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Arduino SCSI device - Work in Progress

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]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]

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View attachment PXL_20201009_015054078_LS.mp4


 
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360alaska

Well-known member
Yeah I’d like to make or buy a few. I think for most people the problem with scsi2sd is the price. Maybe you can call it Econoscsi? ScsiEmu? Scuzduino? Stm32scsi? Auduscsi? Some call the stm32 board the “blue pill” board so maybe bluescsi? 
 

lastly if I was given the choice between no termination and permanent termination I’ll take the permanent.  

 

erichelgeson

Well-known member
That was my top contender too - I'm getting the next round in blue to see how close it matches the blue pill. Termination should be enabled or disabled via two  jumpers (and maybe the same switch as RaSCSI if it all works out.)

Edit: I looked at these inline scsi terminators too - but they're a bit expensive and discontinued - though you can find a few similar on ebay.  https://www.monoprice.com/product?c_id=&cp_id=&cs_id=&p_id=806&sep=1&format=2

 
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Byte Knight

Well-known member
Cool project!  I'm partial to "Scuzduino" myself.  Will you include an Elsa brush with each order?   :lol:

 

erichelgeson

Well-known member
Will you include an Elsa brush with each order?
gotta make due with whats around - needed something to hold it up while testing :D

Also hello from South of St. Cloud! Could hand deliver you one next time I drive to my buddies house in Norwood/Young America :)

 

warmech

Well-known member
Very interested; depending on the price, I'd be down for several. Heck, I'd be down for several blank PCBs and a BOM at Mouser; I have no issues assembling something like this. I've got several Macs that have dead hard disks and can't exactly afford to drop a SCSI2SD in every one of them.

 

BadGoldEagle

Well-known member
Great work.

Just my 2cts:

- I personally wouldn't replace the Nano with an stm32. The board will only be marginally smaller (that 50 pin header is huge!), and this would make updating the code a lot trickier (that's kinda why I went with a PDIP ATtiny in a socket for the QuadrATX, but I still need a "programmer", which most people don't have). If you turn the Arduino around (or install it on a strip/header), updating will be a breeze. Since there can't be that many hardware improvements (once you've added an LED, some termination blocks and possibly a floppy power connector, there isn't much to change) contrary to the software which can only be improved as you spend more time on it.

- Name. How about Scuzzino ? Sounds italian and there's no copyright...

 
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warmech

Well-known member
Great work.

Just my 2cts:

- I personally wouldn't replace the Nano with an stm32. The board will only be marginally smaller (that 50 pin header is huge!), and this would make updating the code a lot trickier (that's kinda why I went with a PDIP ATtiny in a socket for the QuadrATX, but I still need a "programmer", which most people don't have). If you turn the Arduino around (or install it on a strip/header), updating will be a breeze. Since there can't be that many hardware improvements (once you've added an LED, some termination blocks and possibly a floppy power connector, there isn't much to change) contrary to the software which can only be improved as you spend more time on it.

- Name. How about Scuzzino ? Sounds italian and there's no copyright...
I'll echo all of these sentiments, and Scuzzino sounds amazingly on-point!

 

erichelgeson

Well-known member
I can design a pcb for you if you want.
Appreciate that - though I'd like to take a stab at learning more myself after I get the initial designs done for termination and do some software updates. If you'd be willing, once I get there, to bounce the designs off you and get feedback, that'd be great!

 

360alaska

Well-known member
Sure, I use designspark. And then I do OSHpark for prototypes and then itead or jlcpcb for production.

 

Byte Knight

Well-known member
gotta make due with whats around - needed something to hold it up while testing :D

Also hello from South of St. Cloud! Could hand deliver you one next time I drive to my buddies house in Norwood/Young America :)
It's a deal!  I was wondering what part of MN you were from.  We need to find a few more locals so we can have a LAN party!

 

Daniël

Well-known member
Consider me interested, the more SCSI options, the better, especially if it can be made more affordable for the Macs that won't fully utilize the speed offered by other solutions anyways. What I'd also be interested in, is whether a PowerBook specific board could be made, to accommodate the smaller pinheader, and HDD mounting inside the PBs. It certainly looks small enough to fit within the space of a 2.5" SCSI HDD drive.

 

saybur

Well-known member
The STM32F103C8 is only rated to sink up to 150mA total across the device; even with only 1 active terminator on the bus that limit will probably be exceeded. It might be worth limiting the SCSI bus to just this one device and omit the terminator? Alternately, buffer chips driving the output lines would also fix the problem, but that'd obviously increase complexity and cost.

 

erichelgeson

Well-known member
even with only 1 active terminator on the bus that limit will probably be exceeded
Good point! I don't have any active terminators so hadn't consider that.

It might be worth limiting the SCSI bus to just this one device and omit the terminator?
By limiting to just this one device - you're just saying in documentation? There is no way in software or hardware to prevent this I wouldn't think?  Passive termination is needed even if it's the only device on the chain I've found for the ztto version (have been using a unpowered drive at the end of the chain or the RaSCSI to do this while testing.)

Thanks for the feedback, that's why I put it out here now!

 
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