Author Topic: $2 Bezel... (Read 93098 times)

Tailgunner · « **on:** March 15, 2004, 08:10:45 pm »

I had some time to kill today and made a bezel for my Dynamo cab. Actually I made 3 different patterns, and will make the final bezel as soon as I pick up a sheet of black posterboard.

I did a initial pattern in a CAD program, and after doing so I found out neither the monitor frame is square nor is the monitor centered and level in the frame.

After screwing up two bezels trying to compensate I made the third by just cutting the pieces oversize and trimming them back till they fit. I took pictures of the second pattern and will post them here to show how it was made as it mounts differently that my last pattern.

First pic, side pieces after cutting them out.

Tailgunner · « **Reply #1 on:** March 15, 2004, 08:12:17 pm »

Next pic, folding a piece after scoring it along the bend line.

Tailgunner · « **Reply #2 on:** March 15, 2004, 08:13:55 pm »

Stapling the corner flanges together.

Tailgunner · « **Reply #3 on:** March 15, 2004, 08:16:09 pm »

The second pattern in the cab. So-so, but I can do better.

Tailgunner · « **Reply #4 on:** March 15, 2004, 08:19:24 pm »

The third pattern assembled. Instead of using the cabinet flange to support the bezel I boxed this one so it supports itself.

Tailgunner · « **Reply #5 on:** March 15, 2004, 08:22:59 pm »

The third pattern in the cab. This one is trimmed so that it touches the monitor between the edge of the screen and the phosphors on the tube. I also radiused the corners to make it look better.

Tailgunner · « **Reply #6 on:** March 15, 2004, 08:28:00 pm »

Third bezel pattern with plexi and support in place. I'll take it back apart and make a final bezel using black posterboard.

mahuti · « **Reply #7 on:** March 15, 2004, 08:41:10 pm »

Those look fantastic. I might do that for one of my cabs that's lacking .

reebboy · « **Reply #8 on:** March 15, 2004, 09:30:27 pm »

Looks sweet. Its a hell of alot cheaper than buying the preshaped bezels. I'll definitely have to try it out.

MiKman · « **Reply #9 on:** March 15, 2004, 10:43:41 pm »

That is simply awesome! I wish I had attempted that before I plonked down the $$ I did for a 27" happ bezel that really doesn't fit the curvature of my tv very well. Nice work, looking forward to the plans :-)

allroy1975 · « **Reply #10 on:** March 15, 2004, 11:12:12 pm »

No freakin way! those DO look GREAT! Nice job. One day I'm going to be smart enough to think of stuff like that! I'm about half way done with my 2nd cabinet....and my first still doesn't have a bezel. I think I just figured out that they're both going to get bezels!

So will you vectorize the plans, so people can resize it to their needs?....maybe that's not what vectorizing stuff is all about but ..maybe it is.

Allroy

DrewKaree · « **Reply #11 on:** March 15, 2004, 11:15:26 pm »

Tailgunner, can you post a scaled down (Illustrator, perhaps?) version of your template for the best version? Also, did you bevel cut or straight cut the edges from the bezel to the screen?

OSCAR · « **Reply #12 on:** March 15, 2004, 11:18:01 pm »

Excellent work!! I was going to do the same thing for my Centipede cab, I just had a hard time convincing myself that $25 for a repro blue posterboard bezel (www.arcadeshop.com) was a good deal for a piece of posterboard.

I was going to do mine like this example, http://www.ionpool.net/arcade/Bezel/bezel_construction.html, but it is lacking in the measurement details. Did you cut out the tube curvature after you constructed the bezel, or while the pieces were still flat? Any chance you can make your cad file available, it would be a great reference when I do mine. Thanks!

Tailgunner · « **Reply #13 on:** March 16, 2004, 12:54:49 am »

Thanks guys.

@Drew: These were pretty much straight cut, but posterboard is so thin that it really wouldnt make a difference either way.

