Why Coin Doors???

[SirPeale]

I've got 12 token mechs, just sitting here, lonely, waiting to be used.  .900 ones.  Check the 'for sale' forum for ultra-details.

[1UP]

If I had credit buttons they would be inside the coin door.

In fact, for authenticities sake I may be removing all my administration buttons.

AlanS17,

Mate I am curious how you are going to be going about removing all administration buttons? This is something I would be interested in doing myself.

-Alex

You can do this 2 ways:  Get an I-PAC (has built-in shift key functions that let you access most common functions like exit, enter, menu, volume, pause etc using key and joystick combinations) or you can also program key combinations into MAME (in the "Input - General" option) for administrative tasks.  This means you can use any combination of keyboard encoder, gamepad hacks, keyboard hack etc, not just I-PAC.

For instance, in the MAME menu under "exit game" you could map "1 and UP" so to exit a game you would hold your P1 Start button and then press UP on the joystick.  You could use any button combo, all you do is go to an option, hit enter, then hold down the button combo you want to use.  I used this to get the "P1Start + P2 Start = ESC" function on my PC control panel before I got an I-PAC!

Another way is to just put all your admin buttons inside the coin door...

[GSXRMovistar]

On the subject of coin doors can a 25c mech be adjusted to accept other coins (ideally any uk coins)?

Reason I ask is Happs with supply a coin door wirh 25c mechs but wants more for them to be replaced by uk mechs

*Bump*

Anyone? I'd ideally like to place my order tomorrow, also can you get tokens to fit a 25c mech, as this would be another option I wouldn't mind doing.

Cheers.

[SirPeale]

Yes you can.  The drawback being that ANYTHING you drop thru will register.

[GSXRMovistar]

Thanks Peale, thats saves me a lilttle cash. In fact I would prefer it that any coin put in would register, I can use it a HUGE piggy bank then  

[1UP]

Thanks Peale, thats saves me a lilttle cash. In fact I would prefer it that any coin put in would register, I can use it a HUGE piggy bank then  

Well, not ANYTHING will register.  The first catch on the way down thru a coin mech is a rocker that tests whether the thing you've dropped in is anywhere near the size of a quarter/token.  If you use a dime, nickel or penny, it will probably just drop right thru rather than rocking forward, and will end up in the return slot.



Here's a look inside.  There's actually a tab that the coin hits first that tests for thickness (not visible behind the token) to make sure the coin is not too thick.  This is adjustable with a screw on the outside of the mech.

If the token passes, then it hits the brass rocker, which tests the token for minimum diameter.  If the coin is too small, it just falls thru and drops into the return slot.  If the token is big enough, it will rock forward toward the white post above.  The rocker also seems to be a test for weight as well -- an aluminum or plastic token of the right size will not rock forward, and must be rejected manually to clear the mech.

If the token is the right size and weight, it will rock toward the white post, which checks for maximum diameter.  This is also adjustable by rotating the white plastic base of the post.  If the coin is too large, it will lodge against the post and must be rejected manually.  If the coin is not too big, it will continue to rock forward, dumping out of the rocker and rolling down the mech to the final challenge: the magnet.

The magnet (next to my thumb above) checks for steel slugs.  Steel will stick to the magnet, and again must be manually rejected.  The coin reject button basically opens up the entire mech and allows any jammed coins to fall thru and into the return slot, while simultaneously sweeping any remaining coins with a metal arm.

If you want to use your cab as a piggy bank, you'll need to make a modification -- i.e. put something underneath the rocker (like a screw) that blocks smaller coins from dropping thru, whole not interfering with the larger coins.  I've tried this before with varying results.  After a lot of tweaking, I was able to get all US coins to go thru about 75% of the time.  A lot of times you'd have to reject the coin or slam the coin door when dimes got stuck.  Also, dimes are so small that about 50% of the time, even if they make it thru the mech, they'll just drop right past the coin switch without hitting it...  

[Howard_Casto]

Thought I would add my 50 cents to this thread.  (See the joke there?  Pretty good huh?)

Coin doors are useless, as you can simply press a button on the kyeboard to insert credits.  So are arcade controls for that matter as you can get a cheap gamepad and play that way.  See why your line of thinking is flawed yet?  

Arcade cabinet building isn't the most practical thing in the world, so you shouldn't bash individual parts because they don't seem quite as useful.  Recreating the true arcade experience should (doesn't mean that it is) be your top priority.  

I scratch built my cab, and originally left out the coin door due to lack of money.  Let me tell you, my cab never did feel like a real arcade machine until I put one in.  It just looks so much better.  Also they serve other uses.  You can hide any dedicated control buttons inside the door.  You can even put them on dipswitches for a truely authentic cab sans any "MAME crap."  Also you have two really nice access doors to get into your cab.  Sure you can make doors, but they usually end up making your cab look like a glorified kitchen cabinet.  

Btw for those of you that don't want to have to put the coins in, here is a simple solution.  You can hotglue a wire-extended microswitch to the side of  your coin mechs at just the right angle, and when you press in the coin return it depresses the switch, thus inserting credits.  You can take those same microswitches and put then on a stereo switch inside your door and turn them off.  So you can turn off these extra buttons and have the cab accept only quarters.  That's how mine is setup and it works great.  

