Cheapest generic cab design you can think up?

[Jack Burton]

I like to sit around sometimes and design different kinds of MAME cabs. 

What kinds of things can a person do to get the most basic of MAME cabs up and running?  No using old gutted cabinets.  Everything must be either brand new or extremely common and cheap to find. 

I figure:

$60 for lumber if you use the cheap stuff.

$0 for a pc monitor.  They can almost always be found for free on craigslist.

$20 for a cheap computer off of Ebay or Craiglist.  Probably could easily get this down to $0 if you look around.

$15 for controls.  You can find plenty of cheap knockoff eight way joysticks and buttons on ebay. 

$5 for control interface.  You'll need a soldering iron to hack a pc gamepad.  Or $0 if you want to hack a keyboard.

$30 for paint, glue, screws, hinges etc.  This stuff can almost always be scavenged for free from somebody, but you might need to pay for a few things so I'll add $30

$20 for plexiglass.  This is entirely optional of course.

$5 for speakers.

$0 for a powerstrip or extension cord.

$10 for a light fixture to go behind the marquee.

$10 for wiring for the controls.  Or scavenge it from whatever sources you can find for $0.


No T-molding or coin door unless you can get them for free.

No need for keyboard and mouse, computers can be set up to boot directly into a frontend.


I think a person could make a very nice, very basic MAME cab for as little as $80-155.  Are you guys in agreement?  Am I forgetting anything? 


NOTE: This is not a project announcement, I am merely theorizing here.

[Franco B]

Why go spending crazy cash like that!!



.:Build your own here:.

 

[Jack Burton]

That monstrosity is more expensive than the my designs!   

129.99 for the controller and probably 30$ for shipping!

Edit: Shipping is actually free.

[javeryh]

That monstrosity is more expensive than the my designs!   

129.99 for the controller and probably 30$ for shipping!

You don't need shipping materials though!   

[Jack Burton]

yep, you're right.  I didn't notice that the X-arcade has free shipping.

I still stand by that I could build  a whole cab for less than the cost of that joystick.

[SavannahLion]

$60 for lumber if you use the cheap stuff.

Over the past month, I've been seeing ads on Craigs for an entire range of lumber. Everything from 2'x4's to full sheets of 4'x8' ply. Most of it is pretty scuzzy, like one guy offering the wood from his deck if you would come and demo it. But once in a while, nice lumber does appear on Craig's. It's only in the last week I noticed people actually charging for the lumber. Despite idiots thinking they can charge $25 for a pile of scrap 2x4's, with enough patience, you can snag some lumber for $0.

[Jack Burton]

You can also score scrap from woodworking shops and factories.  Usually you can find short pieces of 2x4's and triangular pieces of plywood.   Stuff that would be great for use making gussets (sp?) or reinforcing the interior of the cab in some way.

I actually used an old countertop to make my first control panel.  It was already smooth on one side and was the correct thickness.

[leapinlew]

yep, you're right.  I didn't notice that the X-arcade has free shipping.

I still stand by that I could build  a whole cab for less than the cost of that joystick.

Assuming you have all the tools, and your expectations are properly ratcheted downward, you'll be just fine.

Your controls are just going to contain a joystick and some buttons I presume?

I wouldn't hack a gamepad - I'd spend a few bucks there. Unless your time is worthless, you won't be saving any money.

[TOK]

I'd prefer the X-Arcade and just playing games on my PC to a cheapie ghetto looking cab. 
I paid $125 for this. Only problem with it is a burnt out marquee light.

[Brian Zellinger]

Holy crap! I lol'ed LOUD at that TrashCade!

[Jack Burton]

I'd prefer the X-Arcade and just playing games on my PC to a cheapie ghetto looking cab. 
I paid $125 for this. Only problem with it is a burnt out marquee light.

I don't think it would be ghetto looking.  That's one of the rules I made.  It must not look "ghetto".  But may look plain and functional.

The point of building such a cab is the benefit of playing on a cab itself.  I was playing Galaga on my Xbox today alongside my cab.  I must say, there is no way I would actually want to play that game sitting on the floor with a joystick, or on my computer desk.  There's just something about playing on a cabinet.

[TOK]

Your design criteria stripped most of the things that make an arcade game feel like an arcade game to me, so it isn't like playing on a cab. Its like having an arcade controller on a wooden box.

[Jack Burton]

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.

[wbassett]

I like to sit around sometimes and design different kinds of MAME cabs.  One of my favorite subjects is to think up really simple kinds of cabs that can be built and replicated quickly and cheaply.

