FOUR YEARS IN THE MAKING.......P L U M A R C A D E (cabinet)

[Gray_Area]

Since I didn't document the project much, I thought I'd just post here. Not the sexiest cab - but it's got it where it counts! (I still have to finish the door; and you'll notice at the end I forgot to set Mala exit to shut it down.)

[JODY]

What kind of a two button + trigger flight control stick is that?  Please describe...

[supadave]

Is that a 27" monovision monitor. I got two of those in my garage.. Awesome picture and perfect for a mame screen. Heavy though, which is why I've never done anything with them yet. My goal is to de-case one and mount it in a cabinet. Just haven't had time and as I mentioned they are a beast to move around. The picture though is amazing..

[Raitsa]

There must be a typo in the thread topic, it says... four years. 

[Havok]

I really like how you simulated a tv bolted to a wood stand. Brilliant!

[ids]

There must be a typo in the thread topic, it says... four years. 

I'm about 4-5years in and just wrapping up, I think I'm in good company

[fallacy]

I don’t get it.

[compute]

Four years.  Now I don't feel so bad that the one I started over the summer isn't completed yet.  I've been setting up to run wahcade, but MALA just looks gorgeous by comparison.  I may have to switch OS'.

[Necro]

I...just don't know what to say.  Actually I do...but I won't.

[SavannahLion]

I...just don't know what to say.  Actually I do...but I won't.

I can't... I really can't.... Help you there.

So... Gray... What made you choose this particular design?

[nordemoniac]

Not to mock or anything...but four YEARS? Sorry... It's a nice software setup, but you really need to make a cabinet to call it a arcade machine.

Not that I'm much better at this. I'm just getting started on a project myself. But it is going to look like an arcade-machine.

[Savannan]

Goto craigslist's and find a empty cab.  There cheap...only about $50 or so bucks.

[ids]

oh..... when i posted earlier, it was from work where there's no utube.


So....

I'm thinking this should perhaps be nominated for an award.  Maybe not a Mamey, but something like this, for example.

[leapinlew]

Some of you guys are out of line.

[Nephasth]

Some of you guys are out of line.

+1

[BobA]

Some of you guys are out of line.

+1 agree

[Malenko]

Not to mock or anything...but four YEARS? Sorry... It's a nice software setup, but you really need to make a cabinet to call it a arcade machine.

Not that I'm much better at this. I'm just getting started on a project myself. But it is going to look like an arcade-machine.

I speak for the OP when I say suck it. People work when they can, slow progress is better than no progress.

[Jammin0]

I thought the control setup was kind of cool.

[Necro]

Some of you guys are out of line.

I was thinking this then saw the OP had >1000 posts here.  He knew exactly what would be coming and, honestly, I'm not sure if the post is serious or in jest. 

If serious, the post deserves some info on WHY he chose to go this way which would eliminate any/all rationale for comments that say it looks like a cabinet that would be featured on on an Ikea Hacking website. 

...damn.  That prob. crossed the line, no? 

(And I agree, the controls are cool...the design...I just don't understand.  At all.)

[opt2not]

- One-button power-up.
- Easy navigating menus
- Not so franken-panel'd controls.
- The angle of the TV looks good. Reminds me of those Egret 29's.

I like it.
Obviously the aesthetics is something to be desired. But its fully functional, and completed (something a large majority of the members here have yet to accomplish).
This also makes for a pretty great prototype. If you decide to build a V.2 of this, I can see you easily taking your setup and mounting it into a fully built cabinet.
 

[Havok]

Some of you guys are out of line.

-1

Like Necro said, the guy has been around long enough to expect a little criticism. I mean really, if we are all just "oooh, ahhh" even with something like this that I could whip together in a weekend, you need to leave. Besides, I really think he's expecting a little heat considering the length of time it took to get to this point.

[Thenasty]

I must admit when I saw the Topic of 4 Years, I was expecting WOW!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway, My cab is not done yet and it's been YEARS 

At least you/I get to play some games 

[JODY]

Obviously he's happy with it.  He hasn't logged in since the 19th.  Must be busy playing.  Good for him.  I still want details on that stick.

