The Grid....

[Laythe]

Nice work on those kerfed curves - that looks cool, particularly with the laminate bent over the top.   

Great to see it coming together, and I'm still curious to see what the spikes turn out to be for.

[javeryh]

Arroyo - great job buddy.  This thing is really looking nice and you have made tons of progress since I last checked in.   

[bperkins01]

This spot is reserved for a 12 noon EST announcement on 6/17/20 ....

***** Here is the BIG Announcement ****
Congrats to Arroyo for getting his final control panel artwork sent out for fabrication. 
This has been a long time coming and took some extra motivation (this reserved post) - to help him over the hump.. 

This particular post *could* have been very different - spiraling downward into public shame and humiliation for being stuck (for what seems like an eternity) at that point.
But crisis averted - (and all of our fun with it)  and the final nudge needed to get past this stumbling block has been effective and crisis averted..
Progress will resume at a slightly faster pace.

All hail Arroyo - 

[yotsuya]

This spot is reserved for a 12 noon EST announcement on 6/17/20 ....

You’re releasing Arcade1Up versions of OutRun and Carnival King?

[Mike A]

I am still waiting for the A1up toilet bench.

The ---steaming pile of meadow muffin----and-play edition.

[jdbailey1206]

This spot is reserved for a 12 noon EST announcement on 6/17/20 ....

You’re releasing Arcade1Up versions of OutRun and Carnival King?

I'm holding out for the Captain Commando 1Up. 

[jdbailey1206]

Oh sh!t.  NM.  Im just getting a Final Fight Arcade 1 UP, a Capcom Home Arcade, gutting both, putting in a Pi, using a staple gun to attach the two together, wire it all together and go with that.

[Mike A]

A staple gun is next level A1up modding.

[bperkins01]

Copied from above since updates do not show..
***** Here is the BIG Announcement ****
Congrats to Arroyo for getting his final control panel artwork sent out for fabrication.
This has been a long time coming and took some extra motivation (this reserved post) - to help him over the hump..

This particular post *could* have been very different - spiraling downward into public shame and humiliation for being stuck (for what seems like an eternity) at that point.
But crisis averted - (and all of our fun with it)  and the final nudge needed to get past this stumbling block has been effective and crisis averted..
Progress will resume at a slightly faster pace.

All hail Arroyo - 

[Mike A]

So no A1up toiletcade?

[bperkins01]

The 1Up "The Grid...." is just about ready for release...  They had plenty of time to develop it.  Pressure will be off Arroyo...
 

[Arroyo]

Sorry fellas for the delay in response, I've been hunkered down with life and trying to push this thing along. 

Big thanks to bperkins and MikeA for nudging me along.  I'm not very good at making decisions, so I usually drag this stuff out, a little threat of public shaming got me over the hump.

CP artwork is now in Mike's capable hands to attempt a laser etch.  I'm asking him to stretch the limits of the machine, so we'll see if it's doable.  I'll be working on all the other stuff that I've been dragging my feet on as I think I am starting to see the finish line.   

[Arroyo]

Time to update this thread.  A little over a year into actual construction and overall I’m pretty happy that I’m this far along considering my glacial pace of decision making.  Having said that I really want to get this thing wrapped up as I have other projects I want to get to…..so:


Got the pole for the monitor mounted and in turn the monitor:



Had to modify my design to accommodate the circle cut outs.



Needed to mount the smoked Acrylic (37% light transmission), however couldn’t have it sitting on brackets, so I needed to slot cut into the sides and bottom.  Used the plunge base that came with my Makita for the first time.  Tried to get cute with making the slot fit the Acrylic which is almost a 1/32” shy of 1/4” and it was a waste of time.  Instead used a 1/4” bit and it fit perfect:









Lined up good thankfully. 

Also installed the power & communications ports as you can see two pictures above & below:



Used the traditional DC barrel for the 5V line, and used a XLR communications port and head for the 24V and 12V lines.  Was a little concerned about using them for power but tested them drawing max current for many hours and they were cool to the touch.  I didn’t want to use the same connector type for multiple voltages so I or someone else couldn’t accidentally plug the wrong voltage in and blow PCB/LED’s.

Finished off the back interior of the control panel.  I had mentioned over on wp34’s thread that I am using the “hinge” technique for a lot of laminating now.  In doing so I have learned that it is really helpful to mask off the surrounding sides with tape so that any excess contact cement can be lifted off.  This is very helpful when applying because if you leave the contact cement it can grab onto your piece and screw with your alignment:



About to apply using hinge in the corner:



I had pre-cut for length the laminate and tested it many times before I felt comfortable on the width as there was no way to trim it after installing.