[SirPoonga]

Right, I also use my coin door as access to my cdrom drive


1UP, Nice token, I haven't played the token games at Gameworks.

[1UP]

Btw for those of you that don't want to have to put the coins in, here is a simple solution.  You can hotglue a wire-extended microswitch to the side of  your coin mechs at just the right angle, and when you press in the coin return it depresses the switch, thus inserting credits.  You can take those same microswitches and put then on a stereo switch inside your door and turn them off.  So you can turn off these extra buttons and have the cab accept only quarters.  That's how mine is setup and it works great.

Yup, that's how I did mine too!



I used the original "test" switch that was already in my coin door to act as a cut-off for the coin buttons when I want to restrict it to tokens-only play for whatever reason.  Works great!



I also recently added a momentary pushbutton inside my coin door to act as a remote reset switch when MAME or Windows locks up.  Much nicer than straining to reach all the way back to the PC to hit the reset button.  Locking it inside the coin door also keeps my guests from messing with it.

[1UP]

Right, I also use my coin door as access to my cdrom drive


1UP, Nice token, I haven't played the token games at Gameworks.

Just one of the random tokens that was in the big ol' bag I got!  Got some Ataris, Aladdin's Castles and Chuck E Cheeses too!  And some Namco tokens with Pac-Man on them, dunno where those come from....

[SNAAAKE]

I dunno about everyone but I installed a coin door because I need access inside.
For changing console games,and a cab doesnt look like an "arcade machine" without a CC.
Simple as that.
If you are worried about the cost then try ebay.
I bought mine for $20 local(lucky me).

Thought I would add my 50 cents to this thread.  (See the joke there?  Pretty good huh?)

yeah but I am the one came up with that...

[SirPoonga]

And some Namco tokens with Pac-Man on them, dunno where those come from....

You mean:

[1UP]

You mean:

That's the one!  (Didn't have to get out the camera just for that...)

[Frostillicus]

Btw for those of you that don't want to have to put the coins in, here is a simple solution.  You can hotglue a wire-extended microswitch to the side of  your coin mechs at just the right angle, and when you press in the coin return it depresses the switch, thus inserting credits.  You can take those same microswitches and put then on a stereo switch inside your door and turn them off.  So you can turn off these extra buttons and have the cab accept only quarters.  That's how mine is setup and it works great.  

I did this too on my newer cab - here's a pic.  My first cab always looked a bit naked to me, and I think it was because it was missing a coin door.  

[Chris]

When I first decided I was going to have a MAME cabinet, I wasn't going to buy a coin door, but I was going to put lighted rectangular buttons where the coin slots would be and put "Insert Coin" labels on them.  However, my cabinet came with a working coin door (no mechs, though), and I'm glad it did, because visually it makes the machine look more like a real arcade machine than anything else.  Like many in this thread,  I also wired the rejects as Insert Coin buttons:



I also built a switchblock that has a cutoff switch for the free coin entry and a second set of credit buttons:


My biggest mistake, though, was putting in quarter mechs rather than token or quarter/token mechs.  I should have either put in something that could take a token, or just put in a straight tube to collect anything going into the slot like a piggy bank.

Oh, and I mounted a 5-1/4" drive bay assembly to the coin vault, so I have my CD-ROM, floppy, and USB drives available behind the coin door, and room for my tiny maintenance keyboard:



--Chris

[menace]

Where did you get that little keyboard?  That is really a great solution if you've got to have a keyboard on your cab.

[Chris]

Where did you get that little keyboard?  That is really a great solution if you've got to have a keyboard on your cab.

I got it at http://www.directron.com/psk3100u.html.  It's a USB model, so I can plug it in without interfering with the control panel, which is PS/2.  Mini keyboards also show up a lot on eBay; most of those are laptop size, about 11 inches wide.  This one's 8 inches wide.  It's great for maintenance or You Don't Know Jack, but don't plan on typing up any term papers with it unless you have tiny fingers...

--Chris

[grafixmonkey]

Right, I also use my coin door as access to my cdrom drive


1UP, Nice token, I haven't played the token games at Gameworks.

Man, now we'll all have to put card readers on our cabs!

[Frostillicus]

Where did you get that little keyboard?  That is really a great solution if you've got to have a keyboard on your cab.

Or you could get a wireless keyboard

[Wade]

Alans17,

   Install a coin up button to keep from wearing out your mechs?  You've gotta be kidding...


Everyone else:

   It's just a matter of taste, but I wanted a working coin door.  I can honestly say that it breathed new life into my Mame cab.  Hearing the coin go through the mech, then drop into the pile precisely when the game goes "waka" (or whatever is the coin up sound for the game) is just AWESOME!

   And like some others have said, it's nice to take a few bucks in tokens and play until they are gone.  Makes it a little more challenging.

   I didn't want $100 in quarters sitting around because I knew it would gradually disappear, plus it costs $100!

   I bought 500 tokens for $15.  Then I tweaked my quarter mechs to take tokens.  It wasn't that hard.

Wade

[Howard_Casto]

On that note, the social deviant in me decided to have only one quarter for my cab.... on a string

[Dr. J]

I use mine as a big piggy bank.  My family's the only one playing on it.  I like the way it looks.  It makes the games more challenging when I have a set amount of quarters to feed to the beast in one sitting.  It keeps me from playing it all the time.

When friends are over I set a button to give credits.