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Rob's new MAME cabinet : UPDATED : Completed pics.

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robC:
I have just started my new MAME cabinet, so I thought I would post a thread here to document the process.
This has been a backburner idea I have wanted to do for a long time, ever since I played on a friend's machine a few years ago. I had played MAME a little on the PC, but never saw a full MAME cabinet build til then.

First of all, thanks to everyone on this board for all the great info and documentation which makes something like this possible for a hack like me. Special thanks to Knievel and Stoli, who were so kind as to send me multiple detailed email replies to a bunch of my questions.

The design, (just like everyone else), is inspired by the Neon MAME project. The cabinet is somewhere between this and the Woody design. A little slimmer than the standard depth, but not as slimline as the Woody.

Specs and goals will be roughly this:
- LCD screen
- 2.1 Computer speakers with decent sound. Went with the Logitech X-2300, as they sound great and also have the wired pod with the volume, subwoofer level, and headphone jack. This will make life a lot easier than having to hack in these functions manually.
- 2 player control panel with 6 Buttons per player in standard fighter layout.
- 3" trackball in the center.
- Spinner and 2 button layout at the top.
- Dedicated 4-way stick at the top.
- Pinball flipper/nudge buttons on the sides.

The controls and hardware I am using are:
- 3 Happs Super joysticks. One set up to a 4-way with restrictor.
- Electric Ice pushbuttons. They will all have the RGB LEDs so I can make them any color.
- Electric Ice trackball. Same light functionality as the buttons.
- TurboTwist 2 spinner.
- KeyWiz and LEDWiz.

So this weekend I kicked off the project and got some good progress going.

Finalized my dimensions and cut the cabinet sides :


Got the control panel and plexi overlay done. Hinged the top for access, painted, and installed the controls. I printed a temporary graphic on multiple sheets to use for now. Once I get my trackball (see that lonely circle in the center?), I will get the final print and drop it on. My wife and I picked some cool 3-d abstract art we found on the web. I also ordered some chrome T-mold which will finish the cabinet and control panel nicely.

pie taster:

--- Quote from: robC on January 22, 2008, 09:46:53 am ---- Electric Ice pushbuttons. They will all have the RGB LEDs so I can make them any color.
- Electric Ice trackball. Same light functionality as the buttons.
- TurboTwist 2 spinner.
- KeyWiz and LEDWiz.

--- End quote ---

How many LEDWizs are planning on having? it looks like you are only saying one.

But since each button takes 3 inputs you are going to need more than 1. 

robC:
I just have one LEDWiz for now, so a some buttons will be grouped together on the same channel. After playing around with it, I may add a second one to have full discrete control of each button. Thanks for the input.

robC:
Spent a couple hours tonight fastening everything together to get a freestanding cabinet. I used pocket holes to connect all my cabinet pieces, and it went together very quickly and easily. The Kreg jig is one of the best tools of all time. The cabinet is very strong, and I don't think I will need to add the extra support blocks I was expecting to use.



I put the monitor in to see how everything is sizing up. The monitor is a 27.5"er. Since all the LCDs are widescreen these days, I wanted to get a monitor that would have enough vertical space to play vertically oriented games nicely. The larger screen will also be great for games like Guitar Hero where you are standing back a ways from the screen. It should also double for a nice rec room TV.

Neilyboy:
Going to be beautiful man!!! two thumbs up. I love that monitor and I have to agree the Kreg pocket hole jig is friggin amazing!!

Anyway keep up the great work and keep the pictures rolling!!

Neil

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