Solderless supergun!?

[Titchgamer]

Now the A51S4 cab is out of the way I have decided I am going to do something I have wanted to for ages!

Make a supergun!

Well I say make, I wont be making this from scratch as such. More just taking a pre made supergun and sort of consoliseing it.

The reason being these type of superguns are expensive and with a long waiting list for most.

However as I am sure most of you know my soldering is crap so I am intending on doing this with no soldering at all and off the shelf parts.

It will be slightly more expensive than soldering my own but quicker and easier!

So my base point is a retroelektronic supergun pro:

http://retroelectronik.com/en/supergun/145-supergun-progamer-arcade-jamma-autofirevoltmeter-included-5674864654514.html

Now I have heard that the supergun itself is pretty good with lots of features however the company is far from usefull and never answer emails or provide any manual so lets hope this thing works the way I want!!

Secondly I need an enclosure to contain the PCB, The PSU and all the cables.

I opted for one of these as they are plastic is should be easier to work with than the metal ones.
However I think it will be tight in there but this was the biggest I could find!

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F191956411604

I also ordered a Jamma Harness and some other bits and bobs but more about them later

[Titchgamer]

So first task is the front panel.

This will consist of:
 2x DB 15 connectors for players 1 & 2 which will connect to the 2x DB 15’s on the supergun.

1x DB 9 that will be again connected to the SG for kick harnesses (sadly I only own 1 PCB at the mo which does not use a KH so this is just for future proofing)

4x small buttons for Credits, Test and Service.

So after marking out my panel I chain drilled the cut outs for the DB connectors.



Some time later after much cutting and filling I could fit all 3 connectors in!



Now you will recall I said I wanted to make this a solderless project so I hear you ask how the hell am I going to do these!?

Well I could of crimped individual wires with individual dupont crimp pins which was my original plan.
But I found something else that may be quicker but less versatile.

I was not to worried about the versatility of being able to change pins though as the pin out for the supergun is set.

However when I built my Neo sticks you will recall I made them easy to change if req’d!

So what did I use?

Well I used these:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5pcs-D-SUB-DB15-15-Pin-Female-IDC-Crimp-Adapter-for-Flat-Ribbon-Cable/311374358847?epid=1439243756&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item487f5ba93f:g:sjEAAOSw339eoB3a&enc=AQAEAAACcIQvEcHUrT7nmUC3yY5qbPyaBN1nJEDYW8MyypsJPgXKc0Flqv8Ner77SZCV%2BtOCc8HinYe%2BXf67bqTiLKUHMPSVgE9MhtTSJXJvX4tAW7XZur2YsJ8zp2rUoQspqSvllLDVq9ZvPUDZwlbmRW2REiIFPGsVrkgaQCZ5w8Zo7GIDx6OxWuEtrGsLjZLMTGp5XNFuIM5EbaOHJq5ywiC8z4ewX8Vq5%2FCJt2dqjB0%2FcVuaVRXVyxHumQ%2BYbOLgJXYAKI6eIK4tIeoDgYCBC8Lr4TEemISPAl8%2BGLHRF6yyzYgtYYVkuDUpq9qbA4vqtTrOeJJeU6oC1BFaEBvXPedoC9jbpuXFPXHZbjUPHoqasEqLmBf2zRV07n608pDn9zl9Dap10kZ1urO8Sw1ezevwkQP7NNK6ktT3FfV3HZloU%2FqkWTji7FJ%2FfqQr4JyYVAXclw8qt30VkD9qmfYE4ByxRQZlR6zLttYvDwWd5vmiiNBTFvMPdFPi%2BEFMJB%2BRaW%2FEorCHKTTuwvJGl2UEL96WtRItjmpdy7Uqw%2Bfd12mQF2gW2fBMfJoHTajX%2FUdd%2FPxHsV7CpX0vle57XQgFzWysJP7b%2F8QTnTYHS0DnjjSudXWDKd1HrsYuPktsStXRTrFiWfrh0UktduLHNZc2P0iFGkO%2BpGQu9StHgHoFotkx2HXtQ0iIgEsPaYrK0NHGRDXn1S2MrbSP5sBRLPobbsaXo1idu94XXKNSO%2BL1YEXrBW1i%2Fm8QuuTT4pLJ1KrGqCsv0XvRYhS5l58MfHb5GfNZFMDjZAkECiicbNnvj%2FUpR%2F6VCbLe0rf%2F08w%2B%2BK4BF7vYwQ%3D%3D&checksum=31137435884725ef966c726845cf829f59d8a5439bfa

This was a gamble for a few reasons.
1) I had never used or seen these until they arrived on my door step
2) I could not find a proper crimping tool for them so I had to use a Vice!

