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Let's make a "Well-Designed Cabinet Guide"
Vigo:
So, as many of you know, the Crapmame thread bubbled up again, prompting us to ask what we want to accomplish as a community here. I suggested the idea of a member created "Well-Designed Cabinet Guide" The idea received some good reception, so I will move forward with it.
The guide will address the finer points of building. While sources like the Project Arcade Book or the Wiki are great at laying out things like material options, this guide will rather offer expert opinions from members here to help a builder ultimately make the best choice for their needs. It will also be a great way to curb the threads that seem to pop up over and over again. Here is my hypothetical example from the Crapmame thread:
--- Quote ---Should I remove my PC from the case before putting it in my cab?
Malenko: "I personally prefer to keep my computers in their case. Overheating has never been an issue, and keeping your computer in it's case is a great way to make it easy to pull out when you need to work on the computer or replace it completely"
brad808: "I personally make an open mount for my motherboards. It ensures that every board gets adequate airflow and is much easier to secure to a cabinet. You either end up ruining a PC case bolting it to a cab, or you have loose hardware flopping around inside. Having your computer open mounted also gives a professional look on the inside if you plan on showing off the inner workings."
--- End quote ---
So here is the plan. I will reserve a post below and use it to cover the current agenda on the guide. The first thing we need are topics to cover and some format/method ideas. Feel free to brainstorm the heck out of this one. In the end, it would be great to have a working document that we can all reference to. I will take any and all ideas at this point to improve on the concept. The only thing I want to axe at this point is answering questions. Let's not dive into typing up answers until we have a good framework laid out.
Vigo:
Current Agenda:
Come up with topics to cover:
The working pool of questions so far:
* Should I remove my PC from the case before putting it in my cab?
* Should I arch my buttons or keep them straight?
* Should I make a four player cabinet?
* Specialized controls - do I need them?
* What order should I follow to design my cab? (e.g. first determine games you want to play, then move on control panel choices, etc.)
* Control Panel size?
* Admin buttons - do I need them and why/why not?
* Top mounting vs bottom mounting joysticks
* 4 Player CP joystick angling
* How many buttons?
* Speed of PC
* Techniques to create a good looking marquee
* furring strip practices
* Wiring Methods
* MDF Methods
* Types of Cab to build?
* Keep all games on cab?
* CRT Vs LCD?
* Use Mock up/ CAD Software?
* Widescreen acceptable?
* Build a do-all cabinet, or build a limited cab?
* Control Panel Artwork? (Any specific design choices to cover?)
* Should I add an instruction card?
* Should I add molex connectors to my wiring
* Solder or Quick Disconnects?
Any ideas on an official title for this guide?
"Well-Designed Cabinet Guide"
"Best Practices"
"Preferred Practices"
"Arcade Cabinet Building: Best Practices"
Format ideas?
Is just posting as a PDF good enough?
Should we limit the number of responses to include?
Have an "editor"?
Other ideas, concerns, etc.....
Should go as far as make help make a step by step/flow chart method for selecting your cabinet?
Include a section of "Pro Tips"?
Link to example projects?[/list]
Vigo:
Reserved for completed work.
shponglefan:
Great idea!
Dunno if I'm an "expert" in the subject, but I do have some opinions on art design particularly for CPs. I was thinking of starting a "CP art tips" thread in the artwork forum. Maybe could cross post that here.
Maybe some discussion about joysticks. Top mounting vs bottom mounting, angling vs straight-on, etc?
PL1:
Interesting idea.
Will this guide include processes/sequences of steps for designing a cab?
Example:
--- Quote from: PL1 on February 05, 2013, 10:03:55 pm ---I'd start with the list of games you want to play, number of players, and the computer you want to use.
That will lead you to what emulators and other software like front ends (MaLa, Hyperspin, etc.) you want/need.
From there, you can figure out what kind of controls (Joysticks, player buttons, admin buttons, spinner, trackball, gamepads?) you'll need to work with the games and emulators you want.
That leads to chosing the right encoder(s).
Browse for artwork/themes/design cues to use in the following steps.
Arrange the controls on the control panel. (CP) -- Cardboard test panel highly encouraged.
Select a monitor.
Design the rest of the cab around the monitor and CP.
--- End quote ---
Scott