looking for advice on a cabinet design

[twistedsymphony]

Last year I built a kick-ass PC with a hyperspin front end specifically designed to run Taito Type X, Dolphin, PCSX2, and NAOMI titles without a hiccup...

my original plan was to put this into my Killer Instinct 2 cabinet with an original 15K monitor... unfortunately I built around Windows 8 and an 80 series GeForce card which left me with no way to get 15K video output  (my own fault for not doing more research first).

So I decided that it might be nice to build a dedicated LCD based cab for this machine. I'd love to have a Taito Vewlix, Sega Lindbergh or Naomi Noir but those are all way of my budget.

Since space is an issue (why I was originally going to use a cab I already had) I need this to be as shallow as possible meaning the distance between the back of the machine and the front of the machine needs to be as thin as it can possibly be.

I've also picked up one of these to use as the control panel:

I plan on gutting it and installing more legit controls as well as some new graphics (perhapse in a similar style to the Lindbergh or Vewlix control panels)

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Honestly I don't even care if it looks like an arcade cabinet my needs are simple:
1. it needs to support the control panel at a height comfortable for playing while standing
2. it needs to support a 32" LCD at a height comfortable for playing while standing
3. it needs to have room below it for the PC
4. it needs to be super sturdy so that it doesn't move around or rock while playing
5. it needs to be as "slim" (front to back) as possible


Does anyone know of any kind of desk or stand that already exists that could be used for this... or even as a starting point for this?
Any advice would be appreciated.

[Louis Tully]

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[twistedsymphony]

if my monitor is attached to it, it's not exactly a pedestal anymore...  where this will be located it's next to a staircase so there's no wall to hang the LCD from... which is why it needs to be built into the cabinet.

if you have specific examples of other projects in mind I'd be open to them but I've yet to find anything that has the look and feel of the Japanese LCD cabs that I'm trying to emulate.

[Louis Tully]

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[BadMouth]

Check out Ond's Metropolis tutorial stickied here in the main forum.
Lots of useful information there on dimensions for a slim cab.

Also check out my build linked in my signature.
I'd planned to attach it to the wall for safety, but it's so rock solid that I didn't bother.
I've shared the dimensions in PMs a few times.  Don't remember if I ever posted them, but I can.

You might also check with Haruman:
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,130522.0.html
He made a cnc cut viewlix knock-off for someone else.

IMO, with a 32" screen you need some depth so you're not too close to the screen.
Others have said they love their 32" screen right on the other side of a narrow control pane.
Test it out for yourself and see how far back you need to be to feel comfortable.

EDIT: I skimmed over your post where you said you wanted the look of a Japanese LCD cab.
search the project announcements for "viewlix" (also google for it)
Here is a viewlix style cab that Haruman CNC'd for someone:

[twistedsymphony]

... I skimmed over your post where you said you wanted the look of a Japanese LCD cab.
search the project announcements for "viewlix" (also google for it)
Here is a viewlix style cab that Haruman CNC'd for someone: [clip]

Thanks for the post, I've seen lots of Vewlix knock offs and I'd love to have one, but as I stated in my first post something like that is way out of the scope of my budget for this project. I have absolutely ZERO wood working tools at my disposal also (well, I might have a hand saw hiding somewhere  ) 


I'm probably not being clear enough but I'm just looking for a dirt cheap setup that can hold up my monitor and hold up the joystick panel I posted a picture of... THATS IT, I'm not trying to build a full cabinet as long as it holds those items at the right height and doesn't feel like it's going to fall over I'm happy. When I mentioned Japanese style I was more referring to it being made primarily of metal and plastic as opposed to wood. because while I don't have any wood working tools I DO have some metalworking tools, a drill press a MIG welder, tap and die sets and a friend with a Bridgeport lathe.... which would allow me to make some modifications to an existing metal stand if necessary.


Basically I'm just looking for something quick and dirty so I can use this awesome Hyperspin machine I built... maybe once I've finished up some of my other projects I'll look into a more legit cabinet build, but in the mean time it's mostly about getting something functional and cheap.

