X-Arcade in my cab or Upac etc?

[Marcade]

I'm planning to build a two player bartop cab for as little money as possible, as the only reason I've been able to even start this is that I have bought a house- the dream is someday to have a few original cabs but as I'm desperate to "get my game on" it's time to jump into my first build I think 

Anyway like so many others I have an Xarcade (two player without trackball) and was thinking of gutting it, moving the buttons to a location I like on a bit of MDF, drilling and bingo... custom cp completed!

Is this is huge mistake? is there any reason that I should be looking at buying a set of sticks, buttons, and Upac to properly build my own?
Keep in mind I'm trying to keep the cost down, and the xarcade already has everything on it that I need.

Thanks, and you'll all hear much more from me as my build kicks off... very much conceptual stage at the moment (first ever wood work job was last weekend! )

(p.s mods please feel free to move if this is in the wrong part of the forum)

[BobA]

If you are happy with how your x-arcade feels then move the controls and the interface to your new bartop.  It is the least expensive way to go if you are starting from scratch.  Only buy new sticks and buttons if you do not like the feel of your x-arcade.  Some people like them while others hate them.  It is purely a personal choice.

By the way it is an Ipac from Ultimarc.

Good luck on your build  

[Marcade]

By the way it is an Ipac from Ultimarc.

- well I was close enough 
I've not really done any research on that tbh as I like my X-arcade feel- It might not be perfect but I'm trying to replicate the feel of "my" arcades growing up, in the UK in the late 80s early nineties it was mostly battered old jamma cabs that I got to play on (particularly the black cabs with red/blue logos on the side that name escapes me, something like coinmaster or machine something...anyway), or sticky cola covered joysticks, and my X-arcade reminds me of a clean version of those... might not be great to anyone else but I love it 

[Donkbaca]

If you love it, that is all that matters. 

The only issue you may have is that the x-arcade encoder does not have a common ground, and the wires are a little short.  But none of that should be a problem for a bar top.

I did just what you did, I was planning on re-using everything, but then I decided that I wanted my CP to light up, so I got rid of the joys and buttons.  I like the way the joystick feels though.  You should have no problem doing what you plan on doing. 

Joysticks and buttons are a personal choice.  Encoders all work the same way, if you like them, don't let anyone convince you different

[Marcade]

The only issue you may have is that the x-arcade encoder does not have a common ground

...and with that I feel out of my depth again 

What does common ground mean? obviously to do with being earthed out, but I AM here to learn after all

[Donkbaca]

Its not anything to really worry about.  All you are doing is transplanting components, but for your enlightenment;  a common ground means that there is one ground that gets shared for all the inputs.  It makes for easier wiring because then all you need to do is daisy chain the one ground to all the inputs.  The x-arcade, on the other hand has different grounds for each bank of inputs.  It makes the wiring a little more messy, since you can't daisy chain them like you can if it were common ground, and makes it a little more complicated since its more wires to keep track of.

[Marcade]

thanks for that 
Hopefully it shouldn't be too much of a problem as I'm hoping for a complete guts transfer.

[Donkbaca]

FYI

have you looked at www.slagcoin.com?

That is a good resource for button layouts.  I changed mine from the straight layout on the x-arcade to a more curved layout, I like it better.

Also, get a 1 1/8 forstner bit to drill your holes, in case you were wondering how to make them.

[Marcade]

  Thanks for that link 
Not seen that before, more reading to be done! 

[LeedsFan]

By the way it is an Ipac from Ultimarc.

- well I was close enough 
I've not really done any research on that tbh as I like my X-arcade feel- It might not be perfect but I'm trying to replicate the feel of "my" arcades growing up, in the UK in the late 80s early nineties it was mostly battered old jamma cabs that I got to play on (particularly the black cabs with red/blue logos on the side that name escapes me, something like coinmaster or machine something...anyway)

I think you are fondly remembering the Electrocoin cabinets....
http://electrocoin.uk.com/goliath/

I had one of these and coverted it to a mame cab with Ultimarc J-Pac as my first project. Good luck with your transplant. I also had an X-Arcade but i sold it to help fund the cabinet conversion. And I ended up buying X-Arcade sticks anyway to put in that machine. Personally I feel there are much better sticks around now, but I was happy with them at the time.

I think you are doing the right thing to be honest in a full transplant. After you have done you can swap and change things if you like.

[Marcade]

Electrocoin!! That's the one!

[bullrees]

I also bought an x-arcade and was very happy with it to play mame on my computer. When I drank the cool-aid they serve here and got a cab...the natural thing for me to do was transplant the controls into my own CP.
I later got an IPAC4 (that is still not installed) and have been looking at more control options/money. Money and cold weather have kept me from changing anything for about six months but we've had a ton of fun with the current set up.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=108330.msg1150722

[Necro]

Do you have the original encoder for the X-Arcade or the revised 'USB capable' one.  If it's the original, I'd recommend getting rid of it and getting a new one.

[Donkbaca]

If you get rid of it, I'll take it off your hands