Author Topic: The new Minicade! (Read 35571 times)

menace · « **on:** February 01, 2004, 10:18:07 am »

I got the idea from oscar's site and together with the missus we crafted this little bartop unit from parts I had traded and scavenged for--total cost was about 30$ (CDN) for wood and hardware--pc was free, tube was free, hard drive was free, speakers were..well you get the idea. All in all I'm happy how it turned out but sad because we're giving it to her mom to play (yes her mom worships frogger and pacman) So looks like I'll have to build yet another mame machine..

Its running vantage on a P200 (thanks to general Zod for his help) and the hard drive is only 100mb (I still have 78 meg free). runs like a top with arcadeos as a front end. I'll post more pics when its sanded and painted. Alll in all it took me the weekend to build starting thursday night and having the day off friday helped as well--still very quick. The controls are mapped through a hacked keyboard (which works quite well surprisingly) and only has 2 buttons (i don't think and vantage games use more than that)

menace · « **Reply #1 on:** February 01, 2004, 10:19:32 am »

another pic

menace · « **Reply #2 on:** February 01, 2004, 10:20:05 am »

and another

menace · « **Reply #3 on:** February 01, 2004, 10:24:32 am »

the dreaded under the control panel shot (caution: tangled wires ahead)

dmsuchy · « **Reply #4 on:** February 01, 2004, 11:19:53 am »

Really cool, can't wait to see it finished. Is there going to be sideart, marque?

pcdoctor · « **Reply #5 on:** February 01, 2004, 11:30:47 am »

Very cute!

eightbit · « **Reply #6 on:** February 01, 2004, 12:23:03 pm »

Very nice....

SirPeale · « **Reply #7 on:** February 01, 2004, 12:33:29 pm »

Damnit! It looks just like the one I'm trying to build, but haven't found the time to do so! You're even running the emu and front end I want to. More buttons than I plan on putting on mine, though.

Smack · « **Reply #8 on:** February 01, 2004, 01:48:45 pm »

Mint. I've been thinking of a q-bert only project my my girlfriend and that would be perfect!

Harakiri · « **Reply #9 on:** February 01, 2004, 02:45:32 pm »

Looks cute but kind small form my taste...

Keep it up!

HagHore · « **Reply #10 on:** February 01, 2004, 03:10:38 pm »

Awesome, I like it! Can't wait to see it finished. These bartops are perfect for apartment dwellers where space is at a premium.

PedroSilva · « **Reply #11 on:** February 01, 2004, 06:40:33 pm »

Very cute ...

Should look great on my daughter's bedroom ...

Wienerdog · « **Reply #12 on:** February 02, 2004, 12:40:50 am »

Nice job, it sounds like you're motivating many of us to build one of these. Do me a favor though, don't make it sound so easy because it makes the rest of us look bad!

menace · « **Reply #13 on:** February 02, 2004, 06:47:22 am »

Quote

Do me a favor though, don't make it sound so easy because it makes the rest of us look bad!

No worries if your wife girlfriend ask--I'll tell them it was a grueling exercise, not to be attempted by the faint of heart--that way you can take your time and milk it for everything its worth

Quote

Damnit! It looks just like the one I'm trying to build, but haven't found the time to do so! You're even running the emu and front end I want to. More buttons than I plan on putting on mine, though.

I think thats the law of convergent evolution at work--similar environmental pressures (need to play video games in small form) will yield similar evolutionary patterns (bartop mame)--see peale, science says you have no choice BUT to build one

NY_in_TX · « **Reply #14 on:** February 02, 2004, 08:46:16 am »

Darnit Menace,

One more to add to the "MAN I WANT TO BUILD" list

so far Kegerator and A Ms Pac clone are ahead, but this is a perfect size for the overflow waiting to play, or even work.

This would have been sweet at a superbowl party I went to last night. especially during the 1st quarter.

ny

SirPeale · « **Reply #15 on:** February 02, 2004, 11:58:48 am »

Quote from: menace on February 02, 2004, 06:47:22 am

see peale[sic], science says you have no choice BUT to build one

Cuuuuuuuurse you, science!

