Minimum space needed for arcade control console

[dkubarek]

I am making a cabinet for my nephews and want to know if I allotted enough space for the controls. I'm using x-arcade stuff. (kids + lifetime warranty = uncle at ease). I am using 2 joysticks, 20 buttons and their USB board. The box I have now is 20 inches long, 10 inches wide and 4 inches deep. My initial thought is maybe it isn't deep enough. Any thoughts? It needs to be small. The whole unit is 52-inches tall, so kids can play standing up. Thanks.

[Turnarcades]

I'm surprised you haven't had more responses to this, but luckily I've got a fair bit of experience on the subject having built loads of compact machines for customers.

The first question I ask is "Why do you want a deeper control panel? All the components and interface are safely contained within the X-Arcade unit so it does not need to be deeper. Add the fact you will need some kind of 'shelf' to mount it to and it'll be thicker/deeper anyway. As for space, check out our standard 'Mini' MAME cabinets for an idea of real space you need. The third example is typical, at roughly the same height as your cabinet plan, 20" wide x 25" deep. The control panel surface area is 18.5" x 6", with a cp section depth and 'height' of 5" x 5"....





To save space, you could do something like the first design (slim with sloped front and rear for free-standing) or the second (slim with sloped front but flat back for standing against a wall). I've attached a similar diagram showing how you could make the cab adapted for an X-Arcade, and a pic of the prototype I did for my nephew a few years ago...

[dkubarek]

I actually have it built, more or less. It looks just like the one you made for your nephew. I wanted a simple design (need it by Christmas) and have a lot of spare 36" by 22" inch pieces of wood around. (Freebies from work.) But I think I steered you the wrong way. I don't have the X-arcade controller. I have the components and I plan to customize my controller board. I am using two joysticks, 20 buttons and a board and wiring kit. But I still have to drill holes for buttons and install the controllers and such. Is that enough space? The 4 inches deep I mean. THanks.

[dkubarek]

Killer cab for your nephew, btw. I'm going a little all out for them (three boys, one house) and I keep telling my wife we'll achieve elite status as Super Aunt and Super Uncle when all is said and done. So far, at $100 over budget for them for Christmas, she's buying it.

[bboysnj]

Don't everyone jump on this X-arcade option:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Mame-Cabinet-With-X-Arcade-Dual-Joystick-Controller_W0QQitemZ230311322165QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item230311322165&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

[Turnarcades]

I actually have it built, more or less. It looks just like the one you made for your nephew. I wanted a simple design (need it by Christmas) and have a lot of spare 36" by 22" inch pieces of wood around. (Freebies from work.) But I think I steered you the wrong way. I don't have the X-arcade controller. I have the components and I plan to customize my controller board. I am using two joysticks, 20 buttons and a board and wiring kit. But I still have to drill holes for buttons and install the controllers and such. Is that enough space? The 4 inches deep I mean. THanks.

4 inches should be plenty of depth under the control panel, though remember that's interior space, so if the control panel has a bottom like on ours, you need to allow for the thicknesses of the control panel surface and lower panel. Remember this when you work out the depth needed for the monitor (internal space from front to back).

[dkubarek]

Craig, thanks. Yea, I have 4 inches of internal space. I got the X-arcade parts today and they look like they will fit.