VISION BOX - Update 10-21-2013 - FINISHED

[rablack97]

Well I decided to go ahead and document the rest of this build.

This is for a friend of mine that didn't want a full size cab, so I modified the Degenatrons, Haruman Barstick all in one concept.....

It will house an xbox, runninng the Vision software.  A/V outputs to TV, along with internal amp and speakers.

Complete laminate build.  Sides and CP will be skinned.

This is what it looks like so far.

[jmike]

 
              Hey rablack97, been waiting for you to start this thread (saw your pics on Haruman sale thread).
Love the way this is turning out. Got a couple of questions for you. I was thinking of building a similar setup. What are you using to connect the controls, hacked xbox controller? How is the sound? just wondering since the speakers are facing down. Are you lighting up the marquee?


 
Looking forward to the next update.

[rablack97]

              Hey rablack97, been waiting for you to start this thread (saw your pics on Haruman sale thread).
Love the way this is turning out. Got a couple of questions for you. I was thinking of building a similar setup. What are you using to connect the controls, hacked xbox controller? How is the sound? just wondering since the speakers are facing down. Are you lighting up the marquee?


 
Looking forward to the next update.

Cool deal, looking forward to seeing some variations.

No, I use Kade encoders for all of my Xbox builds, it's a really cool Encoder created by Degenatrons, Sharpfork & Bootsector here in the forums.



Read about it here http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,128745.0.html and here http://kadevice.com/

Purchase here http://emukade.com/

I also have a modified board that includes a built in t-ball encoder and an autoconnect feature, which allow you to program the Kade via a thru port vs having to open up your machine to connect to it.  It switches to PC mode when a PC is connected and switches back to xbox when disconnected after programming.

http://kadevice.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=2265




The sound is fine, since the audio will be split, there will be an option to output to a stereo.  The marquee acts like a speaker box, so once its enclosed it sounds great and loud.  I used the same setup in other builds, and the mrs. always has to tell me to turn it down.

Yes, the marquee will be lit up just like and arcade marquee.

T-molding will be blue, buttons blue and green.

[AGarv]

What a cool concept to integrate marquee with speakers into a desktop box!  If it has been done before I missed it.  Seems like the marquee and any under-lighting effects near the speakers would give nice light to the controls also.

[rablack97]

What a cool concept to integrate marquee with speakers into a desktop box!  If it has been done before I missed it.  Seems like the marquee and any under-lighting effects near the speakers would give nice light to the controls also.

The initial design came from Degenatrons & Sharpfork, Haruman modified a batonless version.

I just added the T-ball, and the speakers modifications...

There is a blue led fan in the speaker panel to illuminate the the black exit and hard reset buttons. i was thinking of more underlighting, but i think it would take away from the marquee effects.

[mcseforsale]

Neat!  Watching with interest.

!debircsbus

AJ

[jmike]

Thanks rablack97 will check out those KADE Encoders. (Didn't realize they were so versatile).
Can't wait to see how you mount the xbox inside.
I was thinking of decasing it for better ventilation.


 

[rablack97]

Thanks rablack97 will check out those KADE Encoders. (Didn't realize they were so versatile).
Can't wait to see how you mount the xbox inside.
I was thinking of decasing it for better ventilation.


 

Once again Degenatron set the standard for this process.  Watch his videos it outlines decasing and installing an xbox in a tiny bartop.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,119435.msg1277557.html#msg1277557

Ventilation in the xbox has different views.  Apparently the case was designed with airflow channels to keep it cool, so some folks say decasing it actually makes it run hotter as you dont have the channels any more....

I haven't run into any overheating issues, especially with the 2 fan setup, 1 for in and the other for exhaust.  So there is really good circulation over the mobo.

If you want to be super sure buy these and follow this TUTORIAL....



I'm gonna do some music controlled underlighting with RGB strips, and looking into a remote turn on with eject button as well.








Toying with adding the custom t-ball lighting to the Music IR controller too....

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,132054.0.html

I'll also show how to source power from the 3.3v always on lead from xbox psu....this is cool to used cause you can hook up a lit power button led...so it will stay lit even when xbox is off....



so good stuff coming up....

[quizz_kid]

I love the concept, and by the look of it, it seems very well executed so far. 

[rablack97]

A few updates......

Cutout for A/V plate



This the hideous white  A/V plate....



A little matte black plastic paint and voila.



