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Main => Project Announcements => Topic started by: soslo on August 18, 2003, 01:41:01 pm

Title: First MAME Cabinet done - postmortem, and full build sheet with prices.
Post by: soslo on August 18, 2003, 01:41:01 pm: Well, after almost 3 weeks in the making, my first MAME cabinet is (99%) complete. It cost *way* more than I thought it would...about $800 in all.

Fortunately, my wife was a huge help. She did 95% of the painting, drilled many of the holes, and overall just helped with tons of stuff...not to mention always have food ready at the right times. I would forget to eat without her! And of course, for burning me the blue weezer CD on the last day so I could listen to some tunes in the garage as we wrapped the whole project up on Saturday.

This is my first attempt at a postmortme of any kind, so here goes. I hope you can find this info useful...especially for the first-time builders out there.

Things I did right
Title: Re:First MAME Cabinet done - postmortem, and full build sheet with prices.
Post by: soslo on August 18, 2003, 01:41:25 pm: Things I did wrong
Title: Re:First MAME Cabinet done - postmortem, and full build sheet with prices.
Post by: soslo on August 18, 2003, 01:42:06 pm: Itemized Part List
Code: [Select]
Paid Value Item Where 160 160 21" Dell Monitor (Trinitron Tube) ebay 102 102 2 joys, 30 buttons, misc Happ Controls 60 60 Polk 5.1 AMR130 Speaker System vanns.com 55 55 Radeon 7500 w/SVGA pricewatch.com 43 43 IPAC Keyboard Emulator Ultimarc 42 42 Monitor Cover - Arcrylic - Scratch res 1 side, 23x20.5 Tap Plastics 32 32 8 sheets of colored arcrylic for under kick panel Tap Plastics 30 30 Hole Saws (8 piece kit) Home Depot 22 22 350W Sparkle PS pricewatch.com 20 20 Misc Eletric Disconnects (100 pk female, piggyback, misc) OSH & Radio Shack 20 20 Flourescent Light - marquee OSH 17 17 Control Panel Acrylic - scratch resistant w/16 holes cut Tap Plastics 17 17 Contra Marquee - poor condition - bad purchase online 17 17 Wireless Mouse Fry's 12 12 5.1 Sound Card pricewatch.com 10 10 Misc Screws & Hardware OSH 10 10 Flourescent Light - under kick panel OSH 10 10 Plywood for CP and Computer shelf, and spkr mount Home Depot 10 10 15 ft black heavy duty power cord Home Depot 9 9 Marquee Cover Acrylic - 23 x 9 - front Tap Plastics 8 8 Marquee Cover Acrylic - 23 x 8 - back Tap Plastics 7 7 Power Strip Home depot 7 7 Soldering Gun Holster Fry's 5 5 Bushing for mounting Motherboard OSH 5 5 1 QT Int Latex Black Semi Gloss for cab Home Depot 5 5 New lock for Coin Door Home Depot 4 4 40' 18 AWG wire - misc colors OSH 4 4 20' Plastic strap for speaker mounting (looks like a belt OSH 4 4 Spray paint for plexi OSH 4 4 Super Glue - volume knob OSH 3 3 two pack 12v Lights for coin doors radio shack 3 3 cabinet power switch (15A & 120v) radio shack 3 3 2" by 4" by 8' - monitor mount OSH 3 3 Solder OSH 2 2 (2) speaker grills ($1 each) radio shack 2 2 1" by 2" x 8' - various mounts in cab OSH 1 1 Electrical Tape - 1 roll OSH 1 1 Bushing for volume knob extension OSH 0 25 Stern Super Chopper Cab - Stripped Local Guy 0 150 Duron 900 w/MB & 512 MB RAM & 40GB HD friend 0 2 Power Button for MB Already Had 0 5 PS Y-cable for powering 12v lights Already Had 0 7 Parallel cable for wiring Already Had 769 958 TOTAL

Conclusion
This was a fun project, and I am very happy with the outcome.

At $800, it was costly...moreso than I originally expected, but still well worth it.

I will post pictures when after I get them developed (I still have half a roll to take). I know I know...get a digital camera ;]

Thank you to all of you who have helped me - most of you don't even know, but your quality posts and the search function have enabled me to finish this project with fewer headaches than I expected.
Title: Re:First MAME Cabinet done - postmortem, and full build sheet with prices.
Post by: rampy on August 18, 2003, 02:42:39 pm: congrats!

Thanks for the postmortem... are you a project manager? =P (or a coroner?)

Please scan/opt for digital 2nd prints on your film soon so we can see the labor of your love.

Good job on itemeizing/tracking the costs, too! that'll be handy the next time we have a, " i can build a cabinet for 30 dollars" argument thread =P

Rampy
Title: Re:First MAME Cabinet done - postmortem, and full build sheet with prices.
Post by: Frostillicus on August 18, 2003, 03:35:57 pm: Quote from: rampy on August 18, 2003, 02:42:39 pm
Good job on itemeizing/tracking the costs, too! that'll be handy the next time we have a, " i can build a cabinet for 30 dollars" argument thread =P

I can build one for $15! Of course, it may not work and be only 12 inches tall....a "micro-cab" if you will ;)

Nice checklist - this could help the newbie builder. Looks like you made out with the CPU, too - gotta love free stuff!
Title: Re:First MAME Cabinet done - postmortem, and full build sheet with prices.
Post by: Apollo on August 18, 2003, 04:48:05 pm: Other things you did wrong, posted your project announcement to the main forum instead of ooo now where could that go?

Ah ha "Project Announcements".
Title: Re:First MAME Cabinet done - postmortem, and full build sheet with prices.
Post by: soslo on August 19, 2003, 10:23:55 pm: rampy - I'm not a project manager yet - I'm only 23! Soon though... ;)

Frostillicus - I've been to your site many times - kudos.

Apollo - Oops...sorry about that. I'm a newb and a llama.
Title: Re:First MAME Cabinet done - postmortem, and full build sheet with prices.
Post by: Wienerdog on August 19, 2003, 10:39:22 pm: Nice job, that wasn't too slow... I've spent months just throwing around ideas and accumulating parts. Thanks for the info, that kind of stuff is helpful to people just starting out, especially the costs. It is very easy to overlook the actual cost of this hobby.
Title: Re:First MAME Cabinet done - postmortem, and full build sheet with prices.
Post by: Justin on August 20, 2003, 08:41:24 pm: Thanks much for spending the time and posting this information for everyone else. I'm almost done with my cab, cna I can say I agree with everything you say here, and there's even a few items that will help me out in the final 'phase' of my project.
Title: Re:First MAME Cabinet done - postmortem, and full build sheet with prices.
Post by: AlanS17 on August 20, 2003, 10:32:55 pm: I feel your pain with the unexpected costs. I nickeled and dimed my way up over $800 too. When I first thought I was done I hade spent about $350 or $400, but I wasn't satisfied, the thing got bigger, and costs are so far over (imaginary) budget that I don't even worry about prices anymore.