Vigolix bartop - M.Y. Arcade -- DONE!!! 2/6/2015

[BorgDog]

My solution, vigolix bar top that slips into the cabinet on the porch when I have an outdoor party & can be easily brought in at night or the winter.

I keep seeing people talk of vigolix bar tops but I have yet to see one.  Anybody actually made one yet?   

EDIT:  For those just seeing this, this thread started out as part of a discussion about building both horizontal and vertical vigolix cabs (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,142071.0.html), that digressed into a vigolix bartop design discussion which was subsequently split into its own discussion on the Main page, then when I added a pic of my actual build of my Vigolix bartop DeLuSioNal moved it over to the project announcement pages, and now since my name ended up on top of the thread I am using as my mini build thread.  The actual build part comes in page 2 of this thread somewhere.  Just thought I'd put this here so it made a little more sense coming in the middle of the discussion.  I'll probably add my finished pics to this post once I'm done as well.

Here is a preview of the completed project.

[Generic Eric]

Wouldn't a Vigolix bartop just be a right triangle? 

Wouldn't it just be a bartop?

[yotsuya]

Wouldn't a Vigolix bartop just be a right triangle? 

Wouldn't it just be a bartop?

Shaped like a right triangle?

[Vigo]

Wouldn't a Vigolix bartop just be a right triangle? 

[yotsuya]

Wouldn't a Vigolix bartop just be a right triangle? 

Here are your plans, bro.

[Vigo]

  What, no sketchup?

[yotsuya]

What, no sketchup?

Told you I got better at this!

[Vigo]

Haha! Nice! Faceless woman looks like she is snubbing them.

[Louis Tully]

.

[yotsuya]

What, no sketchup?

Told you I got better at this!

Kickin'! Glad to see you're sticking with it. 

Although I whipped those together as a joke, I feel confident enough in my Sketchupiness that I could even tackle that. If I would have tried that two weeks ago, I would have ended up punching kittens or something.

[Vigo]

Don't worry, you can still punch a kitten.

[yotsuya]

Don't worry, you can still punch a kitten.

Naw.... they punch back....

[Vigo]

[wp34]

What, no sketchup?

Told you I got better at this!

The bartops don't look that special but I'm impressed with the hand-drawn women.   

 

[nitrogen_widget]

Wouldn't a Vigolix bartop just be a right triangle? 

hahahahahaaa errmmmm......I guess so.
Gonna have to trow some wood in the table saw & see if a triangle with a flat vertex instead of a point looks less right.

fyi, I renovated my house & tend to build things on the fly vs. plan them out.
Every room of my house has trim cut differently as I figured out different ways to do things as I learned along the way.
surprisingly it all looks fairly good.

I think I have some 1/4 mdf in the basement.

[BorgDog]

What, no sketchup?

Told you I got better at this!

Kickin'! Glad to see you're sticking with it. 

See not bad, I'm thinking more like this though.

[yotsuya]

I **do** like that one.

[JDFan]

I was thinking something more like this for the bartop profile

[yotsuya]

I was thinking something more like this for the bartop profile

I dunno, looks like it would tip forward most of the time.

[JDFan]

I was thinking something more like this for the bartop profile

I dunno, looks like it would tip forward most of the time.

True - could always add some to the front end to stabilize.

[BorgDog]

In keeping with a pointy theme I'd do it more like this.

[Generic Eric]

Can it be built from a single sheet?  2'x2'

[jdbailey1206]

In keeping with a pointy theme I'd do it more like this.

How about something like this:

[BadMouth]

The whole point of this design was to make a decent looking little cab with the least amount of material.

The bartop version should have the same goal of squeezing the most out of a 2'x4' sheet.

I'd also like to see someone come up with a full size cab design that can be made from a single 4'x8' sheet.

[JDFan]

Can it be built from a single sheet?  2'x2'

Figure the 2 side pieces can be laid out on a 24"x14" piece - which would leave 10"x24" for the rest (plus the material cut out of the center and back of the sides -- So should be doable depending on the size monitor you want to fit in there (Should be room for maybe a 15" 4:3) 

[yotsuya]

The whole point of this design was to make a decent looking little cab with the least amount of material.

The bartop version should have the same goal of squeezing the most out of a 2'x4' sheet.

