Noob wants to build a MAME cabinet for under 200$

[mkwfreak]

is it possible to build a upright, 2 player 6 button mame cabinet for under 200$? providing the monitor and computer is provided?

[chopperthedog]

Anything is possible with cardboard, duct tape and cheap labor from a home depot parking lot.


good day.

[kiwasabi]

is it possible to build a upright, 2 player 6 button mame cabinet for under 200$? providing the monitor and computer is provided?

Are you able to build a cabinet yourself? Because if so, you can build the cabinet for $60 (2 sheets of particle board or melamine coated pressboard). Or $30 if you make it really thin and do it with one sheet.

Joysticks are about $10 each, buttons $2 each... So that's $20 + $28 = $48 (since I'm assuming you want to have start buttons). Then you need the encoder board, which can be had for $30-40. Monitor glass/plexi will run you another $30. I wouldn't recommend a coin door in your case as that would be another $70. Speakers can be had for $20-30.

So yeah, it might be able to be done if you're extra thrifty.

[kiwasabi]

Anything is possible with cardboard, duct tape and cheap labor from a home depot parking lot.


good day.

Ah c'mon leave the immature trolling to KLOV. On here we're a community dedicated to helping each other create cool stuff on a budget.

[BadMouth]

Cheapest way is to find an old cabinet, for less than $100 or free.
You might even get real lucky and find one already laid out correctly for 2 players with 6 buttons each.
It would still be cutting it close.

Depends on what your expectations are, what tools you have, and what your skillset is.
example - are you willing to spend a few hours soldering wires to cheap hacked controller PCBs to save $20 over buying an interface.
(personally, I'd still go with a keyboard encoder unless you plan to run newer Steam games)
Do you expect to have custom artwork on the marquee and control panel, or would you be happy with the stuff from the original game?
Stuff printed at staples doesn't look half bad, although the CP art would need to be under plexiglass.
Paint can be a cheap way of making the cab look custom.

Building it from scratch results in a lot of unforeseen $40 trips to the hardware store.

[mkwfreak]

ok, i found 3 options

1. buy a stripped cabinet with control panel for 100-150
2. buy a stripped cabinet w/o control panel for 60-80
3. buy a stripped cabinet w/o control panel on a rainy day for 20-30

i know of water damage, and it can ruin looks, but will it still be strong enough to be a main cabinet after being in the rain?

[EMDB]

is it possible to build a upright, 2 player 6 button mame cabinet for under 200$? providing the monitor and computer is provided?

Are you able to build a cabinet yourself? Because if so, you can build the cabinet for $60 (2 sheets of particle board or melamine coated pressboard). Or $30 if you make it really thin and do it with one sheet.

Joysticks are about $10 each, buttons $2 each... So that's $20 + $28 = $48 (since I'm assuming you want to have start buttons). Then you need the encoder board, which can be had for $30-40. Monitor glass/plexi will run you another $30. I wouldn't recommend a coin door in your case as that would be another $70. Speakers can be had for $20-30.

So yeah, it might be able to be done if you're extra thrifty.

Don't forget screws, glue, wiring, marquee plexi, legs/wheels, monitor/TV, and last but not least a computer. You can omit the t-molding and artwork but for a complete cabinet you should also add those costs. 

[solar]

Yeah i'd say it's possible.

But only if you stalk out deals, find offcuts etc, if you go straight to the main sellers you're going to be paying retail on everything.

Make a list of things you need to build to cab and things you'd want to add. Then you can at least whittle down the want list or say spend a little bit more for added extras if its something you really want to include.

With a decent schematic and measuring a lot to avoid mistakes should see you through ok, even if you're not used to using the tools.

Worst case is you fail, but then you know what not to do next time.

[chopperthedog]

Ah c'mon leave the immature trolling to KLOV. On here we're a community dedicated to helping each other create cool stuff on a budget.

Seems officer two shoes doesn't know what sarcasm is.


good day.

[yotsuya]

Scratch-build for around $200? Only if you have friends giving you a great deal/discount/free stuff.

[BadMouth]

1. buy a stripped cabinet with control panel for 100

[nitrogen_widget]

He said the PC & monitor were provided.
so he just needs the cabinet.

It won't be pretty, but it might be doable.
depends on what he can find at the hardware stores.

If he's got tools like a router he can skip moulding.
Legs/feet aren't essential and neither is a marquee if going cheap.

wiring- if you buy a few encoders with wires you really don't need too much more for wireing.
something like this for $60 shipped.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Player-Mame-Arcade-USB-Kit-w-2-Joysticks-4-8-way-16-Push-Buttons-60-in-1-/221471126662?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3390b53486

speakers can be any old PC speaker.

Screw it & glue it is what Holmes on homes says & I agree 100% there when using thinner wood.

if it were me, i'd build a vigolix type cabinet or hit up mr 2nd's for some cheap 2x4's & partial pieces of plywood.
Frame it up, screw on the plywood, round the edges with a router or even just a sander, fill in the spaces with wood putty, sand it smooth & paint it.
Preferably a dark semi gloss so the filler and imperfections don't show too much.

He isn't looking for a show piece.
He just wants to play some mame.