Next was slot cutting around the marquee for t-molding:



Close up of the embedded acrylic that shows the unlit color more accurately:



I found that pressing the t-molding in with my thumbs and palms was just as effective as using a rubber mallet and microfiber.  In some ways preferable in that no matter how thick I made the microfiber it still left minute impressions in the t-molding (I’m very picky though).

Anyway close up of the molding:



And current state of things (poor lighting):



I’ll be working on computer mounting, power, wiring, monitor surrounds, etc.  Also have something special I’ll be working on in the next few weeks.  Need to nail down marquee and then work on CP.  ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---’s gettin real.

[J_K_M_A_N]

Very nice looking. Love the attention to detail.

J_K_M_A_N

[bperkins01]

Looks good - now lets keep that Glacier moving!
:p

[uptown47]

This really is a lesson in how to do things properly. I love the photos - even something that is probably simple to most people, like using some wood so that you can clamp it and put the guide up to it - I would never have thought of that normally. I'm assuming these are tried and tested techniques but still great learning resource for the more intellectually challenged among us (i.e. me!).

Great work as always mate. And just think, by the time it's finished, we'll be emulating the PS6

[Mike A]

Great work as always mate. And just think, by the time it's finished, we'll be emulating the PS 16

fixed.

[javeryh]

Looks really great.  So much detail.  It's really going to be awesome when finished.

One thing - paint the heads of the screws on your power and communications port.  Can't let something that no one except you will ever see or even know about not match the rest of the cabinet!  Haha.

The "current" pic looks like it just needs controls and the computer to be wired up - so close!

[Arroyo]

One thing - paint the heads of the screws on your power and communications port.  Can't let something that no one except you will ever see or even know about not match the rest of the cabinet!  Haha.

Must...resist...itch.

The "current" pic looks like it just needs controls and the computer to be wired up - so close!

Ah if only it were so easy.  After finishing the installation (Marquee, Controls, monitor surrounds, paint, lighting), then comes the programming

fixed.

Umm yeah, is it ever really finished?

I'm assuming these are tried and tested techniques but still great learning resource for the more intellectually challenged among us (i.e. me!).

Not really sure if it's tried and true.  My building setups are usually "hmm let me look around and see what would work for this problem" 

Now lets keep that Glacier moving!

Before it melts? 

Very nice looking. Love the attention to detail.

   Thanks bud.

[Laythe]

Looking good!  That's really coming together.

Ah if only it were so easy.  After finishing the installation (Marquee, Controls, monitor surrounds, paint, lighting), then comes the programming

Hahaha, yeah.  I still bet you'll beat me to the finish line.   Try to enjoy the work, cause there's plenty of it. 

bperkins01 calls it moving a glacier.  That's not wrong, but man, why we gotta move it with a spoon? 

[Arroyo]

but man, why we gotta move it with a spoon? 

Tied to the front of a sailboat powered by the wind in my lungs.

[bperkins01]

The ice age is calling... they want their glacier back..

[wp34]

Very nice.  Starting to look like a real cabinet.  Don't make the mistake I did and get it playable with stuff left to finish.   

[Arroyo]

Don't make the mistake I did and get it playable with stuff left to finish.   

I'm putting the computer away in the safe for this very reason   

[uptown47]

Very nice.  Starting to look like a real cabinet.  Don't make the mistake I did and get it playable with stuff left to finish.   

Exactly the problem I've got right now.... Takes so much will power not to fire it up and start playing

[vertexguy]

Don't make the mistake I did and get it playable with stuff left to finish.   

I'm putting the computer away in the safe for this very reason   

How about a happy medium?  You can reward yourself with a quarter to hook it up and play each time you check a box on the to do list

Keep that glacier moving though!  I need more good examples to drool over.

[Arroyo]

How about a happy medium?  You can reward yourself with a quarter to hook it up and play each time you check a box on the to do list

Keep that glacier moving though!  I need more good examples to drool over.

Hey that’s not a bad idea

I’m workin in the background although I’ve been distracted by many items around the house, and I just picked up a Gorf so it’s tempting not to focus on that.

I’ll keep posting as I go I promise

[Arroyo]

Wow, it’s been way too long since I updated this thread.  (WARNING - long post incoming)

Started on the electronics.  Figured I’d mount the larger items first, started with the computer.

