School me on putting a MAME cabinet together

[MagicManPA]

I'm picking up an empty Gunsmoke cabinet this weekend to use for my MAME project. I will be sticking my old desktop tower in there to run it. I want to use a LCD monitor instead of the heavy & dangerous CRT. I believe I will go w/the X-Arcade Tankstick as well. I want to run it all from the PC. Is it possible, and fairly simple, to run the x-arcade controls from the PC?

What size monitor would be ideal? Where can I buy a bezel for it?

What are my best options for sound?

What else should I need to know & buy? Trying to do this on a budget aka as cheap as possible.

How much am I looking at spending to get this setup? I don't need a working coin door or anything & I'm not worried about the decals & such at this time.

[upprc04]

Look through all the projects in the Projects sub forum for ideas.  It kind of depends what games you want to play, how authentic you want it to be, full size/bartop, etc etc.  The Project Arcade book is referred to as a great start for beginners (I haven't read/seen it myself, but I'm sure it is great).  If you are completely new, I would say look for that.  Or just start reading through other peoples project threads and start thinking up ideas based on that.

I was in the same boat as you and finally took the plunge.  Ordered all the materials and parts and just waiting to get access to the tools to start working on it.

[MagicManPA]

Look through all the projects in the Projects sub forum for ideas.  It kind of depends what games you want to play, how authentic you want it to be, full size/bartop, etc etc.  The Project Arcade book is referred to as a great start for beginners (I haven't read/seen it myself, but I'm sure it is great).  If you are completely new, I would say look for that.  Or just start reading through other peoples project threads and start thinking up ideas based on that.

I was in the same boat as you and finally took the plunge.  Ordered all the materials and parts and just waiting to get access to the tools to start working on it.

I did mention that I'm picking up an old Gunsmoke cabinet which is an upright fullsize cabinet. I don't care about authentic. I care about functional & not costing me a fortune based on the things I want in my original post.

[Donkbaca]

I love, love, love x-arcade.  But not to put on a cab.  I have yet to see one that looks right.

What you NEED for your arcade might be way different from what you want on your arcade.

My original plan was to just an old TV and an old P4 laying around, I was going to gut my x-arcade dual and use the joysticks and buttons, but then I decided to add LED buttons.  I like the x-arcade joysticks, I have a hori fight stick with seimitsu joysticks and buttons, I like the x-arcades better.  Personal preference.  Anyhow, I started out swapping out the x-arcade buttons.  Then I decided to ditch the CRT and go with an LCD screen so I can build a slim cab.  Then decided to ditch the regular marquee and experiment with an edge-lit plexi marquee.  Now I am thinking about inlaying some light-up designs into my cab.  Really there is a ton of crap you can do with your arcade, and a ton of options for each of those things.

I guess in order to help a few questions need to be answered:
How many players? (please say two)

What type of games are you going to be playing? (This will help decide how many buttons to get, what type of joysticks to get, etc...)

Do you need a trackball? (I thought I did, got one, then realized that it wasn't worth it since I am not a big trackball game guy)
Do you want a spinner?
Do you want light guns?

Does the cab have a coin door?  Does it work? DO you want it to work?  Does it take tokens or quarters?

IS there a monitor in the cabinet?  Does it work?  IF so, just use it.  Get a Jpac and arcade VGA and you are good to go.
IF the monitor doesn't work, what type of monitor do you want?  I am using a 21.3" 4:3 lcd in mine.

Man there is just so much to answer.  I guess just start with the basics.  how many players, and what games you looking to play?

[newmanfamilyvlogs]

The x.arcade should be fairly plug and play. But building your own controls into the existing cp does not have to be hard or expensive. Pics of the cab will help.

If you go with an lcd you'll probably need to do a custom bezel. Glass spray painted black from the back looks very nice and can be done rather cheap.
cheap  pc speakers work just as good as expensive ones. You can always add nicer ones later if they are mounted inside the cab and cannot be seen.