I'd also like to see someone come up with a full size cab design that can be made from a single 4'x8' sheet.

Vigo made a driving Vigolix, remember.

[BorgDog]

Figure the 2 side pieces can be laid out on a 24"x14" piece - which would leave 10"x24" for the rest (plus the material cut out of the center and back of the sides -- So should be doable depending on the size monitor you want to fit in there (Should be room for maybe a 15" 4:3) 

hmmm, I'm sure I have a piece of scrap at least that size, and this sounds a lot more fun than the tape and mud project I'm supposed to do when I get home from work 

[yotsuya]

hmmm, I'm sure I have a piece of scrap at least that size, and this sounds a lot more fun than the tape and mud project I'm supposed to do when I get home from work 

I love doing tape and mud projects, but the sanding is a ---smurfette---.

[AzureKnight]

Sponge....once you learn how to do that right you will never sand drywall again...

My build has been derailed for a week while I move a bathroom wall, drywall, paint, new floor, etc so I'm heading home for drywall work too.

[Yenome]

Hmm when i get home i got a 2x4 mdf sheet at home im gonna see if i can draw it up to at least get to sides CP top and front and one piece for the monitor to mount too could use black contruction paper for a bezel to cover monitor. and mount pc board to back of monitor mount. wish i wasnt at work to try this

[yotsuya]

Sponge....once you learn how to do that right you will never sand drywall again...

My build has been derailed for a week while I move a bathroom wall, drywall, paint, new floor, etc so I'm heading home for drywall work too.

I just completed one bathroom project and will be finished a second shortly. When are you sponging? After it's dry?

[Malenko]

you use a wet sponge to remove the excess joint compound instead of sanding it off.

[AzureKnight]

Yes, you have to be careful and do a relatively clean job of mudding with the putty knife.  Then let it dry, when you are ready to sand get a damp sponge and lightly feather away at the area.  You have to be careful not to use too much water.  Sometimes you have to let it dry again and do a second round of damp sponging.

Once you get good at it, I think it takes half the time and there is no drywall dust blowing all over the entire house (city block?  that stuff is evil).

I'm sure you can find many other videos but here is one:

[yotsuya]

I'll have to test that out when I finish the other bathroom. 

[BorgDog]

Enough with the mud talk.  I had a little time to play at work today and came up with a cut plan and pieced together a model from it.  I think I would still want to add more to make a finished cab, but this gets darn close.  Thats also quickie model of the 17" monitor I plan on using in my bartop, fits just right.  Control panel could easily be moved lower depending on need.

[Yenome]

Nice job borgdog i like it. personally i was thinking traditional bar top but this is a vigolix bartop so yours makes sense

[Vigo]

[yotsuya]

So a 4' x 2' would easily have enough material to finish it off. Good to know.

[horizon]

Just forwarded this to a buddy who is doing a vigolix soonish.  Bartop might be ideal for his living space.

You guys rock.

[Louis Tully]

.

[jaharr01]

I was thinking something more like this for the bartop profile

OMG JDfan, thats fugly. So what are you powering it with, pi?

Jay

[jaharr01]

"Sponge....once you learn how to do that right you will never sand drywall again...

My build has been derailed for a week while I move a bathroom wall, drywall, paint, new floor, etc so I'm heading home for drywall work too."

I tried I could never get it right. I watched I guy drywall my addition,he would come everyday put a coat on and leave, never sanded his previous coats. Then after about 5 coats he sanded for about an hour and he was done. I put it on sand it off put it back on again.That last bartop looks much better.

[Generic Eric]

I like that you posted this cutsheet and sketchup file.

[BorgDog]

Don't forget the kerf. I did once.

Edit: In fact, Eric was the one who reminded me.

Don't forget the kerf.

yeah, i chose to ignore the kerf for this as I wasn't worried about getting anything exact and figure 1/8" less on most of the pieces wouldn't matter much.  I was just thinking it could also be made wider if needed just by extending the control panel and the 2 cp brace pieces down into the "parts?" area.  the monitor support will run short at some point but a couple inches wider is probably doable.. hmmm maybe I can make the monitor rotate... must measure the diagonal and see what it takes, the monitor stand I have has a pivot built in.