I'm assuming in something that won't collapse or fall over when he and a buddy start torquing on the controls.

[yotsuya]

if it were me, i'd build a vigolix type cabinet

Unless he wants a full-size cabinet, I would agree with this.

He isn't looking for a show piece.
He just wants to play some mame.

If he just wants to play some MAME, then buy a Tankstick for $100. Problem solved.

I dunno, if I'm going to build an unright, I don't want it to look like I cut corners.  But that's me. I'd buy a Tankstick and squirrel away enough each month until I had enough to do it the right way. 

[yotsuya]

Also, if he's trying to keep costs down and just wants to play games, a modded xBox might be the way to go. 

[kiwasabi]

Ah c'mon leave the immature trolling to KLOV. On here we're a community dedicated to helping each other create cool stuff on a budget.

Seems officer two shoes doesn't know what sarcasm is.
good day.

You call it sarcasm, I call it trolling. Regardless of semantics it isn't productive to the conversation.

[eds1275]

This really isn't a $200 hobby... it's more of a budget for $500, somehow break $1100. It's the little things that will nickle and dime you to death. I'd say some serious planning is in order for what you wants, plan for that, then do what you can with your $200.

You could definitely build a cabinet for $200, and possibly get some sort of finish on it.

[Malenko]

Noob should build a nice control panel box, and look for a gutted cab.  If youre near TNT amusements in PA they have cheap/free cabs all the time.

[Vigo]

People build impressive furniture out of wood pallets these days. If you are patient and know how to scrounge, you can work on just about any budget.



Lots of good ideas listed above. You also don't need to necessarily buy everything new either. I have built a lot of stuff from old joysticks and buttons that were on circuit machines.

Encoders, you can just use 2 Zero Delay encoders. $11.00 each on ebay. Comes with wires already, no soldering needed.

If you are not buying a gutted cab, then look into building a slim cab and you can get by with a lot less wood.

What area do you live in? Some areas in the US are goldmines for cheap cabs if you spend some time looking.

[Generic Eric]

A post like this should include OP's zip or otherwise if not in the States.  You might find someone local to you this way.

Otherwise, all the good points have already been made. 

If you'll indulge me while I soapbox

Start small.  Build a fight stick. Look into a kade. @kadevice.com

Configure your games.

Build a control panel around your favorite games.

Decide if you want a bartop, cocktail, or if you want a full upright.  Then build that.

[dkersten]

This really isn't a $200 hobby... it's more of a budget for $500, somehow break $1100. It's the little things that will nickle and dime you to death. I'd say some serious planning is in order for what you wants, plan for that, then do what you can with your $200.

QFT  The nickel and diming in this hobby is insane.  My $750 budget ended at $2195..

I have a pretty well fleshed out woodshop with a lot of hardware on hand, yet I would be hard pressed to build a $200 cabinet.  If I went with the cheapest particle board I could find, assumed that the glue, screws, and brad nails I already have are "free", skip t-molding and any other "dress" item aside from paint, roll on some latex for the finish, not have any kind of casters, and forget hinging the CP or service door, then I can see getting away with $100 on the cab construction.  Either using a cheap encoder or hacking a keyboard and using ebay buttons and joysticks and you could cobble a basic CP together for under $100.

But I also agree that if you are on that tight of a budget, just get a CP like a tankstick and play on your computer.  A full stand up cabinet is as much a piece of furniture as it is a game to play.  If you aren't going to take the time to make it look good, you are losing out on half the point of even having one, IMO.  And if you are married, it better look damn good if you are going to put it in any "usable" room in the house/apartment.  An arcade cab doesn't do much for you if you have to put it in that unfinished room in the basement that nobody wants to go in, or in the unheated garage in the wintertime.  But a simple CP at your computer desk allows you to actually play it regularly.. And you get the added benefit of long term use to determine if spending money on a full cab is worth it to you in the long run.  What might seem awesome to you today might sit in the corner collecting dust tomorrow.  If $200 is a tight squeeze for you, it would probably be best to not spend it until you know for sure that you will use it.

[Vigo]

What might seem awesome to you today might sit in the corner collecting dust tomorrow.  If $200 is a tight squeeze for you, it would probably be best to not spend it until you know for sure that you will use it.

I'd like to add a "but" to this statement. dkersten is absolutely right about a shelf life on cabinets that are not fully threshed out, but if you are willing to accept this as a hobby rather than a 1 time project, you will find the experience of your build beneficial to your next build. So hopefully a few years down the road, you will have some more cash on your hands and be able to build a much slicker machine. You can also reuse many things from your old cab, and save a bit of cash when you take on that next project.

[yotsuya]

Dave and Vigo -

(Pretend Kane is clapping)

[mkwfreak]

I think i know which option i'm picking. There's this local service to pay money to rent arcade games locally. I called them up, talked for an hour, and it gave me a lot of info. I think my goal is to buy a cab with nothing but the control panel, the wiring for the control panel, and the cab itself. The thing is though, they're kind of expensive to buy parts from. The cab can cost from $100-$200, but i'll all need then is the i-pac. (or if it doesn't have wires, a wiring kit, which scares me slightly.) the i-pac will be 40-50 bucks, so i'll only have about 100-160 to spend (maybe slightly more if i can talk my family into it.) He sent me no, pics, so this weekend i'm heading over to there warehouse and taking a look. Anything I should keep  a sharp eye out for, and a decent price range for both wiring scenarios?