[MagicManPA]

Games like Mortal Kombat & such for the most part. I picked the x-arcade b/c I wanted the Street Fighter button layout. I don't need anything fancy like LED buttons. I just need cheap & plug & play.
No trackball, spinner or gun needed.
2 players

I believe it has a coin door, but I have no desire to make it work. There is no monitor w/it. It's BARE. I am going to go LCD monitor.

I love, love, love x-arcade.  But not to put on a cab.  I have yet to see one that looks right.

What you NEED for your arcade might be way different from what you want on your arcade.

My original plan was to just an old TV and an old P4 laying around, I was going to gut my x-arcade dual and use the joysticks and buttons, but then I decided to add LED buttons.  I like the x-arcade joysticks, I have a hori fight stick with seimitsu joysticks and buttons, I like the x-arcades better.  Personal preference.  Anyhow, I started out swapping out the x-arcade buttons.  Then I decided to ditch the CRT and go with an LCD screen so I can build a slim cab.  Then decided to ditch the regular marquee and experiment with an edge-lit plexi marquee.  Now I am thinking about inlaying some light-up designs into my cab.  Really there is a ton of crap you can do with your arcade, and a ton of options for each of those things.

I guess in order to help a few questions need to be answered:
How many players? (please say two)

What type of games are you going to be playing? (This will help decide how many buttons to get, what type of joysticks to get, etc...)

Do you need a trackball? (I thought I did, got one, then realized that it wasn't worth it since I am not a big trackball game guy)
Do you want a spinner?
Do you want light guns?

Does the cab have a coin door?  Does it work? DO you want it to work?  Does it take tokens or quarters?

IS there a monitor in the cabinet?  Does it work?  IF so, just use it.  Get a Jpac and arcade VGA and you are good to go.
IF the monitor doesn't work, what type of monitor do you want?  I am using a 21.3" 4:3 lcd in mine.

Man there is just so much to answer.  I guess just start with the basics.  how many players, and what games you looking to play?

[HanoiBoi]

Assuming you are the least bit handy, you can save a little money by building your own Control Panel (CP) and not purchasing the X-Arcade Tankstick.

To build your own CP you'll need material (wood, MDF, etc.) joysticks, buttons, keyboard encoder (IPAC) and wire.  Most parts can be bought at ultimarc.com.

Examples:

Joystick: Mag Stik Plus for $33.00 per
http://www.ultimarc.com/controls.html

Pushbuttons: Classic Pushbuttons for $1.95 per
http://www.ultimarc.com/controls.html

Keyboard Encoder:
IPAC2 for $39 (This has 32 inputs.  Each button is one input.  Each Joystick is 4 inputs.  Don't forget '1P start, 2P Start, Coin 1 Coin 2, etc.)
IPAC4 for $65 (This has 56 inputs)

http://www.ultimarc.com/ipac1.html

[Donkbaca]

If you are trying to save money, why are you going LCD monitor?  My advice? If you are going to MAME a cab, make it look like a cab if you halfass bolt an LCD in there and slap a x-arcade on it and put a pc in it, it will look like garbage, it will essentially be a retarded computer desk. Not meaning to offend, just laying it out there.  An LCD is gonna cost you what, 200 bucks? A dual stick 150. For the same price you can make your ab look like a real cab. It'll just take a little work.

Joysticks - xarcade, you can get 2 for 20 bucks
Encoder - paradise arcade has a plug and play USB with the harness all pre-crimped and wired for 25 bucks.
buttons - I would get paradise arcade translucent IL buttons for cheap, I use their ultralux knockoffs . Get translucent buttons, pretty much the same price as non-translucent buttons and if you decide to add LEDs later it would be super easy to do.  Figure 2 bucks a button, 16 buttons total - 6 per person plus start and coin - 32 bucks

That's 76 bucks

One sheet of MDF 20 bucks
Screws and spray paint 20 bucks
T-molding - 10 bucks

Total to build 126. I believe the dual is 129. Same price.

For the monitor, I would get a CRT tv. Price is 50 bucks, tops in C L

Maybe you need a video card with s- video out. 20 bucks

Boom. Authentic looking cab for around 200 bucks
Maybe you ne

[MagicManPA]

I'm quite handy, but no plans to build the control panel. I want plug & play.
I am going LCD over CRT.