I agree that if you use items you already have or can get for free you can greatly reduce the overall cost of things, but one of the things you mentioned doesn't fit in well with what you outlined... and that is 'can be built and replicated quickly and cheaply'.

You may be able to do it cheaply, but as far as quick... unless you live someplace where you have ready access to a consistant stockpile of usable stuff people just happen to be throwing out, it could take some time gathering your materials.  As far as 'replicated', I honestly can't see how a consistant pattern can be made when you are depending on scrap parts and I'd think no two cabs would look alike.

Even paint will cost you.  Yes you can get Walmart brands of paint that are cheap, but they are... well, 'cheap'.  People often don't realize that paint that costs a bit more is better quality and covers better, rolls smoother, and looks better in addition to lasting longer.  You can go through a gallon of paint easily on a full size cab.  Then you have primer.  Throw in nails, screws and all the little things and it does add up. 

I think you can probably make the cab itself for around the cost of the controller, and if you keep the cp to a bare basic cp with minimum sticks and buttons, even using all hacks and no ipaqs or controller boards I think it's going to cost more than you expect.  I think you could throw together a quick inexpensive basic bar top for around the price you're talking but I'm not so sure about a full size nice looking cab and cp.

It will definitely be interesting and fun to see how you make out.  Make sure to take plenty of detailed pics for a photo journal of your build, I'm sure many would like to see how you put this together and how it comes out.

[DaveMMR]

$60 for lumber if you use the cheap stuff.

$0 for a pc monitor.  They can almost always be found for free on craigslist.

$20 for a cheap computer off of Ebay or Craiglist.  Probably could easily get this down to $0 if you look around.

$15 for controls.  You can find plenty of cheap knockoff eight way joysticks and buttons on ebay. 

$5 for control interface.  You'll need a soldering iron to hack a pc gamepad.  Or $0 if you want to hack a keyboard.

$20 for paint, glue, screws, etc.  This stuff can almost always be scavenged for free from somebody, but you might need to pay for a few things so I'll add $20

$20 for plexiglass.  This is entirely optional of course.

$5 for speakers.

No T-molding or coin door.

No need for keyboard and mouse, computers can be set up to boot directly into a frontend.

No Marquee

No lights

I think a person could make a very nice, very basic MAME cab for as little as $80-145.  Are you guys in agreement?  Am I forgetting anything? 

Some people have managed to build for cheap, but if you count on skimping and cutting corners, you're more likely to end up with a sloppy-looking and playing cab.  And despite what others say, when it comes to the full-sized machines, looks ARE important.  A big marquee-less box constructed out of free lumber with only $20 worth of screws, glue, etc. and random-color free paint with third-rate joysticks hacked to work through an even cheaper joypad pumping visuals and audio through a cruddy computer monitor and $5 speakers is going to look like the hobo at the formal banquet in the middle of your living room.  See also: CrapMAME.

For that $145 ceiling you quoted, I'd check to see if there are any working, who-cares game on Craigslist that can be converted easily. 

ADDENDUM:  That's not to say you can't build inexpensively. You can make do with Happ's Supers, get black paint, obtain a generic marquee and plexiglass, skip the trackball, etc.   But there's going to be a point where you'll have to throw a few bucks down if you want your end-result to be both enjoyable and aesthetically pleasing. 

[wbassett]

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.

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]

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.

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!

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.

[Jack Burton]

$60 for lumber if you use the cheap stuff.

$0 for a pc monitor.  They can almost always be found for free on craigslist.

$20 for a cheap computer off of Ebay or Craiglist.  Probably could easily get this down to $0 if you look around.

$15 for controls.  You can find plenty of cheap knockoff eight way joysticks and buttons on ebay. 

$5 for control interface.  You'll need a soldering iron to hack a pc gamepad.  Or $0 if you want to hack a keyboard.

$20 for paint, glue, screws, etc.  This stuff can almost always be scavenged for free from somebody, but you might need to pay for a few things so I'll add $20

$20 for plexiglass.  This is entirely optional of course.

$5 for speakers.

No T-molding or coin door.

No need for keyboard and mouse, computers can be set up to boot directly into a frontend.

No Marquee

No lights

I think a person could make a very nice, very basic MAME cab for as little as $80-145.  Are you guys in agreement?  Am I forgetting anything? 

Some people have managed to build for cheap, but if you count on skimping and cutting corners, you're more likely to end up with a sloppy-looking and playing cab.  And despite what others say, when it comes to the full-sized machines, looks ARE important.  A big marquee-less box constructed out of free lumber with only $20 worth of screws, glue, etc. and random-color free paint with third-rate joysticks hacked to work through an even cheaper joypad pumping visuals and audio through a cruddy computer monitor and $5 speakers is going to look like the hobo at the formal banquet in the middle of your living room.  See also: CrapMAME.

