| Main > Main Forum |
| Cheapest generic cab design you can think up? |
| << < (4/6) > >> |
| wbassett:
--- Quote from: megaultrasuper on May 13, 2008, 10:25:01 pm ---Well, I suppose adding a Marquee isn't too expensive. One more piece of plexiglass, a lightbulb and something nice to illuminate could probably be done for less than $20. Also, add in a powerstrip or extension cord along with some hinges for the back door. Make sure the paint job is Arcadey enough looking. --- End quote --- I threw together a basic marquee using a Marvel super hero poster, $5, a sheet of plexi from Home Depot, $10, two clear plastic wall outer corner protectors, $3 for two, and a can of spray paint which I also used for the bezel. Small screws were $.99. I happened to have a 22" fluorescent light that was brand new just laying on a shelf in a closet, but new you can get them for around $10. You can go with incandescent bulbs, but then you need two light sockets, and some wire, and a plug. We're at almost 1/3rd your total cost and this is just for a basic no frills marquee, and every cab really needs a marquee. My opinion is you can get away without having a coin door, but every arcade cab has to have a marquee of some sort. I went a bit of a combination of your philosophy as well as using some manufactured parts. My PC is one I built years ago, gave it to my kids who had it for years, and then it got discarded because they said it was 'broken'. It wasn't, it was just too slow for them being only a 1.2Ghz system. It runs probably 90% or more of all my games perfect, but there are some games that just won't play because they are too choppy, so keep in mind you won't be able to play everything out there on the system you are proposing. I do think you can keep the price down, but I think realistically you're looking at several hundred into it by the time you're finished. Still, that's not bad for an arcade machine! |
| leapinlew:
--- Quote from: wbassett on May 13, 2008, 10:51:36 pm --- --- Quote from: megaultrasuper on May 13, 2008, 10:25:01 pm ---Well, I suppose adding a Marquee isn't too expensive. One more piece of plexiglass, a lightbulb and something nice to illuminate could probably be done for less than $20. Also, add in a powerstrip or extension cord along with some hinges for the back door. Make sure the paint job is Arcadey enough looking. --- End quote --- I threw together a basic marquee using a Marvel super hero poster, $5, a sheet of plexi from Home Depot, $10, two clear plastic wall outer corner protectors, $3 for two, and a can of spray paint which I also used for the bezel. Small screws were $.99. I happened to have a 22" fluorescent light that was brand new just laying on a shelf in a closet, but new you can get them for around $10. You can go with incandescent bulbs, but then you need two light sockets, and some wire, and a plug. We're at almost 1/3rd your total cost and this is just for a basic no frills marquee, and every cab really needs a marquee. My opinion is you can get away without having a coin door, but every arcade cab has to have a marquee of some sort. I went a bit of a combination of your philosophy as well as using some manufactured parts. My PC is one I built years ago, gave it to my kids who had it for years, and then it got discarded because they said it was 'broken'. It wasn't, it was just too slow for them being only a 1.2Ghz system. It runs probably 90% or more of all my games perfect, but there are some games that just won't play because they are too choppy, so keep in mind you won't be able to play everything out there on the system you are proposing. I do think you can keep the price down, but I think realistically you're looking at several hundred into it by the time you're finished. Still, that's not bad for an arcade machine! --- End quote --- I agree. The more you do, the more the cost seems to come down because you can use odds and ends from previous builds. My last cabinet cost about $350 total. My first cabinet cost me about $1,200. |
| wbassett:
I found this site after I started my project and I definitely will do some things different for my second arcade. Also check local listings other than Craig's List. I found one called http://sellfastandfree.com/ which has 60 pinball and arcade machines forsale, some are even gutted cabs. You probably can realistically get a gutted cab for less than what it would cost you to cob together a cab out of scrap wood. One I am looking at is a full sitdown Mach 3 cab that was gutted but still has the control stick for $150. A standup in the same condition would probably be way less that that price, maybe even half that price or even free if you haul it away. Personally that's the route I'd go. You'll know you have a solid cab that will withstand rigorous and enthusiastic players without shaking and falling apart. I admire your goal though, I just think it's going to cost a little more than you expect it. |
| Jack Burton:
I'm not going to build this. I already converted a MK1 cab to MAME. This is just a fun thing for me to think about. As far as the "quickly and easily replicated", strike that. It was a stupid thing to say. There is no way given the ideas presented here in the thread either of those two can be done. I am aware that not as many games can be played with just a joystick and buttons, but with a project like this I would be happy with the number of games that can be played with just 4 directions and a button. |
| wbassett:
This is an intersting thread because I think people do want to keep the cost down. One thing I ran across (but was too late for any deals) is monitors. Sure you can get even a 21" CRT PC monitor for cheap or even free. Sometimes though they are on their last legs, but sometimes they are almost brand new. What I found was when calling around for something like a Princeton Arcadia Graphics monitor or and RCA 27" with VGA input was that just about all the electronic stores are dumping their inventory. One company I spoke to said they just dumped 27" PC compatable monitors for $5 each or whoever would come and get them. They said they couldn't sell them and they were taking up valuable warehouse space. Another store is negotiating a bulk purchase on Toshiba 27" PC compatable monitors from a school that recently upgraded all the rooms with projectors. I turned them on to this site to list them if they can cut a deal with the school. :) Anyway, here's my first arcade project I ever tried. Like I said next one will be done a bit different, but this tagged in around $750-800 but the price is going up quickly with some of the cool 'toys' I'll soon be adding to it. |
| Navigation |
| Message Index |
| Next page |
| Previous page |