I like that you posted this cutsheet and sketchup file.

Here is the actual sketchup file that has both in it if someone wanted to make it all work right.  I did make a couple errors in drawing it so it would need a little work.

[BorgDog]

I'm not sure, but is that a nod of approval from the originator Vigo the Carpathian?   

[Vigo]

It is!  It seems to have the makings of  stylish and easy bar top. I'd like to see it cut out to get the details sorted.  If I am to really nitpick, it seems to be a little tougher of a cut for between the side panels than the standard vigolix, but in the scheme of things it is still a very easy side to cut even when compared to something basic like a weecade. It is also hard to say if it would need a front panel below the control panel, but even a small plank would solve that.

It looks really good! Looks like an awesome cutting diagram.

[jaharr01]

I will be impressed if someone could stuff a CRT in one of those things

[BorgDog]

I will be impressed if someone could stuff a CRT in one of those things

   yeah, that would be impressive

and Vigo I agree that it needs at least 1 more panel, and to be honest if I actually build it (ran out of time last night to play) I would box in the bottom entirely for somewhere to stuff a computer and such, as well as close in the bottom of the control panel just to cover up the wires.  So realistically to actually make a full functional one from a 2'x2' panel I think it would need to be scaled down to maybe 15" monitor size. 

[DeLuSioNal29]

Hmm, I have two 15" color CRT VGA monitors in my garage...

[nitrogen_widget]

I will be impressed if someone could stuff a CRT in one of those things

found a 14" toshiba CRT TV with component in for $7 at the thrift store.
I was tempted to get it just because of the component inputs....
maybe i'll snag it.

[pbj]

*sigh*

At least it's not another godforsaken weecade.

[yotsuya]

*sigh*

At least it's not another godforsaken weecade.

Yeah, I suggest the Vigolix Bartop stuff get split off from Eric's original request. It should probably have it's own thread.

[Generic Eric]

*sigh*

At least it's not another godforsaken weecade.

Yeah, I suggest the Vigolix Bartop stuff get split off from Eric's original request. It should probably have it's own thread.

Why not.  Just don't call it weelix.

[BorgDog]

Why not.  Just don't call it weelix.

         :

Of course now that is all that it will ever be referred to as at least in my head anyway.

[Yenome]

i vote wilix for the name

[rawbe]

What you talking about Wilix?

[BorgDog]

Played around with design some more, still have not found time to get out in the shop and actually cut some wood but playing in sketchup is fun as well (especially at work).

I made this cut sheet with a smaller overall design, but still will fit my 17" lcd monitor.  there is actually enough wood to make the entire design from a 2'x2' sheet.  I plan on doing this with 1/2" plywood and using some of the extras to add diagonal braces where needed.  Pocket screws for attachment.  I also thought this morning of making it with a square opening and mounting the monitor in a bezel/frame with french cleats so I could just easily lift it off from the front and rotate between horizontal and vertical mode.  I haven't drawn it up, but I don't think I could make it work with only a 2'x2' piece as I would want the bezel to be 1 piece around the front. 

And I'm not sure what kind of computer would fit in here, a raspberry pi for sure, a nuc would be awesome but expensive.  An old crap netbook would probably work fine for mame and also fit the space... hmmm need to think about this part.

[yotsuya]

I like the lower profile Control Panel. It gives it a look a stability.

[pbj]

So we've devolved from the laptop wrapped in cardboard aesthetic of the weecade, into a laptop stand?



 

[Yenome]

What you talking about Wilix?

ah ha i see what you did there.

[BorgDog]

To revive..... a little preview, project thread coming.. maybe, this is the only progress pic I've taken.  Sitting next to my mini-pin cab on my half desk (hmmm sensing a trend here).  the 17" monitor sitting behind it is what's going into it, going to be attached to the piece of plywood in the monitor spot, with hole cut out of course.  display will pop out the front to manually rotate for horizontal or vertical mode, opening/plywood mount is square.

[Yenome]

Im probably going to build one of these. tho i was thinking of making it wider for two player panel

[nitrogen_widget]

Going to try & make one of these on my vacation over christmas.
I'm building a 4-way vert classic with a 2 1/2" trackball and a 15" 4:3 LCD.
I'm hoping the 15" panel doesn't look too narrow for the control panel otherwise I do have a 17" 4:3 LCD I can use.

