Automated Cabinet

[darthpaul]

This is one of the reasons this is taking so long, I made a change in how the steering column is being raised. The actuator is pulling back on a lever that pushes out the brake and gas pedals, attached to this lever I attached a cable that ran through a pulley that pulled down on another lever that pushed up a rod that pushed up the steering column, got all of that? I wasn't happy with this arrangement but I couldn't think of anything else.



Last week I discovered the bell crank and here is the result.



As the actuator pulls back on the lever, the flat bar that is attached to the lever, pulls back on the "L" bracket which raises a bar which pushes up the steering column. This works so much better and I actually got it to work on the first try, a first for this project. 

[drventure]

Nice. I used almost the exact same mechanism to pop out the screen once it was fully lifted on my touchscreen jukebox conversion.

You +really+ need to check out the PDFs this guy links to

http://www.pdnotebook.com/2010/02/507-mechanical-movements-pdf/

The 507 Mechanical Movements, and several of the other PDfs are fantastic resources for getting ideas on mechanical motion conversion, translation, you name it. Old stuff, but very cool.

[darthpaul]

Thanks, just downloaded it, now I have more ideas to start working on your suggestion.
 
"I always thought the ultimate in this would be to have each button mounted on a motorized lift.

When you select a game, only the used buttons would be "up".

The rest would drop down under the CP and little cover doors would slide in place to cover the holes.

I'm counting the days years till someone pulls that one off."

I don't know about the doors but mounting Servos to each button could work raising and lowering them.

[drventure]

"I always thought the ultimate in this would be to have each button mounted on a motorized lift.

Dude, if you can pull off something even remotely like that, you'll be considered a god among men (at least by me  )

[yaksplat]

Just scanning through that book makes me want to start on another project that i've been drawing up.  Recreating a bryan's Payramid.

http://www.melright.com/bryans/payramid.htm

Less electrical, more mechanical...

[kahlid74]

Just scanning through that book makes me want to start on another project that i've been drawing up.  Recreating a bryan's Payramid.

http://www.melright.com/bryans/payramid.htm

Less electrical, more mechanical...

Not to side track this thread but when I built a DC for a manufacturing company I got to walk the lines with some of the Controls Engineers.  They were retrofitting a line made by a German company back in the late 80's/90's.  The stuff was WAY ahead of it's time.  The controls guys said "This whole line is basically mechanical.  They did in this line mechanically what we do control(computers) wise in other lines.  These guys were brilliant".  That comment always stuck with me, that you could do something so beautiful and smoothly mechanically as you could with computerized components.  Was super cool.  Sorry to derail the thread.

[DaOld Man]

Also not meaning to derail the thread, but I worked on a automated welding machine back in the early 80s that was built by Austrians. The operator programmed the sequence by inserting pegs in a plastic belt at specific locations, each time the machine would stroke, the belt would advance one section. The pegs would make limit switches at the top, which cycled relays to do a certain function. This was before PLC's were popular. I thought it was amazing. Now we have PLCs that can do those sorts of things, but back then that was way ahead of the technology we were using on other machines in the plant. Relays were big then, now 99% of machines are ran by computers known as PLC's.

[yaksplat]

I've worked on some of those two.  Basically like a music box cyinder.  They were dead on for repetitive cycles unless you had a voltage issue to the motor controlling the wheel.

[darthpaul]

I was thinking how bland my sliding panel is that conceals the shifter and steering wheel column, just a lot of red and black.



As I was surfing the web looking for ideas, I came across edge lighting plexiglass and thought, why not, anything is better than how it looks now. This was the site I used for directions http://www.instructables.com/id/Edge-Lit-Displays/?ALLSTEPS
I pretty much followed what he did and here is what I came up with.









I think I placed the LEDs a little too close to the subject matter but I had very tight quarters and I think it still looks kinda neat.
I was thinking about maybe using this technique on a Control Panel, of course a lot thought would have to go into the artwork to intergrate the two and of course a lot of patience and a steady hand.

[mcseforsale]

bump

[MameMaster!]

Wow. Kudos on the creativity here.

This looks like Macgyver is builiding it. I swear I've never seen such a mish/mash of parts- that is so beautifully functional!

Very well done.

....my only worry for you is the inevitable mechanical problems/gremlins you're going to be working out of this thing for months (years?) to come!

But- again- incredible job. Very very creative. 

[darthpaul]

I think you maybe right, I have already made modifications because of problems and I'm not even up and running yet    I know it's a little rough around the edges but hopefully it will inspire others to try something like this as well. My only real concern is the durability of it, only time will tell on that one.

[drventure]

It's like a wonderful combination of the hardest to maintain bits of both arcade games and pinballs! 

