2 Player folding bartop, near completion!

[frankba771]

Well I started this project a few weekends ago after I realized I had too many credit card points lol.  I was actually browsing through the forum when I saw syph007's mockup for his project (which was inspired by benderama).  I really like the design he had so I went to the drawing board and started my own.  I didn't take a lot of pictures during the build, but I did take a few so enjoy. =D

[syph007]

Ha, I did a double take at first when I thought this was my thread. LOL.  Nice job. I wish I had the time to get mine done faster, but kids are making it a slow march.

Did you make the underside removable to access the controls?  I'd love to see any more pix if you have them!

[frankba771]

Wow gay I just typed like 12 paragraphs and the website gave me an error and I lost it all >=(

Anyway, it is really similar to yours, I actually started building right around when you posted your cardboard mockup.  I made a few improvements (I think).

The entire machine is built around a 20"  LCD monitor.  I hacked the board for the power button out of the monitor and and ported it through the plexiglass on the front

The speakers were originally some extra computer speakers I had laying around.  The actual speakers and the board are mounted in the top near the marquee.  The volume knobs were also ported through the plexiglass.

The player controls are mounted at a slight offset angle to give both players a little more elbow room.  The controls are wired to the MAME Arcade Controls to USB Adapter from Paradise Arcade Shop on eBay (Mahalo Bryan!)

The Marquee is a translucent vinyl sticker mounted to plexiglass with an 18" fluorescent  bulb. Switch is mounted through the plexiglass as well.

It has latches for when it opens and closes (opening latches are automatic, closing are manual).

Finally the opening on the back when it is closed will eventually have a hinged cover and a latch to keep it closed.  That small triangular space will house the keyboard, mouse, power, and HDMI out cable.

[frankba771]

more pictures:

(1) Back panel opened
(2) Power and Marquee wiring

[syph007]

Cool.  You're faster than me.  I spent forever getting the controls just where I liked them though.  And I did need to make my CP wider than I first wanted to make it comfy for 2players.  Player 2 though will be my wife or son, so bumping elbows isnt the end of the world.   My CP is 24 inches wide.  Makes cutting parts easy since ive been buying my MDF in 24 x 28 inch pieces, so one length is always perfect!  

Im working on how to hide the piano hinge now, toying with eithe painting it, or covering in something flexible.

Have you got any pix of the side profile, in open and closed mode?  Just curious to see how it looks.

[frankba771]

yeah my CP board is only 20".  I found I was able to make it comfortable by putting both controls at a slightly offset angle.  I thought about hiding the hinge, but I decided against it in case it ever needed to be adjusted (Which is convenient because I need to reset the hinge, it's off by 1/16", making it slightly off when its closed grr....everything else in the build went smoothly).  The real trick was the whole order of operations for the build.  The trick is to cut all slots first, then Formica visible inside edges, then assemble, then outside Formica.  The brain of the beast is an ASRock ION 330 (Makes it a pretty bad-ass beast, I've been playing Mario Kart 64 on it all day).  I'll take pics of it opened and closed once I fix the hing and make the back cover hinge piece. 

*Side note: wireless keyboard and mouse are a must

[Bender]

Lookin' good!!!!

[menace]

I tried holding my joysticks in like you did on one of my machines and after one party they were both broken.  So just a heads up that it may feel solid right now but if any of your buddies played in the arcades they are going to beat on it the same as they did on the original machines--unless you tell them not to I suppose..  More pics!

[frankba771]

How exactly did they break menace? Because I helped my buddy build one like 3 years back and we mounted the joysticks in the same way, and that hasn't shown any signs of wear yet.

Those joysticks are recessed to be flush and fit tight, and those big fender washers seem to be securing it really well.

[menace]

They torqued the joystocks so much that they popped the fender washer and screw out of the panel.  Maybe your friends will be more respectable (or less intoxicated)