The NEW Build Your Own Arcade Controls
Main => Woodworking => Topic started by: morton on November 04, 2017, 10:01:00 am
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I am just about to prime my cabinet and the only thing I need to do is place some ventilation on the back side of the cabinet. I originally was going to install two 120mm fans at the top to exhaust the hot air, but realize many cabinets simply have venting. I have a few options, but due to the weather and such, have to drill, and a router is out of the question.
I can either:
- Buy a 4.5" hole saw to cut two 120mm fan vents
- Use a 1.5" hole saw and drill 4 or 5 holes across the top of the cabinet
Would the passive venting with the 1.5" holes be sufficient or would I be best to spend the $$ on a new 4.5" hole saw and install fans? I realize the fans will be more effective, but also see some don't believe fan is necessary and others say its better to have more, but would like to limit my expenditure if possible. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
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It really depends how much heat your set up generates.
I would drill some 4.5” vent holes and put a cover over them.
If you need extra cooling just add fans after.
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Fans I have. The 4.5" bit will set me back almost $40 with tax tho... that's my biggest issue at this point. I'm just using a CRT and a Pi at this point. Not sure if heat will be more than a traditional cab, some of which i notice have minimal venting.
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If you are using a Pi you wont need and big fans.
Just put a small fan on a pi case and heat sinks on the chips.
Just a few small holes for CRT heat to pass in the top should be good to go :)
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Thanks Titch :)
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If you use a speaker cover over fan hole then the hole doesn't need to be perfect.
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I used one of these for my Pi. Has a fan and comes with three heatsinks for the largest chips..
https://www.etsy.com/listing/273398510/zebra-virtue-with-fan-black-ice-for?gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_us_b-electronics_and_accessories-computers_and_peripherals-other&utm_custom1=dc7256ea-6cab-49bf-be61-101122134033&gclid=Cj0KCQiArYDQBRDoARIsAMR8s_Sd4AaeogSyZZTjEN6q5XHhYDulNqWl3EZ6_XwrW0VOK-lea42mG-QaAsmyEALw_wcB (https://www.etsy.com/listing/273398510/zebra-virtue-with-fan-black-ice-for?gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_us_b-electronics_and_accessories-computers_and_peripherals-other&utm_custom1=dc7256ea-6cab-49bf-be61-101122134033&gclid=Cj0KCQiArYDQBRDoARIsAMR8s_Sd4AaeogSyZZTjEN6q5XHhYDulNqWl3EZ6_XwrW0VOK-lea42mG-QaAsmyEALw_wcB)
For the cabinet I went with an AC Infinity Airplate T7
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA8J23251346&ignorebbr=1&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleMKP-PC&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleMKP-PC-_-pla-_-Fans-_-9SIA8J23251346&gclid=Cj0KCQiArYDQBRDoARIsAMR8s_S444VXoe2Obs55WZCsWI-nbV71NAQIOfD1RPfp0IkFjk9aqKa8BCIaAp8BEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds (https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA8J23251346&ignorebbr=1&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleMKP-PC&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleMKP-PC-_-pla-_-Fans-_-9SIA8J23251346&gclid=Cj0KCQiArYDQBRDoARIsAMR8s_S444VXoe2Obs55WZCsWI-nbV71NAQIOfD1RPfp0IkFjk9aqKa8BCIaAp8BEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds)
I needed the case as I was getting thermal warnings on the Pi if it was running for too long. The cabinet probably didn't need it but why not?
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Draw a space invader on graph paper, tape it to your cabinet, use a nail punch to mark the holes, and then drill them out. That will give you plenty of venting and doesn't cost anything.
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Cutting larger circles is pretty simple with a router.
https://www.amazon.com/Jasper-200J-Circle-Cutting-Plunge/dp/B00009K77A (https://www.amazon.com/Jasper-200J-Circle-Cutting-Plunge/dp/B00009K77A)
They sell jigs for it - but you can make one out of scrap for free for a single use like 4" circles.