[yotsuya]

I think i know which option i'm picking. There's this local service to pay money to rent arcade games locally. I called them up, talked for an hour, and it gave me a lot of info. I think my goal is to buy a cab with nothing but the control panel, the wiring for the control panel, and the cab itself. The thing is though, they're kind of expensive to buy parts from. The cab can cost from $100-$200, but i'll all need then is the i-pac. (or if it doesn't have wires, a wiring kit, which scares me slightly.) the i-pac will be 40-50 bucks, so i'll only have about 100-160 to spend (maybe slightly more if i can talk my family into it.) He sent me no, pics, so this weekend i'm heading over to there warehouse and taking a look. Anything I should keep  a sharp eye out for, and a decent price range for both wiring scenarios?

If it's JAMMA wired, you'll just need a J-Pac. It'll be more expensive, but if the wiring is there it'll save you some wiring time and costs.

[mkwfreak]

I think i know which option i'm picking. There's this local service to pay money to rent arcade games locally. I called them up, talked for an hour, and it gave me a lot of info. I think my goal is to buy a cab with nothing but the control panel, the wiring for the control panel, and the cab itself. The thing is though, they're kind of expensive to buy parts from. The cab can cost from $100-$200, but i'll all need then is the i-pac. (or if it doesn't have wires, a wiring kit, which scares me slightly.) the i-pac will be 40-50 bucks, so i'll only have about 100-160 to spend (maybe slightly more if i can talk my family into it.) He sent me no, pics, so this weekend i'm heading over to there warehouse and taking a look. Anything I should keep  a sharp eye out for, and a decent price range for both wiring scenarios?

If it's JAMMA wired, you'll just need a J-Pac. It'll be more expensive, but if the wiring is there it'll save you some wiring time and costs.

yes, but one last thing about the J-Pac. How would I get kick buttons to work?

[Malenko]

JPAC has screw terminals for the "kick" buttons



http://ultimarc.com/jpac.html

[mkwfreak]

JPAC has screw terminals for the "kick" buttons



http://ultimarc.com/jpac.html

I see. I'm used to screw terminals,  but with the grounding and everything i'm a bit worried (I know some stuff about wiring, I disassembled and reassembled vacuum cleaners and ac plugs multiple times, but this is still new to me.) I can probably do it, but i'll need a $10 visit to a hardware store.

Also, again, if I were to find a cabinet with a control panel, what is a good price range for someone on my budget? I don't want to blow all my money on the cabinet and not have enough for the electronics, and have a wooden box just sit in my living room until i could get the parts.

[nitrogen_widget]

I need to look around here more.
Every empty cab I find people are $200+ and won't budge.
Even the one's missing parts or with broken coin doors and crushed corners.
Their nuts.
not gonna pay that for a beat up box that literally has no more use to them in a commercial environment anymore due to it's condition.

I don't need one right now anymore because I decided to make my own after seeing the prices.

[yotsuya]

Do you have a photo of exactly everything you're getting in the cab? That would help.

[Vigo]

I think a lot depends on where you live and how patient and diligent you are. There are currently a couple empty cabs available in my area for free on craigslist. One even has a monitor that might work. Other areas are sinfully difficult to find anything.

[mkwfreak]

Do you have a photo of exactly everything you're getting in the cab? That would help.

Well the thing is, I haven't been to their warehouse yet, but am going this weekend. maybe if I can find the guy on here maybe he can show me what he has for sale.

[yotsuya]

Do you have a photo of exactly everything you're getting in the cab? That would help.

Well the thing is, I haven't been to their warehouse yet, but am going this weekend. maybe if I can find the guy on here maybe he can show me what he has for sale.

Ok, that helps. Once you know what you can get, we can help steer you in the right direction. But if you can get something with a control panel and all the wiring, buttons, and joysticks, and it's JAMMA, I'd recommend the J-Pac.

[mkwfreak]

Do you have a photo of exactly everything you're getting in the cab? That would help.

Well the thing is, I haven't been to their warehouse yet, but am going this weekend. maybe if I can find the guy on here maybe he can show me what he has for sale.

Ok, that helps. Once you know what you can get, we can help steer you in the right direction. But if you can get something with a control panel and all the wiring, buttons, and joysticks, and it's JAMMA, I'd recommend the J-Pac.

I see. But if I did get the J-Pac, that's $60 + whatever i need for the kick buttons. Maybe if I'm lucky there might be a kick harness in there I can Frankenstein. As for my area, It's not the best for collecting. It's a small town in the California bay area. This is the place I plan on looking at. It's called "All you can Arcade." It's this crazy place nearby that lets people rent arcade games in their homes. They may also put some on locations, but i'm not sure about that. I called them and they said they had some street fighter cabs gutted, along with others.

[yotsuya]

Do you have a photo of exactly everything you're getting in the cab? That would help.

