Author Topic: My Pacman profile cabinet (finished!......99%) (Read 69632 times)

c64rulez · « **on:** December 05, 2005, 12:37:28 am »

After (literally) reaching the end of the web searching for cab design inspiration, I've decided on a regular kind of thing, but... with a twist

Attached is my cabinet profile (The sideart is going to be obvious...). I'll post pics and info as well regarding the project progress, which is now at a halt

(Waiting for all cp parts to arrive)

The project will have a unique Frontend (which I wrote completely from scratch), and should run mame, gba, sega, c64, amiga and you name it.

The frontend is going to be free to download and use (some beta pics attached)
it is going to be configurable for any cp keys/joy configuration.

The cutting plans are on page 8 of this thread.

danny_galaga · « **Reply #1 on:** December 05, 2005, 05:11:11 am »

that front end looks good! what os will it be for? DOS, win98, XP?

c64rulez · « **Reply #2 on:** December 05, 2005, 06:41:58 am »

Thanks.
It's windows based. I'll post a download link soon as well as more stuff of the cabinet

c64rulez · « **Reply #3 on:** December 05, 2005, 07:19:10 am »

The idea of building my own cab has been lurking in my mind for a long while. I have an unexplainable attraction to wood and sawdust, so I try and build something once in a while.

A year and a half ago I finished my own SNOOKER table (heavy project...), so the cab rolled and rolled and finally sprang to life. "It's for the kids, honey". Yeah, sure.

Sketches came and went, and I forced myself NOT to make things complicated (as I usually tend to). I was finally happy with this one.
I also DID NOT want to have a MONSTERCADE, so dimensions were narrowed here and there for a satisfying result

c64rulez · « **Reply #4 on:** December 05, 2005, 07:34:33 am »

As there was no way for me to handle 3 full-size MDF sheets (car or saw), I had them pre-cut a bit and actually stuffed the car up to my neck...
The sheets are 16mm thick (sorry guys, no inches or dollars here. I live in Israel so our currency is of no use to you).
I somehow managed to drive home and get all the pieces to safety

c64rulez · « **Reply #5 on:** December 05, 2005, 07:46:29 am »

The left and right panel were cut to size (basic circular saw and jigsaw). There's an old carpenters saying that goes "measure twice, cut once". As for myself, I try and follow that road, but sometimes I measure three times and cut twice...
Here are the panels lying on the floor of my Home Cinema (Another project I ventured)

markrvp · « **Reply #6 on:** December 05, 2005, 07:50:33 am »

Welcome to the boards! Your cab design for the Pacman art is quite clever. I'm looking forward to your progress.

c64rulez · « **Reply #7 on:** December 05, 2005, 07:54:01 am »

Thank you. I'm currently updating all my progress so far. The cab is almost finished (structurely speaking). waiting for the cp parts to cross the ocean.

c64rulez · « **Reply #8 on:** December 05, 2005, 07:58:00 am »

Here's me in the flesh (photo: courtesy of my dear wife), playing with glue, getting some braces in place (I always try and use whatever leftovers lying around)
Basically all sawing and dust-flying is done outside in the open, and assembling takes place inside (the home cinema room)

c64rulez · « **Reply #9 on:** December 05, 2005, 08:09:32 am »

There are 4 main "connecting shelves" in the cabinet design.
The angeled top panel
The tv shelf
The pc shelf
The floor
3 of which are seen in the next assembly.
The floor is made of 16mm MDF glued to 11 mm plywood, and pre-drilled for wheel assembly. Two kickplates are placed front and back.

The pc (bare to the bones) is going to be mounted directly to a shelf 40cm above base level. Motherboard, Power Supply, HD, etc.

c64rulez · « **Reply #10 on:** December 05, 2005, 08:20:43 am »

Well, as most of the cab builders say "There's nothing like getting it up...".
So, here it is, up and standing by it's own means.
The tv shelf is being glued here. All braces are glued and screwed.

