Build Your Own Commodore SX-64-Style Cyberdeck
Inspired by the Commodore SX-64, David Tillemans designed this Raspberry SX cyberdeck.
According to the Guinness World Records, the Commodore 64 is the highest-selling single computer model of all time (other model lines may have exceeded that). It was an incredibly popular computer of the 8-bit era, especially in the United States. But while it was fairlycompact, it wasn't portable. So when luggable computers started gaining traction a couple years later, Commodore released the self-contained Commodore SX-64. It never sold as well as the C64, but the SX-64 was still iconic in its own right. Channeling that, David Tillemans designed this Raspberry SX cyberdeck.
The Raspberry SX isn't a perfect recreation of the Commodore SX-64 and isn't supposed to be. But it does look similar and it is obvious that the SX-64 was the design inspiration. That is most apparent when you look at the keyboard. Like the distinctiveSX-64 keyboard, it acts as a cover in front of the screen. That creates a tidy package when the computer is packed up for travel.
But though the proportions are about the same, the Raspberry SX is quite a bit smaller than the SX-64. That is a good thing, because the SX-64 was large by modern standards — especially in comparison to the small 5" CRT screen. The smaller size led Tillemans to select a compact JJ50 keyboard. That has 61 Cherry MX keys in an ortholinear grid.
As the name suggests, the Raspberry SX utilizes a Raspberry Pi 4 Model B (8GB). A USB SSD provides plenty of storage. The keyboard connects through a USB hub. That USB hub also supports the Wisecoco 5.5" LCD touchscreen. Power comes from a USB powerbank tucked into the case. A fan at the back of the case keeps air flowing and the Raspberry Pi cool, and an external Ethernet jack makes it easy to hop on a LAN.
The case, designed in FreeCAD, is almost entirely 3D-printable and even includes a removable back cover. That provides a storage location for the power cable that charges the USB powerbank. It also helps to seal the entire computer and Tillemans says that it is at least partially waterproof. To print the case, you'll need a build volume of 300×300×400mm or more. Everything else is off-the-shelf and should be easy to acquire.
If you admire the Commodore SX-64 but don't want to deal with the headaches of retrocomputing, then the Raspberry SX may be the perfect project for you.