New Donkey Kong Cabinet build

[Psychosys]

I last built a cabinet from scratch over 10 years ago.  After reading "Ready Player One" and "Armada", the bug has hit me again to build another cabinet.  I think that this will be a fun project to work on with my 13 year old son.
After much reading and deliberating, I have gravitated to the Nintendo cabinets with their bright colors and colorful artwork.

My first inclination was to attempt a fictional "Armada" cabinet in the style of the original Nintendo cabinets (especially after seeing Hgloth's Castlevania cab with custom art).   Unfortunately, though I have used photoshop a bit in the past, Illustrator skills elude me and I'm pretty sure that the artwork would stop that project before it got started.

Instead, I think that I will get my feet wet again with a run of the mill DK cabinet most likely running Retropie on a Raspberry Pi (I have several B series Pi's here not being used).

The goal is to have a good looking DK cab running 10-15 games that work well with the DK monitor format.  Trying to stick to a budget somewhat, but some expensive, hard to find parts I feel are needed to get the true Nintendo look (coin door for instance).

This is my initial build list and I know that I'm missing some stuff.   This was blatantly stolen and modified from JDBailey1206's excellent Fix It Felix Jr build thread.

Items preceded by an X are things that I either already have or have ordered as of this posting:

DK Cabinet Build:

x Raspberry Pi                                                    $35
x RetroPie                             free download

Cabinet Materials:

3/4" 4X8 MDF sheet x2                               Home Depot         $65
1.5" Caster Wheels                                      home depot?
x White 3/4" T-molding                                  T Molding.com via amazon because web site said out of stock   $45
x Nintendo Art Bezel Retainer                        mikesarcade.com           $17
x Nintendo Top Marquee Bracket                   mikesarcade.com           $17
x Nintendo Bottom Bezel Bracket                  mikesarcade.com           $17
x Control Panel Latch (2)                              mikesarcade.com           $6.50
x Strike Bracket    (2)                                    mikesarcade.com           $8.50
Control Panel Retainer                      mikesarcade.com           $8 (OUT OF STOCK ATM)
x Lower marquee/top bezel bkt           mikesarcade.com           $21
(2) Cabinet Handles                                      arcadeemulator.net
1/8" 24X24" Smoked Plexi                           estreetplastics.com
x Nintendo Replacement Joystick                  twistedquarter.com           $42 (shipped, holy cow on shipping)
Coin mechs                                 twistedquarter.com
(4) Classx Buttons                                        groovygamegear.com
iPac                                                                ultimarc.com
or KADE??
Mini Amp                                                    amazon?
x Amico thru cab Power Inlet                    amazon                      $7
x Nintendo Coin Door                                    1 from Klov 1 from quarterarcade.com    avg: $100/ea
18/14" Fluorescent Under Cab Light              Home Depot
(2) Lexan Poly Carbonate Sheet                     Home Depot
Paint Behr 520B-5 Liquid Blue                        Home Depot
Cabinet Art                                                  gameongrafix.com?
Monitor - Unknown yet         17-19"


I welcome any and all constructive criticism on my build plans.  Also, please chime in if there are better places to get the remaining parts other than what I have listed. 
Any one know where I can get the CP retainer plate as mike's is out of stock atm.



Some may have noticed two coin doors in the list.   Yeah, I'm planning for the future and already have ideas on the next build (Armada maybe?).

Couple questions to start.  It's been quite a while since I did any arcade cabinet work and a lot has changed.   
1. Ipac or Kade for the Raspberry Pi  build?
2. Do I even need an amp since I'll be running speaker/s from the audio port on the Pi?

[Psychosys]

Buttons are ordered.  4 each blue and orange.   (ordered extras because I know I'll want to add some admin buttons somewhere hidden).

[vwalbridge]

1. Ipac or Kade for the Raspberry Pi  build?

Neither, you will be using the GPIO on the Pi itself.

2. Do I even need an amp since I'll be running speaker/s from the audio port on the Pi?

No, as long as your speakers have their own power. However, controlling the volume is another story.

[Psychosys]

Ah....time to read up on GPIO setup. 

[Peabo]

Suggestion for the amplifier if your going with a non-powered one:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C4MT274?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage

AV cable to connect the Pi to the amp:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00W8FHIYQ?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s01

The AV is used so that the video and ground signal on the Pi don't ground out and cause static.

[Peabo]

Ah....time to read up on GPIO setup.