Stingray · « **Reply #16 on:** February 02, 2004, 12:21:24 pm »

Pretty neat. I'm thinking of building a bartop in the near future too.

-S

menace · « **Reply #17 on:** February 02, 2004, 12:26:00 pm »

I say go for it--its a super easy project (using the pc monitor), its cheap, doesn't take up space and can be made in a relatively short amount of time--I'm so happy with it, I'm building more as the used pc parts come in!

str1der · « **Reply #18 on:** February 02, 2004, 04:58:15 pm »

Hey Menace,
Nice looking bartop. You wouldn't happen to have any plans lying about? what size monitor is that?

paigeoliver · « **Reply #19 on:** February 03, 2004, 03:04:25 am »

You probably wouldn't follow "plans" to build something like that, just build it around the monitor!

menace · « **Reply #20 on:** February 03, 2004, 07:09:53 am »

Paige is partly right I had the monitor first and then sketched the plans around that. I'll post them a little later in the plans section of the main forum. Just a heads up--there are no details for how the monitor was fastened to the cabinet--because i didn't really know how I was going to do it when i drafted up the plans--very bad case of crossthatbridge-itis. But any 14" monitor should slide in there with the smallest of adjustments. Also, Oscar's happy hour bartop documentation is very good and what I used for my inspiration.

BobbyG66 · « **Reply #21 on:** February 04, 2004, 09:04:09 am »

Great little machine, nice and simple!

menace · « **Reply #22 on:** February 04, 2004, 09:55:21 am »

decided on some basic marquee and sideart (my compliments to whoever created these files originally--I would appreciate names for my own reference) here's the marquee:

menace · « **Reply #23 on:** February 04, 2004, 09:58:02 am »

and the sideart (modified to include vantage only characters)

menace · « **Reply #24 on:** February 09, 2004, 08:17:15 am »

Painted with marquee installed (retainers to be painted black when its not so buggering cold outside). Control panel art not finished but soon. I also added the plans to the plans section.

menace · « **Reply #25 on:** February 09, 2004, 08:18:07 am »

one for scale

I swear everytime the camera comes out, he's right there...

JamesS · « **Reply #26 on:** February 09, 2004, 08:36:46 am »

Those feet are like that, damned feet. Oh wait, maybe you mean the cat.

Anyway, looks good.

SilverVice · « **Reply #27 on:** February 09, 2004, 09:13:04 am »

A cutie indeed!!!

Lance · « **Reply #28 on:** February 10, 2004, 02:21:54 am »

I love it, I'm going to be building one soon as well. How did you print/attach your side art?

RecycledPast · « **Reply #29 on:** February 10, 2004, 03:09:38 pm »

Looks good. I'm building one very similar. I didn't make the back big enough so once I nail in the speaker bracket, I won't be able to get the monitor out, oops.

I need to make the bezel and I'm trying to figure out how to make/attach a marquee.

Are those special brackets you're using?

Witchboard · « **Reply #30 on:** February 10, 2004, 07:47:47 pm »

Is that a switch located in the upper left corner of the CP? What's it do? Didn't notice it on any of your pre-painted pics.

eightbit · « **Reply #31 on:** February 10, 2004, 10:03:54 pm »

Quote from: menace on February 04, 2004, 09:58:02 am

and the sideart (modified to include vantage only characters)

Tagnetti created the origanel for that.

menace · « **Reply #32 on:** February 11, 2004, 07:00:12 am »

Quote

Is that a switch located in the upper left corner of the CP? What's it do? Didn't notice it on any of your pre-painted pics

Its the volume control--I got a little frisky with the router but the CP art covered it nicely

Quote

Tagnetti created the origanel for that.

Yeah, i thanked him in his original thread. best sideart for a bartop I've seen yet IMHO

Quote

Are those special brackets you're using?

nope just regular aluminum trimming i got from home depot. they look better painted black unless you have other silver accents on the cab.

