The NEW Build Your Own Arcade Controls
Main => Project Announcements => Topic started by: pdemarest on January 15, 2014, 11:28:03 pm
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Greetings all,
After a long time lurking on the forum, gradually accumulating bits and pieces and puttering with artwork, I am ready to start the count down and turn this stack of MDO:
(http://pdemarest.net/images/Astrocade-01-MDO.jpg)
into something like this:
(http://pdemarest.net/images/AstroCade2012.png)
My first thought when I discovered this world was to replicated the Ms. PacMan machine that I put most of my allowance into in the early '80s. But after watching the Donkey Kong bartop (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,94311.msg991857.html) build, I realized that a smaller machine would greatly increase the Wife Acceptance Factor (WAF). So this will be a vertical bartop based around a 60-in-1 board, with a dedicated 4-way joystick, 2 buttons, and a 19 inch LCD.
If this turns out even half as well as the many inspiring projects around here I will be pleased. Wish me luck!
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The marquee looks a little squished vertically. Also, what is the angle of the control panel. Looks pretty steep... Anything more than 10 deg. is pretty uncomfortable.
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Assuming that the red buttons are player buttons, don't forget the admin buttons. (coin, start, exit, etc.)
Scott
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So I did some testing of the control panel angle and decided to flatten it out quite a bit. Down to 5 degrees from over 20. Also I decide to increase the height of the base section by a couple of inches, the proportions didn't feel right as I was starting to mark out the template to cut the sides.
(http://pdemarest.net/images/AstroCade2014.png)
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I'd also try and make the top panel overlap the back door, that way in you spill your beer on top it will run down the back of the box instead of inside the door.
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.
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I've marked out a template for the sides on 1/4" plywood.
(http://pdemarest.net/images/Astrocade-01-Template2.jpg)
Tomorrow, weather permitting, I'll cut out the template and use it to rout the sides from 3/4" MDO.
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The weather was in my favor today.
First cuts:
(http://pdemarest.net/images/Astrocade-02_Side.jpg)
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A little more progress today.
Cleaned up the sides a bit, attached some furring strips, and cut the panel for the back and bottom.
(http://pdemarest.net/images/Astrocade-01-Sides.jpg)
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I picked up a NovaGemCDR (25c Push for Credit) button for the front of the control panel.
And I've been working on an idea for the Player 1 and Player 2 buttons, which will also go on the front of the control panel.
(http://pdemarest.net/images/Player-Button.png)
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All right, after a lot of distractions, weather delays (good and bad), and a garage/workshop reorganization, I final got back to working on my bartop in November.
Here are the panels cut and dry fit.
(http://pdemarest.net/images/astrocade_dry_fit.jpg)
Some work on the speaker cut out and control panel.
(http://pdemarest.net/images/astrocade_speaker_1.jpg)
(http://pdemarest.net/images/astrocade_speaker_2.jpg)
(http://pdemarest.net/images/astrocade_cp_dry_fit.jpg)
I had some unexpected time off in early December and got as far as gluing up the panels and starting to prime.
(http://pdemarest.net/images/astrocade_priming.jpg)
Then the now 7 year old wanted to know if the arcade would be ready for his Fun and Games themed birthday party. So I did the dangerous thing and set up the unfinished cabinet in the living room for the party.
(http://pdemarest.net/images/astrocade_cousins_birthday.jpg)
Of course little progress has been made since then. Though I did get my marquee printed.
(http://pdemarest.net/images/astrocade_marquee_test.jpg)
I was all set this morning to break it down and continue painting, when the wife reminded me that we have some friends coming over tonight for my birthday and suggested that we leave it set up. I guess painting will have to wait till tomorrow.
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Some work in progress pictures that have been sitting on my computer for a while now.
For the marquee light I used an LED light strip. This one had a USB connector that I removed and wired to the switching power supply.
(http://pdemarest.net/images/Light_Strip_trimmed.jpg)
I wired a power strip to this power plug switch. The monitor and power supply are plugged into the strip.
(http://pdemarest.net/images/Power_Plug_4_trimmed.jpg)
The bezel image is mounted on a piece of black cloroplast and covered with plexiglass.
(http://pdemarest.net/images/Bezel_on_table.jpg)
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I had a chance today to take some pictures of my completed build!
(http://pdemarest.net/images/astrocade.gif)
The front
(http://pdemarest.net/images/Astrocade_Complete-front.jpg)
The back
(http://pdemarest.net/images/Astrocade_Complete-back.jpg)
The marquee
(http://pdemarest.net/images/Astrocade_Complete-marquee.jpg)
The control panel
(http://pdemarest.net/images/Astrocade_Complete-control_panel.jpg)
NASA style Start up Checklist
(http://pdemarest.net/images/Astrocade_Complete-procedure.jpg)
Power switch, fan, and test button
(http://pdemarest.net/images/Astrocade_Complete-back_panel.jpg)
Serial plate
(http://pdemarest.net/images/Astrocade_Complete-serial_plate.jpg)
Messy wiring
(http://pdemarest.net/images/Astrocade_Complete-back_open.jpg)
(http://pdemarest.net/images/Astrocade_Complete-wires.jpg)
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Very nicely done.
Arwork and form all look great