Luckily the gamble paid off and the crimped onto the Ribbon cable I got from RS no problem.

It was tight crimping them through the panel as it was quite thick but luckily it was just thin enough to get them locked down!
Sadly it was to thick to get the strain relief clip on but that is not a huge worry as it will be enclosed!



You can see the strain relief clip on the panel is not sat right but fine on the SG end.




Once all in I belled them all out with a meter to confirm they had crimped ok.

Luckily all was well and so job well done



Next I crimped wires onto 4x switches and mounted them to the face plate.



Next job the back plate which will hold the PSU, Fused Inlet socket and cut outs for the jamma harness and SCART socket.

[slickam]

Just a warning about that supergun. I have one and it works, but it's not very well made. It doesn't attenuate the video signals, so it will send 5V to devices that are only expecting 0.7V. I've seen warnings that this can kill upscalers. They also don't have good quality control, so you could get one where controls don't work because of short circuits from poor soldering.

[Titchgamer]

Just a warning about that supergun. I have one and it works, but it's not very well made. It doesn't attenuate the video signals, so it will send 5V to devices that are only expecting 0.7V. I've seen warnings that this can kill upscalers. They also don't have good quality control, so you could get one where controls don't work because of short circuits from poor soldering.

Cheers for that. I have heard about the upscaler etc problem but this will be being hooked up straight to a CRT TV so hopfully should be ok on that (I hope!).
As for the poor QC we will see, I payed via paypal so if there is any problems and they dont sort me out I will be making a charge back.

[Titchgamer]

Had a busy morning this morning.

So the first thing was to glue the SCART joiner in place ready to act as a socket, mount the PCB and wire the power to the PCB.



Next was to fit the front plate, plug in the DB sockets and wire the 4 switches to the PCB.



Last but not least was the back plate.
More cutting and filing to cut the holes for the JAMMA harness, IEC socket and the SCART extender.
Wired up the IEC socket, mounted the PSU and wired it all up.





Now its pretty much ready to test but I had a small over sight and forgot to order a scart lead to plug it into the TV so final testing will have to wait for now lol

[Titchgamer]

Still waiting on a SCART lead to arrive but I wanted something to do and I had the right parts to hand so thought I would make myself a kick harness for a CPS 1 board.

Sadly I dont own one yet but I have a harness ready for when I do now

[Titchgamer]

Annnddd its all working!

[Mike A]

Nice.
If you don't come to Zapcon next year I will find you and drag you there myself.

[Titchgamer]

Nice.
If you don't come to Zapcon next year I will find you and drag you there myself.

You just want to come to my pad and play C&D really dont ya?

[Mike A]

Sure. I am trying to plan a trip to your side of the globe. I just doubt you could furnish a better airport shuttle than TTC in his TA with a cooler full of Budweiser.

[Titchgamer]

Sure. I am trying to plan a trip to your side of the globe. I just doubt you could furnish a better airport shuttle than TTC in his TA with a cooler full of Budweiser.

Probably not, But if you make it over here I will take you for a real beer none of that Bud crap

[Mike A]

My go to is Guinness. I also enjoy Belgian Ale. There is nothing as satisfying as a cold beer from a good friend. No matter what is printed on the can or bottle.
Getting kicked out of an English pub is on my bucket list.

[Titchgamer]

My go to is Guinness. I also enjoy Belgian Ale. There is nothing as satisfying as a cold beer from a good friend. No matter what is printed on the can or bottle.
Getting kicked out of an English pub is on my bucket list.

 

[Jimbo]

Looks good - I also have that progamer supergun - not had any trouble with it at all.  When I got it I actually thought it looked well made.

I was considering making an enclosure for it with PSU and controls built in for the same reasons you have (along with ease of testing jamma boards before they go in a cab) - and it may be an imminent project now I've seen how you've done yours. 

