Sega Neptune 3D Model

[dutchconsolefreak]

While very similar, the back of the proto Neptune is much different than a stock Genesis 2 actually.

True, the connector panel on the back is much larger, but the bottom itself is exactly the same.
I composed some pictures for easy comparison, you can click on them for more detail.

BACK


BOTTOM (neptune proto on the right)

[wiggyx]

The footprint is exactly the same, but that's only so that it may still connect to the Sega CD. The bottom half of the shell itself is an entirely different part and is made up of more than just the very bottom face.

[dutchconsolefreak]

The footprint is exactly the same, but that's only so that it may still connect to the Sega CD. The bottom half of the shell itself is an entirely different part and is made up of more than just the very bottom face.

The footprint is about 80% of the bottom half of the shell. When you look at the picture in my first post, you can see that even the edge at the front has the same height and shape, also the controller ports are at the very same position have the same spacing.

The only thing thats different, is the size and shape of the backside connector panel.

Why do you call it a "entirely different part", when it is obviously the same?

[wiggyx]

Because it came from an entirely different tool. The two sorts are not interchangeable. This sort of thing is actually what I do for a living; design parts.

[Ed Oscuro]

@ DK1105: Maybe it's just the brightness or resolution, but the light has an interesting look to it. What 3D renderer did you use (not the modeling program, the actual render plugin, if you used a special one)?

[BlastProcessing402]

Wow, that's a lot smaller than I thought it was. I dunno why but for some reason I always pictured Neptune being closer to the size of a Saturn, seeing it right next to a model 2 Gen really clears that up.

[sloan]

Something that hasn't been addressed in this thread yet is the internal electronics. That proto shell looks awfully low profile to fit the original Genesis mobo plus a 32X board on top along with the necessary cartridge pins. I would think that issue needs investigated before going ahead with a 3D printing plan for the shells.

[xelement5x]

Something that hasn't been addressed in this thread yet is the internal electronics. That proto shell looks awfully low profile to fit the original Genesis mobo plus a 32X board on top along with the necessary cartridge pins. I would think that issue needs investigated before going ahead with a 3D printing plan for the shells.

I agree. The original proto probably assumed there would be a new revision of the hardware with everything combined onto a single PCB instead of what people are doing now. But I think keeping the same style and just adding a bit more height to it would fix the issue for people making their own system.

I think the easiest thing to do from a manufacturing standpoint, would be to keep the bottom shell the same despite the differences from the proto, and just make a new top shell part that would fit onto an existing M2 Genesis bottom. You'd still get the look of a Neptune, but would only need need to have tooling done for that top shell. Bonus points if you didn't need to fab the cart slot flaps and could match them with existing 32x ones.

[IrishNinja]

Something that hasn't been addressed in this thread yet is the internal electronics. That proto shell looks awfully low profile to fit the original Genesis mobo plus a 32X board on top along with the necessary cartridge pins. I would think that issue needs investigated before going ahead with a 3D printing plan for the shells.

hadn't considered that...stupid question but didn't the mobo trim down by the time of the model 3?

[Valet2]

Hey there! I'm that guy who traveled from Russia to Las Vegas and made these hi-res photos of Neptune. You can download ALL stuff regarding the Neptune that I've captured on the expo (the archive is 2 GB): ftp://ftp.valet2.com/neptune_stuff.zip

I'm glad that it's became useful for the fans!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrcEwhQblB4

http://vk.com/club59968663

[kevwiener]

did you ever finish the model if so will you be sharing it with the community at all ?

[rob black]

update?

[Einzelherz]

99% sure he's making a mesh model, not a solid. So there's next to no chance of you guys getting a printed part.

[ThatGamingKid]

Has there been ANY UPDATES to the Neptune's shell?

[Satoshi_Matrix]

I'm surprised nobody has brought this up, but there already is a reimagining of the Neptune shell:

[wiggyx]

99% sure he's making a mesh model, not a solid. So there's next to no chance of you guys getting a printed part.

It's not difficult to make a solid from a mesh model. Unfortunately you just end up with a block of whatever which needs to be dealt with.

The real problem would come with working out all the standoffs, screw bosses, support walls, etc. That is where the real work would start :/

[Greg2600]

https://www.dexerto.com/tech/unrelea...lt-it-2406741/

https://www.pcbway.com/project/share..._abf52b41.html





Amazingly, a slew of folks' contributions have finally led to a true "Build Your Own Neptune" Project!

[Gametrek]

The biggest problem with SEGA was how to impliment the SEGA CD. We are talking about ROM-chips and not Flash. SEGA did make it possible to combine them into one system, but they literally failed
to consider the fact that Nobody cared at this point in the game and previous titles was unable to work when they solved the problem.

SEGA was beautiful, but Nintendo did it better. Think about it, They were literally converting the Genesis into a Game-Gear for whch the game-gear was the Master-System/Mark III ( Not same ). Nintendo was rocking the Gameboy and the one thing they did wrong was to change the formula ( made the cards smaller ) We could be playing the Gameboy instead of the switch if it was not for that one change.
Even have a full on SNES/Famicom cart converter built inside the switch.