Quote

How did you print/attach your side art?

glue stick--lets you get right to the edge of the artwork and it isn't wet so it doesn't soak into the paper--it's my new method of choice for attaching sideart!

Harakiri · « **Reply #33 on:** February 11, 2004, 08:12:54 am »

Wich tools did you used to build the cat!?

Is it for sale?

Stingray · « **Reply #34 on:** February 11, 2004, 08:36:43 am »

Quote from: Fiend on February 11, 2004, 08:12:54 am

Wich tools did you used to build the cat!?

Is it for sale?

One would assume that he used Cat 5 wiring.

-S

Lance · « **Reply #35 on:** February 11, 2004, 11:00:21 am »

Well I went out and bought a sheet of 5/8" MDF last night and we cut out the sides for a minicade. I'll have to take some pictures next time I'm at the shop. These are just so cool

menace · « **Reply #36 on:** February 11, 2004, 11:02:40 am »

awesome!!! can't wait to see the results! ( I used 1/2" ply so I'm curious what the differences in weight/strength are going to be)

GadgetGeek · « **Reply #37 on:** February 11, 2004, 11:13:44 am »

Quote

I also added the plans to the plans section.

Where is this plans section? I'm curious as to how you finished the edges as I can't really tell from the pics.

menace · « **Reply #38 on:** February 11, 2004, 12:08:37 pm »

I used iron on edge stripping (8' roll) and then trimmed and painted--I bought it as an experiment and was surprised how well it went on--i then trimmed with a utility knife, sanded lightly and painted. I still like the look of t-molding but this works in a pinch.

the plans section is in the main forum under "any interest in original cab dimensions" jakobud has alot of the original era plans on his site. you can also check out oscarcontrols.com for the original bartop machine which I based my construction on.

Lance · « **Reply #39 on:** February 11, 2004, 01:01:30 pm »

What did you use to round the corners on your cabinet?

menace · « **Reply #40 on:** February 11, 2004, 02:06:37 pm »

A circle template and a jigsaw--just line the edges up with the tangents of the circle and trim off the excess.

ErikRuud · « **Reply #41 on:** February 11, 2004, 03:13:24 pm »

Menace,

Nice mini!

The imploding icons background was reated by ROM for his Fusion cab.

http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=13;action=display;threadid=7412;start=0

Lance · « **Reply #42 on:** February 11, 2004, 03:19:35 pm »

Quote from: menace on February 11, 2004, 02:06:37 pm

A circle template and a jigsaw--just line the edges up with the tangents of the circle and trim off the excess.

Is this circle template just something you built? Can you describe it?

lance

menace · « **Reply #43 on:** February 11, 2004, 04:03:30 pm »

Its just something i picked up at staples--has a number of circles ranging from 1mm to 30mm--look in drafting section. failing that you can use a compass (the drafting kind) set your radius to 1/2", scribe two lines from each edge so they intersect, then put your compass on the point where they intersect and draw another circle--this should give you a half inch radius fillet that is tangent to both edges.

pcdoctor · « **Reply #44 on:** February 11, 2004, 04:26:37 pm »

Found this in my email from Game Cabinets.
I think your Minicade looks much better!

menace · « **Reply #45 on:** February 11, 2004, 04:40:09 pm »

Quote

The imploding icons background was reated by ROM for his Fusion cab.

thanks, I was wondering where I picked that up!

Quote

I think your Minicade looks much better!

Much appreciated!! Here's is the final picture before it gets shipped off to her parent's <sniff,sniff>

Can't wait to build my next one-woohoo!

mozzer · « **Reply #46 on:** February 11, 2004, 05:27:30 pm »

The finished product looks great!

pcdoctor · « **Reply #47 on:** February 11, 2004, 05:56:55 pm »

Who is getting this games?
Your mother in law or whose mother?

menace · « **Reply #48 on:** February 12, 2004, 08:06:59 am »

her mom--she has about 50 of those little dollar store digital games around the house and jumped at the idea of having all of them in one box--figured the nephew would like it for when he goes to grandma's as well.

of course--it will have to be tested at every visit...just to make sure its running correctly....