If you are trying to save money, why are you going LCD monitor?  My advice? If you are going to MAME a cab, make it look like a cab if you halfass bolt an LCD in there and slap a x-arcade on it and put a pc in it, it will look like garbage, it will essentially be a retarded computer desk. Not meaning to offend, just laying it out there.  An LCD is gonna cost you what, 200 bucks? A dual stick 150. For the same price you can make your ab look like a real cab. It'll just take a little work.

Joysticks - xarcade, you can get 2 for 20 bucks
Encoder - paradise arcade has a plug and play USB with the harness all pre-crimped and wired for 25 bucks.
buttons - I would get paradise arcade translucent IL buttons for cheap, I use their ultralux knockoffs . Get translucent buttons, pretty much the same price as non-translucent buttons and if you decide to add LEDs later it would be super easy to do.  Figure 2 bucks a button, 16 buttons total - 6 per person plus start and coin - 32 bucks

That's 76 bucks

One sheet of MDF 20 bucks
Screws and spray paint 20 bucks
T-molding - 10 bucks

Total to build 126. I believe the dual is 129. Same price.

For the monitor, I would get a CRT tv. Price is 50 bucks, tops in C L

Maybe you need a video card with s- video out. 20 bucks

Boom. Authentic looking cab for around 200 bucks
Maybe you ne

[HanoiBoi]

MagicMan, I think you've got us confused with what you want.  Is cheap your top criteria?  Is quality toward the top of your wants?

To answer your questions...

You should be able to attach an X-Arcade control to a PC without issue.  Plug & Play if you will.

LCD size: Buy an LCD that will not exceed the width, height and depth of your Gunsmoke cab.

Bezel: I assume you're not looking for an official 'Gunsmoke bezel', but merely something to cover the LCD?  You could get a piece of plexi or glass cut to the width and height of your opening.  Tape off and paint the edges black so that you only see the screen area.

Sound: You can use any 2.1 computer speakers; Altec Lansing, Cyber Acoustics, etc.

Other things you should need to know and buy:  Control panel, PC, speakers and your screen are all you need to be functional. Well, we don't know what you already know, but a power strip would help, a lighted marquee would be nice.  A PC that is capable of playing what you need.  A front end for MAME. 

BTW is a CRT that dangerous??  Are you confusing CRT with arcade monitors?  Any old CRT computer monitor (beige box) that could fit in your cab would be fine for functional and cheap.

[MagicManPA]

Right, just a plastic bezel to hide the edges of the cabinet & monitor making it look like it belongs there.

How did you guys that went LCD monitor mount it to the cabinet?

MagicMan, I think you've got us confused with what you want.  Is cheap your top criteria?  Is quality toward the top of your wants?

To answer your questions...

You should be able to attach an X-Arcade control to a PC without issue.  Plug & Play if you will.

LCD size: Buy an LCD that will not exceed the width, height and depth of your Gunsmoke cab.

Bezel: I assume you're not looking for an official 'Gunsmoke bezel', but merely something to cover the LCD?  You could get a piece of plexi or glass cut to the width and height of your opening.  Tape off and paint the edges black so that you only see the screen area.

Sound: You can use any 2.1 computer speakers; Altec Lansing, Cyber Acoustics, etc.

Other things you should need to know and buy:  Control panel, PC, speakers and your screen are all you need to be functional. Well, we don't know what you already know, but a power strip would help, a lighted marquee would be nice.  A PC that is capable of playing what you need.  A front end for MAME. 

BTW is a CRT that dangerous??  Are you confusing CRT with arcade monitors?  Any old CRT computer monitor (beige box) that could fit in your cab would be fine for functional and cheap.

[garnerb350]

Magic,

This is what i did....

1. Get the book "Project Arcade" (it really does help)

2. I went X-Arcade also, and yeah alot of people will gripe about it, but i havent had any problems with mine...

3. I had some old cabs, but i ended up building mine from stratch... I went to www.arcadecab.com... They had free plans that actually made an x-arcade controller look decent looking...

