Using heat set inserts to improve my IIGS

Thursday, August 1st, 2024 at 08:09pm

It has been over a year since I last tinkered with my Apple IIGS and I still hadn’t sorted out a better solution for connecting a USB drive to the CFFA3000. Having a USB extension cable hanging loose out the back of the case is functional, but not elegant.

On the CFFA3000 is a USB type A socket, but next to that is a row of holes that could take pin headers. I have a number of old USB brackets from old computers which plug in to that style of header. After a few minutes soldering I now have a USB socket on a short cable that is intended to be mounted on a case.

Unfortunately none of the existing port locations on the back of the IIGS are the right size. Though I now have a 3D printer and have just learned about heat set inserts:

I drew up a simple design in FreeCAD and then used my soldering iron to set the brass inserts. Next I need to find a small USB drive which doesn’t stick out too far from the back of the case.

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