Well the thing is, I haven't been to their warehouse yet, but am going this weekend. maybe if I can find the guy on here maybe he can show me what he has for sale.

Ok, that helps. Once you know what you can get, we can help steer you in the right direction. But if you can get something with a control panel and all the wiring, buttons, and joysticks, and it's JAMMA, I'd recommend the J-Pac.

I see. But if I did get the J-Pac, that's $60 + whatever i need for the kick buttons. Maybe if I'm lucky there might be a kick harness in there I can Frankenstein. As for my area, It's not the best for collecting. It's a small town in the California bay area. This is the place I plan on looking at. It's called "All you can Arcade." It's this crazy place nearby that lets people rent arcade games in their homes. They may also put some on locations, but i'm not sure about that. I called them and they said they had some street fighter cabs gutted, along with others.

I'm familiar with them. They rent games and let people rent their games out through them. And don't stress about the $60 for the J-Pac. If it's JAMMA wired, it's totally worth your time and money.

[BadMouth]

I called them and they said they had some street fighter cabs gutted, along with others.

Perfect if they'll sell you one with the control panel for $100.
It probably won't have the controls in it for that price, but I'd want new stuff anyway.

Watch out for the cheap packages of buttons/joysticks/encoders on ebay.
A lot of them come with the Japanese style buttons which are larger and won't fit in the Street Fighter CP.

[Malenko]

you dont need a kick harness for a JPAC.  all you need is the button and 2 pieces of wait (well 1 wire and the ground loop)

[yotsuya]

Get this for $40 shipped: http://www.ebay.com/itm/380195640715?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

[leapinlew]

Just start building it the way you want. The money will work itself out or you'll get as far as you can and then start getting creative.

[yotsuya]

May I ask a question- are you a kid on a strict budget, so it HAS to stay under $200? That's the feeling I get from the tone of your posts. Just wonderin'. 

[mkwfreak]

May I ask a question- are you a kid on a strict budget, so it HAS to stay under $200? That's the feeling I get from the tone of your posts. Just wonderin'. 

Well, I got a check for $200 as part of my summer job. I might be able to sweet talk my family into $20-30, but that's sort of a liability, so I want to try to get everything by myself, but if push comes to shove, I might get a little room to work with. As for a kid, I'm 17. Young, but I've been interested in electronics since I was 2-3 (playing floppy discs on windows 95), and I have learned a LOT of information over the years. And I have a step dad with a machine shop, and a computer expert for resources. I may be young, but I have a lot of faith in this.

[yotsuya]

May I ask a question- are you a kid on a strict budget, so it HAS to stay under $200? That's the feeling I get from the tone of your posts. Just wonderin'. 

Well, I got a check for $200 as part of my summer job. I might be able to sweet talk my family into $20-30, but that's sort of a liability, so I want to try to get everything by myself, but if push comes to shove, I might get a little room to work with. As for a kid, I'm 17. Young, but I've been interested in electronics since I was 2-3 (playing floppy discs on windows 95), and I have learned a LOT of information over the years. And I have a step dad with a machine shop, and a computer expert for resources. I may be young, but I have a lot of faith in this.

That's cool. We're here to help. A lot of ue have a ton of experience with builds, so feel free to ask, especially if you do a cab conversion as opposed to a scratch build. 

[BadMouth]

May I ask a question- are you a kid on a strict budget, so it HAS to stay under $200? That's the feeling I get from the tone of your posts. Just wonderin'. 

Well, I got a check for $200 as part of my summer job. I might be able to sweet talk my family into $20-30, but that's sort of a liability, so I want to try to get everything by myself, but if push comes to shove, I might get a little room to work with. As for a kid, I'm 17. Young, but I've been interested in electronics since I was 2-3 (playing floppy discs on windows 95), and I have learned a LOT of information over the years. And I have a step dad with a machine shop, and a computer expert for resources. I may be young, but I have a lot of faith in this.

Play that card when you go to look at the machines. You might get a better price or a little more stuff for being a decent working kid on a shoestring budget.   

[Vigo]

I might be able to sweet talk my family into $20-30, but that's sort of a liability.

  I know exactly what you mean. 

[PL1]

I see. I'm used to screw terminals,  but with the grounding and everything i'm a bit worried (I know some stuff about wiring, I disassembled and reassembled vacuum cleaners and ac plugs multiple times, but this is still new to me.)

Arcade wiring is pretty easy.

Check out this part of the FAQ.


Scott

[Malenko]

well, what part of the country are you in? Lots of us have heaps of spare parts we could give you.

[yotsuya]

I see. I'm used to screw terminals,  but with the grounding and everything i'm a bit worried (I know some stuff about wiring, I disassembled and reassembled vacuum cleaners and ac plugs multiple times, but this is still new to me.)

Arcade wiring is pretty easy.

Check out this part of the FAQ.


Scott

Scott's right. I was scared to death to do it - then I ACTUALLY did it- and now I can do it with my eyes closed. It's easy once you try.

[mkwfreak]

well, what part of the country are you in? Lots of us have heaps of spare parts we could give you.

I'm in the eastern part of the north california bay area.

