NeoGeo CD Drive Repair

thingiverse

I got the chance to fix a NeoGeo CD drive that had given up the ghost. The NeoGeo CD relied on over-molded plastic components to hold all the crucial gears that open the drive in place. Apparently, this is a common point of failure for these drives. A drum-shaped gear sits under the main drive gear and lifts the laser assembly. The cage that supports that drum gear cracks, and the only way to fix it is to glue it together, but this isn't a long-term solution. My replacement cage fits into the same spots as the original, but rather than an over-molded part, it screws into place, making it a replaceable part if it fails in the same way. To repair this drive, you'll need to print the files named NEOGEO CD Drive Spacer and NEOGEO CD Drive Drum Cage 1.6. In addition to these printable parts, you'll also need to source 4 or 5 M1.8x4mm screws. These are usually found in Gameboy replacement shells (where I got mine from), but they can be longer if you have something lying around. In addition to the parts needed for repair, I modeled the gears, and they're untested since I don't have equipment precise enough to print them accurately. However, I included a STEP file for each gear in case someone needs it, and my STL files aren't right; they can use the STEP files to make adjustments and get the gear just right.