I used the PortaPi image, which has the Adafruit driver for GPIO and does keyboard encoding.  There's another driver out there that does Joystick encoding, which I found to be a hassle with emulators other than mame.

http://www.retrobuiltgames.com/porta-pi-arcade-help/porta-pi-software-os-download/

He also has a pinout template you can print out to make connecting to Pi child's play.

[Psychosys]

Ah....time to read up on GPIO setup.

I used the PortaPi image, which has the Adafruit driver for GPIO and does keyboard encoding.  There's another driver out there that does Joystick encoding, which I found to be a hassle with emulators other than mame.

http://www.retrobuiltgames.com/porta-pi-arcade-help/porta-pi-software-os-download/

He also has a pinout template you can print out to make connecting to Pi child's play.

Thanks!  I'll read up on that.  I'm pretty new to the Pi stuff.   All i've done so far was get one running over the weekend with Retropie and a few games as a test.

I managed to get most of the lumber today.  Going with 3/4 MDF with poplar cleats and bottom stand.   I didn't get the flat Nintendo T-molding because I knew I'd end up using 3/4 MDF as the 5/8" isn't readily available from local lumber yards.
I hope to start some cutting tomorrow for the larger pieces.   I am expecting a ton of packages with hardware over the next week or so.

One issue that has been bugging me as I don't know if one action button will be sufficient on the CP.   Thought about adding one more action button, but will need someone to redesign the CP overlay with the additional button.
I know that most printers probably prefer vector files to print, but if someone has a stock CP overlay graphic that is high enough resolution, I don't mind attempting to modify the image myself with Photoshop.

Also wanted to give a shout out to Wyo for providing me with the CP bracket that I needed.

[Psychosys]

Goodies from Mikesarcade.com and starting to draw out the cab.   Woot!
Untitled by efi-street, on Flickr
Untitled by efi-street, on Flickr

[vwalbridge]

Here is the 2-button layout I used for my Mini Donkey Kong. But you can't use this because it is the wrong 1:1 size. Just showing you for a mockup example:


Also, you can obtain just about any DK artwork you want here. If you are only comfortable in photoshop, you can export the .ai file as a .tif or .jpg and photoshop it from there.

For what it's worth, I only put 2 buttons on mine because it was a mini cab. I guess it depends on how "true to the original" you want to be but if I was building a full size DK, I'd just do one button. Others may disagree.

And if you really wanted to get carried away, you could build 2 control panels!

[Psychosys]

Thanks, vwalbridge.   Your bartop build was awesome.   That's where I got the idea to add another button.   I didn't bug you for the artwork yet because I knew it was not 1:1 scale.   I think that 2 action buttons are a happy medium between "omg must play every game" and being semi authentic looking.    I'm pretty sure that most visitors to my house won't even notice the extra button if I implement it as well as you did on yours.

My last build had 2000+ games.   When it becomes a chore to select a game, I get funned out quick.   Looking at maybe 20-25 roms on this one.   

[vwalbridge]

Yea, I always forget the good vertical shmups out there that are going to require 2 buttons. Among others. If I had to do it again, I'm not so sure I would have included the orange badge and JUMP text on the second button. Seems a little weird to have 2 buttons labeled JUMP. I tossed around the idea of having the second button say "ACTION" or "BOOM!" just for fun... but nothing seemed to fit. In the end, I should have just put a second button without any label.

[Psychosys]

Haha.   I like the unlabeled idea.   Started drawing out the side panels using the jakobud plans.   First thought was "holy crap, Nintendo cabs have a lot of measurements and jakobud shows nothing of the interior panels".  Second thought was "I wonder if staples can print these".   Going to staples tomorrow for the side panel templates

[vwalbridge]

"holy crap, Nintendo cabs have a lot of measurements and jakobud shows nothing of the interior panels". 

Yea, jakobuds plans are very good. I used them. However, you're right, they don't get you all the way there because the internals are missing. You are going to have to improvise on that. I sure did. Specifically the angle of the monitor. But I think that is the idea behind the plans. The monitor is going to be the variable for everyone.

Speaking of monitor, are you using an LCD or CRT? That's gonna make one heck of a difference on how you build the inside let me tell you.

Second thought was "I wonder if staples can print these".   

Let us know how that goes. Other members here have success with Staples. I'd love to know how cooperative they are with this kind of stuff. You are off to a racing start! 

