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Author Topic: Kit bartop cab build  (Read 19387 times)

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BobA

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Kit bartop cab build
« on: October 10, 2010, 09:28:10 pm »
Picked up a kit bartop cab from Pete in Buy and Sell quite a while ago and just got around to putting together a Mame cab with it.
Pete's Bartops

Here is a picture of the cabinet that he sells.

« Last Edit: October 10, 2010, 10:44:11 pm by BobA »

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Re: Kit cab bartop build
« Reply #1 on: October 10, 2010, 09:39:42 pm »
This build took approximately 1 month.  The kit made it much easier to get into the fun part of the build.  I sill have a cab that is roughly the same style that I started 2 years ago that needs formica.  I would buy one of Pete's kits again. His packaging was great  and delivery was quick.  Instructions for basic assembly were a bit lacking at first but he has upgraded to a full PDF manual to construct the cabinet.

The kit comes with all the major structural parts and can be ordered with t molding.  All screws and inside blocking is supplied.  I chose in some places to try my kreg jig instead of the blocking.  An example of this was the LCD mount. It was not provided with the kit but some of the wood used to pack the kit worked perfectly.

The cabinet back comes as one piece so you can customize it the way that you want.  I cut the back into 3 pieces so that the fan could be mounted at the top and the other 2 pieces could be used as a hinged door and a fixed part for ventilation and ac power.

View from front of cab showing fan mounted inside. The box hanging on the wire from the fan is a variable speed control (12V)


View of back of cab


View from back of cab with door open.  A single barrel lock is used to hold the back door shut.
« Last Edit: October 11, 2010, 12:45:19 am by BobA »

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Re: Kit cab bartop build
« Reply #2 on: October 10, 2010, 09:50:52 pm »
The cabinet is designed for an LCD screen.  I mounted a 19 inch LCD by using the Vesa mount at the back of the monitor along with some scrap wood that came along with the packaging of the kit.  I think the spacing used for most small monitors is a 75 mm square.  Only difficulty was getting metric screws to mach the mounts on the monitor. They are M4 thread and typically 10 mm long for a metal mount but I was using 5/8 particle board so had to get longer screws and counter sink them into the particle board a bit. My local hardware store did not carry them so I had to go to a nut and bolt supply house.

19 inch LCD viewed from front


LCD mount shown from rear.


Another view of the LCD mount shown from rear.  A Kreg Jig was used to make mounting holes at each end
of the support piece so that it could be screwed directly into the sides of the cabinet.  L brackets could be used
instead.
« Last Edit: October 11, 2010, 12:48:26 am by BobA »

BobA

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Re: Kit cab bartop build
« Reply #3 on: October 10, 2010, 10:02:07 pm »
It is only a single player cab but can be used as 2 players when a usb joystick is plugged in.

Control panel drilled for joystick 6 action buttons and 1/2 player and 1/2 coin. A forstner bit was used in a drill press.
Joystick is an Ultimarc Magstick Plus with ball top


Minipac used with terminal strips to make connecting the wires easier.   I had the minipac from a deal Andy
offered along time ago but I did not have a harness.  I think the terminal strips let you do a neater job of the
wiring as there is no surplus wire to bundle up.  Get an ipac and save yourself the work of wiring the term strip.


2 non amplified speakers to be used in the cabinet.  Leftovers from a 5.1 pc speaker set that I used the
L and R speakers and Woofer and amp. (Sill have a center speaker left)


2 buttons mounted on the sides of the cab for pinball flippers.   Clearance at this point is tight so careful drilling required. I used the Kreg Jig to mount the front panel as you can see that using the supplied blocking would have made the area too small for the buttons.


View of button on one side of the cab.
« Last Edit: October 26, 2010, 10:00:51 am by BobA »

BobA

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Re: Kit cab bartop build
« Reply #4 on: October 10, 2010, 10:15:47 pm »
Since the speakers were non amplified I installed a 12V stereo amp. Specs are way over rated 180W printed on the amp?  I think the unit gives you about 10 W per channel the spec on the website has been updated to show a  more realistic output.  It sounds great. Link to $14.32 Amplifier

Front view of amp.  The volume control lights up and pulses to the music/sound


Back of amp  inputs for mini phone plug or rca plugs.  I ran a cable with mini phone plugs on each end to the
speaker out of the PC.   Also a USB power port and 12V input.