I'm just kiddin'

I love all the motion stuff, even if it might be a pain to maintain.

You're stuff has given me some ideas as to how I'll be setting up monitor rotation on my buffet cabinet!

[darthpaul]

Well, I just took about 3 steps back, I took apart the rotating panels, again because there was a little to much play in the rotation, to install a larger gear to lower the motor height, do an adjustment to one of the limit switches and clean up the wiring a bit. While I had it apart, I took some pictures and a video of the servos for the Joysticks.

[drventure]

Not to derail the thread or anything, but if you built an amphibious car, this is what I'd imagine it'd look like.

Watch till about half way through, when it shows what all pops out.

[Le Chuck]

DRV - I don't quite understand the source but that link made me feel like the first time I saw a girl naked. 

Thanks for derailing, it allows me to ask Yak a direct question.

Jim - are you serious about building a Bryan's Pyramid?  I've loved that machine for years.  I have the plans but don't have cut lists or anything like that.  If you go through with a build I'd love to help anyway I can. 

Darth - Keep up the good work, I'm sure our efforts will result in the main stream availability of auto rotating joys someday. 

[yaksplat]

< thread derail>

Hell yeah i am.  I've got a guy in the UK that has been taking pictures of parts for me with measurements.  My plan is to draw it up in inventor and then fabricate it from there.  I do have a feeling that this will be a looooooooong running project.  I was planning on drawing up all of the castings and then having them printed out at shapeways as a proof of concept and then actually getting them cast.  I'm not sure how well the shapeways sintered materials would hold up or look.  I'll give you some read/write privileges on my skydrive folder where i keep all of the info that i have.

</thread derail>

[mcseforsale]

Yak...is there any links to Bryan's Pyramid sites?  I'm having trouble finding any..

Thanks!

/hijack off

< thread derail>

Hell yeah i am.  I've got a guy in the UK that has been taking pictures of parts for me with measurements.  My plan is to draw it up in inventor and then fabricate it from there.  I do have a feeling that this will be a looooooooong running project.  I was planning on drawing up all of the castings and then having them printed out at shapeways as a proof of concept and then actually getting them cast.  I'm not sure how well the shapeways sintered materials would hold up or look.  I'll give you some read/write privileges on my skydrive folder where i keep all of the info that i have.

</thread derail>

[GIZMOGAMES]

Automated monitor rotation, control panel rotation, auto switching joysticks from 4 to 8 way, auto retractable light guns, auto retractable pedals and shifter. The only thing I couldn't automate is the steering wheel, that is going to have to be manually added and removed.

Dude you forgot the automated bottle opener for the beers oh wait erm nop NOPE thats why we have kids lol
Sik loving it

[yaksplat]

Yak...is there any links to Bryan's Pyramid sites?  I'm having trouble finding any..

Thanks!

/hijack off

That's because there's almost nothing out there, which is really hard to believe.
This is the only one that has any info:
http://www.melright.com/bryans/payramid.htm

[mcseforsale]

And....pAyramid....with an A. 

Thanks!  I'd seen it before but couldn't find the link.

AJ

Yak...is there any links to Bryan's Pyramid sites?  I'm having trouble finding any..

Thanks!

/hijack off

That's because there's almost nothing out there, which is really hard to believe.
This is the only one that has any info:
http://www.melright.com/bryans/payramid.htm

[RetroRik]

Fantastic stuff DarthPaul.  

You are a man after my own heart. I love to solve a problem by building something out of parts a can find for free or at least on the cheap.

I am particularly liking the Joystick 4/8 way mechanism...
Hmm.. Giving me ideas for mine now you git... lol..  

Any LEDs planned anywhere to bling it up.? ( other than the buttons. )

Cheers

RIK

[darthpaul]

Thanks, I'm on a crusade to have all 4/8way joysticks automated 
No Bling ??
Starting at the top; lighted rotating Sith Holocron, automated rotating Monitor, pop-up light guns, automated rotating control panels, side lit plexi sliding panels that conceal the shifter and steering column, soon to be build, sliding panel to conceal gas and brake pedals(a light will shine on the pedals then they are extended).
I was thinking of putting LEDS in the edges of each of the three control panels that would light-up as the panels rotated but that may be more work than it's worth.

[DaOld Man]

I was thinking the same thing about the bling 

I like the idea of the panels lighting up, maybe light the one that it is turning to?
(Not trying to pile more work on you  )

[Uncle Monkey]

I was thinking the same thing about the bling 

I like the idea of the panels lighting up, maybe light the one that it is turning to?
(Not trying to pile more work on you  )

i say pile it on, he's clearly a masochist, and all you geniuses need to do as much awesome stuff as possible so inspire the NOOBS in the peanut gallery (like me)

[darthpaul]

Sure, give me more to think about and do on my vacation  
Something like this?

