Is this a stupid idea?

[DickTurpin]

If I had some cogs and I put the monitor mounted on a big round disc of wood. I rigged up a handle that I could turn from the side, and lock into position 90 degrees to the left (vertical) or 90 to the right (horizontal)

? Is this possible and if so is it practical ?

[BadMouth]

Sure, though we like using motors.  Anything is possible given enough time & effort.

A long time ago, one of the MAME devs had a cab that switched from vertical to horizontal when you pulled different ends of a rope. 

End result is all the same, although I like stuff automatic.
It's more complicated to set up, but simpler to use in the end.

[DickTurpin]

Id love it to be automated but how difficult/costly do you think that would be ?

Edit: Misread your post.

[drventure]

Make all the gears polished brass and the handle cast bronze, then show off the mechanism in a skeleton cab and you just might have something!

[headkaze]

Id love it to be automated but how difficult/costly do you think that would be ?

Edit: Misread your post.

Check out this page. At the bottom it has instructions on how to build one controlled by either by an LPT port or keyboard LED.

[epetti]

Id love it to be automated but how difficult/costly do you think that would be ?

Edit: Misread your post.

Check out these two posts:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,110471.0.html
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,112424.0.html

They did a rotating setup automated via USB for about $100. I just copied their work in the last couple weeks and it was fairly straightforward as their posts are so detailed.

[BadMouth]

The LPT port is a PITA to get working on 64-bit systems IMO.
I gave up and bought the Pololu USB simple motor controller that the linked examples used.

[Le Chuck]

Pretty easy to setup and drive - quite a few first time cab builders have successfully integrated an auto rotate system. 

[DickTurpin]

Exellent! Thanks Chaps. All good advice.

Its not the same with Commando.

[DaOld Man]

The only stupid idea is the one you dont suggest or ask about. Good words. Remember them.

Now, I am a bit biased, but automating the monitor turning is the only way to go, IMHO.
I mean, picture this:
You have a party or some friends over to check out your new self-made arcade.
Somebody picks a vertical game.
Which is cooler?
(1): You say, "Hold on a minute whilst I turn this screen with this ingenious crank"
-OR-
(2) The screen turns automatically while your friends say "ohhh" and "awww".
Not putting anybody down, I have seen some really neat projects that have manual monitor turn on them. And they are great.
So the decision is yours.
Now, in defense of the printer port, it's not really that much of a PITA if you take what others have done on here to heart, and design your system around it.
Of course most newer computers dont have LPT ports on them, so my argument is lost in most cases (dam you IBM, Bill Gates, or whoever.)
There has been much work done (only a small fraction by me, so I'm not patting myself on the back) by folks to make the printer port an easy, cheap way to access real world IO.

But whatever route you go, it will be ok with us. We just want to see your ideas.

[darthpaul]

Honestly, the automation was the easy part with a little help from DaOld Man, the mechanics were the headache.