CP: Missing anything?

[MameJunkie]

Hi all.  About to take the plunge and purchase the equipment for my 1st CP.  Doing a quick sanity check to make sure I didn't overlook anything.

Going for a 2 player mini-cab 1st go at building cab.
Don't want to over do it...yet  

1 - I-Pac (28 input)
2 - T-Stick Plus (4/8 way should cover most games)
14 - Buttons (6/player * 2 ) + 2 start buttons
1 or 2 - Spinner (either 1 in middle or 1 above each players control area)
        Figure I might be able to use spinner for games like
        Forgotten Realm, Heavy Barrel and such...
1 - Coin Door
No Trackball this go around.

Undecided on monitor...probably 19" TV or 17-21" CRT.  
Ease of use & cost.

Thats it.  Did I overlook anything?

[Kremmit]

You missed "the boring stuff".

Stranded 18 guage wire.  
.187 quick disconects.  
Nuts, t-nuts, bolts, screws, etc.
Solder, Soldering iron.
Other tools.

You'll be surprised at how fast the price tag on these things adds up.

Also-
If your spinner is not ps/2 or USB, you will need an Opti-Pac, or you might consider swapping that I-Pac2 for a Mini-Pac http://www.ultimarc.com/minipac.html
I dunno why Andy doesn't have a link to the Mini-Pac on his front page yet.

PS- You can replace a coin door with credit buttons to save $$ to buy that trackball...

[Robopede]

Here's my shopping list (minus the trackball-related items):

2-Happ 1- and 2-player start buttons (White)
4-Happ push button with horizontal microswitch (Purple)
2-Happ Perfect 360 joystick
1-Set of four Wico replacement joystick shafts from Ebay (Orange)
1-Ultimarc PS/2 I-Pac2
1-Ultimarc PCB mounting feet
1-Ultimarc wiring kit
1-Wireless PS/2 keyboard/mouse
1-PS/2 extension cable
1-3/4" Hardwood
1-1 1/8" Drill bit
1-Drill press
1-Table saw
1-Router
1-Router guide
2-Router bits
1-Box of 2" coarse-thread drywall screws

It scares me to look at this list. But it's a great excuse to get some new tools I want anyway.

Regards,
Dave

[Lilwolf]

You might consider a few items.

1) you probably will never use the second joystick as a 4way.  Very few (if any) 2 player 2 joystick 4way game.  It would be nice for 1player karate champ... but that game is really fun in 2player.

2) Trackballs can be used for spinner games.. Spinners cant be used for trackball games (or better yet both)... Spinners take much less space (and forcing a trackball into a small space sucks..)

btw, building a cabinet or using an existing one?  Is it just a control panel or cab?  

If its a full cab... and your maming an existing cab... you should consider a jpac instead of an ipac.  arcade crts are much nicer then any other solution... plus you can get some great classics pcbs for a few bucks on ebay.  Nice when you can just swap them out.

[MameJunkie]

I'm going to be building a mini standing cab from scratch.
Just want a small one to work with to get my skills
up to par with the rest of you.

Yes, I could save $$ on the coin door but it just doesn't
seem like a cab without it.  

- Lilwolf -
Good idea on the 2nd joystick. i'll just replace it with a 8 way.

- Kermmit -
Didn't know about the mini-pac.  Thanks.
Question about the mini-pac.  
Is it like a I-Pac PLUS trackball/spinner support?  I couldn't quite understand the description.

My plan is to build the CP first with the design of being 'inserted' into the cabinet.  I'm already configurating the PC so it'll be ready to go soon.

Thanks again all for the very helpful information.  

[MameJunkie]

Another quick question.

Ultimarc/T-Stik question.
If I wanted the T-Stik with a ball top, do I have to purchase the T-Stik AND the BallTop shaft???  That means $16 + 12

[Witchboard]

Yes.

[GGKoul]

Another quick question.

Ultimarc/T-Stik question.
If I wanted the T-Stik with a ball top, do I have to purchase the T-Stik AND the BallTop shaft???  That means $16 + 12

Yes this can be done, but switching the shafts in the T-Stik isn't an easy process.  So I would decide if I wanted Balltop or bat style shafts before you place the order.

[Witchboard]

I just noticed you said T-Stick and not T-Stick Plus.  I don't know if he sells ball tops for just the T-Stick.  If you wanted ball tops and not have a T-Stick Plus, you may want to look at the J-Stick.

[MameJunkie]

I want ball tops on both player 1 & 2.

Suggestion was T-Stik PLUS for player 1.
And for player 2, any 8 way stick.  J-Stick looks about right.

Seems like T-Stik plus only comes in bat top so I would have to buy the extra ball-top shaft.  Right?

[Witchboard]

Correct.  You will have to buy the ball top shaft for the T-Stick Plus seperately.

I went with the same setup you're thinking about.  I have a T-Stick Plus balltop on the left and a J-Stick on the right.  Below a pic of me testing my setup.

[MameJunkie]

Nice pic.

So you are using a trackball instead of a spinner?
And are you using the Mini-Pac?

[Witchboard]

I'm going to make that part modular.  I'll be able to remove the TB and replace with spinner while the rest of the CP isn't modular.  I purchased a Mini-Pac for this project, but I haven't gotten very far yet.  