Speaker mounted in its enclosure inside the cab. Galvanized steel strapping screwed to speaker.


Outside showing speaker cutout made with a hole saw.  The opening will be covered using the fronts of
the speaker enclosures which were detachable.

« Last Edit: October 12, 2010, 04:48:58 pm by BobA »

BobA

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Re: Kit cab bartop build
« Reply #5 on: October 10, 2010, 10:21:10 pm »
Speaker grill and template to be used to mount the grill on the outside of the cabinet.


Galvanized steel mounting strap found in the plumbing section of most hardware stores.


Speaker gill mounted over speaker hole.


« Last Edit: October 10, 2010, 11:01:09 pm by BobA »

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Re: Kit cab bartop build
« Reply #6 on: October 10, 2010, 10:29:54 pm »
Control panel top.  There will be 2 more buttons installed to help control the front end.


Control panel underneath showing wiring to minipac.


Computer motherboard and video card.   Video card to help with graphics for the pinball games.
Specs:
Gigabyte M61PME - S2P motherboard
AND Athlon II x2 240 running at 2.8Ghz
2GB memory and 240GB hard drive



Installation of power switch, duplex box and power supply.
« Last Edit: October 11, 2010, 01:02:54 am by BobA »

BobA

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Re: Kit cab bartop build
« Reply #7 on: October 10, 2010, 10:43:15 pm »
Everything mounted inside.  Cut up BIC pen barrel used for spacers for the MB.  HD and Amplifier mounted on back door.  A wall wart was added to power the amp as the 12V from the computer supply was a bit noisy.  This could have been a ground loop problem but I had the wall wart on hand and would have gone out to buy and isolator.


12 V flourecent mounted in marquee area.  Power from PC power supply. The inside of the marquee area was covered with metalic duct tape.  Not the plastic stuff but real metalized tape used by HVAC pros.  This metal tape reflects more light then the black melamine.


Added a usb cable to the header on the MB to bring 2 usb ports to the back of the cabinet.


95% finished.  Marquee held in place by plastic wall protectors painted black.  The aluminum L brackets were too thick. Bezel was produced by painting on the inside of the lucite screen.  Marquee cut from a bargain batch purchased from emdkay.  Very nice color and finish.


Maximus Arcade installed with Mame, Future Pinball and PC Engine for now.

« Last Edit: October 25, 2010, 04:42:43 pm by BobA »

BobA

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Re: Kit bartop cab build
« Reply #8 on: October 10, 2010, 10:52:37 pm »
Still to come.

Need labels for enter, back and coin buttons. (Done)

Need control panel artwork.

Refine and perfect the front end setup and games lists

Install jukebox software.

May gut a joystick and put it into a separate control panel for the second player.

Looks like there might even be room for a spinner.

Thanks for looking.

That is it for now.
« Last Edit: October 26, 2010, 10:04:26 am by BobA »

jimmy2x2x

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Re: Kit bartop cab build
« Reply #9 on: October 10, 2010, 11:54:46 pm »
Nice documentation, thanks!

How is the cp secured?

BobA

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Re: Kit bartop cab build
« Reply #10 on: October 11, 2010, 12:33:55 am »
CP is held in the front with a hinge.  Right now it fits fairly tightly so no other fastening is used.  If it requires a more positive device I will fit a latch or some industrial velcro.

Update: I did end up putting industrial velcro under the CP to hold it more firmly.  I used the adhesive that is in the velcro but added some staples from an air stapler to increase the holding power because it was mounted on unfinished wood not a good gluing surface.

« Last Edit: December 04, 2010, 10:02:46 am by BobA »

jmike

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Re: Kit bartop cab build
« Reply #11 on: October 12, 2010, 09:05:38 am »
Cool bartop.
        I recently started working on my bartop build again. Thanks for the pics, I found some things on your build that solved some questions I had with mine. (I will definitely check the minipac._

The only thing that looks a bit odd (at least from the pics) those speaker covers on the sides, they seem a bit bulky ,no?

