CheapDate (Playdate clone)

Description

Ever since Panic announced Playdate I've been dying to get my hands on it.

As a game developer the tiny form factor and quirky crank fills my head with ideas that I would love to try out. The only thing overriding those thoughts is how cool it would be to actually build something like Playdate. I've always been into electronics projects, I built an entire arcade cabinet from scratch while at university and loved every second of it.

With this project I want to explore, whether software or hardware, all the tools, techniques and processes that you have to go through to get a product like Playdate into someones hands. CheapDate will be as similar to Playdates confirmed specs as possible.

This project is 100% unofficial and in no way associated with Panic, Playdate or Teenage Engineering.

Components

1 × Sharp Memory LCD 400 x 240 Monochrome LCD - LS027B7DH01

1 × Teensy 3.1 Tiny Arduino-based MC

Project Logs

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Fully Functional!
Jay8ee • 09/03/2019 at 17:20 • 1 comment

Thrilled to report that Cheapdate V1 is now fully operational!

Once I tracked down the last issue (a short on the main CPU), I plugged the screen in and saw my triangles.

Will do another more detailed post for anyone following along.

Pumped after this one.
It Lives!
Jay8ee • 09/03/2019 at 17:18 • 0 comments

It lives, it breathes! This is Cheapdate booting for the first time running a simple blink LED programme. I don't want to understate the multitude of things that have come together for this to power on and run code. Very happy right now!
V1 Build!
Jay8ee • 09/03/2019 at 17:11 • 0 comments

Went ahead with the big assemble on Cheapdate V1

Overall I'd say EZ Bake (my reflow oven project) came through in a big way. Some manual corrections to make, primarily solder 'bridging' on the CPU. AFAIK manual corrections are common even for commercial SMD solder bakes.

The ribbon cable connector (top left) is a bit sketchy too (confirmed by some multimeter prodding). I'll get this cleaned up tomorrow, will need to source some isopropyl alcohol from somewhere (??), then attempt to get this thing booting!
Does it fit?
Jay8ee • 09/03/2019 at 17:10 • 0 comments

Locked and loaded. The stencil I had made matches perfectly!

Just trying on for size at the moment. Before I dive in and bake this boi I want to do an inventory on all the parts and where they will go.

Good thing I checked... Forgot to order the voltage regulator and a bunch of 1uf caps. Standing down until they arrive.
PCB Arrived
Jay8ee • 09/03/2019 at 17:09 • 0 comments

Finally here! The prototype board for my PlayDate fan project, Cheapdate.

Excited to get these in the oven and see if I actually know anything about PCB design. Shout out to OSHPark, they look amazing!
3D Test
Jay8ee • 09/03/2019 at 17:07 • 0 comments

Simple 3D test.. fixed point matrix multiplication got my blood pressure turned way tf up.
Quick Update
Jay8ee • 09/03/2019 at 17:06 • 0 comments

Quick Cheapdate update: 1) Doubled thee performance this week using old-school software techniques. 2) Prototype PCB is now in the country, hoping Royal Mail come through with the goods on Monday!
Solder Mask GET
Jay8ee • 09/03/2019 at 17:01 • 0 comments

Surface mount solder stencil for Cheapdate arrived today. This mask was produced from the same CAD drawing that was sent to the PCB manufacturer. It will allow me to scrape liquid solder across it, leaving solder on only the parts that need it.
Initial PCB Design
Jay8ee • 09/03/2019 at 17:00 • 0 comments

Took way longer than I thought, but I think this is finally my first prototype board for Cheapdate
Some interesting problems to deal with here, like the 16mhz crystal at the heart the device being very sensitive to other signals.
More Research
Jay8ee • 09/03/2019 at 17:00 • 0 comments

Have been researching how a pro outfit might design and manufacture a product like PlayDate.

This has led me to Eagle for PCB design and layout and Fusion 360 for package design and manufacturing.

Cheapdate prototype now in Eagle/fusion, this hobby may have gotten out of hand..

More here.