[nitrogen_widget]

I see. I'm used to screw terminals,  but with the grounding and everything i'm a bit worried (I know some stuff about wiring, I disassembled and reassembled vacuum cleaners and ac plugs multiple times, but this is still new to me.)

Arcade wiring is pretty easy.

Check out this part of the FAQ.


Scott

Scott's right. I was scared to death to do it - then I ACTUALLY did it- and now I can do it with my eyes closed. It's easy once you try.

I went to school for electronics.
I learned all about letting the blue smoke out of components on the college's parts.
Stuff never works right once you let the blue smoke out of them.

[dkersten]

I went to school for electronics.
I learned all about letting the blue smoke out of components on the college's parts.
Stuff never works right once you let the blue smoke out of them.

As my first EE professor said, that is "magic smoke" and if you let it out, you can't get the magic back in there to make it work again..

[knave]

mkwfreak: The bay area is a good place to look for cabs. I've found several cabs in the $0 -100 range...I've since run out of room so I'm no competition.

If you are patient you will find something...their was a member in Redding (if you want to take a drive) who years ago had several cabs for sale in the $50 range.

I have a small cabaret cab with a working 13" arcade monitor and leaf joystick in it. PM me if you are interested. Theirs a pic of it in my old buy/sell thread. I probably could include an old computer and a old school minipac if you want it.

[mkwfreak]

mkwfreak: The bay area is a good place to look for cabs. I've found several cabs in the $0 -100 range...I've since run out of room so I'm no competition.

If you are patient you will find something...their was a member in Redding (if you want to take a drive) who years ago had several cabs for sale in the $50 range.

I have a small cabaret cab with a working 13" arcade monitor and leaf joystick in it. PM me if you are interested. Theirs a pic of it in my old buy/sell thread. I probably could include an old computer and a old school minipac if you want it.

Thank you. I took a look at your cabs, but I didn't see any 2P 6 button cabs. That's what I'm looking for, but I'm checking out AYCA today (Hopefully!)
But if it falls through, I'll try to get more info on it.

Edit #1: I don't think AYCA is going to work out. They said that their #1 focus is restoring, and they don't want to sell unless it's a decent price. I'll think about knave's cabaret, but if it were to be a 2P 6 button cab like I planned, I'd need to give it a bit of a makeover.

[mkwfreak]

Sorry for DP, but I feel like it's somewhat needed. As much as I like knave's cabaret, I feel like it might be a better idea to build my own cab, since then I can make it any way I want. I'm looking for schematics for a fighting game cabinet, but not too big like big blue. I'm looking for cabinet plans for Killer Instinct or something similar. Anyone help me out?

[knave]

I think that's a good call. If what you really want is a 2 player cab you wouldn't be happy with the cabaret. Just be warned. Its hard for $200. 

[mkwfreak]

Well, I found a 3D model of a KI cabinet (idk exact dimensions, but it seems pretty close to 1:1, so I think I can work with it.) The next thing on my list is, what kind of material should I build it out of. I've heard good things about plywood, but i'm guessing it's expensive. So I have to decide from dangerous MDF or wimpy particle board. What would you pick?

[nitrogen_widget]

When did MDF get dangerous?
did I miss something?

[Malenko]

When did MDF get dangerous?
did I miss something?

When Chad loads it into a truck, or when its a complete Pole Position cab in the back of my truck.

[dkersten]

When did MDF get dangerous?
did I miss something?

I've seen more than one post here talking about how dangerous the dust is, and I would guess that anyone whose only experience with MDF is from reading here is terrified of the stuff.  It's true that a good rule of thumb is that breathing in anything other than oxygen is bad for you in some way, but unless you work with this stuff without any kind of dust mask for a few decades, you probably won't ever be affected by it.  Simply using the most basic dust mask will keep you safe. 

[JDFan]

When did MDF get dangerous?
did I miss something?

When Chad loads it into a truck, or when its a complete Pole Position cab in the back of my truck.

Guess someone didn't check the tie downs and make sure everything was secure ! 

When did MDF get dangerous?
did I miss something?

Have you ever seen the area after cutting the MDF for the T-molding install --- figure thats what the inside of your lungs looks like also if you didn't wear a mask !! 

[knave]

I have toyed with building vs. buying for as long as I've been in this hobby. It is always less expensive to get an old "empty" cab and fix it up. You could easily do that for $200

If you are interested in finding a cab Try:

ARCADE GAME CABINET BUILD YOUR OWN ARCADE VIDEO GAME (hayward / castro valley)
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/for/4579551730.html

I think I might have bought my first cab from him( the name sounds familiar anyways.

Anyway look around, toy will find one that suits you.

Empty arcade cabs for sale, perfect for MAME - $60 (napa county)
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/ele/4590190866.html

[MaxAsh]

As a fellow noob, just getting into this hobby in the past few months as well, I'll outline some thoughts that might help. I've spent more time/money on my own build, but several friends have asked me to help them with "cheaper" builds. Here are some general costs for a cheaper build I've worked on for a friend. Keep in mind that this can be less attractive, but functional. The upside is that you can come back with more money later and spruce things up if you want. As others have said, if you really want a nice looking setup, your budget will jump higher than $200 quickly. But if you just want to setup a working cab, have some fun with it, and then decide how much further to go with your investment, here are my thoughts.

