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Scared to begin
rpfinley:
My roommate and I just found out about this fabulous world and have been doing a lot of research. He is an engineer and we are both very bright guys but a few things worry me (mostly setting up the buttons) since the only thing I have really ever made is a napkin holder in 8th grade.
We want a four player, 6 button, trackball set-up. We already have an extra computer and monitor laying around. My first question is, is it worth buying a cabinet or should we make it ourself?
Second, anyone know of the same set-up thats someones compelted. If there was a detail instruction I would feel very confident in building it.
AlanS17:
If you're not broke and uncomfortable with building a cab you can get a kit from the mameroom. They are $100 off until 6pm today. Regular price is $399 but they're $299 today. That really is a deal. Of course, you still don't have coin door, etc, but you're off to a great head start.
Otherwise, modding an existing cabinet is great for a beginner project. Most of the work then comes into restoring the old machine than in building one from scratch. These come with coin doors, marquee retainers, and usually even transformers so they take alot of setup out of the project.
The buttons themselves are a snap. Most encoders just screw into labeled terminals on the board. If you find yourself a used JAMMA-compatible cabinet it's even easier. Plug one end into the controls and the other end into the PC with a J-Pac from Ultimarc. Either way, building a starter machine isn't hard. I highly recommend it.
Stingray:
I bought an empty cab complete with a coin door for $50. Seems like the way to go to me.
Plus my carpentry skills aren't really up to building a cab from scratch.
-S
hulkster:
--- Quote from: rpfinley on May 24, 2004, 03:54:15 pm ---My roommate and I just found out about this fabulous world and have been doing a lot of research. He is an engineer and we are both very bright guys but a few things worry me (mostly setting up the buttons) since the only thing I have really ever made is a napkin holder in 8th grade.
We want a four player, 6 button, trackball set-up. We already have an extra computer and monitor laying around. My first question is, is it worth buying a cabinet or should we make it ourself?
Second, anyone know of the same set-up thats someones compelted. If there was a detail instruction I would feel very confident in building it.
--- End quote ---
i felt the same way a year ago man. but you had me one up on the napkin holder....ive never held a jigsaw in my hand or knew what a wire stripper/crimper was, so dont feel bad. just plan on spending about 2-3 weeks just reading and learning how to do all this stuff and you wont be sorry. check out the examples on the main page (off the side...link) and read and look at all of those. i made my first cab after doing research, and then i started on my second one cuz there were a lot of things that i learned after finishing that could have made my cab 20 times better. dont rush, and youll have an awesome cab. i would recommend buying a cheap shell or something at an arcade auction or from somebody here if you arent real comfortable building one yourself....and then just building on to it according to your specs. everybodys first cab is not the best, so be prepared for that. good luck!
sjgrover:
I also wasn't sure if how deep I wanted to jump in right up front. I started with a desktop control panel and I currently have a mini-cab underway. As soon as the basement remodel is complete I've already staked out a place for a full size cabinet. Granted my work isn't anywhere as polished as some of the examples I've seen here, but it works, and it's fun so what more could you want?
I'll readily admit to being electonically clueless, so if I can pull it off, so can you. There's more than enough information on this site to get you where you want to go.