[grippie]

Found you some artwork inspiration for this bad boy. 

[AzureKnight]

I kept seeing Dynomutt myself.

All kidding aside that is looking nice so far, it is a really cool idea to do a small conversion like this.  I may be doing one of these as a gift at some point.

[yotsuya]

Does someone have a plan for the top area? I'm not digging the "ears".

[BorgDog]

Does someone have a plan for the top area? I'm not digging the "ears".

Was thinking of doing a small marquee like DeLuSioNals Invader Vigolix http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,141778.0.html but that little top part is at most 3" tall so I'm not sure how well it would work.  Had I not rounded it off it might have worked better.

Besides the ears remind me of my dog.

[Locke141]

I have a 60 watt CNC laser at work with a 4' by 2' bed. I might give this a go after work one day next week. It would probably look good in plexi with edge lit graphics.   

[BorgDog]

I have a 60 watt CNC laser at work with a 4' by 2' bed. I might give this a go after work one day next week. It would probably look good in plexi with edge lit graphics.   

That's cheating!    Heck compared to some of these guys working with such basic tools I feel I'm cheating using my table saw.

So I did a little more work on my dog eared vigolix-bartop (NOT a weelix).  borrowing from my mini-pin build (in case anyone interested http://www.vpforums.org/index.php?showtopic=29303&hl=pindog), I borrowed a poster/saying from one of my other favorite sites Garage Journal and 44 Bikes who posted the original "bike" version.  If you are into hand built bicycles or just seeing how they are made, or really cool shops, check out Kristofer Henry's thread http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=112578.The guy is simply amazing.



While I watch the paint dry I'm working on my Mala artwork and maybe a CPO and really iffy a marquee for the top.. more on those later.

Here is a pic from this morning after last nights painting session.

[BorgDog]

Pulling and paraphrasing from a control panel question I posted elsewhere, this project is titled Dan's Misspent Youth Arcade, or the short version M.Y. Arcade.  Being a teenager in the late 70s, and living in a small rural town I had a limited selection of game exposure being mostly at the mercy of the small arcade in the bowling alley, and I am planning this cabinet to play those games I most fondly remember stuffing quarters into.  Far and away the two biggest eaters of my meager money supply were Asteroids and Space Invaders.  Just those 2 brought me to my first dilemma, vertical or horizontal     After those came Space Zap, Missile Command, Defender, Frogger, Galaxian, Centipede, Zaxxon, Pacman and Donkey Kong.  So again a mix of vertical and horizontal.  Of course it will likely run a bunch more mame games, but getting those on will be my goal.

In the end I decided to go with just 4-way joystick (Zippy from GGG, so could do 8-way if I wanted), buttons in a mostly Asteroids with Space Zap arrangement, and a U-Trak.  Oh, and to solve the orientation dilemma I decided to build it with a manually rotate-able monitor that simply pulls out the front to move.

Here is an overview shot from Sketchup of M.Y. Arcade



Here is a shot of the control panel.




Attached is the sketchup file that is pretty close to how I built it.

[RetroGreg]

I like it. I'm eager to see how the rotation will work.

[BorgDog]

Was gone for most of the weekend, but started putting all the parts back in, still need to wire it all up and mount the computer and such, put the plexy front on, make a very skinny not lit marquee...

Sorry for the crappy cell pics, but here it is in horizontal and vertical modes.

[Generic Eric]

I like it. I'm eager to see how the rotation will work.

I too, would also like to see how the rotation will work.

[BorgDog]

I like it. I'm eager to see how the rotation will work.

I too, would also like to see how the rotation will work.

It is very very low tech.  grab the bezel with your hands, pull it and the monitor out of the slot it is sitting in, turn sideways, put back in slot.  It simply leans up against the crosspiece in the back.  I am working on a way to lock it in place with a butterfly catch for transport.

[BorgDog]

Getting started on the guts.. who's idea was it to put so damn many buttons in this little space?  Waiting for some more connectors to arrive tomorrow.  Posting a pic because I actually thought to take one 

[BorgDog]

Also making progress on my simple design for a thin, non-lit, marquee and control panel.  Attached are low rez versions, comment/suggestions welcome.  not planning on doing any other graphics on the cab.  I am doing a simple MaLa theme to go along with Spaceman Spiff/Stupendous Man motif. 