Stingray · « **Reply #49 on:** February 12, 2004, 10:25:01 am »

That's really cool! My brother in law likes my cab so much I'm considering building him a little bartop for his apartment. I don't know if I could give it up if I built it though.

-S

HagHore · « **Reply #50 on:** February 12, 2004, 12:02:35 pm »

Very cool...must...have...one...!!!

Looking at the picture makes me sad though, such a pretty little mini but no bezel art...makes me wanna

j/k

Ed ONeill · « **Reply #51 on:** February 12, 2004, 05:44:17 pm »

Nice job .

I have been contimplating building a mini out of my laptop.

You have given me inspiration menace

I haven't started building my cab, so I was thinking baby steps....Start small finish big.

Just my 2 cents
ED

pcdoctor · « **Reply #52 on:** February 12, 2004, 06:39:20 pm »

Ed, are you following me?
Nice to see your name as usual!

Ed ONeill · « **Reply #53 on:** February 12, 2004, 10:10:20 pm »

yea I've been bored..so I figured hey let me follow pcdoctor around

Hey you know I just found out about mame in dec and you and a few others pointed me here ...so I guess in reality I am following you.

what do you think about me practicing on my laptop...I mean building a laptop mame machine

Signed
ED

GadgetGeek · « **Reply #54 on:** February 14, 2004, 11:49:10 pm »

Looking at your wiring, it looks like you just spliced all the power leads together instead of using a multi-strip. Was the powersupply unplugged when you snapped that pic or did you pop open the power supply and wire it up directly? I can see where doing that might save you about an inch or so at the back of the cab. Seeing all the parts for my project piled on a TV tray while I'm testing the system, I'm wondering how I'll fit it all in.
Thanks

menace · « **Reply #55 on:** February 16, 2004, 07:23:51 am »

Thats what i did--i drilled a hole in the power supply and tapped the power leads to come right into a main block--did the same thing with the monitor--this eliminates like 8 or 9 feet of cable as well as the space for the plug ins--also, if you're using an AT power supply and dos--its 1 button off, 1 button on--for everything.

To get everything to fit, i would suggest laying it all together, keeping in mind you can work in 3 dimensions if need be (screw hard drive to side wall) and see what you come up with. The dell optiplex board i used was ideal as it was thinner than it was long so it layed on the bottom perfectly.

IG-88 · « **Reply #56 on:** February 22, 2014, 06:17:02 pm »

Menace! How about a 10 yr old post reply

I can't believe it's been this long since you built this! Reason I am posting is because I wanted to know the fate if this bartop. Is it still running? If not what happened to it? Just curious. I got one that is going on 8 and am honestly surprised it lasted this long!

menace · « **Reply #57 on:** March 02, 2014, 06:57:00 am »

Wow-now that's a necro-thread revival! So this guy sat at the in-laws for I'd say 6 years or so--got lots of play but then they downsized and figured maybe it should go to a better home. So I got it back, re-worked it, updated it a bit and then sold it--not sure where it is now to be honest--hopefully still running somewhere....

If memory serves I ran vantage mame on it and my pc requirements were ridiculously low (I think my microwave might have more computational power than that pc did...)

IG-88 · « **Reply #58 on:** March 02, 2014, 06:46:20 pm »

Thats cool! Mine is running DOS mame with Game Launcher on a 300mhz with like 64megs of ram. It was the very first one I built and haven't had the heart to get rid of it.

I remember when I built it, all I had was a well used PC that I rescued from somewhere. I also remember thinking that it was probably a waste of time because it surely had a lot of hours on it and would likely die in a month. But I'll be damned if it is still going. All I've had to do is change the motherboard battery.

I should start a thread on the main forum asking about old cabs that are still going strong....


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