Keep those pics coming

 :cheers:

BobA

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Re: Kit bartop cab build
« Reply #12 on: October 12, 2010, 11:14:24 am »
Thanks for the comment  ;D

The speaker covers stick out 1/4 inch so they are noticeable but not all that bulky.  That was using what I had (they came as part of the speakers).  I looked at some fan covers and some speaker covers but they all stuck out about as much.

« Last Edit: October 12, 2010, 11:16:21 am by BobA »

jmike

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Re: Kit bartop cab build
« Reply #13 on: October 12, 2010, 01:58:27 pm »
I hear ya, got to use with what you've got. I actually stopped working on my bartop cause all I had for a monitor was one of those old, big and heavy monitors.

Any artwork/theme in mind yet?


BobA

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Re: Kit bartop cab build
« Reply #14 on: October 12, 2010, 03:46:42 pm »
Some artwork to match the marquee.   I think there are a few classic characters there with a pacman type font.  Will probably look to integrate the same look with the CP art.  I have been very lucky with monitors as I have had neighbors donate a 15 inch and a 19 inch LCD to my growing parts collection.  Amazing what other people consider junk.
« Last Edit: October 12, 2010, 03:48:37 pm by BobA »

jmike

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Re: Kit bartop cab build
« Reply #15 on: October 13, 2010, 07:06:55 am »
Just a few links you might find useful.

Here's some artwork I was thinking about purchasing, (looks like a good price, i think)  :dizzy:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280543928881&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

and here's speaker covers I bought (and hopeful use on my bartop or save for my jukebox build)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120369556286&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT


 :cheers:

BobA

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Re: Kit bartop cab build
« Reply #16 on: October 13, 2010, 08:31:37 am »
Thanks for the links.

I have already used a smaller version of that side art on my first cab which is about 7 years old so I don't think I will use it again.   It fits the theme well but with the speaker placement it would be very hard to get a decent sized print of it to fit on this cab.

On a totally different topic you can see at the top of the picture the effect of the shrinkage of the wood filler over time.  The screw holes were not visible when the cabinet was originally finished.  That is why I have all my screws fasten from the inside so there are no screw holes on the outside of my projects. I think that there are alot of reasons why people are now using bondo when finishing their cabs.
« Last Edit: October 13, 2010, 08:53:23 am by BobA »

PeteDiak

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Re: Kit bartop cab build
« Reply #17 on: October 22, 2010, 11:46:52 am »
Hi again Bob
The cab looks great. Im still here for ya if you need anything..
Great job!
Pete
Projects
Miss Pac Man Cocktail (Finished)
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BobA

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Re: Kit bartop cab build
« Reply #18 on: October 25, 2010, 04:38:16 pm »
Added some of Pongo's excellent vinyl to my CP buttons.  They look great and define the button function without any external labeling.

BobA

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Re: Kit bartop cab build
« Reply #19 on: October 25, 2010, 04:44:02 pm »
Hi again Bob
The cab looks great. Im still here for ya if you need anything..
Great job!
Pete

Thanks for the comment Pete. ;D

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Re: Kit bartop cab build
« Reply #20 on: October 25, 2010, 08:19:15 pm »
looks good. panel and marquee screeming for some artwork though.


would you recommend that amp for a 2 player sitdown cabinet? its not that big. 28" monitor. currenty has an unshielded sub in it but this thing is so huge. I totally wanna get rid of it to make room for consoles inside.

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Re: Kit bartop cab build
« Reply #21 on: October 25, 2010, 08:37:56 pm »
nice goin Bob  :applaud:

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Re: Kit bartop cab build
« Reply #22 on: October 25, 2010, 09:30:39 pm »
looks good. panel and marquee screeming for some artwork though.


would you recommend that amp for a 2 player sitdown cabinet? its not that big. 28" monitor. currenty has an unshielded sub in it but this thing is so huge. I totally wanna get rid of it to make room for consoles inside.

