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I've receive several emails and some of those actual orders for Grendels 3D Pro Converter - Original Thread and webpage http://descentbb.net/viewtopic.php?t=7090 and http://grendel.koolbear.com/3dpro.htm

If there's enough interest I will see if I can get more made, but I won't do the all the work like Grendel did. I will take them to a shop so I am sure they will be slightly more than the units Grendel sold at cost.


(format borrowed from Grendels previous post)

So far the following people have units...
COMPLETE UNITS(various connector schemes)
[??] 2x KoolBear
[??] 2x Grendel
[??] 1x Bold Deceiver
[??] 2x Aus-Red-5
[??] 4x Munk
[??] 1x Wes Topping (by email)
[??] 1x Jan Dujardin (by email)
[??] 1x Punisher
[??] 1x Eathan (by email)
[??] 1x BUBBALOU
[??] 4x Sharpie
[??] 1x joker23
[??] 1x DigiJo
[??] 2x Merl
[??] 2x Joski (by email)
[??] 2x WillyP
[??] 2x Wyre
[??] 1x Fredster
[??] 2x lithum
[??] 1x Jack Duff(by email)
[??] 2x Modak
[??] 1x Genison
[??] 2x splintr
[??] 2x Cyker
[??] 2x Daffy
[??] 1x joeykork
[??] 1x 2fndtn
[??] 2x claancy
[??] 1x petem-j
[??] 1x Grax
[??] 2x Laria
[??] 1x Tony12
[??] 2x Lightnin
[??] 1x Mr.Rsm
[??] 2x dirt
[??] 2x JazzyJet
[??] 1x Mowgli
[??] 1x crazy328
[??] 1x FearlessRahul
[??] 1x Kurgan

[??]BARE BOARDS
[??] 5x KoolBear (if <$15)
[??] 15x Grendel (if <$15)
[??] 2x flip
[??] 5x Munk
[??] 1x Mowgli
Running Totals...
PCBAs <63>
PCBs - blank <28>

TOATAL BLANK BOARDS = 86! I will remove my extra bare boards and Grendel will most likely be willing to reduce his. This way everyone that wants a board should be able to get thiers.

[nn] is the serial no., color code is:
* interested want more info.
* unit(s) reserved
* bare board only
* unit built
* PM or email sent
* PM not picked up
* payment received
* unit shipped
* reservation expired

I will see if we can get more manuals printed too.


KB
{UPDATED - 5:15pm 07/07/25}

I would like 2 You want to do it as-is or redesign it for SMD ?

What price are we looking at this time?

I'd like to get in on this one!

You might want to start fishing on kali. I know of atleast half a dozen people that want one.

KoolBear wrote:I've receive several emails and some of those actual orders for Grendels 3D Pro Converter http://descentbb.net/viewtopic.php?t=7090 and http://grendel.koolbear.com/3dpro.htm

If there's enough interest I will see if I can get more made, but I won't do the all the work like Grendel did. I will take them to a shop so I am sure they will be slightly more than the units Grendel sold at cost.

I am fishing at this moment. Spread the word!

(format borrowed from Grendels previous post)

So far the following people have reservations:

[60] 2x KoolBear

[nn] is the serial no., color code is:
* unit(s)reserved
* unit built
* PM or email sent
* PM not picked up
* payment received
* unit shipped
* reservation expired

I will see if we can get more manuals printed too, if there's need.
KB

You can put me down for one, KB; if it happens. Thanks fer all you do!

BD

Grendel wrote:I would like 2 You want to do it as-is or redesign it for SMD?

Grendel,
Did you have a preference? SMT (Surface Mount?)

Aus-RED-5 wrote:What price are we looking at this time?
I'd like to get in on this one!

Aus-RED-5,
Interest Logged. Assuming part costs hasn't risen the only difference will be the cost of assembling the PCB's. I will see if I can get a commitment from the gentleman from work. Too bad he doesn't play Descent!

MD-2389 wrote:You might want to start fishing on kali. I know of atleast half a dozen people that want one.

MD,
I might do that but like Grendel I don't plan on making any money on these, and I have a full plate already. I was hoping the community would promote it by word of mouth.

Bold Deceiver wrote: You can put me down for one, KB; if it happens. Thanks fer all you do!
BD

Bold Deciever
Reservation Logged and you are welcome.

2x for Munk ^^

Ok. Put me down for 2.

Thanks.

Munk and Aus-Red-5 logged

Any chance of just getting the boards? I've just assembled one on perfboard and it works like a charm. Would really like to have a couple extra boards to use up the extra parts I have here. Mainly for mounting one in my PC using the Frontx bay. That way I can plug my stick in the front and also move my 5.1 headphone inputs to the front also. If your not willing to let go of just 2 boards (and providing their not smt)
put me down for one for sure

flip,
Bare Boards are a possibility. It'll depend on panelization and orders but if there a few extra board I think we can do that.

