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Author Topic: Building an arcade cabinet! First time wood working as well.  (Read 3461 times)

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conker

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I'm really new to this forum and was heavily inspired by this thread to make my own: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,112721.0.html

I decided I wanted to learn how to wood work a while ago, finally all of my parts and tools are here and I was able to get to work.



I finished the control panel top today, other buttons will be on the side. :D

eds1275

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Re: Building an arcade cabinet! First time wood working as well.
« Reply #1 on: May 31, 2015, 09:24:05 pm »
Spectators stand in the middle? So far, looks good! Are you doing a direct copy, or are you going to change it up to fit your style better? Do you have a theme?

yotsuya

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Re: Building an arcade cabinet! First time wood working as well.
« Reply #2 on: June 01, 2015, 12:07:16 am »
Yeah, eds is right, that's quite a gap. Are you putting anything in the middle?
***Build what you dig, bro. Build what you dig.***

conker

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Re: Building an arcade cabinet! First time wood working as well.
« Reply #3 on: June 01, 2015, 12:26:19 am »
Its only 40 inches in length is it really that wide? O:
I'm not really planning on putting anything in the center, as i'm putting all the other buttons on the side of the control panel

I don't really understand what a direct copy is I'm sorry :P I'm doing a basic blue vs orange theme where the top 3 buttons and the first bottom one is white, then the rest are orange/blue but i'm not giving the cabinet a theme for a specific game.

But I'm really new to this so maybe I will change the design to something for blazblue or a game I play a lot :)



i have a few more colored buttons on their way  too :D

yotsuya

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Re: Building an arcade cabinet! First time wood working as well.
« Reply #4 on: June 01, 2015, 12:35:45 am »
Its only 40 inches in length is it really that wide? O:

I dunno, a standard two player HS-5 Dynamo can easily accommodate 2 players for Street Fighter and is only 25.5 inches wide.  :cheers:

No judgement, just an observation.  ;D
***Build what you dig, bro. Build what you dig.***

conker

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Re: Building an arcade cabinet! First time wood working as well.
« Reply #5 on: June 01, 2015, 12:50:01 am »
Yeah haha I didn't sense any judgement :D

and I'm one to enjoy critique from others so chop away as I work on this guy!

yotsuya

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Re: Building an arcade cabinet! First time wood working as well.
« Reply #6 on: June 01, 2015, 12:53:30 am »
Yeah haha I didn't sense any judgement :D

and I'm one to enjoy critique from others so chop away as I work on this guy!

Good for you, brother! Will keep an eye on this one.
***Build what you dig, bro. Build what you dig.***

conker

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Re: Building an arcade cabinet! First time wood working as well.
« Reply #7 on: June 01, 2015, 05:40:51 pm »
I'm worried about my plexiglass. I only have one sheet and if I mess up cutting it then I'm not gonna have anymore. I hope it works out. Any tips on cutting plexiglass for a noob like me?

taylormadelv

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Re: Building an arcade cabinet! First time wood working as well.
« Reply #8 on: June 01, 2015, 07:48:49 pm »
I am newer to plexi as well. But man plexi sure does look sexy!
Measure twice, three times, four times before you cut.
Measure your button holes several times before drilling.
Don't drill too fast/long, it will heat the plexi and melt the edges of your holes.
I screwed my plexi up by not measuring accurately.

conker

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Re: Building an arcade cabinet! First time wood working as well.
« Reply #9 on: June 02, 2015, 07:06:29 pm »
my plexiglass came out okay. it has a few small cracks but this was my first time EVER working with it. I feel like it was expected.



All thats left now is to cut a bigger hole in the back so my stick will fit through, then I'm done with the top and I just have to cut some sides out.

I really regret putting the buttons in to see if it fits. I had no idea how much trouble they would be getting out. I'm gonna try to finish the project with them all still on the board. Good news is they all fit pretty well!

conker

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Re: Building an arcade cabinet! First time wood working as well.
« Reply #10 on: June 03, 2015, 11:13:33 pm »
« Last Edit: June 03, 2015, 11:16:57 pm by conker »

Green Giant

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Re: Building an arcade cabinet! First time wood working as well.
« Reply #11 on: June 04, 2015, 01:22:56 pm »
That stick looks awfully shallow and could lead to some uncomfortable playing especially with fighters.  Thought about a longer shaft or top mounting it?


"He lives down there in his valley,
The cat stands tall and green,
Well, he ain't no prize, and there's no women his size,
And that's why the cat's so mean"
Toxic Arcade, my first build

conker

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Re: Building an arcade cabinet! First time wood working as well.
« Reply #12 on: June 04, 2015, 01:53:00 pm »
If they make longer shafts then hell yeah! I'll look into that, thanks.

eds1275

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Re: Building an arcade cabinet! First time wood working as well.
« Reply #13 on: June 04, 2015, 08:15:54 pm »
On mine, I put some lock washers between the shaft and the ball to make another 3/8" or so. But they still feel short!

conker

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Re: Building an arcade cabinet! First time wood working as well.
« Reply #14 on: June 04, 2015, 09:07:33 pm »


Yeah honestly I've already learned so much. For future reference I will use a much thinner lumber for the top of the control panel. They play fine though and I guess I didn't expect this cabinet to be perfect either. Its a huge learning process!

conker

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Re: Building an arcade cabinet! First time wood working as well.
« Reply #15 on: June 12, 2015, 02:03:52 pm »
It works!

HaRuMaN

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Re: Building an arcade cabinet! First time wood working as well.
« Reply #16 on: June 12, 2015, 02:26:54 pm »
You can still use the same thickness lumber for the CP.  Just route out a space on the bottom for the joystick to fit up inside.