Building myself an arcade cabinet

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11th August 2015, 08:52
Matt3o

Building myself an arcade cabinet

This is after the first day of hard wood work :) Considering I have no prior experience in this kind of jobs... I'm pretty happy with it! I'll post more pictures soon.

http://i.imgur.com/rN2b6aO.jpg
11th August 2015, 10:36
hese

Wow, that looks very nice. Well done. :thumbsup:
What kind of machine are you planning on putting there?
11th August 2015, 10:53
Matt3o

Quote:

Originally Posted by hese

Wow, that looks very nice. Well done. :thumbsup:
What kind of machine are you planning on putting there?

thanks, hese.

I have a mini-itx rig that I will load with MAME I guess. I've found a very nice 19" LCD 4:3 by Nec that is simply pefect for it.

I made a lot of mistakes of course being this my first cabinet, but it should be working at the end!
11th August 2015, 10:55
LeonTubrok

"no prior experience "? you done jig work b4, must have, looks like a pro job! what are the guts of it going to be?
11th August 2015, 14:19
Vyncynt

Looks great so far!
11th August 2015, 14:39
Matt3o

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeonTubrok

"no prior experience "? you done jig work b4, must have, looks like a pro job! what are the guts of it going to be?

Thank you guys.

I have an old i5 (don't remember what generation) that should be just fine as a MAME box. Another option would be a minimig or a jamma board, but since I already have this spare mini-itx i5 I'll start from there.

For the console I've purchased some professional arcade sticks and buttons which are simply fantastic! The controller is an i-Pac (pretty standard for this kind of things I'm said).

This is the work-in-progress console.

http://i.imgur.com/UlvlKgn.jpg

The sides will be decorated with PVC and the theme is "Soul Calibur".

http://i.imgur.com/rEKZZls.jpg
11th August 2015, 16:17
plazma

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt3o

Thank you guys.

I have an old i5 (don't remember what generation) that should be just fine as a MAME box. Another option would be a minimig or a jamma board, but since I already have this spare mini-itx i5 I'll start from there.

For the console I've purchased some professional arcade sticks and buttons which are simply fantastic! The controller is an i-Pac (pretty standard for this kind of things I'm said).

This is the work-in-progress console.

The sides will be decorated with PVC and the theme is "Soul Calibur".

I have saved few old Xbox consoles for my cabinet project. Coinops and Visionary are good emulator packages for it.

Where did you get the prints?
11th August 2015, 16:36
Matt3o

Quote:

Originally Posted by plazma

Where did you get the prints?

I made the design and printed it at a domestic print service.
11th August 2015, 17:04
Vyncynt

Sweet graphics!
11th August 2015, 19:15
johnim

nice work so far :)
11th August 2015, 21:09
Robofruit

This is looking very professional. Keep us updated.

Sent from my HTC Desire 510 using Tapatalk
12th August 2015, 15:48
Matt3o

thanks everybody!

Today's progress

http://i.imgur.com/hcOriFm.jpg

I added the keyboard tray and the fixing system for the console that can be remove to check on the electronics beneath. Also monitor screen. Tomorrow I have to fix the vesa mount for the monitor somehow... and hopefully the speakers.

PS: gosh! I thought it was easier!
12th August 2015, 22:10
davideo

My original trade is a fully qualified joiner but looking at the quality of your work I feel like asking if you'll make me one as well :thumbsup:
13th August 2015, 07:02
Matt3o

:oops:

that would be insanely expensive to ship :) but I can share the blueprints.
13th August 2015, 08:49
Bryce

Really nice workmanship there Matt3o. I'd also add something like this: http://www.ebay.de/itm/Munzprufer-Mu...item3aaf8d1fe1 on the front to give it a more Arcade feel :)
Or if you search around you'll probably find one of the original square black ones.

Bryce.
13th August 2015, 13:04
Matt3o

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryce

Really nice workmanship there Matt3o. I'd also add something like this: http://www.ebay.de/itm/Munzprufer-Mu...item3aaf8d1fe1 on the front to give it a more Arcade feel :)
Or if you search around you'll probably find one of the original square black ones.

Bryce.

thanks!

I thought about that, I've found a coin door at around €60, but it would add work and weight and it would be merely cosmetical. Anyway it's something I could add at the very last time, so I'm not worried about it.
13th August 2015, 13:19
Half-Saint

Great work so far! Did you use plywood or something different?
13th August 2015, 13:49
Matt3o

Quote:

Originally Posted by Half-Saint

Great work so far! Did you use plywood or something different?

MDF

PS: are you the half-saint on deskthority?
13th August 2015, 13:53
Bryce

The coin acceptors usually have a simple microswitch too, which means the button and even inserting a coin action can be connected to the system and assigned functions in MAME.

Bryce.
13th August 2015, 14:00
Half-Saint

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt3o

Quote:

Originally Posted by Half-Saint

Great work so far! Did you use plywood or something different?

MDF

PS: are you the half-saint on deskthority?

Yes I am :)
13th August 2015, 14:48
Vyncynt

I like the keyboard drawer. That's a really good idea.

Back in the old arcade days, I recall seeing some facilities add cup/beer holders and ashtrays to the side of cabinets. They might be seen as a benefit to some, but ugly to others.
13th August 2015, 16:07
voyager_1701e

What a terrific project....I imagine the finished unit will make me envious :)
13th August 2015, 20:55
Ed.D

:popcorn:
14th August 2015, 18:38
Matt3o

I had two very productive days.