I'll mark it.
KB

KoolBear wrote:

Grendel wrote:I would like 2 You want to do it as-is or redesign it for SMD?

Grendel,
Did you have a preference? SMT (Surface Mount?)

Most simple solution would be to go w/ what we already have. Going SMD would mean to redesign the board :/ Lets forget about that..

We need to come up w/ a plan to program the MCUs. I can do it if you send me the chips.

how many components are on that? Is it worth it to do it by hand?

Put me down for one, please.

Duper wrote:how many components are on that? Is it worth it to do it by hand?

I would say no. Took me about 2hrs each (inc. prepping), 24 parts, 107 solder points.

No I would'nt do it by hand except that I had to buy the parts in bulk to build mine, so I went ahead and bought enough to do three. That being the case, it is more of a profit for me just to purchase boards. Also I enjoyed every aspect of building this board EXCEPT for the jumper wires. Whew that was taxing. Although the last one looked pretty good. With all that said, Having Production type PCB's would just be icing on the cake for me

Hey Koolbear, I've have a set of parts leftover to solder one board. (I love doing this by myself, gives good practise). Could you alter my Reservation into:

1x full Unit
5x bare board only

That would be really nice.

Added Punisher's Reservation
Updated Munk's request
Added Jan Dujardin Reservation (by email)

Grendel, I agree.

Grendel wrote: I would say no. Took me about 2hrs each (inc. prepping), 24 parts, 107 solder points.

Ouch, yeah and soldering the serial ports by hand is a ★■◆●. Depending on the ground plain, the IC's can suck too.

Yup, that's a wave flow job!

I could use another one, they ROXORS

BUBBALOU wrote:I could use another one, they ROXORS

Logged ...

lmao.. I love the pyro on the silk Grendel. Nice touch!

KoolBear wrote:MD,
I might do that but like Grendel I don't plan on making any money on these, and I have a full plate already. I was hoping the community would promote it by word of mouth.

You also might want to talk to THC and have him edit the MOTD.

Duper wrote:lmao.. I love the pyro on the silk Grendel. Nice touch!

Kudos for that to KB, he did the layout incl. the silkscreen

I am interested in (2) 3d pro USB converters.

Sharpie,
Logged

I missed this the last time around, glad to see there is interest in a second batch.

I haven't been able to find a joystick that I like as much as my old 3D Pro. I have put up with all of the quirks trying to get it to run on faster hardware in Win 98 SE and Win XP Pro and it would be nice to finally have it working on USB.

I was going to try to build my own based on Grendel's plans, but I haven't done anything like that before and was afraid I'd mess it up.

Long sory short, put me down for 1 complete converter.

joker23 logged

Glad you joined us

Thanks!

Glad to be here.

if that doesnt sound like a good buy, what else does? put me down for 1 full unit please, kb

DigiJo,
Logged

I would also like to get 2 of these -

Merl
tconley*nospam*@gmail.com

Merl,
Logged and I edited your email addy to minimize spambot harvesting

We need to see if we can get more people interested.

MD who was it that has input on the MOTD at Kali Descent?

I would take another 15 empty PCBs if they are < $15 each.

Grendel - logged
I added 5 blanks too - help push the numbers up. More panels = cheaper boards. Think of those that will come later if everyone were to buy and extra bare board how many descent'rs could we assist upon thier return ;p

Grendel wrote: We need to come up w/ a plan to program the MCUs. I can do it if you send me the chips.

Remind me about this as we move forward! Can't this be done here just as easily? I mean the shop is a full blown thru hole/SMT cabable shop

KB

Put me down for 1, please.

WillyP logged - TY

Any chance of doing them black instead of red.
Also how much is the control chip, and crystal sold together.

P.S. if you redesign it put usb and db15 conn. opposed so you can make a dongle-like attachment

Theftbot wrote:Any chance of doing them black instead of red.

No. A redesign not planned. BUT, If you want to pay the minimum fee I think it was $250min order then yes you can have it in black. ALthough I might consider making it in blue this time that looked pretty nice too.

Theftbot wrote:Also how much is the control chip, and crystal sold together.

I beleive the BOM is on the web site, research it. Digikey.com is a good resource. That iss likely who the parts will be purchased from once this effort becomes offical.

Theftbot wrote:P.S. if you redesign it put usb and db15 conn. opposed so you can make a dongle-like attachment

Thank you, but a redesign is not going to happen. If you would like to do so Grendel has released the layout to the public, it too is on the website feel free to take it and lay it out anyway you like.

We have a design it works, why fix it. I don't need one I already have two. BUT, I consider Descent'rs around the world as a my BUD's and we have many BUD's that still want/need to use thier 3D Pros.

I hope this doesn't come across badly, it's late and I probally should have waited till tomorrow to respond

Best Regards,
KB