[Le Chuck]

Sure, give me more to think about and do on my vacation  
Something like this?

How fun are those video pachinko machines?  I've thought about getting one but don't trust the online reviews.   

[GIZMOGAMES]

Talk about EYECANDY wow those look awsome nice selection of starwars stuff too hee hee
got any links to those machines

[darthpaul]

How fun are those video pachinko machines?  I've thought about getting one but don't trust the online reviews.   

The best I can say is they look cool, playing is just a matter of luck which path the balls take but they do have a fair amount of Bling. If you are going to get one you will need to install a volume control on it. The machine does come with a three position volume control, loud, louder and wake the dead 

Sorry no links, I bought them a couple years ago off of ebay.

[lcmgadgets]

When I first started following this thread, I thought u were way out of control. But the more I see, the more I like. I think I'll have to steal some of your ideas, that is, if I can repeat them--your skill is so far beyond mine it's ridiculous (not that that's saying much--almost everyone on this forum is way beyond me). But the idea of making mame gaming idiot proof is rather appealing.

So congrats, keep up the great work, and keep the posts coming!

[darthpaul]

I don't think you are the only one thinking I was out of control. The idea was to keep only the controls you need to play a game visible. Even though the build is much more difficult than a so called normal build, my goal is to have a much simpler cabinet to use, especially when company comes over to play. My skills aren't all that great or I wouldn't be pulling this thing apart for the third time. While I have it apart, I'm going to install Molex connectors, so if I have to take it apart again, it will be way easier.
Good luck on your build.

[lcmgadgets]

I don't think you are the only one thinking I was out of control. The idea was to keep only the controls you need to play a game visible. Even though the build is much more difficult than a so called normal build, my goal is to have a much simpler cabinet to use, especially when company comes over to play. My skills aren't all that great or I wouldn't be pulling this thing apart for the third time. While I have it apart, I'm going to install Molex connectors, so if I have to take it apart again, it will be way easier.
Good luck on your build.

Hey, the cool factor on this build is so high it more than justifies any craziness. & a lot of what we're (can I include myself when all I've accomplished so far is a really crappy looking ddr pad build, a stack of parts in the basement, & some sketchup drawings?) trying to do here is as much about the building itself as the gaming is (I think I can safely say that if u want a really well built cab, it better b about the build first).

More & more, I like the idea of making it simple for guests. Darn it, I'm almost sold on some big reconsiderations for my illusionary future cab. I'd pretty much decided on a modded Ghost in the Machine clone, but now...

I do have at least one more concern: a heavily automated cab sounds like a lot to go wrong, especially as it sees more use over time. A lot of what you're doing involves moving parts--how durable r they?

...& as for 'my build', I'm always using terms like 'illusionary', or 'fantasy', as if it will never happen. I've got some serious obstacles in my way, but I'm slowly (very slowly) making progress. Right now I'm sketchuping controllers (using way more detail than necessary, but I'm having fun), & the next step is to start cab drawings. I don't have a workshop or anywhere to put one, so my plan is to hire a carpenter to do all the cutting for me. So it is happening, just way slower than I would prefer.

[edin_dave]

We SO need a video of this  

[lcmgadgets]

+1 

[darthpaul]

I do have at least one more concern: a heavily automated cab sounds like a lot to go wrong, especially as it sees more use over time. A lot of what you're doing involves moving parts--how durable r they?

Only time will tell, but really, it's not like all these moving parts are going to be in continuous operation, my biggest concern is, if something fails to work, it can cause something else to break. an example is the sliding panels that conceal the shifter, if these fail to open, the shifter doesn't know that and will continue to rise. Because of these concerns, I have added a series of micro switches to prevent such a disaster, it's a pain in the neck to do but it will help you sleep better at night 

I don't have a workshop or anywhere to put one, so my plan is to hire a carpenter to do all the cutting for me. So it is happening, just way slower than I would prefer.

  To bad about the workshop, so if you are planning to add automation, it's a good thing you are spending a lot of time planning, something I didn't do and ended up doing quite a bit of modifications to the original build. On the flip side, you don't want to spend so much time planning that it never gets built.

We SO need a video of this

I know, I know

[darthpaul]

Changed up the artwork on my one player panel from this.



To this.

[vindic8r]

Most impressive! The Sith language translation in the original design was pretty slick, though.

BTW - minor typo on the second to last line on the left "Through Strength".

[darthpaul]

I knew something didn't look right, thanks for pointing that out.

Updated panel

[vindic8r]

F*(k yeah! Now that's what I'm talking about! 

[DaOld Man]

Looks good Paul.