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How much money do you have in your project?
Jack Burton:
--- Quote from: GinsuVictim on August 13, 2008, 04:53:08 pm ---
--- Quote ---I think most of the time when people say "MAME cabinet" they expect it to be a fully finished, slick looking product, with at least a trac ball, spinner, and a way to operate in 4 way mode.
This may be the source of confusion when people think that a working MAME cab can't be built for less than $600 dollars.
--- End quote ---
I have no trackball and I built my spinner for about $6.00. I converted an old Track and Field cabinet using a free monitor and free PC.
My cabinet is very basic and is not very polished.
Yet I have $800 so far in it. (Headin' for $1000)
--- End quote ---
I'm curious, what is the bulk of cost in your cabinet then?
Flake:
I think the base line for a fully finished, slick looking product is around $1500. I consider mine to be slick looking (still could use a couple cosmetic touches) and I purchased my control panel from Arcades R Fun - which is much more expensive than building your own control panel. The control panel in my case cost me about 1/3 my total project costs.
Now that number assumes you can get a old cabinet from an auction or something and refurbish it. Building one from scratch is pretty expensive from what I understand.
Ginsu Victim:
--- Quote ---I'm curious, what is the bulk of cost in your cabinet then?
--- End quote ---
Side-art, marquee, Happ universal joysticks (replaced by 2 x U360s), Minipac, buttons, new video card, paint, tools, t-molding, new speakers, plexi, cabinet wheels, lighting, wire and connectors, USB hubs, soon a new PC, Logitech trackball mouse, coin mechs, etc
This is from the older thread where I was only up to $680
--- Quote ---cabinet itself - $50 (trashed Track and Field)
emdkay - $32 (Tron-style Mame marquee plus lexan)
mamemarquees - $36 (side art from bargain bin)
Divemaster - $103 (2 x Happ universals, 4 x wheels, 17 x buttons, 35ft black t-mold, pcb feet, button wrench, miniature momentary pushbutton)
Mike's Arcade - $36 (2 x coin mechs, coin door lock)
Ultimarc first order - $60 (Mini-pac with wiring harness and ground harness)
Ultimarc second order - $177 (2 x Ultrastik 360s w/balltops, 2 x medium spring, 2 x restrictors, 1 x encoder wiring)
Radio Shack, Lowes, Ace, Wal-mart - ~$100
Newegg.com - $80 (250 GB hard drive)
Total = ~$680 (my wife and I agreed on a budget of $300 )
The computer and 19" monitor were given to me free from the local hospital. (733mhz w/ 384 MB ram)
--- End quote ---
leapinlew:
sometimes there isn't a "bulk"...
but artwork, tools, computer/monitor and controls seems to be the biggest offenders. I get dinged pretty hard by all the small stuff: t-molding, screws, brackets, hinges, paint, paint supplies, carriage bolts, marquee light, casters, marquee retainer, plexiglass, led's, fans, power entry module, and surge protector.
shmokes:
I stopped keeping track. But there have been endless trips to the stores for things like screws, bolts, usb hub, bits, blades, hinges, dust masks, wire, molex power splitters, etc., etc., etc. It adds up. And it seems like the day after I order anything online I'm cursing myself for forgetting to order that one other thing I need and will now have to incur brand new shipping charges for. It is just really rreally hard to know everything you're going to need right at the beginning. If I did it again I'd probably save at least $100 in shipping alone.