@Oscar: I know what ya mean, $20 would buy quite a stack of blue posterboard at Office Depot.

I've seen the site you linked to, and figured without an original to work from it would be easier to add a flange at each corner and staple the pieces together. If you wanted to make it like the Toobin' bezel in one piece you could simply make a pattern in white posterboard and once it fits just open one corner back up and trace the whole thing as one piece. I cut the tube curvature as I made each piece. My measurements showed the tube only varies 1/4" from a corner to the middle, so the curves are pretty simple to lay out and cut.

I can post the plans, but honestly I dunno what use they'd be as I ended up just free hand cutting the bezel to fit. I'll see about "digitizing" the third pattern and will post the results, but you'll still need to play with it as your cab is likely different and my pattern won't fit it as is. I'll also take more pictures of the third pattern tommorow, and attempt to better explain how I went about making it.

froggerman · « **Reply #14 on:** March 16, 2004, 01:18:27 am »

Very impressive work! There are a lot of talented people on this forum.

RandyT · « **Reply #15 on:** March 16, 2004, 02:27:53 am »

Hard to imagine anyone needing a plastic one when yours looks so good, especially when you factor in oversize UPS shipping rates!

Great alternative!

RandyT

MinerAl · « **Reply #16 on:** March 16, 2004, 09:28:54 am »

That's almost exactly how the Atari (2-player) Xs & Os Football bezel is made. I should warn you though, if you use your cab with a cardstock bezel in a smoky damp bar for 25 years, the bezel may warp a bit

Jabba · « **Reply #17 on:** March 16, 2004, 02:44:06 pm »

Thanks for the excellent information on the Bezel. Can't beat the price

. If you don't mind me asking, How long did it take you to do the third one?

JackTucky · « **Reply #18 on:** March 16, 2004, 02:59:07 pm »

That looks great.

Art

allroy1975 · « **Reply #19 on:** March 16, 2004, 03:29:54 pm »

seriously...how can a chuckle head like me make one? it doesn't look like rocket science.

is it?

Allroy

Tailgunner · « **Reply #20 on:** March 16, 2004, 04:21:04 pm »

Just got home, I made another bezel today to show how I made the third pattern. I took several pictures to document the steps, it'll take a little while to resize them and write up the notes. I'll update this thread later tonight.

Chris · « **Reply #21 on:** March 16, 2004, 04:38:34 pm »

I made my original bezel in a similar fashion, but had problems with it warping after a while:

Yours looks like it has a better shape than mine ever did, though, and perhaps yours will give it a strength mine didn't...

I also had joined my corners with electrical tape... that might have had something to do with the problem...

--Chris

Minwah · « **Reply #22 on:** March 16, 2004, 07:06:48 pm »

Good job Tailgunner, it gives me a little more confidence to have a go at one when I get my cab home...look forward to your further pics

Tailgunner · « **Reply #23 on:** March 16, 2004, 08:05:30 pm »

Alright, here's the walk-through.

Start by taking a few measurements. You'll need width, length, and depth of the monitor surround, and measurements from the edge of the frame to the edge of the phosphors on the screen.

Tailgunner · « **Reply #24 on:** March 16, 2004, 08:08:45 pm »

I'm starting with the bottom, here's the basic layout. I'm using a sharpie for this one so it photographs better, a pencil is more accurate and you can erase any mistakes.

Tailgunner · « **Reply #25 on:** March 16, 2004, 08:09:54 pm »

The bottom cut to size and folded.

Tailgunner · « **Reply #26 on:** March 16, 2004, 08:13:05 pm »

We need to mark the bottom pattern where the tube's curve is the widest, it's easy to pick out as there are a few extra pixels on the screen at this point.

Tailgunner · « **Reply #27 on:** March 16, 2004, 08:16:16 pm »

I'm marking the centerpoint and where the corners are on the pattern. I want a border that's halfway between the phosphors on the screen and the edge of the tube.

