LuSiD has me pulling my hair out!

[Bill Mote]

OK, so I'm building my 1st MAME cabinet.  YEAH!    I'm using both the "Project Arcade" book, the information on-line at LuSiD's site and the many, many, many helpful posts in the forums.

Here's my problem.  There just isn't enough wood in 3 sheets of 3/4" MDF to build LuSiD's design.  His cabinet is 6'2" tall, but his "back" boards are a whopping 36" in total -- 26" wide and 18" tall each for the top and bottom section.  I finally figured out that the drawings don't account for the 3-1/8" the sides sit below the "real" bottom (inside) on the cabinet.  The angled top takes off some, but I'm still left with ~55" of cabinet back to cover.

Am I missing something?!

dot

[Sephroth57]

hmmm i have no idea, good luck =P   thats why i decided to buy an old cab for 25$ and save myself the headache

[Goz]

Hmmm I thought the Lusid cab didn't have a closed back to accomodate for TV and cooling.

Guess I picked the wrong day to stop sniffing glue.

[spystyle]

I had to quit glue too, sadness...

You're saying you don't have enough 3/4" material for a back door? You don't need 3/4" material for a back door, go buy a sheet of 1/4" inexpensive material* and you should be all set. Or simply leave the back open for passive cooling of the components (that's what I do).

Dig it?
Craig

*like 1/4" hardboard braced with strapping.

[Goz]

According to this thread, there is no back

Lusid back

[Bill Mote]

 

Should have searched.  Sorry.  Knee-jerk reaction to my frustration.  At least I'm not crazy ... errr ... as crazy as I thought I was.

dot

[SteveJ34]

OK, so I'm building my 1st MAME cabinet.  YEAH!    I'm using both the "Project Arcade" book, the information on-line at LuSiD's site and the many, many, many helpful posts in the forums.

Here's my problem.  There just isn't enough wood in 3 sheets of 3/4" MDF to build LuSiD's design.  His cabinet is 6'2" tall, but his "back" boards are a whopping 36" in total -- 26" wide and 18" tall each for the top and bottom section.  I finally figured out that the drawings don't account for the 3-1/8" the sides sit below the "real" bottom (inside) on the cabinet.  The angled top takes off some, but I'm still left with ~55" of cabinet back to cover.

Am I missing something?!

dot

I used Lusid's plans with a few modifications.

It's been quite awhile since I did the construction but revisiting the PDF documents just now it does appear the design does not include covering the entire back. I seem to recall this was the situation and I ended up getting an extra sheet of MDF. I built mine out of 5/8" and used 1x2 stringers, wood glued, and counter sink screws for attaching sides to top, bottom, back, etc.

I think I also used 2x4s under base support rather than the MDF stringers the design plan calls for.

My back has about an 18 inch piece on top, 18-22" on the bottom, and then I made a single piece that drops in between. I attached a 1x2 stringer on the inside of the top piece and a 1x2 stringer on the inside of the insert piece and keylock on the top of the insert piece.

In this way the large section can be removed.

I've never had a problem with heat....I added chrome soffet vents on the angled piece on top.

That's what I did, hope the above helps.

Steve

[DougHillman]

In the cabs I build, I'm using 1/4" hardboard (sorta like pegboard material without the holes) for the back inserts.  Saves alot of weight and hassle if you've gotta remove them.  Costs less too.

[Jakobud]

I'm not sure if it will help you guys or not, but take a look on my website for my LuSid cabinet plans that I drew up.  They might help shed some light on certain aspects of the construction that are unclear in LuSids original plans.

[Bill Mote]

Y
O
U

A
R
E

A

S
T
U
D
!

Holy cow those are nice.  Why in the heck didn't they include that detail in the book?!  Do you have that level of detailed for your control panel?

dot

[Jakobud]

Y
O
U

A
R
E

A

S
T
U
D
!

Holy cow those are nice.  Why in the heck didn't they include that detail in the book?!  Do you have that level of detailed for your control panel?

dot

A
R
E

Y
O
U

T
A
L
K
I
N
G

T
O

M
E
?

If so, I don't fully understand your question

[Bill Mote]

Sorry.  Yes.  Your site is incredible.  The plans are very detailed.  I was wondering if you had a plan that showed the layout of your control panel -- not just the front and side view, but actually button, stick, and ball placement.  I can't believe the level of detail you've put into the plans.  It is going to make building a breeze!

dot

[Jakobud]

Sorry.  Yes.  Your site is incredible.  The plans are very detailed.  I was wondering if you had a plan that showed the layout of your control panel -- not just the front and side view, but actually button, stick, and ball placement.  I can't believe the level of detail you've put into the plans.  It is going to make building a breeze!

dot

Thanks man I'm glad they help you!  Yes I do have plans for my entire cabinet including control panel.  I have been getting a lot of requests for it, so I put some together.  I will post them on my site in the next day or two.  Check back there soon!

[RayB]

If you own a cat, you'll want to close off the back. Those little <censored by saint> like to get into everything.

[SteveJ34]

If you own a cat, you'll want to close off the back. Those little <censored by saint> like to get into everything.

One of the reasons I created a back for my LuSid style cab. If I leave it off she will sleep in there.

[bdsjake]

oh my, thought this board had filters.

[Jakobud]

oh my, thought this board had filters.

Hmm I thought so too...

[Jakobud]

Sorry.  Yes.  Your site is incredible.  The plans are very detailed.  I was wondering if you had a plan that showed the layout of your control panel -- not just the front and side view, but actually button, stick, and ball placement.  I can't believe the level of detail you've put into the plans.  It is going to make building a breeze!

dot

Okay I uploaded the plans to my own cabinet to my website.  You can go download them now.

[Bill Mote]

The plans are great!  Question: your cabinet is complete and it would appear for some time now.  What would you do differently and what wouldn't you change at all?

dot

[Jakobud]

The plans are great!  Question: your cabinet is complete and it would appear for some time now.  What would you do differently and what wouldn't you change at all?

dot

Well, I'm planning on doing another cabinet in the next 6 months, cause I'm selling mine.  So, if I am going to do anything different it would be this:

1. design it after a classic cabinet shape (centipede, qbert, etc)
2. 2 player only... the 4 player is fun, but I don't use it enough
3. no spinner... i just don't use it hardly at all unfortunately.
4. Not sure if I would personally include a trackball or not. I probably would.
5. arcade monitor instead of tv

Thats all i can think of for the moment.

[Bill Mote]

Thanks for all the input.  I'll have to post pictures as I build the cabinet.  I'm going to modify the LuSiD cabinet (80% sure) a little bit.  I'm concerned with the MK and your cabinet design as I believe my TV is to deep.  I'm going to do some measuring tonight.  I really prefer your design.  In fact, I almost bought a MKII cabinet from an arcade shop for $30.  I was a little concerned about the angle of the TV, but your pictures have eliminated that concern.

Your control panel is probably going to be my final design.  It incorporates all the items I want and is very clean.

Regards,

dot