Installed



Handle installed



Outlet plug installed



Bracing for marquee





Amp installed



This button will have a power insert and will be wired to the 3.3 standby on the PSU and be lit red once power is turned at the outlet level.



This is a rough look with the components.  The T-ball is a placeholder, it will be clear when complete.



Also, I recommend this tool for bartop and CP builds that involve tight spaces, best buy ever.  Right angle driver by TightFit Tools....





That's all for now...

[rablack97]

Got a few thing done today....

Added the base lighting. 

I was a little concerned about just taping the lighting to the base.  I figured in time it would peel off or get pulled off.  So I routed a channel in the base.

I should have done this a long time ago in the build, but i'm improvising as i go.



Entry hole for lead



I had to interconnect the front and the side lighting so i soldered RGB cable the the strip points to curve along the channel



All done....



I then installed the lighting into the channel and reinforced with hot glue, not the prettiest, but it's on the bottom and won't be seen.



And this is what you get.....video done with phone so, not very good quality, but you get the point...



Also installed led strip for marquee...



Easy day....

[Dreygor]

Black .. that is some insane work! 

[jmike]

Any updates on this rablack97??


 

[rablack97]

Naahhh at a standstill, waiting on guts and artwork....

[Dreygor]

Guts taken care of .. now if I could just get my behind in gear and finish the artwork.

[rablack97]

Yep, Xbox has been softmodded and new drive has been installed, next step is tear down and mounting the parts in the BOX...

[rablack97]

Alrighty folks, finally got the guts.....So here we go.

I won't go into how to decase an xbox there are tut's all over the place, this is what you get when you dismantle it.



You have to install the parts in a certain order for it install nice and neat, my first part was the disk drive.  I had to clear the hinges so the the DVD door didnt hit it when ejected so I just added some small blocks to lift it high enough for clearance.



The DVD drive already has mounting holes built into the bracket, so might as well take advantage of those.



I used L-Brackets for the Hard Drive, shaved a little off with the dremel for spacing.



This is what it looks like with both installed.

 

Next was the MOBO, for some reason the PCB feet i bought all had the screw holes stripped.  So just to raise the board slightly off the platform, I cut the shaft off of the PCB feet.



I was too lazy to go get nylon spacers for the top where the screws go. I had some extra screw caps and removed the cap.  Worked out well.











Cant just thorw away a good fan, so I mounted it to the CPU...



Mounted power supply with same pcb foot mod....





Last thing for today was the controller boards, I just flipped them over and used the predrilled holes, and they mount nicley.



Next will be power wiring....woohoo...

[CoryBee]

 

[Dreygor]

Ooooh man is that pretty!! I better get my behind in gear and get the art finished!! Maybe I will be able to get it done this weekend.

[rablack97]

Got everything wired....

Power switch w/ pre-lit led..

Homemade label....



Used 3.3v standby from the PSU, soldered to these 2 points here.  When the main switch is turned on the led in the power switch will illuminate.





Installed into button with resistor.



Done



The Leads from the button switch were soldered to 2 solder points on the xbox power board.  So now the machine can be powered off and on by this button....





Here is the power distribution block, i learned about ferrule's too, awesome.



Here is the 12v psu, that powers the fans, and all the lighting, i was afraid to draw that much power from the xbox psu, so i used an external one.

Trick was how to power this on when the power button was hit.

I used a 12v 15amp relay, and split 12v from the xbox psu, when power button is hit, 12v activates the relay and allows 110v to flow into the external psu.



I'll clean up the wiring towards the end, working on wiring up the trackball leds now...

[CoryBee]

Hmmm, kind of big no?

Care to show what art you will be applying?

Also, I didn't realize before that you shoved an XBOX in there 

ps: I finished my stand alone before you! In your face!!!!

 

[rablack97]

Hmmm, kind of big no?

What did i do wrong? 

Care to show what art you will be applying?

 

Um Dreygor, your audience is calling.

The guy who this is for is do the art, it will mimic the marquee earlier in the thread.

Also, I didn't realize before that you shoved an XBOX in there 

ps: I finished my stand alone before you! In your face!!!!

 

Yep thats an xbox....he plays a huge role in designing the Vision software for the xbox, so he wanted a dedicated CP for it.

LOL, i have the vision box, a mini me, the acylic bending table, and another commissioned build all going at the same time. 

I tell you what though your builds have progressed to awesomeness though, about to go check out your standalone, i'm sure it's greatness..


EDIT:

Ok so i looked at Sam, very nice work sir.....

However, you beat me because....