[Titchgamer]

Looks good - I also have that progamer supergun - not had any trouble with it at all.  When I got it I actually thought it looked well made.

I was considering making an enclosure for it with PSU and controls built in for the same reasons you have (along with ease of testing jamma boards before they go in a cab) - and it may be an imminent project now I've seen how you've done yours. 

Thanks Jimbo!

Yeah the DB connectors and SCART was the big sticking points for me.

But those crimped ones work really well!
I would of liked a neater solution for the SCART but its on the back so not really seen!

My only advice is get the biggest box you can because that one was tight as a ducks ass lol

[Mike A]

My only advice is get the biggest box you can because that one was tight as a ducks ass lol

I am not going to ask how you know that.

[Titchgamer]

My only advice is get the biggest box you can because that one was tight as a ducks ass lol

I am not going to ask how you know that.

Ask no questions I will tell no lies :p

[Jimbo]

LOL

I'm considering making it into a control panel actually... is there a reason why you didn't do that?

[Titchgamer]

LOL

I'm considering making it into a control panel actually... is there a reason why you didn't do that?

Not a specific one no, I just wanted to consolise it to work with my Neo pads.
But also if I made a big CP out of it I would need somewhere to store it heh.

This way its easy to stash away.

[Jimbo]

fair enough

[Titchgamer]

Not really a project update as such but I went did spent to much mullah and got a few more PCB's to play on this  bad boy!

Got a SF2 CE booty, Super Pang (think its a booty?), Original Tekken 2 and a Original Ehrgeiz

Also ordered some parts to make up a CPS2 harness (cheaper to order the parts to make 10 than to buy 1 off ebay!) and I have ordered a CPS2 to Namco kick adapter because apparently the originals are like hens teeth and crazy expensive!

[yotsuya]

So now that you have those bootys you don’t have to use MAME on your lappy? Sweet!

[Titchgamer]

So now that you have those bootys you don’t have to use MAME on your lappy? Sweet!

Thats the plan

[Titchgamer]

Finally finished my supergun sticks.
I made them basically the same way as the Neo ones I built but with a slightly different pin out and using LS32 sticks instead of JLF’s.





I also managed to get a cover for the Jamma connector.


Now I am just waiting for the DB15 breakout plug from china to attatch to the Cadillacs and Dinosaurs player 3 adapter I made so I can hook one of my neo sticks up for P3.

On a slightly related but not really note I FINALLY managed to track down someone willing to sell me a original Area 51 board which I intend on upgrading to a A51/Max force duo board.

But as well as that he has 2 HAPP 45 guns in nice condition so I brought them as well to swap with the ones on my Site 4 cab

[MiteWiseacre]

I like this build!
Is there like a cartridge slot? Or do the boards just sit at the end of the cable?

[Titchgamer]

I like this build!
Is there like a cartridge slot? Or do the boards just sit at the end of the cable?

No cart slot.
You just plug the board in at the end of the cable.

It would be very difficult to do it via a cart slot as every board is a different size.

[MiteWiseacre]

I see. Again, nice build 

[Titchgamer]

I see. Again, nice build 

Thanks

[Titchgamer]

Made a few more improvements today.

Firstly was a “quick release” opening mechanism so I could get into the PSU if required.
The main reason for this is the A51 board I got is a power hungry mofo! So I had to tweak the voltage up for it to run but I did not want to take the screws out each time so I used some magnetic door latches that worked great!

I hoped to only use 2 but ended up using 4 to secure the lid satisfactorily.



Second thing on a PSU related note was a edge volt meter.
As the power goes through the gun and the extension harness before reaching the board I figured this would be a good idea.

It reads 0.5v high compared to my multi meter but is a good indication and a easy number to remember to take off ha!



I also installed the max force duo kit this morning and had a 30 min terrorist blasting spree to chill out after all my hard work

[Mike A]

Can you drill a screwdriver sized hole in the case? You could make adjustments without removing the cover.

[Titchgamer]

Can you drill a screwdriver sized hole in the case? You could make adjustments without removing the cover.

I originally did that :p

Does work but this way means I can also get to things like the mono/stereo switch etc.

It locks on well with the magnets.
It wont come off if I lift it by the top cover but if I lift the top and push down at the front it releases ok so perfect really