PM me if you want specific links/details, as I don't want to flood the thread with a bunch of eBay links and such:

Cabinet - Free (+gas). I posted on CL saying I was looking for a gutted/broken/beat up cabinet. I actually received several responses within a couple of weeks for everything from Free to $100. You can also just keep an eye out and search for "arcade" several times daily. They go fast, so you should check often.

Encoder - The super-cheap option is the $11 board from China/Hong Kong you can get on eBay. It's a Zero Delay encoder knock off, but works great. It's more limited than the I and J pac setups, but it's got plenty for a simple build (1 joystick, 12 buttons). I ordered two for a total of $22. Comes with wires for button/joystick connections and USB cable.

Joystick/Buttons - Again, going cheaper, you can grab 2 'competition' joysticks and 14 buttons for around $35 shipped on eBay (and you can pick your colors). That's enough for 2 players, 6 buttons each, plus a P1 and P2 button. If you need a few extra for admin stuff, you can pickup buttons for $1.50-$2.00 each in other auctions.

Lighting - LED strip lights, 5 meters worth, can be snagged for $5 or so on eBay. They run on 12V so you can literally wire them into your PC power supply with minimal effort. Great for cheap marquee or other lighting.

Control Panel Overlay/Marquee - Design your own, or find another someone has shared, print it at Staples for $12-18 on outdoor vinyl. You can do a marquee on regular vinyl for $5 at Staples too. Grab a sheet of Lexan or Plexi (I prefer Lexan) and slap it over your CPO, use it for the marquee if you don't have anything up there.


Add that up and you're still under $100. That's assuming you have the monitor/computer like you said in your OP. Again, this is a cheap build. Ideally you'd spend more money on each of these items to improve quality, appearance, etc. My friend loves his setup immensely, and the whole build was around $175, but it's not a showpiece or something gorgeous, it's a functional, fun feature he and his buddies use in his mancave while watching games and grabbing some beers.

Honestly, the biggest cost savings on a cheap build is the cabinet. If you can get a free one or cheap, you're golden. Be patient on the cabinet, see what you can find over a few weeks. Order or work on some of the other stuff in the mean time while you hunt.

[nitrogen_widget]

When did MDF get dangerous?
did I miss something?

When Chad loads it into a truck, or when its a complete Pole Position cab in the back of my truck.

Guess someone didn't check the tie downs and make sure everything was secure ! 

When did MDF get dangerous?
did I miss something?

Have you ever seen the area after cutting the MDF for the T-molding install --- figure thats what the inside of your lungs looks like also if you didn't wear a mask !!

eh, i'm safe.
It will just slide off the coating of pressure treated dust already there from when I built my deck.

[mkarabinus]

So far, I am at $110, all i need is the artwork, and to pick up a free PC.(I have everything running through my main laptop as of now)

So far I have the joysticks, and buttons, interface with wiring, marquee light, 4 speakers and a subwoofer, surge protector, new t-molding, and cabinet (I got lucky and grabbed a cabinet that looks brand spankin' new for only $10 at an auction)

(My goal is to be under $200 too...so i am totally taking my time!

You can do it!!!!!!

[MaxAsh]

So far, I am at $110, all i need is the artwork

The artwork part can get expensive fast I've found. As I noted above, you can do a control panel overlay and marquee on the cheap and get decent results, but I've yet to sort out what I'm going to do with my side art or front panel/kickplate area art. The cheapest option, of course, is to just paint it a nice looking solid color (black, or whatever you prefer). Done right, this can look really nice. I'm still debating what to do. I've found some inexpensive art sets (generic "multicade" designs) for $40-50, but they don't really have the look I want.

There are some great designs/ideas floating around in the projects area, and in members' signatures. It's too bad no one sells a nice cheap set of good wall stickers/decals, those could be fun to slap on, move around and re-use, etc. I've found some, but never a huge collection cheap, which is too bad.

[mkarabinus]

I've got some REALLY cool LARGE Simpson's promo decals, that I aquired from FOX,  that i am going to be putting up on the for trade section soon.  They could make great side art for somebody's cabinet.

[EMDB]

So far, I am at $110, all i need is the artwork, and to pick up a free PC.(I have everything running through my main laptop as of now)

So far I have the joysticks, and buttons, interface with wiring, marquee light, 4 speakers and a subwoofer, surge protector, new t-molding, and cabinet (I got lucky and grabbed a cabinet that looks brand spankin' new for only $10 at an auction)

(My goal is to be under $200 too...so i am totally taking my time!

You can do it!!!!!!

I guess now is the right time for:

[mkarabinus]

Here is a "how I got it it" and in its current stripped state.  I hope to finish getting th top speakers mounted in the next day or two...

[mkarabinus]

This is all the fun stuff that was in it when i got it:

[MaxAsh]

This is all the fun stuff that was in it when i got it:

Not to continue the hijacking too much, but you got THAT for $10? Nice! Looks like it was working too - I'm surprised you dismantled it. I probably would have kept it as-is or resold it, and found another cabinet somewhere cheap haha.