Tailgunner · « **Reply #28 on:** March 16, 2004, 08:23:57 pm »

I've cleaned up the corners with a compass to get a nice radius, and connected them to the center. I measured from the tube's edge to the phosphors at the center, divided that number in half to figure out where the center should be marked. I then drew the curve using an adjustable spline, but anything semi-flexable would work. You'll just need someone bend and hold it in place while you draw the curve.

Tailgunner · « **Reply #29 on:** March 16, 2004, 08:26:35 pm »

The curve cut out, I'm checking it on the monitor to see if it need any adjustments.

Tailgunner · « **Reply #30 on:** March 16, 2004, 08:30:50 pm »

Next I'll cut the angles. Draw a line from the edge of the radius to the corner of the bezel. Add about half an inch for a flange, and cut the corners. Bend the flanges over.

Tailgunner · « **Reply #31 on:** March 16, 2004, 08:32:49 pm »

Check to see how it looks. We're done with one side.

Tailgunner · « **Reply #32 on:** March 16, 2004, 08:37:02 pm »

The side is pretty much a repeat of the bottom. Make a basic pattern...

Tailgunner · « **Reply #33 on:** March 16, 2004, 08:39:29 pm »

Mark the center and corners...

Tailgunner · « **Reply #34 on:** March 16, 2004, 08:41:34 pm »

Draw the curve...

Tailgunner · « **Reply #35 on:** March 16, 2004, 08:44:58 pm »

Cut out the curve. Mark the corner, add the flange, and cut the corner off.

Tailgunner · « **Reply #36 on:** March 16, 2004, 08:46:48 pm »

Check the corner to see how it's lining up.

Tailgunner · « **Reply #37 on:** March 16, 2004, 08:56:42 pm »

I skipped doing the upper corner of the side pattern for this demo. It's the same as the bottom corner so it do it just like that one. The top pattern should be a duplicate of the bottom, if not make it before you do the sides so you can make the side curves fit between the upper and lower curves. The other side should be a duplicate of the one I've done here, but I'd still check before cutting as the monitor is probably off center a little. Mine's off almost 1/4" of an inch but it's easy to allow for it when making the bezel this way.

Here's the resulting side pattern.

Tailgunner · « **Reply #38 on:** March 16, 2004, 08:58:17 pm »

And the bottom pattern.

Tailgunner · « **Reply #39 on:** March 16, 2004, 09:10:36 pm »

Last one.

I boxed this pattern mostly because doing so makes it stay in place while working on it. The trade off is it uses more posterboard on each side. Most cardboard bezels have a flange around the outside edge that holds them in place, this flange gets sandwiched between the monitor surround and the plexiglas. After making this pattern it hit me that you could pin the pieces in place with thumbtacks while working on it. I trimmed the pattern pieces to fit the flanges to demonstrate this.

Minwah · « **Reply #40 on:** March 17, 2004, 07:48:43 am »

Great!

Looking forward to giving it a go myself

Lilwolf · « **Reply #41 on:** March 17, 2004, 08:22:58 am »

btw... I WISH you had this here BEFORE I spend shipping on mine. But with a gauntlet cab, where there isn't any plexi... I'm not sure how it would handle the long haul..

I tried it quickly.. but never got the curve right.

Would anyone like it if I traced the shape of the happs bezel curve for a 27" monitor? I haven't installed it yet (still waiting to empty my cabinet to repaint it and fix some wood issues).. It shouldn't take all that long.

I'm not 100% sure if it will work at all (if not be better) but you never know.

Hellfromabove · « **Reply #42 on:** March 17, 2004, 10:31:21 am »

That looks ****** bad man!!! Are you going to be painting it anytime soon or are you gonna just leave it white? Any way it looks great

. Thanx.

-See Ya!!!

Edit by moderator: profanity

wj2k3 · « **Reply #43 on:** March 17, 2004, 03:05:32 pm »

Awesome Job!

Hope you don't mind that I threw this into a PDF file. I wanted to keep it on my comp and print it out when I am ready to try making my own.

