N64 Replacement Controller Ports

These are replacement controller connector housings for the original Nintendo 64 console. The original controller ports tend to break quite often due to the forces needed to plug/unplug controllers. These printable connector housings were designed as a replacement for broken original connectors.

How to use

1. Purchase some replacement 3-pin connectors. These are commonly found on Aliexpress using a search term such as "N64 controller port replacement 180 degree 3pin connector port socket". Here are a few listing links, in no particular order:
   • Listing 1
   • Listing 2
   • Listing 3
   
   

2. Desolder the original N64 controller connectors.
   
   

3. Solder the replacement 3-pin connectors. You can either solder wires directly between the pins of the 3-pin connector and the N64 PCB (currently recommended), or use some small adapter PCBs and 3-pin JST-VH connectors.

Fit tests

We have tested these connector housings by printing them in a few different materials. The original N64 plastic housing can be very brittle and should be handled very delicately. If a part doesn't seem to be fitting, don't force it!

These are a few fit tests we've done that you can use for reference when ordering or printing your own connector housings. (✓ = fits well, ⚠ = still testing, ✗ = bad fit)

• [ ✓ ] FFF (Standard) Printing - PLA

• [ ⚠ ] SLA (Resin) Printing - JLC3DP

Source files

Feel free to make modifications to this! STEP files are available for general adjustments in any CAD software. This project was designed using the Link branch of FreeCAD. If you plan to make major modifications or remixes, I recommend using this version, as the included .FCStd files may not function as expected if loaded into into a regular build of FreeCAD.

License

This project is Open Hardware! All source files are licensed under the CERN-OHL-W v2. You are free to share, remix, and even use this design commercially so long as you provide attribution and leave the license notice intact.

✖ | Sharing without ATTRIBUTION
✔ | Remix Culture allowed
✔ | Commercial Use
✔ | Free Cultural Works
✔ | Meets Open Definition
ℹ | Keep original license intact

You may redistribute and modify this documentation and make products using it under the terms of the CERN-OHL-W v2 (https:/cern.ch/cern-ohl). This documentation is distributed WITHOUT ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTY, INCLUDING OF MERCHANTABILITY, SATISFACTORY QUALITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. Please see the CERN-OHL-W v2 for applicable conditions.

Why doesn't the license section below match this?

The license notice at the bottom of this page is incorrect. Prusa still needs to fix the license menu to include either an appropriate OSHW license or add a “custom” option. Until then, the only viable option is to select “standard digital file license”. I encourage Prusa to add support for CERN OHL and similar licenses such as Solderpad on this site.

What is CERN-OHL?

CERN-OHL is a set of open source licenses tailored specifically for hardware designs. There are a number of protections that software and CC licenses do not cover.

Permissions of the specific weakly-reciprocal license used in this project are conditioned on making available complete sources of licensed works and modifications under the same license. Notices must be preserved. Contributors provide an express grant of patent rights. However, a larger work using the licensed work through interfaces provided by the licensed work may be distributed under different terms and without sources for the larger work.

A request for Prusa

If you are going to support open source hardware, do it right! Please add support for additional open source licenses (such as the CERN-OHL and Solderpad licenses), or simply add a custom license option that lets users upload their own.