You have no trackball..
You have no trackball lighting
You have no underlit lighting
You have no speakers


So yes....



 

[CoryBee]

Hmmm, kind of big no?

What did i do wrong? 

Nothing, looks spiffy, just kind of big bossman. But it is for a customer and I know how it goes.

ps: I finished my stand alone before you! In your face!!!!

 

LOL, i have the vision box, a mini me, the acylic bending table, and another commissioned build all going at the same time. 

[/quote]

lol, you are preaching to the choir on doing multiple projects at once

EDIT:

Ok so i looked at Sam, very nice work sir.....

However, you beat me because....

You have no trackball..
You have no trackball lighting
You have no underlit lighting
You have no speakers

 

Thanks for the compliment and a big turkey tits to your other comment!!!!!

Carry on.

[rablack97]

   Love ya mannnnnnnnn!!!!!

[rablack97]

Artwork

[Dreygor]

Nice, clean, colorful, bright and eye catching

Looks good man! 

[degenatrons]

The side panel and marquee artwork looks great 

I'm not sure how that CP will look when controls are fitted into those bubbles. Could be too busy.  Suggest losing some bubbles from that CP artwork or at least mocking up an image of the finished CP so you can visualise it done with sticks, buttons and trackball fitted.

Impressed with the work on this project so-far,  keep it up man.

[rablack97]

Threw this together, not too bad....









Looks good either way....any opinions

[mann0mann]

I like the no bubbles.  Looks cleaner. 

Love this build btw.  Phenomenal job.  I'm a big fan of Coinops and Visionary.  It's awesome.

[rablack97]

Getting close, finalizing graphics for printing...

Finish wiring all the power up..and cramming the xbox in 





Wiring job for led lighting for clear T-Ball





I cut these holes on each side, so that i can secure the CP from underneath with screws.  Less change of damaging the plexi, and no screws on CP.



Used the old plexi bending machine, and cut the matching holes in the plexi....It'll get purty later.



The 3 front holes will be for 2 USB pass thru's and and RJ45 jack.  Autoconnect for Kades, and FTP for Xbox.

As everybody know rj45 panel passthroughs are expensive, my local electronics store had surplus of these selling for 2.95, I bought 10 of them......awesome deal.



Next is graphics alignment and then CP wiring....

[jmike]

Loving this build!   
   I vote for the cp art without the bubbles. All those LEDs will bring enough attention to the artwork without the bubbles.

"securing that CP from underneath..."   brilliant. Will have to use that on my next build.


 

[rablack97]

"securing that CP from underneath..."   brilliant. Will have to use that on my next build.


 

Give credit where it's due, that idea is Degenatrons

Thanks for the comments...

[rablack97]

Side Graphics, T-Moulding and Marquee installed....











Only thing missing now is the CP wiring and CP graphics









Here's a video of all the lights working, the cool part is you get disco lights on the ceiling from the trackball Leds..

 

[Dreygor]

OMG I think I am going to cry. That thing is a work of art! Man, you are awesome!!!

[rablack97]

CP Wiring done. Kades, plus custom board.

Everybody go buy a KADE, KADE KADE KADE....

KADE STORE







And She's done......



































Few minor things to clean up, other than that it works great, and owner is looking forward the arrival !!!!

[jmike]

      

That looks amazing. I'm definitely going to order a pair of those Kade coders.
What games are you using with the trackball?

He's going to love this thing.

 

[Dreygor]

     

He's going to love this thing.

 

Yes ... yes he is

[mcseforsale]

2 words...wicked badass

AJ

[sleong]

Very nicely done.  Almost want to build something similar for myself now.  Seems like it is so portable that you can move it from room to room to play if necessary.

[rablack97]

     

That looks amazing. I'm definitely going to order a pair of those Kade coders.
What games are you using with the trackball?

He's going to love this thing.

 

Thanks, yeah get you a pair they are amazing, and soooo versatile.

Centipede, Missle Command, Millipede, Tempest, Golden Tee, Bowling, etc.....Tons of compatible games in CoinOps and Vision...Theres a about 100 or so maybe more that can be used with t-ball.....

2 words...wicked badass

AJ

Thanks, it is psychadelic 

Very nicely done.  Almost want to build something similar for myself now.  Seems like it is so portable that you can move it from room to room to play if necessary.

It is portable, can fit in a car and be moved room to room.  It has its own sound system as well, to keep the realism of playing a real arcade, and just in case the TV sound sucks....