[Gray_Area]

I anticipated all of the above. I expected no approval. I didn't even have to post it. But I thought why not. I did build *something*.

Five years, actually, mostly in acquiring the parts, and then only this spring having any kind of facilities to even cut wood. I have no garage, and I wasn't going to be sinking money into tools - I borrowed both car port and tools. Even so, I didn't have a table saw.

I looked for a PnP solution so I wouldn't HAVE to build. But the angle you can't buy. I don't mind building things, but I'm a snob about having the right facilities. And I've found that anything that seems it'll take five minutes, easily takes a half-hour, and almost never fails to. But several of these games I WILL NOT PLAY without the original or near original controls, so I either needed to build something, or just forget it.

The design was based mainly in two things: ease, and not decasing the monitor. I went through a lot of ideas over the years in trying to figure out how to 'incorporate' the monitor, but everything failed the ease part - no fancy cutting, no fancy routing work, no curves.

I didn't want ANY of the basic designs. I really don't care for those. Equally, I suspected building the CP and 'tacking' it onto a candy would've been seriously derided.

I bet if I'd recessed it or built a shroud to cover up the front panel, and then painted the....stand.... black, there would've been less if any fuss on that. I really like the case's design, anyway. And this design isn't far off from some of the later candys that have a sort of slanted L design - they're mostly frame and monitor case, and look less like a 'cabinet' than mine.

The monitor is a Monivision. The stick is an NOS flight stick from the early 80s, seen on M.A.C.H. 3 , for example.  The name is from the color. While simple, the design and fabrication are completely my own.

Also, here are some component shots, and one of the wiring for those who might be interested. Not pretty, but well enough handled.

[equlizer]

I think its a pretty neat way of doing things.  You built it for yourself and your comfort and what games you play.  Who cares how long it took to build.  I built mine in 2 weeks and wish i would have taken longer, but thats the price i pay for impatience

As long as "you" are happy, who gives a fudge what others say.

[Havok]

I do like the control panel setup; and nice job on the sidewinder hack. Now just build an enclosure for that tv!

[Gray_Area]

I do like the control panel setup; and nice job on the sidewinder hack. Now just build an enclosure for that tv!

Your mind is funny.


There was a certain humor in the title, though, yes. But thanks to those who see quality in the project.


I'm surprised no one has noticed I have two controllers in there. And asked why. For those curious: I started off with the DS hack, and did figure out how to get more buttons from it, but I'm not sure I had enough, and it was a pain in the ass.

So I bought an AKI from someone here - and, as I just knew would happen when I bought the plug for the yoke harness and didn't buy two, the plugs are now out of stock. In the whole world!

If I find one, I'm going to change completely over to the AKI. I just hate to cut the harness wires, and I don't think the plug inserts in the old one would survive another round of removing and replacing.

[Havok]

 Yes, my mind is funny. That's why the ladies love me so much.



Didn't notice that was an AKI in there as I don't have one and am only familiar with the name and it's capabilities. I figured it was an Ipac. So not only is the Plumarcade angled correctly, it's fault tolerant!

By the way, you can buy new plug inserts, it's just the Molex that's a pain to source...

[Gray_Area]

Yes, my mind is funny. That's why the ladies love me so much.



Didn't notice that was an AKI in there as I don't have one and am only familiar with the name and it's capabilities. I figured it was an Ipac. So not only is the Plumarcade angled correctly, it's fault tolerant!

Yeah, as long as you make sure to ground the unused axes. Hmhmhmh, he says 'unpredictable behavior may result', otherwise, and that's what happened; it wouldn't always respond on start-up.

By the way, you can buy new plug inserts, it's just the Molex that's a pain to source...

Mmm, I hadn't thought of that. It's still a chore getting the inserts out.

[Havok]

It's still a chore getting the inserts out.

It's easy if you have an extraction tool. Jameco sells them, along with the inserts:

http://www.jameco.com/Jameco/catalogs/c113/P62.pdf

[Gray_Area]

Thanks. I'll give that a gander, later.