There's a pacman hiding in the picture. Try and find it...

c64rulez · « **Reply #11 on:** December 05, 2005, 08:30:45 am »

A testrun for the 21" tv that's going to be mounted in the cab. I somehow "succeeded" to overlook some critical tv dimension (aka DEPTH) so the back cover was removed.
But, as some of you will see this as a flaw of design, I shall name it a feature (aka BETTER HEAT MANAGEMENT).
So I just added a few braces that should prevent the tv from doing the flip thing.

c64rulez · « **Reply #12 on:** December 05, 2005, 08:41:47 am »

The angeled top panel and top panel were fixed in permanently, while the marquee bottom is just clamped in place just to see how it looks and fits.

Everything is being written here in lightning speed, which is the absolute opposite of the actual process of measuring, guiding, clamping, sawing, unclamping, screaming in horror at a sawing mistake, re-measure, reclamp, re-scream, etc.

Had several nights sleep lost over the marquee installation. decided to go with that happ thing. hope it's going to prove right

c64rulez · « **Reply #13 on:** December 05, 2005, 08:52:55 am »

Let there be light

versapak · « **Reply #14 on:** December 05, 2005, 09:41:26 am »

I like the design.

Was wondering though...

What are your plans for the front?

Are you going to have a bowed panel to match the curve of Pac-Man, or are you just going have a flat panel between the curved sides?

c64rulez · « **Reply #15 on:** December 05, 2005, 09:47:46 am »

it is going to be flat. pics coming soon
I gave it a considerable amount of thinking, but eventually decided against the bowed front (as I simply must keep complicating things to a minimum...)
As you'll see from future pics it is hardly noticable because of the control panel and the general height of that part

c64rulez · « **Reply #16 on:** December 05, 2005, 10:16:10 am »

Poorman's keyhack

As I didn't want to split my cp parts order in two (thus avoiding outrageous shipping fees), I stayed with happ's stuff and remained I-PAC-less.

The keyboard hack is no news to me as I already had one installed in an MP3 pc based car player once.
So, some research regarding ghosting, blocking and solder on !

I also decided (not shown here) to hack a microsoft sidewinder joystick for player1 controls, leaving me a whole keyboard for player2 and control keys

c64rulez · « **Reply #17 on:** December 05, 2005, 10:22:39 am »

Just for my own peace of mind I've added braces to enhance the cab rigidness (though it hardly swayes). glue and screw.

The cab is going to have front and back door, all recessed half an inch inside, so the braces are cut to fit.

Thenasty · « **Reply #18 on:** December 05, 2005, 10:23:37 am »

looking nice....How about the power pellet and dots ?
Here is ROUGH sketch...Maybe you can even have the DOTS go all the way aournd the cab, even the back

c64rulez · « **Reply #19 on:** December 05, 2005, 10:26:41 am »

Everything's possible. Looks interesting (At first sight though I thought it's a musqito that bumped overspeeding into the cab...)

I'll consider it. Thanks

Thenasty · « **Reply #20 on:** December 05, 2005, 10:30:04 am »

forgot to mention, YES C64 RULEZ

c64rulez · « **Reply #21 on:** December 05, 2005, 10:33:49 am »

Here's the answer for (partly) how the front is going to look. I dared not going for the "bowed front" solution, as I finally understood I'll gain nothing from it but headache and frustration.

So that's the keyboard/mouse/under the hood drawer

When I'll mount the control panel, most of that area is going to be out of sight anyway.

c64rulez · « **Reply #22 on:** December 05, 2005, 10:45:29 am »

Marquee light testing.

The marquee is going to be sandwiched between two perspex boards measuring 26" by 7.5" by 1/8".
I took some pokemon pictures belonging to my younger son, and sandwiched them inside.