[Rockhart]

Awesome choice going with Spaceman Spiff! I'd suggest adding a background to the control panel though, as the black is a little bland. Maybe one of the Mars backgrounds?



Part of the appeal of Calvin and Hobbes is the fantastic art. You should use more of it!!

[BorgDog]

Thanks.  I've played around with a couple different backgrounds, including the one you posted, but I kinda prefer the plain look.

[Nephasth]

I dig your Space Zap controls!

[Rockhart]

Thanks.  I've played around with a couple different backgrounds, including the one you posted, but I kinda prefer the plain look.

You should pick what you like best, but I think both of those options look really cool. 

[BorgDog]

Got it all wired up and tested it out to make sure everything worked and it did! 



So put the bottom panel in place, just some scrap 5mm plywood held on by 2 little screws.



Actually attached the power supply (made from an old rack mount strip cut down to 2 plugs), the computer (gigabyte Brix celeron 2807), and the single usb powered speaker (was a Dell pair).  The speaker also has a little flat volume control that you can just see on the top edge of the speaker, nice and convenient.  The computer and speaker are screwed in from underneath.  At the top of this picture you can also see the butterfly catch that I mounted to hold the monitor in place for transport.  Forgive the bundled up power and vga cables, I am waiting for shorter versions to arrive.



I have decided on the following version of the control panel graphics and have started the process to get them from Brad (Lucian045) who did the fantastic Flynn's Arcade prints.  Of course that means I'll have to take all the controls out again.  Oh well, in the mean time I can play.

[Rockhart]

I have decided on the following version of the control panel graphics.

Looks awesome 

[BorgDog]

A temporary marquee image pieced together from a couple pages of color laser printout, and plexi on the front for the display bezel, darn hard to take a picture of, very reflective oh and crappy phone pic 

[BorgDog]

I'm at the playable so not going to finish it mode... but I thought I'd share a pic of the grandkids playing at the cabin this weekend.  Amazing how a couple of 11 year olds take to playing the old games I used to play.  probably helped by the fact there is no internet or phone at the cabin

[jaharr01]

Wow that's impressive where do you live Borgdog?

[BorgDog]

Thanks.  Still need to order the final artwork and get that applied, but I've already moved on to the next project so who knows when. 

I work outside Seattle, but "live" at the cabin, a couple hours north-east of there in the mountains.

[TheDude]

I didn't think it would turn out that good ! Impressed by the sleek look ! 

[BorgDog]

Feb 6, 2015 DONE!

Brad (Lucian045) printed up my simple graphics and I just got them put on today.  I'm calling it done. 

The front overview.



The side view showing the Vigolix inspired design.



and the control panel.



And last but not least I'm going to attempt to insert/embed the first video I have ever uploaded to the youtubes showing how I rotate the monitor and how the Mala frontend handles it.

[RetroGreg]

I like it. Great job!

[DeLuSioNal29]

That sir is amazing. Nice job!

[Louis Tully]

.

[Locke141]

  This is a great little bar top.

I'd still like to try this on the laser cutter. What program did you do the plans in, and may I have them?

[BorgDog]

Thanks for the kind comments guys, this is definitely a fun hobby, working on number 2, planning number 3, each getting smaller, maybe someday I'll build a full size, but don't have room for one now.

Locke141 I did the design in sketchup (attached), it should be fairly close to reality although I did change a few things while building it, the back monitor support in particular I did not place until I had the whole monitor assembly built so I could get it all lined up right, and did not do the side rear notches until I got that placed.  The button layout changed a little to make it all fit, and I did an inset cover on the bottom of the control panel that is not in the design.

[Locke141]

Thanks man,

I was looking for this file:
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=142115.0;attach=318843

The laser can only cut in two dimensions so the file I upload needs to be from a top down view. If you done have it no big deal I can make it in illustrator based on you pic.

[BorgDog]

I do not have a cut sheet patter like that for the version i actually built.  That was pretty minimal, but I think I have it in sketchup as well.  see attached that has a couple versions I posted earlier.