Chris · « **Reply #44 on:** March 17, 2004, 03:11:17 pm »

Quote from: wj2k3 on March 17, 2004, 03:05:32 pm

Hope you don't mind that I threw this into a PDF file. I wanted to keep it on my comp and print it out when I am ready to try making my own.

I was about to do the same thing! LOL

lokki · « **Reply #45 on:** March 17, 2004, 03:11:44 pm »

Thanks for the PDF.

It's a keeper

Harakiri · « **Reply #46 on:** March 17, 2004, 03:57:37 pm »

Looks great but with bristol board and a X-acto you can also do it cheap, there's no need to buy a pre-made bezel...

Tailgunner · « **Reply #47 on:** March 17, 2004, 07:34:37 pm »

Coolness on the PDF version, send a copy to Saint for the main site.

The white bezel was just a pattern, white posterboard is cheaper and you'll probably waste a sheet or two making the pattern. Once you're happy with it, trace it onto your colored posterboard and make the final bezel.

That does raise another benefit of the posterboard bezel, if you want a white bezel, or red, yellow, blue, green, orange, purple, ect... there's no reason you can't make one that color.

saint · « **Reply #48 on:** March 17, 2004, 08:18:24 pm »

Wow, excellent! --- I'd love to host a copy of this

--- saint

Nailz · « **Reply #49 on:** March 18, 2004, 01:20:43 am »

AWESOME!!!!! My only question.... why is this not stickied yet?

DreamWeb · « **Reply #50 on:** April 10, 2005, 02:25:21 pm »

Hey, Tailgunner! you had mentioned you were going to update your tutorial for televisions and computer monitors.

Any chance of seeing that?

Thanks!

d.

Tailgunner · « **Reply #51 on:** April 10, 2005, 10:04:14 pm »

I looked at doing so, but the cab I'm working on currently (Space Duel) has too small an opening for anything larger than than a 15" cased monitor. I sat one in there and made part of a bezel to fit, but it looked rediculous and couldn't bring myself to finish it.

Let me check my other cabs, I'm bound to have another that's better suited for the cased monitor/TV bezel part of the thread..

Marky_1979 · « **Reply #52 on:** May 03, 2005, 08:24:47 am »

was there an update for tv's ever done?

Tailgunner · « **Reply #53 on:** May 03, 2005, 06:32:53 pm »

Haven't got to it yet. Soon though.

Marky_1979 · « **Reply #54 on:** May 04, 2005, 04:20:27 am »

Thats great news

cant wait. Starting my cab soon and love the look of the ones youve made.

rchadd · « **Reply #55 on:** June 15, 2005, 08:57:34 pm »

this thread is so good it deserves a bump

DreamWeb · « **Reply #56 on:** June 15, 2005, 09:29:59 pm »

For sure! Still waiting on the TV bezel tutorial though

Marky_1979 · « **Reply #57 on:** June 16, 2005, 10:08:22 am »

Yes for sure gonna be constructing soon well hopefully so would be very helpful to have this guide

largemann · « **Reply #58 on:** June 16, 2005, 11:12:38 am »

I'm looking forward to the TV version. Now when I finally get around to making my cabinet, I'll have a nice bezel to go along with it.

mjthompson · « **Reply #59 on:** June 22, 2005, 01:13:21 pm »

I started making a bezel "pattern" using black posterboard for my cabinet with a 27" Toshiba TV using Tailgunners monitor technique. I measured the lengths/angles and cut the 4 pieces to size. To get the curve of the monitor, I simply pressed the 4 pieces into place and creased the "pattern" at the seam between the TV bezel and the TV tube, then cut along the crease.

I've been using "pattern" with the quotes because I originally intended to make a pattern with the posterboard so I could make a better quality bezel using it. After putting tinted glass over the "pattern" bezel, I was amazed at how good it looked and decided that the "pattern" was instead the final product.