No need to purchase a large hole saw..
This style does a neater job. If the hole saw jumps - you just ruined the surface of your work..
The router style plunges and you just spin around the center pin..
Simple and clean. cut any size hole you need.
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On my bartop i used 120x120 fan for the cabin and a 40x40 on Rasp (a bit big but at least stays cool :))
I driller holes and then used a electric saw to cut the square out.
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The router makes too much of a mess... that was my original plan and would like to, but it was too wet outside. Realized normal cabinets didn't come with fans, and just elected to drill 5 1.5" holes along the top of the cabinet. They provide more than some cabs appeared to have. If it proves insufficient, I will go back to the drawing board in the spring. Have enough on my plate trying to get this primed ATM... painting is the worst :banghead:
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I threw a few heater vent covers on the back of mine, and only had a back on the upper portion of the cabinet, mostly for stability. The bottom 2/3rds are open to the air, and I'm sure the only person that knows it is me since it's near a wall. I am not against a full back, but in my case it would have been another sheet of MDF.
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Draw a space invader on graph paper, tape it to your cabinet, use a nail punch to mark the holes, and then drill them out. That will give you plenty of venting and doesn't cost anything.
I like this idea, with whatever design...
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Attached a pic of what I'm talking about.
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Attached a pic of what I'm talking about.
Nice! That's a CNC job tho I reckon. Or buddy had some time :lol
I just put 5 holes in the back in a row that allow rising warm air to escape the cabinet. I am trying to keep it looking somewhat OG like the cabs its based off... I have a feeling its going to go through a few incarnations throughout its life. The Pi and the PSU both have fans that will push warm air up (and hopefully out).
Thanks for the tips tho. My next cab will have an active ventilation component added to it, but am gonna roll the dice here on some passive cooling.
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I know the thread is getting old but I wanted to say thanks for this -- especially the space-invaders idea. I am adding a back door to my cabinet and want to add a simple convection vent... that space invaders idea is simple and really cool looking... and I don't need to get into routing MDF in my family room. I might even get lucky enough to get marquee light leakage projecting an invader on the wall or ceiling.
It's a Defender-style cabinet and I'm thinking I'll replace the two oval vents (http://www.arcaderestoration.com/media/Graphics/defender/backdefender.gif) with a centered invader.
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If you are installing a vent and/or fan, why not cut a small piece of bug screen mesh to fit? Do it to all your cabs little openings, speakers too. This will keep most of the little bugs out of your cabs.
Cut it just a bit smaller than your vent/fan/speaker cover and mount it in behind (cut the mesh so that the cover screws go through it); or in the space invader cutout idea, put the mesh on the inside. The mesh is made of nylon mostly these days and is easy to cut with scissors.
I just used some mesh left-over from a door screening project, but you can buy it very cheaply by the metre at your hardware store. Use a light grey colour if possible (less obtrusive/obvious for most situations). I can't even see the mesh unless I look very carefully.
This really helps me as I am in a hot humid climate with lots of little bugs and also little lizards (geckos mostly, and larger too) that just love to go inside and lay eggs, sh!t, get electrocuted, and generally ruin my cabs.
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Attached a pic of what I'm talking about.
Nice! That's a CNC job tho I reckon.
Graph paper, nail punch, and a drill.
Draw the "invader" on the graph paper, use the nail punch to mark the holes, drill the nail punch marks.
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Attached a pic of what I'm talking about.
Nice! That's a CNC job tho I reckon.
Graph paper, nail punch, and a drill.
Draw the "invader" on the graph paper, use the nail punch to mark the holes, drill the nail punch marks.
On a bartop or with a huge press maybe, but I'm not drilling a 30x30 panel on no press. I need them holes perfect. Nothing worse than an invader on the outside and one that looks made from a burnt marshmallow inside haha.
Cool idea tho and I will likely use it somewhere.