[mkwfreak]

I have a question about sideart. If it's like a decal, but doesn't take up the whole sides of the cabinet, how much am I looking at from staples?

[MaxAsh]

I have a question about sideart. If it's like a decal, but doesn't take up the whole sides of the cabinet, how much am I looking at from staples?

The Staples near me actually said they no longer do adhesive vinyl, which was disappointing. Other print shops may have that, but Staples seems to have cut back on a lot of their less profitable printing options. Your luck may vary, always worth a phone call.

That being said, I'm willing to bet if the side art you want is smaller in nature (not the entire side of the cab), you can find users on here or sellers on eBay that will have some resonable prices. The quality will be better, especially if obtained from a good seller on the forums, and you'll likely be able to get something you really want. Do you have a design you personally made, or perhaps one you found online you like? If so, figure out the measurements and either hit up a known side art person on the forums, or post over in the Artwork section of the forums. The really good graphics companies aren't cheap, but they have great quality. It's a tough decision, and one I'm still mulling over as I work on other cabinet items.

[Malenko]

I have a question about sideart. If it's like a decal, but doesn't take up the whole sides of the cabinet, how much am I looking at from staples?

use souldraw aka shady lee

[mgb]

I think its cool that a 17 year old is interested in this hobby.
it would seem to me that the cheapest way would be to be to find an empty cabinet and hard work.

[yotsuya]

use souldraw aka shady lee

Always trust a vendor named "Shady" 

[mkwfreak]

I made a craigslist posting, if anyone's interested.

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/wan/4622703732.html

[yotsuya]

Check Facebook to see if there are any local collectors groups around. I've gotten empty cabs for between $0-$50 from collector friends that weren't advertised anywhere. 

[mkwfreak]

BUMP.

Hey guys, i'm running into a problem.

My family says that we're moving, and I probably won't be able to get an upright, so I'm considering a backup plan.

I'm thinking about just buying an x-arcade dual joystick, and fashioning my laptop into a makeshift bartop.

Does this sound like a good compromise?

[yotsuya]

Sure. If you just want to be able to play classics, that's a good compromise. Keep the idea of a cabinet in the back of your mind... We'll be here to help when you're ready! 

[JDFan]

Might check with yuppicide in the B\S\T sub forum he has one he is selling for $50 that you might be able to get him to ship to you much cheaper than a new one ! Here's a link to his thread ( http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,141035.0.html )

[mkwfreak]

Sure. If you just want to be able to play classics, that's a good compromise. Keep the idea of a cabinet in the back of your mind... We'll be here to help when you're ready! 

Plus, if I wanted to, I can replace the regular sticks with fighting sticks, right?

[yotsuya]

Sure. If you just want to be able to play classics, that's a good compromise. Keep the idea of a cabinet in the back of your mind... We'll be here to help when you're ready! 

Plus, if I wanted to, I can replace the regular sticks with fighting sticks, right?

I think you can, but I don't have any experience with one so I don't know the process. Anyone care to weigh in?

[PL1]

Sure. If you just want to be able to play classics, that's a good compromise. Keep the idea of a cabinet in the back of your mind... We'll be here to help when you're ready! 

Plus, if I wanted to, I can replace the regular sticks with fighting sticks, right?

I think you can, but I don't have any experience with one so I don't know the process. Anyone care to weigh in?

According to Randy, the X-Arcade sticks use a Happ/Wico mounting pattern.

The OMNI2 has the larger plate that is compatible with both the HAPP/WICO/X-Arcade, etc.... patterns, as well as the narrower Sanwa, Zippyy, etc... varieties.

Scott

[mkwfreak]

Sure. If you just want to be able to play classics, that's a good compromise. Keep the idea of a cabinet in the back of your mind... We'll be here to help when you're ready! 

Plus, if I wanted to, I can replace the regular sticks with fighting sticks, right?

I think you can, but I don't have ]Sany experience with one so I don't know the process. Anyone care to weigh in?

According to Randy, the X-Arcade sticks use a Happ/Wico mounting pattern.

The OMNI2 has the larger plate that is compatible with both the HAPP/WICO/X-Arcade, etc.... patterns, as well as the narrower Sanwa, Zippyy, etc... varieties.

Scott

so, would this work?

http://na.suzohapp.com/all_catalogs/joysticks/50-6070-160

[PL1]

According to Randy's post, this one by Severdhed, and the post just after it, the Happ Competition you linked should be a drop-in replacement.

There is a difference of 1.8mm on one axis and a 1mm difference on the other.

X-Arcade stick diagram


Happ Competition diagram


Worst case scenario, you might have to drill the mount holes slightly larger. . . or use a wasp rasp like GeoMan suggested in the link above.


Scott

[Jamesbeat]

I am building a cabinet, and it's going to come in at a lot less than $200.

I had already planned my build and bought joysticks and buttons when my wife lost her job.

I make decent money, but here in NY, the cost of living is so high that I couldn't spend lots of money on a cabinet without eating into my family's grocery bills.

