erichelgeson
Well-known member
[SIZE=11pt]Hi all,[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]I’ve been working on building the ArdSCSino-stm32 [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]https://github.com/ztto/ArdSCSino-stm32[/SIZE][SIZE=11pt] (original) [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]https://github.com/erichelgeson/ArdSCSino-stm32[/SIZE][SIZE=11pt] (my fork) to see if it’s a suitable replacement for SCSI Hard Drives in our vintage Macs. I’ve mentioned it in passing a few times on the forums but now I’ve made some progress I wanted to share! [/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]There is still a lot left to do, but I'm to a point where I'm looking for feedback![/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]This is my first hardware project - I find it amazing that you can create a PCB in KiCad and have it printed and shipped in a week or two. I’ve learned a lot with help from the RaSCSI discord peeps and owe a lot of my progress to them. Thanks![/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]My goal for this device:[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]A single purpose Macintosh focused SCSI <-> SD device that is inexpensive and easy to configure.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]The hardware build is quite simple - the board from zotto has just a 50 pin header and the arduino. Though it’s missing features such as SCSI termination. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]The software on the other hand is not as easy to compile. It uses an older “core” that requires quite a few steps to install all the necessary components - it took me quite a while to find the right combination of steps from random github tickets and instructions to finally get it to compile. Flashing is a bit tricky as well as the procedure is documented a few different ways online - though I’ve finally got it down after much trial and error (and one burned out arduino!)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]With the software compiling I’ve converted all the comments from Japanese (only via Google translate so if anyone who speaks Japanese natively could let me know if it’s right or not . Then started adding in Mac specific configurations such as showing as a Quantum Fireball so it appears genuine. I’ve also been adding in config file support for a few of the optional knobs that can be set.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]One of the biggest features missing on the hardware side is SCSI Termination. I’ve added that into the PCB and will be ordering a min order this weekend to validate it all works.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]After SCSI termination is validated working I’ll be removing the arduino and just placing the stm32 chip on the board itself.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]Performance is good! It sits between a LC and MacII on Norton 3.5 disk perf. I said good - not great. It will be a good replacement for anything 030 and under - and adequate drive in an 040 - but would not use it for a boot drive in a PPC.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]The goal is to be inexpensive - you could do this all yourself as I have but shipping is the real killer here - it raises the price over 4x at 5 boards.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]What I’d like to know is:[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]Thanks![/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]Here's a few photos of the design so far and it working on my LCIII.[/SIZE]
/monthly_2020_10/large.1574368630_ScreenShot2020-10-17at10_38_12AM.png.ed7c18b80d2ac5e82ee92672e1e7e10a.png/monthly_2020_10/large.1520605602_ScreenShot2020-10-17at10_38_21AM.png.04ab7c005a475c4feb7d09ba806a2b4d.png/monthly_2020_10/large.PXL_20201015_135730524.jpg.d06156553c599142cc0cb8416d474930.jpg/monthly_2020_10/large.PXL_20201009_193754845.jpg.7fa629442754599c33b1272f757470d7.jpg
View attachment PXL_20201009_015054078_LS.mp4
[SIZE=11pt]I’ve been working on building the ArdSCSino-stm32 [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]https://github.com/ztto/ArdSCSino-stm32[/SIZE][SIZE=11pt] (original) [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]https://github.com/erichelgeson/ArdSCSino-stm32[/SIZE][SIZE=11pt] (my fork) to see if it’s a suitable replacement for SCSI Hard Drives in our vintage Macs. I’ve mentioned it in passing a few times on the forums but now I’ve made some progress I wanted to share! [/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]There is still a lot left to do, but I'm to a point where I'm looking for feedback![/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]This is my first hardware project - I find it amazing that you can create a PCB in KiCad and have it printed and shipped in a week or two. I’ve learned a lot with help from the RaSCSI discord peeps and owe a lot of my progress to them. Thanks![/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]My goal for this device:[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]A single purpose Macintosh focused SCSI <-> SD device that is inexpensive and easy to configure.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]The hardware build is quite simple - the board from zotto has just a 50 pin header and the arduino. Though it’s missing features such as SCSI termination. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]The software on the other hand is not as easy to compile. It uses an older “core” that requires quite a few steps to install all the necessary components - it took me quite a while to find the right combination of steps from random github tickets and instructions to finally get it to compile. Flashing is a bit tricky as well as the procedure is documented a few different ways online - though I’ve finally got it down after much trial and error (and one burned out arduino!)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]With the software compiling I’ve converted all the comments from Japanese (only via Google translate so if anyone who speaks Japanese natively could let me know if it’s right or not . Then started adding in Mac specific configurations such as showing as a Quantum Fireball so it appears genuine. I’ve also been adding in config file support for a few of the optional knobs that can be set.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]One of the biggest features missing on the hardware side is SCSI Termination. I’ve added that into the PCB and will be ordering a min order this weekend to validate it all works.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]After SCSI termination is validated working I’ll be removing the arduino and just placing the stm32 chip on the board itself.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]Performance is good! It sits between a LC and MacII on Norton 3.5 disk perf. I said good - not great. It will be a good replacement for anything 030 and under - and adequate drive in an 040 - but would not use it for a boot drive in a PPC.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]The goal is to be inexpensive - you could do this all yourself as I have but shipping is the real killer here - it raises the price over 4x at 5 boards.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]What I’d like to know is:[/SIZE]
- [SIZE=11pt]Is there interest in the community for a board like this?[/SIZE]
- [SIZE=11pt]It’s not really easily end user flashable/upgradeable, though that simplicity is really a feature.[/SIZE]
- [SIZE=11pt]Would you use it internally or want a pluggable external drive?[/SIZE]
- [SIZE=11pt]Since the drive is small (72mm x 44mm) I’ll likely be 3d printing a bracket for mounting internally.[/SIZE]
- [SIZE=11pt]I need a better name than ArdSCSino - it doesn't really roll off the tongue - ideas welcome![/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]Thanks![/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]Here's a few photos of the design so far and it working on my LCIII.[/SIZE]
/monthly_2020_10/large.1574368630_ScreenShot2020-10-17at10_38_12AM.png.ed7c18b80d2ac5e82ee92672e1e7e10a.png/monthly_2020_10/large.1520605602_ScreenShot2020-10-17at10_38_21AM.png.04ab7c005a475c4feb7d09ba806a2b4d.png/monthly_2020_10/large.PXL_20201015_135730524.jpg.d06156553c599142cc0cb8416d474930.jpg/monthly_2020_10/large.PXL_20201009_193754845.jpg.7fa629442754599c33b1272f757470d7.jpg
View attachment PXL_20201009_015054078_LS.mp4
Last edited by a moderator: