Nintendo Super System APU standoff for Arcade PCB

thingiverse

The Nintendo Super System is Nintendo's arcade adaptation of the Super NES, akin to how the Playchoice 10 served as an arcade representation of the NES. It operates primarily on identical hardware to a Super NES (with three cartridge slots), coupled with an additional processor handling menu, coin-op, and other functions. Nintendo Super System PCBs employ a separate APU module similar to early Super NES systems. Whenever the boards are moved or repaired, screws and standoffs tend to become misplaced, often leading to missing parts, resulting in the APU relying solely on the connector for support (assuming the APU hasn't completely vanished). This solution is a set of replacement standoffs designed specifically for the APU. Two types of standoffs are provided - standard tubes and clip-based ones. The original replacement consists of just tubular sections that align perfectly with screws, while the clip variant doesn't require any additional hardware. Although my printer had trouble producing a flawless clip without using support material, it still worked reasonably well and fitted tightly into place. The replacement standoffs come in three distinct sizes: two short corners utilize medium-length tubes, while the tallest corner uses a taller version. A small spacer is applied to the top of the APU on the CPU-facing corner when standard standoffs are used, but not when clips are employed - therefore, only two types of clip replacements are necessary. The attached Sketchup file allows you to make modifications or adjustments as needed to suit your design preferences. Print Settings: Rafts: No Supports: No Resolution: 0.2mm Notes: These standoffs can be printed easily with various materials at any layer height. For optimal results, clip-based replacements should be laid flat during the printing process with slots aligned vertically (refer to the provided image). Shorter layer heights improve detail and allow slight flexibility. A more flexible material such as ABS or similar is advisable for this purpose due to its slightly flexible nature - whereas stiffer materials like PLA may not offer the necessary flexibility. As observed in both versions, clip heads are differentiated in length; short ones fit into thin APU metal while longer sides rest on the (thicker) PCB.