | A free-text description of the part. If it is an adaptation, explain here. If there are any caveats, explain here. | "description" : "Power button adapted for 3D-printing by hollowing out and adding struts." |
Example of a working metadata.json:
{
"author" : "Nicki E. Santana",
"system" : "nes",
"device" : "four.score",
"fits" : [ "nes-001" ],
"license" : "wtfpl",
"class" : "original",
"description" : "Reset button"
}