4.  I used an old 21 CRT PC monitor (off craigslist...paid 20 bucks)...





If you go with LCD... you might can use the bracket off the stand, or wall mount and mount it to a sheet of plywood, mdf, etc...Depending on the cab ( im not for sure what gunsmoke looks like on the inside) you might have to modify a way to mount the sheet and angle it the way the orginal monitor was... I have an old Mr.Do cab and inside it had slots where a sheet of plywood that slid in and out that held the original 19 inch crt... ( i guess to make it easier to switch out monitors)



BUT BE WARNED: YOU WILL BE ADDICTED...OH YES...YOU WILL BE........

[yotsuya]

garnerb350 -

I like the fact it's in the laundry room- the smell of soap reminds me of playing Crazy Kong at the local dry cleaners!

[garnerb350]

garnerb350 -

I like the fact it's in the laundry room- the smell of soap reminds me of playing Crazy Kong at the local dry cleaners!

LOL... Well it depends...the kitty litter box is on the other side of that room...LOL.... but not to worry, The cab is now located in the living room beside the entertainment center...

Now im in the beginning process of starting to build a visual pinball cab...

Like i said.... it is addicting....

[Donkbaca]

If you are going to put an LCD in you ate going to have to build your own mount and bezel and get glass to go over it. If you got a CRT tv, you would just install a shelf for the tv to sit on, and you could buy a
Bezel for like 20-25 bucks from happ.

Easiest and cheapest way, will probably also look better both in terms of the way the cab looks and the way the game looks.

How are you going to mount the x-arcade?

[MagicManPA]

If you are going to put an LCD in you ate going to have to build your own mount and bezel and get glass to go over it. If you got a CRT tv, you would just install a shelf for the tv to sit on, and you could buy a
Bezel for like 20-25 bucks from happ.

Easiest and cheapest way, will probably also look better both in terms of the way the cab looks and the way the game looks.

How are you going to mount the x-arcade?

I figured I would cut the cabinet to fit the x-arcade. I know it's not going to look factory or be 100% perfect fit, but I'm going for function over form here.

Anyone have tips for mounting the x-arcade?

[garnerb350]

Hmmmm....many different ways to do this....

you can...

1. take the metal control panel and mod it to be a 2-player cp (if there is enough room)...
2. Make a 90 degree cut on the sides and build a custom panel... Gut the x-arcade parts and place the parts in the cp...
3. Do as before and cut a hole large enough to place x-arcade inside...(which i myself wouldnt want to do)

Now Im not sure what the measurements are for that cab
...and with that being said...i dont think you can make it where an x-arcade can just "slide" in...( sides are flush with the x-arcade) and make it look good...as per say...

Take some time and look through some of the project posts and see what they have done...

Good luck...

[MagicManPA]

The Gunsmoke cabinet that I am getting does not have the control with it. It's just a big empty space. 

Hmmmm....many different ways to do this....

you can...

1. take the metal control panel and mod it to be a 2-player cp (if there is enough room)...
2. Make a 90 degree cut on the sides and build a custom panel... Gut the x-arcade parts and place the parts in the cp...
3. Do as before and cut a hole large enough to place x-arcade inside...(which i myself wouldnt want to do)

Now Im not sure what the measurements are for that cab
...and with that being said...i dont think you can make it where an x-arcade can just "slide" in...( sides are flush with the x-arcade) and make it look good...as per say...

Take some time and look through some of the project posts and see what they have done...

Good luck...

[BobA]

To mount an LCD just use the VESA holes on the back to attach a board the width of the inside of your cab.  Hardest thing to do is find are the M4 screws needed to mount to the vesa holes.  M4 is metric just get the screws the right length to attach to the monitor and go thru the mounting board.  Screw cleats to the inside of your cab wherever you want the LCD positioned.  Screw the board to the cleats. Lots of examples of this in various cab builds.