Here's the nearly completed cabinet...
http://www.austinthompson.org/temp/Cabinet3.jpg

Tailgunner, thanks for the impetus to make this!

Sinner · « **Reply #60 on:** June 22, 2005, 04:14:36 pm »

I'm building a Bartop for my GF, and I tried making one of these...I only made one...it's wasn't 100% the way I wanted, but once I put it on, I liked it...
Thanks for the instructions...

Marky_1979 · « **Reply #61 on:** August 22, 2005, 08:08:12 am »

Nice work dude. Gonna attempt to make one for my 28" tv soon heard its a real pain to do

Tailgunner · « **Reply #62 on:** August 22, 2005, 07:26:34 pm »

Thanks guys. I've tried a few times but I don't have a cab that a TV or cased monitor will fit into at present. I did make up some plans for building a cabaret style cab using the side panels from the monitor surround half of my Namco Air Combat, but I've been too busy at work to start on the project.

I am glad to see other people posting pics of their bezels, and would encourage anyone who's used this thread to make a bezel to post a pic of their work. The more examples there are the better for everyone, I surely don't think my way is the only way to go about making one.

As far as making a bezel to fit a TV or PC monitor, I honestly don't see where it'd be all that different from doing one for an arcade monitor. Both should have some form of bezel built into the case, and I'd trim the cardboard pattern to follow the edge where the case's bezel touches the tube.

Tailgunner · « **Reply #63 on:** November 30, 2005, 06:56:21 am »

Broken Bones has posted his trials and tribulations with making a bezel for his cab here.

His design is different, but that just proves there's more than one way to skin a cat.

I'd be the first to tell you that what worked in my cab may not in yours, and the whole point of this thread is to encourage people to try making their own.

Excellent work Bones!

D5A1AC · « **Reply #64 on:** November 30, 2005, 08:18:52 am »

Quote from: Tailgunner on August 22, 2005, 07:26:34 pm

...and would encourage anyone who's used this thread to make a bezel to post a pic of their work...

I made mine out of white card, stapled them together (used a heap of staples getting it perfect) then removed the staples and covered each side in contact paper. Of course, I marked where the staples were so I didn't have to line it all up again. The monitor is cased, and the beige edges are hidden with duct tape.

_) (V) (-) · « **Reply #65 on:** September 25, 2006, 03:08:21 pm »

Now that these have been in service a while, how are they holding up?

Any wrinkles or shrinkage?

NoOne=NBA= · « **Reply #66 on:** September 25, 2006, 06:37:11 pm »

Mine's holding up great.

D5A1AC · « **Reply #67 on:** September 26, 2006, 04:38:16 am »

Unfortunately mine sustained an impact from the corner of a picture frame falling from the top of a bookshelf, which left a nice mark on it... Also the adhesive that holds it on the screen isn't great, I should fix that up some time. Other than that it's pretty much fine. I put the mark down to 'authenticity points'

Dr Zero · « **Reply #68 on:** July 18, 2009, 12:00:07 am »

Does anyone still have this PDF it doesnt want to open anymore.

Chris · « **Reply #69 on:** July 18, 2009, 12:37:13 am »

I think this is it....

Lilwolf · « **Reply #70 on:** July 18, 2009, 07:50:03 am »

That like is broken also...

I have a friend who might want a copy of this.

Can someone repost it?

SirPeale · « **Reply #71 on:** July 18, 2009, 09:25:15 am »

Attachments other than pictures are still broken.

tanhauser · « **Reply #72 on:** July 18, 2009, 09:43:01 am »

MediaFire link for bezel pdf:

http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=1b9e9fc0004cc41967cd7f7bd65f7eefe04e75f6e8ebb871

Dr Zero · « **Reply #73 on:** July 18, 2009, 10:31:42 am »

Quote from: tanhauser on July 18, 2009, 09:43:01 am

MediaFire link for bezel pdf:

http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=1b9e9fc0004cc41967cd7f7bd65f7eefe04e75f6e8ebb871

Thanks for that!