I got sick of looking at the joysticks and buttons and not being able to afford to build a cabinet, so I resolved to make a temporary one out of whatever I could lay my hands on.

My neighbor was getting rid of an Ikea dresser, and asked if we wanted it.
I took it and stripped it down to the individual boards.
Since I only had a small amount of wood to work with, I decided to make a bartop and put it on a piece of furniture like this guy did (he used a fridge):

http://imgur.com/a/46GDP?desktop=1

Instead of springing for an ipac, I hacked a pair of $3.50 usb gamepads.

I already had a Raspberry Pi and an lcd monitor.
I had intended to use the Raspberry Pi in my planned full-size cabinet build anyway, but its small size sure came in handy when squeezing it inside a bartop.

The wood for the battens was cheap. I think it was $1.60 for an 8' length, and I used two lengths.

Screws, wood filler, paint, jigsaw blades and other sundries came to around $25 or so.

I have yet to buy a slot cutter for my router to do the T-molding, and I still have to do all the sanding, filling and painting.

I also still have to find a suitable piece of furniture to mount the cabinet on.
Once I find something that will work, I'm going to paint it to match the cabinet and add T-molding to it.

Building it this way is not only economical, it will also allow the cabinet to be taken down into two pieces if I move house.

I now have a pretty good cabinet that I can play, instead of a couple of joysticks and a bag of buttons.

I'll probably end up making a new one when I have some money, but it has certainly taken the pressure off.

When I do get around to making a new cabinet, I will have 80% of the tools and parts I will need, so I won't be buying everything from scratch.

Since I already have a perfectly serviceable cabinet, I can acquire the materials for my 'proper' build gradually, rather than trying to find all the money in one go.

[EMDB]

As we say on the forum:

[Generic Eric]

As we say on the forum:

Specifically, in your own project thread.

[Jamesbeat]

Sorry for the awful photos, but you get the idea.

As you can see, it's very much a work in progress.
I still have to fill in the screw holes, sand, add T-molding and paint.
I also have yet to add an amp and speakers and plexiglass.

Still, it's an arcade cabinet, and it cost practically nothing.

[mkwfreak]

Sorry for the big bump, but I wanted to explain why I got sidetracked.

My laptop died IRL, and I needed to get a replacement. My friend sold me one for cheap, but now i'm down a lot of cash, but things are looking up.

My birthday is in 6 days, and i'm going to get some cash for that, throw in x-mas and in a few months my SSI, I should be able to build it, and get a few other cool things too. And I should be able to buy high-quality parts, and be able to do this without that tiny little budget. We can still do the planning now, if you guys wish until then, but I won't make much progress until I start getting checks.

Sincerely,
     ~mkwfreak.

[yotsuya]

SSI?

[Malenko]

SSI?

Supplemental Security Income?

[JDFan]

SSI?

Supplemental Security Income?

Probably his 65th Birthday in 6 days !

[yotsuya]

I thought he was turning 18?

As for a kid, I'm 17. Young, but I've been interested in electronics since I was 2-3 (playing floppy discs on windows 95), and I have learned a LOT of information over the years. And I have a step dad with a machine shop, and a computer expert for resources. I may be young, but I have a lot of faith in this.

[mkwfreak]

I thought he was turning 18?

As for a kid, I'm 17. Young, but I've been interested in electronics since I was 2-3 (playing floppy discs on windows 95), and I have learned a LOT of information over the years. And I have a step dad with a machine shop, and a computer expert for resources. I may be young, but I have a lot of faith in this.

I'm have a chance of getting SSI when i turn 18 because i have autism, and possibly a few other things.

[General_Faliure]

I built my cab mostly from stuff i had lying around; plywood, old computer parts, which had cost me next to nothing.
I also use Linux as os.
Plywood isn't the best choice, it's difficult to get smooth, MDF would be better.
Most expensive where the joysticks and buttons which i bought from Ebay.
See the pictures in the link below.
I am currently redoing the paint job.
I learned a lot from this build, and am planning to do a new build in the near future.

[DietCoke]

-self-edited-

[mkwfreak]

well, my birthday is tomorrow, so i hope to get some cash. I think I still have 90$ or so that I have entitled to me, so maybe I can have the funds by Christmas to get all the big things purchased, but there is one little thing that scares me. I've had more than a few scares with ESD, and I'm scared with the I-Pac and wiring, because most if not all of my place is carpeted, and I barely have enough space in my room to fit something like an arcade cabinet. Any advice?

[yotsuya]

well, my birthday is tomorrow, so i hope to get some cash. I think I still have 90$ or so that I have entitled to me, so maybe I can have the funds by Christmas to get all the big things purchased, but there is one little thing that scares me. I've had more than a few scares with ESD, and I'm scared with the I-Pac and wiring, because most if not all of my place is carpeted, and I barely have enough space in my room to fit something like an arcade cabinet. Any advice?

Buy a Tankstick?

[mkwfreak]

Well, I guess I'm gonna get a tankstick then. Kind of wanted to get a custom control panel, but I guess this is the best way. I suppose I can think about that in the future.

[dkstanson]

well, what part of the country are you in? Lots of us have heaps of spare parts we could give you.