[javeryh]

I figured I would cut the cabinet to fit the x-arcade. I know it's not going to look factory or be 100% perfect fit, but I'm going for function over form here.

Anyone have tips for mounting the x-arcade?

Why not gut the X-arcade and install the controls into a CP that fits your cab? 

[MagicManPA]

I suppose that's an option if it's plug & play & doesn't require work with table saws & such b/c I don't have the stuff.

I figured I would cut the cabinet to fit the x-arcade. I know it's not going to look factory or be 100% perfect fit, but I'm going for function over form here.

Anyone have tips for mounting the x-arcade?

Why not gut the X-arcade and install the controls into a CP that fits your cab? 

[Donkbaca]

Do you actually have the x-arcade?

[MagicManPA]

Do you actually have the x-arcade?

No, I am picking up the cabinet this weekend. That will be the 1st piece I physically have. That's why I started this thread...to figure out the best route for doing the rest of it.

[Donkbaca]

Gotcha.

Do you have circular saw and a drill?

[MagicManPA]

Gotcha.

Do you have circular saw and a drill?

I have a drill & hand tools. make no mistake, I can use power tools just fine. I just don't own the ones I'd need nor have anyone to borrow them from. No budget to go out & buy them just for this either.

[Nephasth]

Do you actually have the x-arcade?

No, I am picking up the cabinet this weekend. That will be the 1st piece I physically have. That's why I started this thread...to figure out the best route for doing the rest of it.

Best route: Keep that monitor if it works, install an ArcadeVGA in your computer, keep/modify the cab's control panel, change the cab's artwork to suit your taste. Down side, it would be best only for vertical games and you want to play fighting games. But you can rotate the monitor inside the cab which would take care of this and vertical games would be small, but that's alright IMO.

[Nephasth]

Nevermind about the control panel, I missed the part where you said the one you are getting is missing. But is shouldn't be too hard to find one to fit your cab nice.

[MagicManPA]

Guys, please read my posts.  
The cabinet I am getting is BARE. No control panel, no monitor, etc...

Do you actually have the x-arcade?

No, I am picking up the cabinet this weekend. That will be the 1st piece I physically have. That's why I started this thread...to figure out the best route for doing the rest of it.

Best route: Keep that monitor if it works, install an ArcadeVGA in your computer, keep/modify the cab's control panel, change the cab's artwork to suit your taste. Down side, it would be best only for vertical games and you want to play fighting games. But you can rotate the monitor inside the cab which would take care of this and vertical games would be small, but that's alright IMO.

[Donkbaca]

Okay honestly, the best looking/cheapest option would be this:

get this:$25
http://www.paradisearcadeshop.com/24-arcade-controller-to-usb.html

its plug and play, you just hook up the wires to the buttons, easy, easy.  enough for your joysticks, 6 buttons per player plus buttons for coin and start.  

then get these 2 of these:$9.95 x 2 = $19.90
http://www.paradisearcadeshop.com/108-il-competition-joystick.html

Get this: 1.10 x14= $15.40
http://www.paradisearcadeshop.com/32-translucent-microswitch-pushbuttons.html

You need 14 buttons: 6 per player plus 1 each for player one coin and player 2 coin.

Finally these:1.50 x 2=$3.00

There you have all the things you need for a plug and play control panel.

Get a forstner 1 1/8 bit from home depot to drill your holes.  They are about ten bucks.

Print out a controls layout from here:  
http://www.slagcoin.com/joystick/layout.html

Print it out life size, tape it to your cp and drill.

For your CP, get a sheet of 1/2 inch plywood.  That should be sturdy enough to hold your controls and thin enough that you don't have to route out the bottom much or at all if you can live with shorter sticks.  You may be able to go with 1/4 inch plywood.  Plywood is stronger than mdf, so 1/4 should probably be fine. 1 sheet will set you back 20 bucks

measure the CP area, use the sides of the cab and just rebuild the top and front of the cp box, using a 1 by 2 screwed to the inside of your cab as a frame and screwing and gluing the top and front to it.  If you mitre the two edge of the plywood top and front where they meet you won't need t-molding.  Your circular saw should be able to tilt, just set it to 45 degrees.  Then, you glue the joint and reinforce it with little L-brackets.  If you wanted to you could sand the joint to smooth it over and make it rounded.

