Help a newbie. A few random questions.

[youwhat]

So, have an old 1.8ghz amd system laying around, thought id make something useful out of it. Have been trying to start building this for about a month now, but still cant seem to get a design finalised.
I know theres about 30 questions i wanted to ask you guys, but its taken this long to get an account and now i cant remember them all. So ill probably keep adding them if you dont mind.

My first is does it matter how wide it is? was originally going to be 20" but now im thinking of adding a fridge/minibar instead of the traditional coin mech i might need another few inches. will having a weird width interfer with things such as the marquee. ie dodgy out of shape graphics? am ordering one off mamemarquees as soon as i get round to starting this project. Ive also drawn the marquee hight as 20cm (7.87 inches) will that also effect it?

Next is how to fit the marquee. Am getting it sandwiched between plexi, so will be 0.16inch think (4mm, sorry if i confuse you with measurements, i work in metric) My plan was to get a slot cutter and just slide it in. Will a slot cutter for that also work for T-molding? Am using a dremel for cutting those slots, since i cant get my hands on a proper router, and thats the only work i need it to do.

Now the screen. I pretty much finalised my design, then went and penciled in the monitor and shelf. Have just measured, and the top of the monitor is only 1.45m high (57inches) this seems a little low to me. Then again, maybe it isnt. I read somewhere the screen should be just under eye level. 1.45m is under my shoulder by a few inches. Am I worrying about this needlessly, or do i really need to go back to the drawing board add abit of height?

Another one is what size hole saw bit do i need for the buttons? (I did find this, but have long since lost where, cant seem to find it again. Tho im sure i could if i had the time)

Any answers/links would be greatly apprecieated. Have tried the search function, but either im useless or its crap, cos i cant find much thats relelvent.
oh, and im sure there will be more questions to follow. Sorry for them in advance. Cheers.

[CheffoJeffo]

WELCOME!

Don't forget to check the wiki ... it has many of the answers that you crave.

http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/wiki/Main_Page

If I may, don't order artwork until you have a design built and are happy with.

Your 20" width is slightly wider than my 1-player bartop. A more realistic width for an upright would start at 24".

Appropriate monitor height depends entirely on cabinet design and viewing angles. The top of the monitor would run under 4 feet for PacMan/Galaga/Tron, but over around 5 feet for Asteroids and even higher for others.

You should post your plans so that you can get relevant and pertinent answers to your questions.

 

PS - Dremels suck for slot cutting, but can work if you take your time and are careful.

EDIT for monitor height mistatement

[youwhat]

Well, its gonna be a 2 player upright, so im guessing i was waaay off with the width. Will move it up to 22" for now, but will revise it again after ive made a fake control panel outta cardboard.

I think Im going to leave the screen where it is. No point redrawing everything. Quick question tho, I have an old 21" tv. Its bigger than the 19"lcd I was planning on using since itll be easy to set up and no cost, but it only has a scart and ariel input. How would i get the computer to output to that? id need a new video card wouldnt I? Ill try and research this after I get back. Bigger screen is always better, and itll look alot more authentic/retro.

And Ive read about dremels sucking. But Im on a really tight budget (£250) so cant really buy/rent a router, and no luck finding one to borrow either. Ill have to make it work.

My plans are currently bits of paper sprawled over my computer desk. one bits even replaced my mouse pad. but when ive finished ill see about getting a good photo of the important peices. Suppose it will be a bit unique since this one will have a free minibar, instead of putting money in everytime you run out of credits, ill be taking beer out 

Ill make sure i order the artwork last then, cheers. Its hard to stop myself going on a shopping spree. Very nearly just started ordering stuff the other night in the hope it would speed things up. Not making much progress at the moment.

Thanks for your help.

[CheffoJeffo]

Its hard to stop myself going on a shopping spree.

Alas, 'tis too true in this hobby ... 

[bpark42]

Quick question tho, I have an old 21" tv. Its bigger than the 19"lcd I was planning on using since itll be easy to set up and no cost, but it only has a scart and ariel input. How would i get the computer to output to that? id need a new video card wouldnt I? Ill try and research this after I get back. Bigger screen is always better, and itll look alot more authentic/retro.

http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/wiki/Televisions
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=77370.0

And Ive read about dremels sucking. But Im on a really tight budget (£250) so cant really buy/rent a router, and no luck finding one to borrow either. Ill have to make it work.

Before I had the proper tools, I actually managed to cut t-molding slots with a dremel.  I used the inexpensive dremel plunge router base and carbide tipped cutting blade.  It was a long way from ideal, but it worked.

[Firebat138]

Welcome my friend...  I had a budget 'once'  :-)  I was using a TV, then bought a monitor...  I "had" a old computer, then I bought a new one...  You can see where this was going.  LOL...  I second that on the artwork...  Build the cabinet and then start on the artwork...  I changed my cab several times and had to redo some of it...  Luckily I did all the artwork myself and plotted it at work... perks...  :-) 

Take lots of pics...  If you need any help on the artwork, let me know...

Later

Camper

[leapinlew]

My first 2 player cabinet was 22.5". Cheffo is right, 24" would be the minimum I'd recommend for 2 players.

[youwhat]

sions]http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/wiki/Televisions[/url]
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=77370.0

[/quote]

oh ho ho. Looks like i have some reading to do. And a chance to practice some soldering  
Thanks for that, saved me some searching, and but added what looks like a big headache. Might go ahead and get the cab built with the monitor before trying to hook up the tv.

Before I had the proper tools, I actually managed to cut t-molding slots with a dremel.  I used the inexpensive dremel plunge router base and carbide tipped cutting blade.  It was a long way from ideal, but it worked.

Yea, im getting the routerbase and a cutting blade. Its still taking up quite abit of my budget, but i see no other way and its still quite cheap i suppose.

And yes, I see where this is going. Oh well, im committed. Might as well sink the money in and get it looking awesome. Will just have to be done in upgrades. Ill take as many pics as i can with my phone, its only 3mp, but its the best ive got.
Artwork seems a loooong way off yet. Will be the last thing I do (probably around christmas at this rate?) Ill be happy to have it painted black and working by then. Alot of hurdles to overcome. Im just about getting my head around the software side, thanks to years tinkering with computers when i should have been in lessons. Hoping the woodwork wont be beyond a complete novice. Very ambitious considering I pretty much have an emtpy portfolio.

Thanks for the help. I must say the support on this forum is amazing. If this wasnt here, i dont think id be following that moment of madness when i decided i was going to build this.

Now im off to bed to try and make some tangible progress on this before work tommorow.  

[bkenobi]

Bigger screen is always better, and itll look alot more authentic/retro.

Actually, a lot of authentic/retro cabinets used a 19" CRT or smaller.  I have an Atari cab that came with a burned out 19" screen and replaced it with a 20" flat PC CRT.  When I place that one next to my main cab (Atari Area51 w/ 27" TV CRT), it looks very small.  I would agree that a bigger screen is better, but I wouldn't say it's "more authentic/retro".  Perhaps that's just my opinion though.