FDD emulator FDX68 - Floppy Disk Drive Integration Tools per X68000

[caius]

The final revision of 'FLIP-FLOP' will be soon available for purchase.It will properly handle the proprietary FDD signals (also the blinking LED one) allowing to load all games (single and multi disk).Stay tuned!

[aotta]

The final revision of 'FLIP-FLOP' will be soon available for purchase.It will properly handle the proprietary FDD signals (also the blinking LED one) allowing to load all games (single and multi disk).Stay tuned!

Good news Caius!
I handle all signals too, even blinking and lock mask in my open source board, and works with almost all games with multi disks, but can't make it running with Tunnels & Trolls: after the X68K eject the disks and ask for replacing, it didn't recognize i reinserted them: did you tested this games too with your flip-flop?

[caius]

Good news Caius!
I handle all signals too, even blinking and lock mask in my open source board, and works with almost all games with multi disks, but can't make it running with Tunnels & Trolls: after the X68K eject the disks and ask for replacing, it didn't recognize i reinserted them: did you tested this games too with your flip-flop?

My 'FLIP-FLOP' FDD emulator works with all games, also Tunnels & Trolls.You must analyze the proprietary signals in order to solve your issue, your Arduino code is simply based on info from HxC forum that Jeff posted :

https://torlus.com/floppy/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=465&start=30

[aotta]

Yes Caius, i used the info found on HxC forum, but I'm afraid my adapter didn't work at 100% because arduino is not fast enough to handle all signals before rising edge of OptX signals (2.5 microsec), not becouse info on forum wasn't rigth. But please correct me if I'm wrong.
I'm thinking about moving to a pi pico hardware, but probably the easiest way is waiting your flip-flop! 😜
What about its price? Have you an idea about it?

[rezb1t]

Will the FLIP-FLOP FDD emulator work with an XVI Compact system? I'm very interested if so

[caius]

Will the FLIP-FLOP FDD emulator work with an XVI Compact system? I'm very interested if so

Yes, it will work also on Compact models.Right now I'm completing the testing before releasing the product.

[Jollyroger]

Following closely, I would be definitely interested in purchasing a couple of boards...

[bleepbloop]

Just checking to see if there's any time frame on when these will be available. Definitely interested!

[aotta]

Will the FLIP-FLOP FDD emulator work with an XVI Compact system? I'm very interested if so

Yes, it will work also on Compact models.Right now I'm completing the testing before releasing the product.

Sorry to resume an old post, but the flip-flop idea was interesting... did you @caius made some progress?

[caius]

Will the FLIP-FLOP FDD emulator work with an XVI Compact system? I'm very interested if so

Yes, it will work also on Compact models.Right now I'm completing the testing before releasing the product.

Sorry to resume an old post, but the flip-flop idea was interesting... did you @caius made some progress?

Hi,
sorry for the lack of news but my life has lately become very demanding and hectic.Anyway, 'FLIP-FLOP' X68000 FDD emulator has been successfully tested on tower and Compact models, it works fine.Now the last step towards production is porting the prototype to a final design, this may take some weeks.I'll keep you all updated here.Thanks for your interest.

[caius]

Finally it happens...

[aotta]

Some more details? it emulates both 0 and 1 floppy drives?
Considered the LCD posisition, it's only for external?
Do you plan to share the project or you'll sell it? In case, prices and time for it?
Congrats for the work!

[caius]

Some more details? it emulates both 0 and 1 floppy drives?

It emulates one drive at once.But if you connect on the same ribbon cable a second unit you can have double drive emulation.With the jumpers onboard you can set the emulator as Drive 0-1-2-3.On Compact models you can use the rear switch the set internal drives as 2-3 so you can set emulator(s) as 0-1 and play software that do require this configuration, on tower models you must open the case and change the internal drives to 2-3.Most of times having a working floppy drive (also if only set as 2 or 3) is vital to load Human OS and change some setting.
FLIP-FLOP emulates most of proprietary FDD signals (at least the vital ones), also the LED blinking function has been implemented (there is another LED that will blink when a floppy insertion is requested by the system)

Considered the LCD position, it's only for external?

Yes, FLIP-FLOP emulator must be plugged to the external FDD connector (DB37 of tower models, MDR40 on Compact ones) thru an adapter I will provide.It can be powered from Joystick Port 2 thru a custom cable (provided).
I can design internal versions too but it will be not an plug&play solution, the case should be adapted (by cutting it, I guess).Then I would need each X68000 model in order to take measurements for the replacement.

Do you plan to share the project or you'll sell it? In case, prices and time for it?

For now it's a commercial l project but I don't exclude to open it in the future.It will be available in my stores in a couple of week.Price must be yet decided

Congrats for the work!

Thank you!

[X-Col]

Congratulation caius, looks great!

I think I'll wait for an internal version that fits nicely in my Compact. The drives work ok most of the time but are on their last legs I think.

My ribbon cables are pretty knackered, so getting some shinny news ones would be a bonus :-)

Great work caius!