The amp is relatively small and drives speakers with about 10W each.  Takes up alot less room then a 2.1 pc setup with a large woofer.

Have not got my head around the artwork yet.  Will probably replace the marquee when I do but right now I had it so that is what I used.  Probably work out better if I thought of a theme so the artwork could follow.
« Last Edit: October 25, 2010, 09:32:43 pm by BobA »

BobA

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Re: Kit bartop cab build
« Reply #23 on: October 25, 2010, 09:33:36 pm »
nice goin Bob  :applaud:

thanks for the coment Nivo

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Re: Kit bartop cab build
« Reply #24 on: October 28, 2010, 08:32:07 pm »
nice looking bartop. I don't want to seem too critical, but may I suggest taking out the speakers and re-wrapping them with black speaker cloth? you can buy it at a fabric store for cheap. I think those speakers just pop too much against the black paint.
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BobA

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Re: Kit bartop cab build
« Reply #25 on: October 28, 2010, 09:42:00 pm »
Rewrapping them sounds good but it will make them thicker and I was trying to avoid any more thickness I have speaker cloth from a juke project so I will give it a try.  Fan grills with silver patterns are thinner but they pop even worse than the speaker grills.  The pictures actually make them stand out worse just like they make the button baby blue when they are really a richer dark blue.  Thanks for the comment.

I just looked at the side view pics.  The flash makes them look grey but if you go back to where the picture of the speaker being taken apart is then you will see they are actually black.
« Last Edit: December 04, 2010, 10:04:07 am by BobA »

BurgerKingDiamond

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Re: Kit bartop cab build
« Reply #26 on: October 28, 2010, 10:08:51 pm »
yeah I see what you mean. on the table it looks black. So probably in person they don't actually pop as much.
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Re: Kit bartop cab build
« Reply #27 on: November 01, 2010, 06:02:54 pm »
I missed this first time around. I like that bartop kit. Freeform with the CP and I specially like the way the rear has been designed.

Oh... and that galvanised strpping is EXACTLY what I have been looking for to help with my next project.  :cheers:

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Re: Kit bartop cab build
« Reply #28 on: September 24, 2011, 04:25:41 pm »
Sweet :)

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Re: Kit bartop cab build
« Reply #29 on: June 19, 2012, 06:39:01 pm »
Hey Bob, sorry to drag up an old post but I like your design on this bartop. Question. One of the sticking points in my builds is mounting an exterior volume control for what ever speakers I decide to use. By mounting your amp on the inside back door like that has it become an issue having to open it up to adjust it? Or do you find your self not having to do that much? It would certainly make my builds easier if I did it your way but I'm afraid of having to open it up all the time.

Or...have you come up with a better idea?  :)
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Re: Kit bartop cab build
« Reply #30 on: June 19, 2012, 06:53:02 pm »
how about a pc remote? some are credit card sized, have an IR that can go behind the glass. And you could velcro the remote to the top or backside of the cab when not used. The only trick really is getting it to recognize volume up/down while mame is the focus program? Just a guess.

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Re: Kit bartop cab build
« Reply #31 on: June 19, 2012, 07:37:36 pm »
Not a bad idea... for my mame cabs. I will look into it.  :cheers:

I've been using PC speakers with the 60-1 builds too. Gives a better control of the volume and makes the games sound a little better.

I have been just drilling holes in the side of the cab(s) and mounting the volume "pcb" inside with the knob sticking out but it's a hassle and I'm not liking the finished look.
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Re: Kit bartop cab build
« Reply #32 on: June 19, 2012, 09:39:05 pm »
You can mount any pot with the knob on the outside if you use a router to decrease the thickness of the MDF on the inside.  If this does not seem strong enough for you then just put bit of aluminum sheet on you cab over a hole big enough for the resistance end of the pot and screw the sheet over the hole on the outside with the hole for the shaft.  Works with lots of other controls and jacks as well.

BobA

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Re: Kit bartop cab build
« Reply #33 on: June 19, 2012, 09:41:18 pm »
I do not use the AMP controls very much as I use the volume in windows if I have to change the volume.  I do not do this very much as the cab is in the basement and can be loud before anyone else is bothered.