Bought some picture mounting hardware and managed to get three of them on there before it started to get dicey with interfering with electrical components.



Next was wiring up the 120V outlet.  Used 16 gauge wire, 0.187” quick disconnects with shrink tubing to keep electrical insulation in place.



Crimped the quick disconnects on the power cord of a power strip that I bought as well



As I have quite a few LED strips I wanted to keep the wiring clean, so I used a Euro Terminal block, but this one was cool cause it includes conjoined spade heads and saves you some work and trouble:



Ran power from the +5V and 12V from the arcade power supply I got at Paradise Arcade:



This way I now have 4 additional terminals to connect the wires to for each voltage (ground up top in black, and positive in red).

Next was wiring some Molex disconnects like I did for the joystick in my small box.  Again used Molex pins and matching housings by crimping the male and female pins:







Here are the upper LED, and Disc LED cabling neatly zip tied with connectors near the top (hard to see):



The zip ties behind the monitor will be replaced with velcro strips so I can easily remove them.  Speaking of which these are attached to these guys:



They are cool double side taped plastic squares with holes to feed the zip ties to.  Bob turned me on to the them and they are very handy.

Quick aside, whenever I need to do soldering work I was always finding I didn't have enough hands to hold the piece, and the soldering iron and apply the solder.  This pickup has been a God send.



Here’s the LED wiring coming into the Euro EDIT: Standard terminals:



Those are insulated 18-22awg spade heads that have a very different crimper than the others:



Anyway the red wires are for power, the black for ground and the green are data lines that get fed to the Arduino Uno (one picture up):



To test the LED’s I needed to break down and remove the tape from the acrylic inlay.  There was residual residue from the contact cement where it met the acrylic.  I used some canola oil to wipe it off (most people don’t know that this works well with most adhesives).  However I should have used rubbing alcohol as it dries on it’s own.

Close up of the residue:



Cleaned up nice though:





Lite em up:



I plan on using these subtly, and in frequently, soft glows and occasional movements, not bling it out.

Here’s a quick animation so you get the idea:



Lastly after some time I got the monitor rotating in the cabinet for the first time.  I actually had to go back and refer to my tutorial in the Automated Projects thread because it has been two years since I got this thing moving (damn time flies).  Glad I did that because there were a few things that I couldn’t remember.  I even needed to spray a little WD40 between the magnets and the VESA mount to make it spin smooth

Here she goes:



Going to continue to work on the software and LED programming while I can, and cleanup this wiring mess.

[javeryh]

Wow, it’s been way too long since I updated this thread.  (WARNING - long post incoming)

Finally!!!

I plan on using these subtly, and in frequently, soft glows and occasional movements, not bling it out.

This is a really cool/subtle use of the lighting.  Not too flashy but still catches the eye.  Very nice!  Man, I wish I had a clue how to add LEDs to even a control panel...

Here she goes:

SICK!!  Rotating monitors never cease to amaze me.  They are just so cool.  Does your front end switch to the proper orientation or does exiting a game always rotate back to horizontal (assuming you are vertical)?  You are going to be able to play so many games on this thing.

Going to continue to work on the software and LED programming while I can, and cleanup this wiring mess.

Keep it going - finish line seems close now!   

[Mike A]

It's looking good.
I trust you not to turn it into a Christmas tree.
Pro tip: WD 40 is not a lubricant. I know almost everybody uses it as one.
I like the rotating monitor. ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---. That reminds me I need to get that transformer sound to Laythe.

I am working on a jig so I can cut and etch that CP. It is really stretching the boundaries.

[uptown47]

Awesome update. I've used those little adhesive squares for many years. They are really handy. It helps if you put a small dab of glue on them as the adhesive will come away after a time otherwise (although you might get away with the ones on a horizontal surface).

I didn't realise your cab had a rotating monitor!! That's fantastic!! I'll need to look back and see how you did that.

Great to see a game loaded on to it too! I think the whole world will be appaluding when you finally get to pressing the 'start' button and having a game

[Jimbo]

Looks awesome dude

Are you using a variable refresh rate monitor?  You should definitely have a low-latency non-tearing arcade experience to live up to the superb build quality...

[bperkins01]

Centipede   

(oh - and nice work on all that other stuff...)

[bperkins01]

Nice job getting it all together Arroyo - Glad to see its all together one last time.   
Nice wiring job.  fwiw - you can use the opposite side of those wiring blocks too - even though the jumper is there..