I then took pictures for two scenarios:
1. without a rear panel blocking the light from the tv area (IMG 1968)
2. with a panel going left to right behind the marquee (IMG 1966)

I than (obviously) went for the rear panel light blocking solution

c64rulez · « **Reply #23 on:** December 05, 2005, 10:57:50 am »

TV Front/Frame

The tv front is constructed of an MDF frame and 1/4" perspex (20.65" x 26")
I've added two small braces that will support the frame and plexi, as well as two liners that would be use as guides to back it.

I'm not sure, but it seems that I'll mount the frame and plexi with 4 small black screws in 4 corners (might not need that though as the frame pushes in nicely)

If I'll have some t-molding leftovers, I think I'll do the internal tv frame with it.

c64rulez · « **Reply #24 on:** December 05, 2005, 11:28:49 am »

The beast is surrendered.

The time has come for the cab to leave the warmth and safety of the indoors out into the open. My wife and I thought real hard how to do this right (just down three stairs) and the more we thought about it, the more we wanted to take it apart.

Finally it came to rest on an old folding sofa that was around.

It's time to get castered. 2" wheels (each rated 25kg load) were bolted to the floor. I will never be able to reach the brakes on the front wheels (Another genious engeering material), so when the time comes I'll see if it's a problem.

Basically, the cab now awaits the arrival of the t-molding (as well as the other cp parts), so the groove of the molding can get into action.

c64rulez · « **Reply #25 on:** December 05, 2005, 11:35:27 am »

Beta testing tv and pc

The pc (aka TOM) and tv (aka YAHAV) were mounted succesfully into the cabinet.

Everything seems intact. No creaking or squeaking sounds.

c64rulez · « **Reply #26 on:** December 05, 2005, 04:45:49 pm »

cp parts have landed !

I got a letter a few hours ago notifying me about the arrival of the goods. Everything is being held in customs

, so first thing tomorrow morning I'm on a release mission.

Customs ?
As if I'm importing a container of laptops...

By the way, my order has been placed with arcadeemulator.net (KIDS PLAYTHING) and everything went along fine (although I think the shipment has been a little overpriced)

I hope everything is intact with the parts I've ordered,

So, until tomorrow

c64rulez · « **Reply #27 on:** December 05, 2005, 05:08:58 pm »

THE INFINICADE FRONTEND

As I've mentioned. I'm doing my own front (which is going to be available free to download).
My goals were:

1. KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid)
2. Running roms of different emulators (not just mame)
3. Quick rom navigation
4. Favorites section for getting those hotties fast
5. Match any control panel config

Achieved:
1. Indeed it is very simple.
Pick a favorite, or pick a letter and a game. Click-n-run.
Add to favorite, Delete Favorite, Setup keys, background pic, emulators etc.
Add rom, Del rom

2. Functioning

3. It is quick

4. Up and running

5. The setup allows to map all the control keys to whatever cp keys layout any cabinet would have.

Basically, if there is an emulator out there, the infinicade front end could probably handle it after a quick and simple configuration

Yet to complete:

Add emulator, Add rom, Del rom, Del favorite

A picture of the setup screen.

c64rulez · « **Reply #28 on:** December 05, 2005, 11:21:36 pm »

Didn't get much sleep last night (It's 6:20AM my local time).
I have some prisoners to release this morning, and customs opens 8:00

I wanna see the pencil pusher that's gonna stop me from getting those controls that were just impossible to get locally.

If I'm not back in 4 hours, call the

c64rulez · « **Reply #29 on:** December 06, 2005, 05:27:26 am »

The lot is here!!!

I had to pay my beloved country 35$ worth in taxes to the very same pencil pusher I've imagined would be servicing me. And a backwarded pencil pusher at that.

Upon opening the package in my presence, he seriously asked "So, which kind of car handles these spare parts ?"

I simply could not explain the purpose of the staff to that ignorant.