[MameJunkie]

What is the button below the trackball for?
Couldn't you also use P1 buttons?

[Witchboard]

What is the button below the trackball for?
Couldn't you also use P1 buttons?

That's my "Hyperspace" button for Stargate.  My admin and player start buttons are going to be on the front of the CP.

[MameJunkie]

Anyone has the answer to the question in reguards to MiniPac?

Question about the mini-pac.  
Is it like a I-Pac PLUS trackball/spinner support?  I couldn't quite understand the description.

[Witchboard]

The Mini-PAC Opti would be like an I-PAC2 and an Opti-PAC.  The Mini-PAC standard is like an I-PAC2.

[Kremmit]

Posted by: Witchboard  Posted on: Today at 03:21:08pm  
The Mini-PAC Opti would be like an I-PAC2 and an Opti-PAC.  The Mini-PAC standard is like an I-PAC2.  

Also worth noting: the Mini-Pac Opti's spinner/trackball control is USB only.  Makes it tricky use with older computers or pure DOS.  It also only supports 3 axes, so that's 1 trackball and 1 spinner total, or zero trackballs and 2 or 3 spinners.  The Opti-Pac is handles more inputs, and is available in a serial version.  It's the only way to get dual trackball support.

[MameJunkie]

Also worth noting: the Mini-Pac Opti's spinner/trackball control is USB only.  Makes it tricky use with older computers or pure DOS.  It also only supports 3 axes, so that's 1 trackball and 1 spinner total, or zero trackballs and 2 or 3 spinners.  The Opti-Pac is handles more inputs, and is available in a serial version.  It's the only way to get dual trackball support.

Good to know.  I'm leaning towards the trackball now instead of the spinner.

[megashock5]

You missed "the boring stuff".

Stranded 18 guage wire.  
.187 quick disconects.  
Nuts, t-nuts, bolts, screws, etc.
Solder, Soldering iron.
Other tools.

You'll be surprised at how fast the price tag on these things adds up.

Also-
If your spinner is not ps/2 or USB, you will need an Opti-Pac, or you might consider swapping that I-Pac2 for a Mini-Pac http://www.ultimarc.com/minipac.html
I dunno why Andy doesn't have a link to the Mini-Pac on his front page yet.

PS- You can replace a coin door with credit buttons to save $$ to buy that trackball...

I'm sort of in the same place as the original poster. Kremmit, you bring up a great point here, as I was forgetting about these things too.

How do you figure out how much you need of the wire and quick connects, etc. Someone else mentioned an Ulitmarc wiring kit or something like that - is that for controls in general or a specific Ultimarc product? Do you need specific screws and bolts, or just for mounting stuff to the CP in general?

One more question, if you use an interface like iPac do you still need to solder? I *suck* at soldering.

sorry for all the questions, thanks in advance!

[MameJunkie]

I believe NO soldering is require on the i-pac.
BUT think you need to do crimping and such.

[SideShow Rob]

If you are considering a MiniPac, a handy bonus is the fact that the wiring is supplied, pre-crimped and all the necessary quick-disconnects have been connected.

This means that there will be no need to purchase any wire, disconnects, or soldering equipment...

As standard, the wiring allows for the controls to be spaced 24" from furthest points - the optional wiring extensions mentioned on the MiniPac web-page allow spacing of 36" between furthest points (but only 10 additional wires are supplied in the extension kit - but should be enough...)

I purchased a couple of T-Stick Plus sticks, 20 odd pushbuttons, a 2.25" Trackball (from Ultimarc) and an Oscar Vortex spinner (from Oscar Controls)...and hooking that lot up took less than an hour...including installation of all components, connecting all the wires, and neatly (ish) routing the cables.

Everything works fine..and all I need is a single USB cable to connect to my computer...

[Kremmit]

Posted by: megashock5  Posted on: Today at 03:21:45pm  
How do you figure out how much you need of the wire and quick connects, etc. Someone else mentioned an Ulitmarc wiring kit or something like that - is that for controls in general or a specific Ultimarc product? Do you need specific screws and bolts, or just for mounting stuff to the CP in general?

How much wire?  Measure from the controls to wherever you will mount your I-Pac, - then add some extra, because you always screw some up, or find something you forgot, or change your mind about wire routing, or all three.  How many disconeccts?  How many connectors are there on all your controls?  Again, plus extras, as some will crimp badly.  Wiring kit- see comments about Mini-Pac wiring harness below.  Special screws and bolts?  Just the stuff you need to mount the controls, attach the control panel, build your cabinet, mount your I-Pac, mount your PC, mount your everything else.

You'll probably never get everything bought the first time- with any project this size, count on lots of runs to the hardware store for that one widget your forgot to get the last time.

Posted by: MameJunkie  Posted on: Today at 04:05:17pm  
I believe NO soldering is require on the i-pac.
BUT think you need to do crimping and such.  

Correct.  The I-Pac uses screw terminals, but the joysticks, buttons, etc. will need female quick disconnects crimped on.

If you are considering a MiniPac, a handy bonus is the fact that the wiring is supplied, pre-crimped and all the necessary quick-disconnects have been connected.

The wiring may be supplied- you can order the Mini-Pac with or without the wiring harness.  I'd buy it if it were me.