[wp34]

Here she goes:

That is sick!  I love that you are taking your time with this project because it just keeps getting better and better.

I love how subtle the lighting is turning out as well.  Great job Arroyo!

[Mike A]

He is even starting to change my mind.

Try to absorb for a minute that this cab is this guy's first real project. I know I am impressed. He had to buy tools on the fly.

I guess maybe I am more opposed to ---smurfy--- LED lighting rather than LED lighting in general.

I will have to see the CP and controls to decide how I ultimately feel about it.

Arroyo is my buddy, but I have to remain honest. If I ever want to wrestle the title of forum crank ass away from Howard I need to keep my objectivity.

[javeryh]

Try to absorb for a minute that this cab is this guy's first real project. I know I am impressed. He had to buy tools on the fly.

It's absolutely crazy.  Everything - literally everything - about this cabinet is meticulously done.  He's not coping an existing design and he's including a ton of complex features most people can only dream of (rotating monitor, dynamic marquee, coordinated LEDs, etc.). 

I guess maybe I am more opposed to ---smurfy--- LED lighting rather than LED lighting in general.

I'm in the same boat.  I generally dislike LEDs or any kind of lighting on arcade cabinets but I really like it here.  And I've noticed that other people have been figuring out how to tastefully add lights to their projects (like the BSG control panel currently on the front page or the LED button indicators on Blip, etc.).  I am rethinking my stance on this.

[Arroyo]

Does your front end switch to the proper orientation or does exiting a game always rotate back to horizontal (assuming you are vertical)?

Right now it just switches back to horizontal on a vertical game exit.  Hyperspin doesn't really like being vertical, but you can force it.  I may have to look into making Windows rotate with the rotation as well, which could prove interesting.  It is a low priority right now though, if I can get everything else running smooth I may look into it.

It's looking good.
Pro tip: WD 40 is not a lubricant. I know almost everybody uses it as one.
I am working on a jig so I can cut and etch that CP. It is really stretching the boundaries.

Ha you are right, it's used as one but not designed for it.  I actually have some oil from the bushing on my tempest spinner for metal on metal.  I will use that instead.  Looking forward to seeing if you can pull off the laser etching, I know it's a stretch.

If it helps if you put a small dab of glue on them as the adhesive will come away after a time otherwise (although you might get away with the ones on a horizontal surface).

You are right, I have had a few come off on vertical surfaces but they re-stick when you apply pressure, might look into some glue once it's all nailed down.

I didn't realise your cab had a rotating monitor!! That's fantastic!! I'll need to look back and see how you did that.

 

I created a tutorial in the Automated projects if you want to see under the hood.

Are you using a variable refresh rate monitor?  You should definitely have a low-latency non-tearing arcade experience to live up to the superb build quality...

I'm not    You even got me searching again to see if I could pick one up, but the problem is that all of the Gsync/freesync monitors are all 16:9, and this is 16:10.  I might try it out but it would mean narrowing the visible area significantly, especially the vertical.  Plus I may end up with a smaller screen to make the rotation work.  As I understand it using Groovymame with the LCD will allow me to use the frame delay feature to get very close to G-sync, but will have to be done on a per game basis. 

Centipede   

That was a bperkins shout out.

fwiw - you can use the opposite side of those wiring blocks too - even though the jumper is there..

That's a good point, I suppose you can cram a spade head into the jumper side as well, hadn't really considered it, but should work.

That is sick!  I love that you are taking your time with this project because it just keeps getting better and better.

Thanks for holding my hand the whole time wp34.  You gave me the inspiration on those lights!

Try to absorb for a minute that this cab is this guy's first real project. I know I am impressed. He had to buy tools on the fly.

I guess maybe I am more opposed to ---smurfy--- LED lighting rather than LED lighting in general.

I will have to see the CP and controls to decide how I ultimately feel about it.

Arroyo is my buddy, but I have to remain honest. If I ever want to wrestle the title of forum crank ass away from Howard I need to keep my objectivity.

I'm blushing now   

I expect you to bring the honesty always.  This project has certainly been an exploration, and I've enjoyed every minute of it.  When designing a second one there will be things I keep and things I change, but learning all of these techniques, materials, etc, will be invaluable in the future.

[Arroyo]

BTW, close up of the top marquee lighting:

[wp34]

BTW, close up of the top marquee lighting:

Outstanding! 

Hall of Fame build here folks.  Didn't think I'd see another one of these.