Then just paint it all black with a can of spray paint, install your buttons and mount your joystick and It will look like a million bucks, and cost you less than a hundred.  It'll be cheaper then the x-arcade, be plug and play and probably be about the same amount of work as mounting the x-arcade.  

[MagicManPA]

Awesome post, thanks. 

Finally these:1.50 x 2=$3.00

I think you forgot a link there.  

If you mitre the two edge of the plywood top and front where they meet you won't need t-molding.  Your circular saw should be able to tilt, just set it to 45 degrees.  Then, you glue the joint and reinforce it with little L-brackets.  If you wanted to you could sand the joint to smooth it over and make it rounded.

Do not have circular saw.

[Donkbaca]

Here is the link to all their push buttons:
http://www.paradisearcadeshop.com/3-pushbuttons

I have dealt with this shop personally, Brian is a great guy, very helpful, plus he ships everything priority mail, so shipping is only 5 bucks and you get it super fast.

THe IL concave buttons are the one you are probably used to from the arcades. 

No circ saw, not a big deal, do you have a hand saw?  You would only need to make a handful of cuts.

I don't think you have to worry too much about the mitre cut, it would just hide the edges of the plywood.  But, if you sand it to give it a bit of a rounded edge it would look good, and if you primed and painted it, you wouldn't see the edge anyway. 

[MagicManPA]

Hand saw I do have. I planned on hitting it all w/a rattle can

Here is the link to all their push buttons:
http://www.paradisearcadeshop.com/3-pushbuttons

I have dealt with this shop personally, Brian is a great guy, very helpful, plus he ships everything priority mail, so shipping is only 5 bucks and you get it super fast.

THe IL concave buttons are the one you are probably used to from the arcades. 

No circ saw, not a big deal, do you have a hand saw?  You would only need to make a handful of cuts.

I don't think you have to worry too much about the mitre cut, it would just hide the edges of the plywood.  But, if you sand it to give it a bit of a rounded edge it would look good, and if you primed and painted it, you wouldn't see the edge anyway. 

[Donkbaca]

Cool.

Only other bit of advice I would have is to counter sink the screws, and then fill them in with putty so you don't see them.

I am pretty sure 1/4 plywood would work.  I built my CP out of 1/2 in ply and routed out the top to topmount them. So really, only like 1/4 of an inch is holding the joys in place, and they feel solid.

Mounting the buttons is easy, you just drill a hole and they slid in and have a nut on the bottom that you tigthen up.

For the joystick, you drill the same size hole and then drill 4 holes in the top of the CP for carriage bolts, then you bolt it under the CP.  1/4 inches should be thin enough to where you get proper joystick height, and since its plywood and not MDF, and since its not a super large piece, it should be sturdy enough so that it doesn't flex.

[MagicManPA]

Thanks for all your help. 

Cool.

Only other bit of advice I would have is to counter sink the screws, and then fill them in with putty so you don't see them.

I am pretty sure 1/4 plywood would work.  I built my CP out of 1/2 in ply and routed out the top to topmount them. So really, only like 1/4 of an inch is holding the joys in place, and they feel solid.

Mounting the buttons is easy, you just drill a hole and they slid in and have a nut on the bottom that you tigthen up.

For the joystick, you drill the same size hole and then drill 4 holes in the top of the CP for carriage bolts, then you bolt it under the CP.  1/4 inches should be thin enough to where you get proper joystick height, and since its plywood and not MDF, and since its not a super large piece, it should be sturdy enough so that it doesn't flex.

[MagicManPA]

Picked up my free cabinet last night

[MagicManPA]

I was told I will need Keywiz as well. I looked & there are several. I'm not looking to do any soldering. Do I need this? If so, which one?

[Donkbaca]

no, you don't need one if you get the paradise arcade USB controller thing. They do the same thing.  In either case, no soldering is needed