Updating NeoGeo Joysticks

[NFG]

tl;dr - you can install a new Seimitsu switch PCB in a PCB-less NeoGeo CD stick, for fresh feeling play.  Not in the original Neo AES stick though, it has zero vertical space to spare, unless you start cutting things out.  Update: the STL file attached won't allow the CD stick to be closed properly.  Efforts are ongoing.



Seimitsu's made a lot of joysticks in their long history, and they made the stick for the NeoGeo systems as well.  It's effectively an LS-22 mechanism, though it's not labeled as such.

Interestingly, it's mostly compatible with Seimitsu's more modern sticks, like the SELS-70X, the LS-56, etc.  Pretty much every 40mm stick has parts that are directly compatible with the NeoGeo stick.

Crucially, there are some differences.  The LS-22 has a very, very short shaft, and the base of the stick is 9mm thick where most of the newer units are 11mm. 



But other things, like the microswitches, can be swapped, and interestingly there are two diagonal cuts in the LS-22 base that seem intentionally made to allow the switch PCB to fit. 



And now, the point of this post:

The base of the LS-22 allows a PCB-style switch assembly to be installed, in place of the original four separate microswitches.  It requires a new part to hold it all in place, because the PCB has several solder points that will interfere with the original metal retaining plate.  To accommodate the solder points, I designed a 3D-printable retaining plate that will hold the PCB and switches in place. 



There are some things to note, none of which appear to affect the functionality or durability of the mod.


above: One mount hole is covered by the PCB

• 2 of 4 main mounting screws won't fit anymore, because the PCB partially covers their holes
• Because of the two sets of three holes on the base, the PCB can be oriented only two ways
• The switch-retaining lumps on the metal plate are removed, but they aren't doing much work anyway
• You can't use Seimitsu's modern gates because the LS-22 base has no receiving holes for the screws

You can, of course, download the STL file and print it yourself:  Seimitsu40-SNKneo-plate-1.4.stl