Automated Cabinet

[DaOld Man]

This is great! You are the automation king!! 

I like the side emblem too.
Great job!!

[nordemoniac]

Awesome project! 
So are you going to do a lot of software control on it? Automatically switching to the correct equipment based on game selection? F.eks. a driving game will automatically pull out the pedals, and remove anything unnecessary for that game, and display "Please mount steering wheel" 

Keep us updated! I want more videos 

[nordemoniac]

I also had to do something with the sides, I really didn't want to get into artwork because of the cost and the whole process of designing it. I decided to keep it simple.

Ehm, I don't think you are ever again entitled too use that phrase after starting this project. 

[darthpaul]

Awesome project! 
So are you going to do a lot of software control on it? Automatically switching to the correct equipment based on game selection? F.eks. a driving game will automatically pull out the pedals, and remove anything unnecessary for that game, and display "Please mount steering wheel" 

Keep us updated! I want more videos 

To answer you question about automatically switching to the correct equipment, yes I am. I am using DaOldMan's Controlchoose plugin http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,117692.0.html. The pedals, shifter and steering column come out automatically when a game that uses them is chosen and retract when a different type of game is selected.
Because the Player has to push the wires for the Light Gun back down into the cabinet, I decided it made more sense for the Player to control the guns retracting back down by pushing a button. I like the "mount the steering wheel" idea, I have to think about that one.
 

[nordemoniac]

Awesome!
How about spring retracts for the pistol cables? Maybe like the air hose you find on garages and gas stations? Puls out, and it locks in place, then another pull unlocks it... I don't know, maybe a stupid idea.
Although I don't have any links at the moment, I know that there are wireless USB (WUSB) alternatives. Could that be a possibility?

[DaOld Man]

I like the wireless idea.
You may still want a button to retract the guns, just so no one has a hand in the way when they retract. Of course you could also use a slip clutch on the closing mechanism that would not apply enough pressure to hurt someone, (Think CD drive door closer), but that is very iffy and could be a maintenance pain in the butt.

[nordemoniac]

How about a microswitch/sensor which checks if the gun is in place before retracting? Waits 5 seconds after placing back gun, then retracts.
Would Arduino + Xbee maybe be able to give you wireless USB ports? I couldn't find any (cheap) solutions for wireless USB.

[dkersten]

If the driving controls will retract automatically, you might want to consider a microswitch to check that the wheel is disconnected first (or at least a safety switch that triggers if the retraction starts and the wheel is still on.  Either that or replace the threaded bolt on wheel with a keyed shaft so if it does retract with the wheel on, the wheel will just slide out of the shaft and fall off.

Awesome work, a lot of sweet stuff here.  Would love to see some glossy vinyl art to compliment the awesome mechanics.

[darthpaul]

I did think of that, what I did was connect a bracket with a slot to the steering column, this will prevent it from retracting when the wheel is still attached. The panels won't close until the column is fully retracted.

[Jimbo]

I'm curious what you do with the dust washers on the joysticks (if anything) to hold them in place when the CP unit is rotating.  Do they fall along the joystick shafts when the joystick is pointing towards the ground? Or do you have some method of holding them in place?

[darthpaul]

I know it has been a long time since I posted but I have thrown in the towel on this crazy cabinet. It became way too complicated, I just could never get those rotating control panels to work the way I wanted them to. I started dismantling it this past weekend to make room for the Mandalorian Pinball Machine I should be getting next month. I don't know what I'm going to do with all the servos and actuators and so many screws.  I'm planning on bulding a Pedestal Cabinet using the current 50" TV in the Basement. I'm going to try and keep it simple but I may add a little automation in it.