For that $145 ceiling you quoted, I'd check to see if there are any working, who-cares game on Craigslist that can be converted easily. 

ADDENDUM:  That's not to say you can't build inexpensively. You can make do with Happ's Supers, get black paint, obtain a generic marquee and plexiglass, skip the trackball, etc.   But there's going to be a point where you'll have to throw a few bucks down if you want your end-result to be both enjoyable and aesthetically pleasing. 

I don't think a computer monitor would be cruddy.  A lot of very nice NEC and Sony monitors can be found for less than $5.  If you got extra lucky you might even get a Sony PVM monitor or equivalent that could do arcade resolutions.

$5 speakers wouldn't be any worse than playing through a tv.  I have a very nice set of computer speakers with subwoofers that I picked up from the university surplus auction along with a 20" monitor for $1.

Add in $10 in wiring.  It is a significant cost at this level.  I used a coil of wire that came off of a telescope at the university at the same auction.  It was about 15 feet long with about 30 individual wires inside with their own respective color codes. Cost was $1.

Now that I think of it, University auctions in general are great places to find the kind of stuff for a project like this.

[wbassett]

You have me thinking now too on some things.

Were I live we have something unique... it's kinda like a Salvation Army but for furniture and building supplies.  We bought a 160 year old Victorian house and are remodeling/fixing some things up and I'm at this place all the time.  One thing they have tons of that are very inexpensive are doors!  Of course you'd want a solid wood door for strength, but finding two that are exactly the same height/width could be a problem.  Still, two sheets of MDF aren't very expensive either.  A door would be a bit thick though, but I may see what they have and use it for a monitor shelf and support bracing for an inner skeleton frame.

My dad gave me some very good advice when I was young and it has proven to be true more often than not... when you first plan a project, take your estimated expenses and double them, same as far as how much time you expect it to take.  I'd imagine though after building several cabs like some on here have done after the first couple the rest are faster, easier and cheaper to make.

[Jack Burton]

Yep, I might even say triple it. 

Using a door is a good idea but is a style of construction that I want to try to avoid when thinking about this.  It quickly leads to the idea of using an old real arcade cabinet.  I'm trying to figure out a way to not do that.

I actually think I personally could build a cab from scratch for less than $50.  But that's given that I know where to get practically all the materials for free.  So when I list my prices I intentially exaggerate them.  Hopefully at least half of any of the materials anybody could find for $0.


Oh, and I'm allocating $0 for gas.  I know that it is cheating, but hey, you can just pick up the stuff on your way somewhere else right?

[wbassett]

$5 speakers wouldn't be any worse than playing through a tv.  I have a very nice set of computer speakers with subwoofers that I picked up from the university surplus auction along with a 20" monitor for $1.

I used an old 2.1 sound system my son was going to throw out.  I got two 4" full range car speakers at Walmart for around $15 and we were both blown away at how they sounded with the cheap crappy little 30W sub unit.  I was expecting just a cheap sound or no better than TV speakers and these things are actually so loud and active I often get in trouble with my wife!

My son is getting ready to get his very first apartment but like all kids he really has nothing to put in it.  I am planning on making him a cab with a 27" monitor that will double as their TV.  I would have loved having something like that for my first apartment that's for sure!  I plan on making him a nice system, but do want to keep the cost down to something reasonable that also looks and sounds good.

[Jack Burton]

My son is getting ready to get his very first apartment but like all kids he really has nothing to put in it.  I am planning on making him a cab with a 27" monitor that will double as their TV.  I would have loved having something like that for my first apartment that's for sure!  I plan on making him a nice system, but do want to keep the cost down to something reasonable that also looks and sounds good.

Yep, I remember when I was in high school I used to set around scheming up way to build cabs on the cheap.  For me, any cab at all was awesome!

[NoOne=NBA=]

What tools are you planning to build this with?
Unless you have full access to a cabinet shop, you're going to be better off converting than building.

I spent way more than you are planning to spend on your cabinet just buying specialty tools.

[Lilwolf]

these days, cheapest?

craigslist to get a cab... many in my area for 100 - 500... but go for a 200 working cab with sideart.

computer - cheap - make sure you can use soft15khz...  50?

forget hacking gamepad... not worth the 20 bucks for a good encoder... 25 for easy screw ins..

in the end... 275 having a real arcade with everything... very doable these days.