[Psychosys]

Monitor will be lcd most likely.    40 degrees"ish" seems to be the general consensus.   I called the local staples to see what they can print.   I always tell people what I'm building in the hopes that I get a fellow gamer buff.    I lucked out as the guy I spoke with is possibly as excited as I am about the new arcade cabinet.    I had the same experience at the local Home Depot as that guy insisted on showing me where every single thing I needed was when I told him what I was doing.

Dug the old router out and it still has the T-Molding bit installed...Hopefully, that's a good omen.  haha

Untitled by efi-street, on Flickr

[vwalbridge]

I had the same experience at the local Home Depot as that guy insisted on showing me where every single thing I needed was when I told him what I was doing.

That's funny.

I usually get looked at sideways.  They usually say: "like a real arcade?" ....um yes, a REAL arcade. Would it have made sense to you if I said a fake arcade? 

Another funny story: I was at HD over the weekend and purchased a can of Qbert yellow. They mixed it and then opened it up. The lady almost threw it out because she thought the machine went haywire and mixed the wrong colors. She thought I was using the paint for my house.

[Wyo]

Looking good!!  I wish I had known you were starting earlier because I could have thrown in a paper tracing of a real DK side profile pattern in the box Im sending you this weekend.  I keep a pattern on hand from a real Nintendo cabinet!

Anyway, looks awesome.  Cant wait to see it come together!!!

[Psychosys]

Been eyeballing a DK jr cab on craigslist just to get measurements.   At least that's my excuse.

[Wyo]

Been eyeballing a DK jr cab on craigslist just to get measurements.   At least that's my excuse.

Haha, that's what I did. I got a DK and used it as a reference. If it's a good deal, then you can always sell it afterwards. That way you satisfy your OCD if your like most of us. Haha.  I was looking through Chances sticky tho and it seems like there are some pretty accurate measurements in there. 

[Psychosys]

Well, scratch the staples idea.   Geniuses working in the copy center couldn't figure out how to scale the image other than to plug in their standard paper sizes and have it print.  I had no luck explaining to them what 1:1 meant.  SMH.

Anyone got a template then can send me for the side panels?  I'll pay for it.

[ChanceKJ]

Wicked thread! I would strongly recomend that you check out the Gaetan plans and use his PDF he has available.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,144583.0.html

I can understand issues with the muppets at staples, but it's your best bet. To make things easy Gaetan has a PDF of his side panels (that were painstaking measured from my actual original DK). Take that PDF back to the muppets at staples and ask them to print it on the Xerox wide format black and white printer. Tell them to think of it as a blueprint. It should only cost you about $8-$10 total! If they have issues with the 1:1 thing ask them to make sure it's being printed in acrobat, and not that stupid windows image software. If they're too stupid to even understand that ask for a manager or go to another staples.  Trust me on this, it's by far your best bet for accuracy.

Once you get it printed, make a wooden/MDF/plastic side panel template and then you can build millions of Nintendo cabs.

[ChanceKJ]

Also here's the location of the PDF files for the Gaetan plans. As well as the CAD files if you have access to a CnC router.

http://www.arcadecab.fr/Donkey%20Kong/Plans/Gaetan/

[ChanceKJ]

If you run into any problems, check out my Donkey Kong Ultimate build thread (link in my signature), my Nintendo cabinet resource thread (link in my first post above), or check out Wyo's builds, he's done some amazing work that's accurate as hell too.

[Psychosys]

If you run into any problems, check out my Donkey Kong Ultimate build thread (link in my signature), my Nintendo cabinet resource thread (link in my first post above), or check out Wyo's builds, he's done some amazing work that's accurate as hell too.

Thanks!   I have your post bookmarked as my guide and reference it daily.  Good news.   After going back to staples with no luck training the staff there, I finally found a local printer (4 printers later) that could print the Gaetan plans to scale from the pdf's.  For less than $5, I finally have a side template!

[ChanceKJ]

Wicked! Glad to hear you were able to get it printed.

Here's a link to my Flickr account where I'm keeping all the measurement pictures we used to make those plans. Might help for reference.  Let me know if you need anything else. 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/chancekj/sets/72157650487664889

[Psychosys]

Haven't done much over the past week but watch parts come in.  I bought another project car which has taken a lot of my time.    I did get the template drawn out on mdf tonight though.

[Psychosys]

So...draw out the other cab side or use a flush bit off this one?

[ChanceKJ]

Flush bit.

I've seen some people flush bit a third and use both that were done with the router as the sides, keeping the original as a template. Both for more and to have a pair of clean cut sides for the cab.