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Ping of Pong (the recycled ping pong table cab) - Actually all the way done now.
BadMouth:
Day 2 - 6:00PM - GO!!!!! :D
I apologize for the lousy quality on the photos. I thought the ones I took yesterday were too big, so I dumbed down the quality on my phone.
I will change it back next time.
First up, I had this piece of plexi leftover from my driving cab. Cutting it by scoring it didn't work too well for me last time around as you can tell by the crooked edge. So I decided to try the table saw this time. It worked great.
After cutting the marquee and bezel, I had this much left:
In my first post on this project in the main forum (when I was considering raiding my neighbors trash), I mentioned that the edging on the ping pong table might make a good marquee retainer.
It turned out to be useable, but pretty wide.....
But after my success with the plexiglass on the table saw, I thought I'd give ripping these plastic strips a try and.....
I even made sure the two screw holes on the top retainer were spaced an equal distance from the edge so it would look good.
(the plexi looks scratched because it still has the protective film on it)
Then it came time to make a shelf for the monitor to sit on. I sat a chair in front of the cab and placed my hands where the controls would be trying to decide what would look best. It didn't make sense to mount it low like a pacman cab because you'd be looking more across it than down at it.
Putting it completely vertical would have put the bezel right up against the front of the cab. I didn't care for the looks of that. I ended up with this angle for not much reason besides it looked ok and I needed to make a decision and keep moving.
(15" Dell CRT and Megatouch XL bezel)
Unfortunately, the monitor sticks out the back of the cab a bit. Even if I took it out of it's housing, it would still stick out.
There was enough ping pong table there to make the cab deeper, but I stuck with the 70% scale.
For the bezel, the plan was to glue the megatouch bezel into the center of a piece of project board.
I will paint this black, then have the option of piecing together the galaga bezel printed on my inkjet printer or painting a design onto the back of the plexi that will go in front of it. To hold the bezel in place, I turned to the ping pong table trim again. I put a piece on each side behind where the bezel will be, then a thick piece on top, that will go in front of the bezel and hold it down. (the bezel is slipping behind the project board in the first pic. It fits a helluva lot better than it looks in that pic)
The next step was piecing it together with the CP. I'm still working out how I want to accomplish this. I may break down and buy a hinge and some latches.
Here I am trying to keep about 5 things from falling so I can get a picture (everything is crooked):
Note the ping pong table edging on the front edge ;D.
9:00PM.....STOP :(
And you know that I couldn't resist dropping in the controls once the holes were there.....
I tinkered with the layout on my desk during my last half hour of work today.
Since it's only 16" wide, it felt like I was cramped into one little section of the CP with the joystick in the center.
Having the player buttons on the left bothers me a little bit, but they made the right side look crowded and I thought I'd accidentally hit the P2 button while playing. The white square button in the corner will be the exit button. The button is actually clear with a white insert. I plan to tape off an X on the insert, then paint it black. Then it will be black with white markings, like the others. There will be a green square button in the coin door area for credits.
(haven't figured out what I'm doing for a coin door yet, but I'll think of something)
Info on my cheap home built spinner in this thread if you're interested:
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=105759.0
I hate to stop when I'm on a roll, but I won't have time to get back on this until Monday.
I'm shooting for having the entire cab done before next weekend. :o
AurorasDady:
love the use of materials (probably spelled that wrong,) I am liking this, but confused as to the fact that most big chain stores have damaged boards for the cost of a soda or candy bar and the dollar or two may have saved you time when it comes to piant.
BadMouth:
--- Quote from: AurorasDady on May 19, 2011, 04:48:44 am ---confused as to the fact that most big chain stores have damaged boards for the cost of a soda or candy bar and the dollar or two may have saved you time when it comes to piant.
--- End quote ---
This cab build is just for ---meadow muffins--- and giggles
I saw a ping pong table in my neighbors trash and thought it would be cool to build a cab out of it.
That's the entire point. ;)
I would have had no desire to build this cab otherwise and I have no use for the cab once it's done. ;D
Everything that has gone into this cab so far (including the monitor and computer) is scrap that has been on the verge of being thrown away for the past year.
The few exceptions so far being the screws, player buttons and sanwa stick. I hated using those player buttons on this, but they just look right.
I have a nearly full sheet of 3/4" MDF that I could have used, but that wouldn't have been any fun. The whole purpose of this build is to use up all the scraps in my shed and the last of the ancient computer parts that I have laying around. Everything I don't use will be thrown away. That's why it's called Project:Get Rid of Crap until I come up with a better name.
As far as the time I'm putting into it....this is what I do for entertainment.
Nephasth:
Make sure you show that to your neighbor before giving it to your nephew. ;D Good looking scrap build!
Ond:
I really like your whole thnking behind this cab, and also the speed in which you're bringing it together. You could call it G.R.O.C. or GROC heh ok mebe not.