Anyone make the cab able to be taken apart in sections?

[kelemvor]

FOr the sake or portability when moving or changing floors or anything like that, has anyone made their cabinet able to be somehow taken apart partway?

'm thinking something like having a top half and a bottom half.  Maybe like where the monitor shelf goes, just cutting that straight through and then having dowels so hold it together...  Then you could have metal or wood dowel type pieces that go into holes in the MDF (and something on the inside keeping it together) but then you could just lift off the top part in case you had to move the thing somewhere.

I'm already planning on having the CP removable but was thinking about a way of having the cabinet top removable too.  If nothing else it'd make a lots light to try to move the thing around.

Just brainstorming for now...

[ahofle]

Yep, that was one of the main goals for me too.  There is no way I'd be carrying my cabinet up and down stairs if I move.  I used the UAII plans, but slightly modified so the top separates from the bottom.  The control panel can also come off, so that makes 3 pieces.

http://www.mameroom.com/UAIIPlans_info2.asp

I used carriage bolts and T nuts instead of wood screws to attach the top part to the bottom. 

[quarterback]

I made my cocktail cab using threaded inserts so it could be completely taken apart (and probably even packed flat if need be)   



   

Discussion here: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=47085.msg458570#msg458570

[tivogre]

I made mine as an internal frame with removable panels.

The coin door panel, side panels, speaker panel, marquee panel, and top panel can all be un-bolted:




Tons of pics / details at my web site:

http://www.ogredog.com/mame_construction_home.htm

[leapinlew]

has anyone made their cabinet able to be somehow taken apart partway?

All my cabinets can easily be disassembled in a few seconds using a special tool. Here is a picture of the tool:

[_) (V) (-)]

If nothing else, make sure your monitor is accesable/removable.

I figure when moving the thing, up stairs or whatever, the heaviest and most breakable (& expensive) part is the tube.  I'd try to provide a way to remove the monitor or TV or whatever you use before moving the cab or even tippin git over on it's side.

[releasedtruth]

Mine separates in 2 pieces. Each piece would still be pretty freakin heavy, but it's far more reasonable than transporting it in akward dimensions and top heavitude.

GT

[Fozzy The Bear]

FOr the sake or portability when moving or changing floors or anything like that, has anyone made their cabinet able to be somehow taken apart partway?

YUP!! Mine separates into four sections....
1) Base Section (contains the sub woofer and surround amp)
2) Mid Section (contains the Coin Door the PC the Keyboard Draw)
3) The Control Panel
4) Top Section (contains the monitor, marquee etc etc)

I had to do it this way, because i simply wasn't prepared to lug a whole cabinet upstairs to my very very small game room. My original cabinets live out in the Garage (Defender and another unmentionable universal thing) and the Mame machine lives upstairs.

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)

[rcrules]

Mine blows up into little tiny pieces using cam locks.  It was probably overkill. 

[quarterback]

Mine blows up into little tiny pieces using cam locks.  It was probably overkill. 

Wow, nice!   And I thought I had OCD issues with my threaded inserts.   
I'll have to show your post to my Dr.   "See!  Really, I don't have a problem!"

[rcrules]

Wow, nice!   And I thought I had OCD issues with my threaded inserts.   
I'll have to show your post to my Dr.   "See!  Really, I don't have a problem!"

I have seen the treaded inserts before but I never thought about using them on my cabinet.  I probably would have used them instead of the cam lock thingies.

"I have CDO. It's like OCD but it's in alphabetical order as it should be."

[stan2323]

Ran accross this and did not want to start a new thread but wanted to post.  Hear is my project.  It has a 2 by 4 frame that bolts together.  The carriage bolts are counter sunk in the 2 by 4s that are flat against the sides.  They match up with the holes in the 2 by 4s that is on its edge of the front and back.  The panels are dry wall screwed to the 2 by 4s.  The next time I take it apart I am going to shorten the bolts so they will not stick in as much.  I bought Saints book on Amazon and I misread one of the drawing.  I cut the sides stood them up and they went up and up and up.  I made them too long so I had to make it 16 inches shorter.  That is why the top and bottom are in 2 sections.  Original the sides were going to come off as a single piece but after that now they are 2 pieces.   

I made it to come apart for shipping.  I am in the military and we move often.

[superart]

why not have it similar to this, then you can play stand up or sitting down (at least that's what I might be doing with my cab). Then the top part can be like an over sized bar top, and the bottom would just be its base.

[JKJudgeX]

My SF2 cabinet was way too heavy to move from downstairs to upstairs without risk of breaking bones and floors...  luckily, my particular machine was already somewhat modular... see the attached pic to see what it looks like...

I was able to crawl in and unscrew the top half from the bottom half, and bring it up in 3 pieces (Went ahead and pulled out the monitor to be safe).

I put it back together minus just a few of the screws in case I need to move it again, but if you have the option and can find a cabinet like this one, they aren't too terribly hard to break down...

[TheShanMan]

I didn't build my cab so I solved the problem in a different way. 5 years ago I started going to the gym and I've put on about 40 lbs of muscle with which to lug the cabinet up and down the stairs. And to think - if I had only built my own cab and followed the lead of you guys I could have saved all those gym fees and time!

[Farb]

I went with laminated MDF panels over a 2x4 frame for Farbcade:

http://www.farbish.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=503

->Dan

[RetroACTIVE]

My first cab I build with cam locks so I could break it down completely...

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=43594.0

... never had to do it.

[Dustin Mustangs]

Mine is built similar to the ultimate arcade II from mameroom in that it has a top part that sits on (and hugs from either side) a base unit.  I screwed them together from the inside out so no fasteners between the two are visible.  Also, with just the cp removed, mine will roll right through a standard 3' doorway.  I also built it with cam and dowel construction and used no glue so if all else fails I can tear it down completely and not harm any of the parts.  Needless to say I wanted to keep my options open with this thing.  I attached a side profile of it if you want to get a better idea.  It is done now so I should have a pic to post but I haven't gotten around to taking any yet.

[BrentRadio]

This one is made to come apart.

[DrFrag]

I was trying to work out a way to make a cab collapsible using hinges.  Since most of the inside is hollow, I thought there might be a way to have it fold somewhat flatter in on itself, so it could at least be slid in the back of a car with the seats folded down.

I never did figure out a way to do it.

I'm building my cab from plywood and using an LCD screen so it will be light.  Although I am going to have a removable plinth, but that's mostly for a height adjustment.  And there'll be wheels on the back corners for sure.