[yotsuya]

I'm probably not being clear enough but I'm just looking for a dirt cheap setup that can hold up my monitor and hold up the joystick panel I posted a picture of... THATS IT, I'm not trying to build a full cabinet as long as it holds those items at the right height and doesn't feel like it's going to fall over I'm happy. When I mentioned Japanese style I was more referring to it being made primarily of metal and plastic as opposed to wood. because while I don't have any wood working tools I DO have some metalworking tools, a drill press a MIG welder, tap and die sets and a friend with a Bridgeport lathe.... which would allow me to make some modifications to an existing metal stand if necessary.

[JDFan]

I'd ssuggest the vigolix design ( modified viewlix designed to use 1 sheet of material and some scrap wood with no complex cuts) as VIGO stated in the writeup ( located HERE - http://www.instructables.com/id/A-Super-Easy-Arcade-Machine-from-1-Sheet-of-Plywoo/ )

    Easy Woodworking:There are no curves or special cuts to make, every cut is a straight cut and little measuring is needed. The only power tools needed is a saw, a drill and a sander.

Doesn't get much easier and even Home Depot will do most of the cutting for you if you take the plans with you (figure they can cut pretty much all but the angled cut for the 2 sides easily leaving you with just a few cuts to make with your saw - have them cut the 12 inch cut down the middle of the panel and then the 2 16 inch cuts leaving you with the half for the sides and the 3 16 inch panels - then have them cut the 10 inch cut on the one panel and the 8 inch cut on the remaining 2 inch piece after that cut -- so a total of 5 cuts they make for you at 2 free and IIRC $0.10 each for the other 3 cuts - then all you need to do is the side panel cuts which can be done with your saw.) - Or buy a $10 - $20 jigsaw off craigslist.

And if you wanted you could adjust the width and arms so that the CP you posted fits rather than making the Control Panel.

[BadMouth]

Keep an eye on craigslist or thrift shops for cheap desks with metal legs like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lot-of-35-Computer-Workstaion-Desks-Metal-Legs-Laminate-Tops-/331205490256?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d1d62b650
If there is a college near you, sometimes they'll have a store where they sell stuff like this cheap.  Some others have a big yard sale once a year.
There's gotta be someone around with a circular saw who could rip the top narrower.

Yesterday was "big trash day" in my neighborhood.
I probably could have scrounged enough stuff to build what you're asking for.
(I've done it before  )

[Louis Tully]

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[twistedsymphony]

Keep an eye on craigslist or thrift shops for cheap desks with metal legs like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lot-of-35-Computer-Workstaion-Desks-Metal-Legs-Laminate-Tops-/331205490256?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d1d62b650
If there is a college near you, sometimes they'll have a store where they sell stuff like this cheap.  Some others have a big yard sale once a year.
There's gotta be someone around with a circular saw who could rip the top narrower.

Yesterday was "big trash day" in my neighborhood.
I probably could have scrounged enough stuff to build what you're asking for.
(I've done it before  )

No colleges near me sadly. The area I live is pretty "low-rent" lots of yard sales but 99% of the stuff I find there is legit garbage (and I'm a huge pack-rat who never throws anything out) I did check out a few second hand stores last weekend but anything I found that would be remotely workable was built for a sitting height as opposed to standing height and looked like they would have become unstable had I cut and extended the legs to make them any taller.. I'll keep looking for sure though.

I'd ssuggest the vigolix design ( modified viewlix designed to use 1 sheet of material and some scrap wood with no complex cuts) as VIGO stated in the writeup ( located HERE - http://www.instructables.com/id/A-Super-Easy-Arcade-Machine-from-1-Sheet-of-Plywoo/ )

That's a pretty clever design. it looks a little narrow given the screen and control panel I'm using but it has some usable ideas. I think if I were to bite the bullet and go with a wood cab I'd just buy a router so I could build one properly... at least then I could cut a t-molding channel to keep myself from getting splinters every time I use it. 

that and "vigo"lix just makes me think of this guy: