The NEW Build Your Own Arcade Controls
Main => Project Announcements => Topic started by: Trap on June 17, 2010, 12:23:01 pm
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I started my first build a little over 5 yrs ago. After many modifications it ended up looking like this:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w89/x3rdgearx/Cocktail%20Build/Photo-0003.jpg)
Sorry for the crappy cell phone pics.
When I first built it, it was a mess. I really didnt know what I was doing. Exposed screw heads everywhere, 20in tv for the monitor, full-sized keyboard flushed into the cp...but it was really fun to both build and play. In the end I really just wasnt happy with the overall quality of the cabinet.
About a year ago I discovered the awesomeness that is Visual Pinball. Then a few months later, I started falling in love with peoples pinball table builds. I really wanted one but the price tag was to hefty for me. After some thought, a cocktail table seemed like the best of both worlds. I'd still able to play mame but i could also play FS VP tables. And then there's the fact that I've always thought cocktail cabinets just look nice.
I'm still no master carpenter, but I'm really happy with how my build has come along.
For the top, I just modified the Ms. Pacman shape so that my monitor would fit. I printed it off at full size and taped it down with clear packing tape then cut it out.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w89/x3rdgearx/Cocktail%20Build/cocktailcab2.jpg)
Then I built the main box. Just glue, clamps and screws here. I realize that my T-molding slots should have been cut at this point but I was waiting on my slot cutter to arrive.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w89/x3rdgearx/Cocktail%20Build/Photo-0010.jpg)
I got a pocket hole jig to hide all my screws this time.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w89/x3rdgearx/Cocktail%20Build/Photo-0011.jpg)
Casters:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w89/x3rdgearx/Cocktail%20Build/Photo-0022.jpg)
Getting good
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w89/x3rdgearx/Cocktail%20Build/Photo-0014.jpg)
The back. The hole in the upper left is for some usb ports.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w89/x3rdgearx/Cocktail%20Build/Photo-0012.jpg)
Monitor mount. The monitor just lays in here with some L brackets to hold it in position.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w89/x3rdgearx/Cocktail%20Build/Photo-0016.jpg)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w89/x3rdgearx/Cocktail%20Build/Photo-0015.jpg)
ohhhh purdy
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w89/x3rdgearx/Cocktail%20Build/Photo-0018.jpg)
CPs going on. The bottom of the CPs are removable if I need to replace button, fix wiring, etc.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w89/x3rdgearx/Cocktail%20Build/Photo-0023.jpg)
USB ports:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w89/x3rdgearx/Cocktail%20Build/Photo-0019.jpg)
Top on, t-molding on, glass in place. Just some wiring and finish work at this point. I'm using U360's, an IPAC and a TurboTwist 2 spinner.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w89/x3rdgearx/Cocktail%20Build/Photo-0026.jpg)
And here we are today.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w89/x3rdgearx/Cocktail%20Build/Photo-00292.jpg)
The underlay is just temporary. Its just printed on some flimsy paper. I ordered a underlay from game on graphics on monday and it shipped yesterday so it should be here soon enough. Here's what it looks like:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w89/x3rdgearx/Cocktail%20Build/vixenunderlay.jpg)
And here's my mala layouts.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w89/x3rdgearx/Cocktail%20Build/MALAvixen.jpg)
So far, most everything has worked out great. The main thing I've screwed up on is the spinner is too close to the joystick. I'm not sure where else it can go though. I'm considering swapping the joystick and the spinner, putting the joystick on the outside and spinner where the joystick is now. Not sure if this will be good or not but its easy enough to do and try it out. I also forgot fans to vent the cabinet. Thats an easy fix though.
I'm using irotate to rotate the screen if need be via ipac macros for the hot keys which works great in mame but it messes up the graphics in VP. It would have been nice to be able to play 2 player pinball from either end of the table but isn't a big deal.
I'm using a smart strip to power the lights and speaker amp on when i turn the computer on. They all turn on at the same time but when I power down, the lights and amp stay on for a long time after (an hour or so). Is this normal? I've adjusted the sensitivity almost to the point where the aux outlets wont come on when the computer turns on.
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Really nice. I like your design - subtle differences from the standard midway cocktail and I think your changes are for the better! :cheers:
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Vixen, great name!
Looks pretty good.
I'm really digging the Mala artwork you made.
I kinda' wish there was more of that on the cabinet,
just because it looks so cool.
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That looks really classy. I like it.
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Niiiiiceeee!
:applaud: :applaud: :applaud:
Fantastic Job!
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Great Job :applaud: How tall is it? I know that it's not the std size.
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Thanks for all the compliments. It's 29" tall. I did try and swap the joystick and the spinner and that dosent work because the joystick base runs into the pinball buttons on the side. Back to the drawing board i guess.
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Very nice! :applaud:
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The spinner and joystick don't look that close together. Does it actually interfere with joystick controls? If it really bothers you, a simple crazy idea fix might be to swap the P1 and P2 start buttons, and make the non-spinner CP the dominant P1 side. I mean, in my experience, most often it'll be one person sitting down to play at a time. Then for games that use the spinner, map the controls in mame to the P2 spinner side?
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It's just close enough that my hand bumps into it whenever I move the stick left. It's just annoying more then anything.
Do other peoples smart strips stay on as long as mine dose (an hr or more sometimes) after shutting down the computer? Is that just how they work?
Im using this one http://www.smarthomeusa.com/ShopByManufacturer/Bits-Ltd./Item/SCG3/ (http://www.smarthomeusa.com/ShopByManufacturer/Bits-Ltd./Item/SCG3/).
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Do other peoples smart strips stay on as long as mine dose (an hr or more sometimes) after shutting down the computer? Is that just how they work?
No, it should turn off almost instantly, there is a little pot on there to adjust the amount of current required to shut it off, I remember having to mess with it a bit to get everything to shut down right, also the computer may still be sending a small amout of current after it is "Shut down" which may be keeping the thing on
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I've unplugged the computer after shutting it down and the the aux outlets still dont turn off right away. It was about 15mins before I heard it kick off. I guess I've got a bad one?
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I got it work right. I flipped the power switch on the strip then swapped the computer plug to one of the always on outlets and put the monitor in the control outlet. Works great now - it shuts off the second the monitor goes into standby mode. I'm guessing I just needed to cycle the switch on the power strip.
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Sweet! Glad you got it working
Great project by the way!!!! :cheers:
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My underlay from gameongrafix.com came in yesterday. I'm really happy with their product.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w89/x3rdgearx/Cocktail%20Build/Photo-0036.jpg)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w89/x3rdgearx/Cocktail%20Build/Photo-0035.jpg)
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I've been looking for some more modern games that work well with a vertical monitor and was pleasantly surprised when I set my display to landscape and ran SF4.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w89/x3rdgearx/ingame2.png)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w89/x3rdgearx/win.png)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w89/x3rdgearx/cutsceen.png)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w89/x3rdgearx/ingame.png)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w89/x3rdgearx/settings.png)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w89/x3rdgearx/youlose.png)
The hud seems to be the only thing I can tell thats really stretched out. I couldn't figure out how to take a snapshot in game while in fullscreen that's why I'm in windowed mode, but it runs great in fullscreen too. Certainly would suck on my cocktail for 2 players but its fun 1 player and on XBL.
Anyways, thought it was cool and wanted to share.
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very nice wood stain. What did you use to finish it off with? did you poly it at all?
joe
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I used this http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xhm/R-100121540/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053 (http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xhm/R-100121540/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053) and this http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xhm/R-100376263/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053 (http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xhm/R-100376263/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053) for the finish.
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+1 for that spray on poly. I refinished our dining room table and used that. Made a damn nice finish that is tough as nails and waterproof to boot. Won't ever go back to the brush on stuff again. Did an entire 12'x4' table with 3 cans IIRC.
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Awesome looking machine !
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Here's what drawings i have for the cabinet. I've had a few people ask for them.
I will say that with the size of monitor i used, i wish it was an inch or 2 lower then the 29" i made it to easier see the far end of the screen.
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Just an update. Remounted my monitor recently and wanted to share some pics. The monitor used to sit 5/8"+ from the glass. I decased the monitor and routed out the top so it now sits less than 1/4" from the glass. Huge improvement. The cab has been great over the years and not much else has been done.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w89/x3rdgearx/IMG_20140624_2154271_zpscb6f146b.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/x3rdgearx/media/IMG_20140624_2154271_zpscb6f146b.jpg.html)
I can't keep the kitchen clean, why would you expect it to be clean in here?
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w89/x3rdgearx/IMG_20140624_2154491_zpseaf168f3.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/x3rdgearx/media/IMG_20140624_2154491_zpseaf168f3.jpg.html)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w89/x3rdgearx/IMG_20140624_2155171_zps703762cf.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/x3rdgearx/media/IMG_20140624_2155171_zps703762cf.jpg.html)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w89/x3rdgearx/IMG_20140624_2156021_zps5ff5c2c7.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/x3rdgearx/media/IMG_20140624_2156021_zps5ff5c2c7.jpg.html)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w89/x3rdgearx/IMG_20140617_1934031_zps5a53970b.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/x3rdgearx/media/IMG_20140617_1934031_zps5a53970b.jpg.html)
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Very very nice!!!
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Great job!!
I have a question about these cocktail cabs. Because people are sharing the screen on opposite ends, when you play a real 2P game, how does the screen look? Since you are facing each other and not a traditional way when you both look at same screen?
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In MAME it's no problem. MAME will split the screen in half and duplicates the picture on each end. Games outside of MAME don't generally work well with 2 players on an end-to-end cocktail cabinet because they lack this functionality.