I went ahead and added a mirror also just in case

http://www.drzero.org/videogames/byoac/Build_Your_Own_Bezel.pdf

zmartin34 · « **Reply #74 on:** August 17, 2009, 04:32:59 pm »

This is GREAT!! Thanks; something my arcade has been lacking.

BTW, what is the proper angle for the monitor to be mounted at and how do you measure the angle?

The angle in these pics is def greater than mine currently. I think I'm too vertical right now and want to make sure I have that right before starting this process.

Epyx · « **Reply #75 on:** August 17, 2009, 05:04:18 pm »

Thanks Dr Zero, your link worked.

Dr Zero · « **Reply #76 on:** August 17, 2009, 05:20:19 pm »

Quote from: Epyx on August 17, 2009, 05:04:18 pm

Thanks Dr Zero, your link worked.

Great!

Happy to help!

I pay enough for hosting might as well use some of it LOL

If there is anything else that could use a mirror till things get worked out here just me know

drventure · « **Reply #77 on:** August 17, 2009, 05:25:39 pm »

Awesome bezel. That's a great idea.

About the monitor angle, I'm guessing that varies pretty drastically, but from what I can tell from many of the plans I looked at, about 15 degrees appears to be pretty common. I used a standard cabinet protractor to measure the angle.

http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1910111&CAWELAID=109365273

TheShanMan · « **Reply #78 on:** August 17, 2009, 07:33:39 pm »

Monitor varies from almost horizontal (looking down at the monitor) to almost vertical. Just depends on the game/cab.

I still have posterboard sitting on top of one of my cabinets waiting for me to follow through on this project idea - I really need to get off my butt and do it! $:-\$

zmartin34 · « **Reply #79 on:** August 17, 2009, 11:15:16 pm »

Quote from: drventure on August 17, 2009, 05:25:39 pm

Awesome bezel. That's a great idea.

About the monitor angle, I'm guessing that varies pretty drastically, but from what I can tell from many of the plans I looked at, about 15 degrees appears to be pretty common. I used a standard cabinet protractor to measure the angle.

http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1910111&CAWELAID=109365273

Thank you!

zmartin34 · « **Reply #80 on:** August 17, 2009, 11:16:13 pm »

Quote from: TheShanMan on August 17, 2009, 07:33:39 pm

Monitor varies from almost horizontal (looking down at the monitor) to almost vertical. Just depends on the game/cab.

I still have posterboard sitting on top of one of my cabinets waiting for me to follow through on this project idea - I really need to get off my butt and do it! $:-\$

lol, I hear ya!! As great as this is I really need to consider whether I just want to shell the money to happ and buy one...

Epyx · « **Reply #81 on:** August 18, 2009, 04:01:20 pm »

Quote

I used a standard cabinet protractor to measure the angle.

Just when I thought I was set with tools.../grumble

TheShanMan · « **Reply #82 on:** May 06, 2011, 12:18:25 pm »

Old thread, but worthy of a bump IMO. I finally made one of these for my pole position cockpit. I wish it didn't take so long, but it turned out GREAT. Sprayed it with some clear coat to give it a glossy appearance and looking at it installed, you'd never know it's not original. Thanks for this!

iscariot · « **Reply #83 on:** September 24, 2012, 08:44:40 pm »

Could you elaborate on where each measurement is supposed to go? I'm kind of lost.

willybeamish · « **Reply #84 on:** February 24, 2013, 11:09:43 pm »

Bump because im going to attempt to put a bezel behind the plexiglas tomorrow and I have no clue on how to do it

??

ark_ader · « **Reply #85 on:** February 25, 2013, 07:58:49 am »

You can always use black gatorboard.

willybeamish · « **Reply #86 on:** February 25, 2013, 08:14:43 am »

Wow that stuff is cheap huh


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Author Topic: $2 Bezel... (Read 93098 times)

D5A1AC

D5A1AC