The carperter-me is almost done. Now to the electrician-me! I have to hook the speakers, all the buttons on the console, the light on the top... and the PCV on the sides and on the monitor frame. Finally the PC...

http://i.imgur.com/BCQ96Wn.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/nlHUd92.jpg
14th August 2015, 19:17
baz67

This really looks the biz - many congratulations on such a stylish FIRST build!
I;m sure you'll be the envy of the neighbourhood.
BRAVO, Matt3o.
Enjoy!
BAZ67
14th August 2015, 22:51
Matt3o

thanks!

it's really a lot of work... but I'm totally enjoying it :)
15th August 2015, 13:02
SkydivinGirl

You are doing an amazing job. Thanks so much for sharing it with us. :)

Heather
15th August 2015, 17:49
Matt3o

Side graphics in place!

http://i.imgur.com/hDlUIpA.jpg

and... All systems check!

http://i.imgur.com/dM21Fd3.jpg

I noticed that the monitor runs really hot despite being a flat panel, so I will probably have to add an exhaust fan to the top. Apart from that I'm ready to rock :) Tomorrow I should be able to close everything and enjoy it!
15th August 2015, 18:12
johnim

Hi what did you use for the buttons a usb adapter or like me a modded joypad or two
15th August 2015, 18:17
soeter04

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnim

Hi what did you use for the buttons a usb adapter or like me a modded joypad or two

He mentioned using an i-pac (sold at ultimarc.com)
15th August 2015, 18:30
johnim

Oh yes i missed that :)
15th August 2015, 18:37
soeter04

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnim

Oh yes i missed that :)

Too focused on the eye candy, i get that ;)
15th August 2015, 18:48
Matt3o

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnim

Hi what did you use for the buttons a usb adapter or like me a modded joypad or two

I used a controller called i-pac. There are many versions, be sure to get the v2 that goes on USB and has a bunch of additional I/O. I bought mine at arcadeworlduk (here: http://www.arcadeworlduk.com/product...d-Encoder.html )
16th August 2015, 16:58
Matt3o

ALL DONE!

wow... I can't believe I finally completed it. Now I only have to install a better linux distro and a MAME GUI.

http://i.imgur.com/QAd1SZZ.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/yqoM0K1.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/tcFvWI8.jpg

Thank you for watching!
16th August 2015, 17:22
johnim

Wow for sure you have don a great job on this well done
17th August 2015, 00:36
BLTCON0

Simply amazing :thumbsup:
17th August 2015, 04:44
protek

Awesome work! :thumbsup:

May I ask how did you affix the display to the panel?
17th August 2015, 07:09
Matt3o

Quote:

Originally Posted by protek

Awesome work! :thumbsup:

May I ask how did you affix the display to the panel?

I mounted the monitor on a wood panel through the VESA mount, then the panel is fixed to the sides of the cabinet. It wasn't easy to find the right spot so that the monitor was at the right distance.
17th August 2015, 08:18
stephenfalken

Congratulations, that is an incredible display of craftsmanship lol!

Are you going to use an emulator front end? I run Hyperspin on my cab and it looks awesome.

Regards
17th August 2015, 10:17
Matt3o

thanks stephenfalken. I've never heard of Hyperspin, I'll look into it... Even though it seems windows only and I will most likely work on linux.
17th August 2015, 10:35
Half-Saint

How much did the material to build the cabinet end up costing you includnig the labels?
17th August 2015, 10:48
Bryce

Fantastic result!

Bryce.

P.s. I'd still add a coin accepter though :)
17th August 2015, 10:51
LeonTubrok

Looks great, and you did it pretty quick too!
17th August 2015, 11:07
stephenfalken

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt3o

thanks stephenfalken. I've never heard of Hyperspin, I'll look into it... Even though it seems windows only and I will most likely work on linux.

Ah yes sadly it is Windows only, but check it out - it's really only for eye candy, but impresses everyone who plays on mine hehe
17th August 2015, 12:00
Matt3o

Quote:

Originally Posted by Half-Saint

How much did the material to build the cabinet end up costing you includnig the labels?

a rought estimate would be... €200 for the material for the cabinet itself (wood, polycarbonate, various hardware). €100 for the monitor. €80 for the PVC labels (some I haven't actually used). €150 for the console, buttons, controller, joysticks. €50 for amplifier and a couple of semi-decent speakers. €30 for the keyboard. Over that you have to add the PC, but I already had that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryce

Fantastic result!

Bryce.

P.s. I'd still add a coin accepter though :)

I'm not sure I want to add that. I would have to keep a huge box of coins always at hand :) But surely it's a huge plus, especially when playing with friends :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeonTubrok

Looks great, and you did it pretty quick too!

Yeah took me approx one week. It would take me half the time now probably....
17th August 2015, 21:55
stephenfalken

Quote:

I'm not sure I want to add that. I would have to keep a huge box of coins always at hand :) But surely it's a huge plus, especially when playing with friends :)

Since my cab was converted from a NeoGeo it came with the coin mechanism and I just had to hook it up for that authentic arcade feel! However behind the coin door I rigged a test button which acts as the 'insert coin' for when I play myself :)

Regards
17th August 2015, 22:26
Matt3o

ah right, that might be an option :)
17th August 2015, 22:36
Harrison

You can also connect up the coin reject button on the coin mechanism to add coins to the game.
18th August 2015, 19:15
Vyncynt

How about adding a subwoofer? Some original Space Invaders machines has such deep bass that it would shake the quarters in your pockets.
18th August 2015, 19:21
Matt3o

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vyncynt

How about adding a subwoofer? Some original Space Invaders machines has such deep bass that it would shake the quarters in your pockets.

that would require a more sophisticated amply, but anyway with two 4" speakers and all that MDF, the sound is pretty deep already.

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