HardLabs

C64 Arcade

tebl·C64-JoyKEY·C64 Arcade/C64 Arcade.kicad_pcb

C64 Arcade PCB layout, top view — open source AVR/Arduino board by tebl

About the C64 Arcade PCB

C64 Arcade is an open source AVR/Arduino PCB design by tebl, published on GitHub under the CERN-OHL-1.2 license. It is a 2-layer board measuring 99.7 × 55.2 mm, with 49 components from 34 distinct parts.

Its main chip is the Arduino_Pro_Micro, from the AVR/Arduino family. By type, the board carries 16 connectors, 15 resistors, 8 jumpers, 5 modules, 4 diodes and 1 switch.

It belongs with the retro computing, keyboards and test & measurement designs in this gallery.

From the project

WASD-style joystick for vintage computers. With an added Arduino Pro Micro you can use it as a USB-keyboard, so if you wanted a DIY streamdeck or Macro-keyboard - then the C64 JoyKEY can do that as well.

With options to handle multiple types of systems comes complexity, you'll have to make a few decisions on what you want out of the C64 JoyKEY. Do I only want to use it as a joystick replacement on vintage systems, ideally with 2-3 fire buttons where supported? If so, then you won't need the Arduino Pro Micro.

Want to use it on a modern system as a WASD-style keyboard or a gamepad, then install it - a common use of these types of devices is as a macro-keyboard or a stream-deck. Note that compared to many similar solutions, the microcontroller is not required for use with any of the vintage…

C64 Arcade, from the project README
From the project README

Main components on the C64 Arcade

Arduino_Pro_Micro

C64 Arcade bill of materials (BOM)

49 components, 34 distinct parts — part numbers from the project's BOM.

QtyPartRefs
1
Arduino_Pro_Micro
A1
4
Mounting
M1, M2, M3, M4
1
Port_1
J1
1
Port_2
J2
1
DIR_RIGHT
J3
1
UP
J4
1
RIGHT
J5
1
DOWN
J6
1
LEFT
J7
1
P2_FIRE1
J8
1
P2_FIRE2
J9
1
P2_FIRE3
J10
1
P1_FIRE1
J11
1
P1_FIRE2
J12
1
P1_FIRE3
J13
1
EXT_PWR
J14
1
DIR_LEFT
J15
1
P1_FIRE4
J16
1
F2_POL
JP1
1
F3_POL
JP2
Show 14 more
QtyPartRefs
1
FIRE3_SEL
JP3
2
DEFAULT_FW
JP4, JP6
1
VCC_EN
JP5
1
UP_EN
JP8
1
ARD_EN
JP9
1
RESET
SW8
1
PWR
D1
1
1N5819
SYS
D2
1
1n4001
D3
1
1n4148
D4
1
270
R1
1
470
270
R2
2
330
R3, R4
11
10k
R5, R6, R9, R14, R15, R16, R17, R18 +3

C64 Arcade design files

The KiCad project lives in the tebl/C64-JoyKEY repository on GitHub; these links point at the commit this page was built from.

C64 Arcade: common questions

What microcontroller does the C64 Arcade use?

The C64 Arcade is built around the Arduino_Pro_Micro, from the AVR/Arduino family.

How big is the C64 Arcade PCB?

The C64 Arcade measures 99.7 × 55.2 mm, has 2 copper layers and is 1.6 mm thick.

How many components are on the C64 Arcade?

49 components, from 34 distinct parts, with part numbers taken from the project's own BOM. The full bill of materials is listed on this page.

Where can I download the C64 Arcade design files?

From the tebl/C64-JoyKEY repository on GitHub, which has the KiCad layout and the BOM; the links under Design files point to each one.

Can I use the C64 Arcade design in my own project?

Yes, under the terms of its CERN-OHL-1.2 license, which tebl chose for the repository.

Can I test firmware for the C64 Arcade without the hardware?

Yes. HardLabs builds a simulation of the board from its netlist and BOM, so you can run and debug AVR/Arduino firmware against it before you order a PCB.

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