With that behind, I must say I was absolutely thrilled to finally see the contents. I'll check all the parts and post some photos and cp plans soon.

c64rulez · « **Reply #30 on:** December 06, 2005, 01:57:17 pm »

I ordered all the pushbuttons / joysticks / t-molding / retainers at arcadeemulator.net
Prices were fair, shipment fees upgraded from 15$ to 70$ (airmail to ISRAEL), though eventually it dropped to a total of 54$ after they agreed on a discount.
All in all I am happy with my order, and couldn't help testing a fit on those pushbuttons.
The 28mm spade bit I used was just perfect, and there's enough space on the bottom even after going through 5/8" MDF + 1/8" plexi.

I test-drilled in some mdf and plexi scrap, with the plexi sandwiched between two mdf pieces, straight, nonstop. The plexi tends to break, but stays intact thanks to the sandwich.

The control panel design is practically finished, but minor changes will probably take place.
Two happ super sticks with 6 buttons per player, and a center pacman/galaga joy (currently with no buttons)
Some extra buttons for general cab control, and no trackball.

The pacman joy will require special mounting as the shaft is shorter than the super's. Will post a sketch later on.

markrvp · « **Reply #31 on:** December 06, 2005, 04:48:13 pm »

Do you already have your 4-way mounting solution, or do you want us to tell you how to do it?

c64rulez · « **Reply #32 on:** December 06, 2005, 11:22:35 pm »

I think (after some fiddling) that

c64rulez · « **Reply #33 on:** December 06, 2005, 11:51:10 pm »

Here is my (very basic) cp layout (still open for changes).
The joysticks on the left and right are happ's 8-way super's, and the mid one is the 4-way galaga replacement joy.

Another confession: As there's not going to be a coin door in my cab (budget budget...), I ignored the fact that there should also be buttons for the actual "INSERT COIN" thingy, so it's either two more buttons, or (as someone here already did), my own coin mechanism (I simply must complicate things...)

The cp is NOT very wide (in terms of the cp's that are normally around), as I wanted it to just fit lip-to-lip inside the cabinet internal width (which is 26").
So the cp is 26" by 14.5" (going 0.5" beyond the "pacman" radius of 14")

DrewKaree · « **Reply #34 on:** December 07, 2005, 12:26:39 am »

I'd hate to see that design not be finished with the curved face it deserves

It'd be seriously easy to finish off, if you'd wanna hear the idea. Some brads/finish nails and some Gorilla Glue and maybe 2 more braces about the same size as you've got would take care of it.

Lemme know if you're set on that idea, if not, I'll try to whip up a pic to show you how to do it.

c64rulez · « **Reply #35 on:** December 07, 2005, 12:33:23 am »

I knew someone eventually was going to hit that nerve. I try and convince myself all the time that there's nothing wrong with the flat finish (only fooling myself).
Still' I didnt quite follow your idea. A drawing would be great, thank you

c64rulez · « **Reply #36 on:** December 07, 2005, 12:47:12 am »

The t-molding for the cabinet was also ordered overseas (talk about the things you cant get locally...) - 40ft 5/8" black.
The width of my MDF, however, is 17mm, and the difference is showing quite clearly in the test I've made.
I'll either slightly chamfer away that shoulder difference, or not...

The bit I used for cutting the slot was actually meant for a drill and not for a router, and actually cuts a 1.5mm wide slot.
I hesitated heavily before that test run with my router (cause of that bit mismatch), but it did good and the molding was banged in (hammer and towel).

I CAN NOT PULL IT OUT, so that probably means one shot only...

c64rulez · « **Reply #37 on:** December 07, 2005, 12:50:28 am »

SORRY for the ignorant question, but it seems like a very long page 1 to me.
can I do someting about it ? or is it automated ?

DrewKaree · « **Reply #38 on:** December 07, 2005, 04:46:07 am »

Automated. Don't worry though. I think you're reaching the end of this page

DrewKaree · « **Reply #39 on:** December 07, 2005, 04:48:13 am »

If my math has been correct, 39 posts per page, so let's test that theory out, shall we? Glad to help in this most crucial of experiments

Pics of my idea shortly, and I've done it several times, so I'm positive it'll work, but I'm not certain if you've got the same access to materials....meh. info to follow


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