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Main => Project Announcements => Topic started by: upper2bits on July 25, 2011, 08:05:20 pm

Title: MiniCade² -- First cab looking for opinions & advice.
Post by: upper2bits on July 25, 2011, 08:05:20 pm
Took me about 5 hours to create these plans.  What am I missing?  :dunno   I'm going to use an old thinkpad x41 laptop and a dell 19" lcd monitor.
Title: Re: MiniCade² -- First cab looking for opinions & advice.
Post by: IG-88 on July 25, 2011, 09:01:55 pm
I believe one of your measurements has the wrong numbers on it (second pic) but other than that it looks great! 

Are you going with a lighted marquee?

I just go me a HP 510 laptop yesterday with a jacked up screen for a very similar project. Are you taking off your laptop screen? I can't decide if its worth it to take mine off or just leave it.
Title: Re: MiniCade² -- First cab looking for opinions & advice.
Post by: upper2bits on July 25, 2011, 09:26:49 pm
I believe one of your measurements has the wrong numbers on it (second pic) but other than that it looks great! 

Ah, thanks, Sketchup is weird when you make changes to the original and then pass it off to layout.  Fixed! :-)

Are you going with a lighted marquee?

The front panel marquee is wood right now but I've set it up so plexi can be put in it's place if I want to.  I don't want to add too many features for my first build.

I just go me a HP 510 laptop yesterday with a jacked up screen for a very similar project. Are you taking off your laptop screen? I can't decide if its worth it to take mine off or just leave it.

I have another 19" lcd I'm using for the screen so I'm using the LCD in place on the laptop.  The only thing I've yet to figure out is how to do the power button on the laptop.

Title: Re: MiniCade² -- First cab looking for opinions & advice.
Post by: Nephasth on July 25, 2011, 09:32:11 pm
I don't want to add too many features for my first build.

If you're gunna go, go all out.
Title: Re: MiniCade² -- First cab looking for opinions & advice.
Post by: upper2bits on July 26, 2011, 11:26:46 am
OKay, I can get a marquee for around $25 which is much better than I expected so I'm changing my layout to include it.   :applaud:
Title: Re: MiniCade² -- First cab looking for opinions & advice.
Post by: BobA on July 26, 2011, 01:31:50 pm
If you shorten your bottom piece you can make the front a bit taller to overhang it so you do not see the bottom edge.  Same on the back.  That short back piece can overhang the bottom and also hide the edge.  Gives a more finished look.
Title: Re: MiniCade² -- First cab looking for opinions & advice.
Post by: upper2bits on July 26, 2011, 08:43:57 pm
I've been playing with the idea of making it two person instead.  Does this look odd?

My plan is to make the control board separate so I can easily move it around.
Title: Re: MiniCade² -- First cab looking for opinions & advice.
Post by: mgb on July 26, 2011, 11:02:10 pm
I like the 2 player design. looks good
Title: Re: MiniCade² -- First cab looking for opinions & advice.
Post by: upper2bits on July 27, 2011, 08:21:14 am
This is what I'm thinking for attaching the control panel. I'm not sure if it will be secure enough, I might need to add something at the top as well.  Thoughts?

edit: Obviously the control panel will have notches that accept those pieces sticking out. ;-)

Title: Re: MiniCade² -- First cab looking for opinions & advice.
Post by: BobA on July 27, 2011, 08:51:31 am
I think it would be more stable with a control panel latch and catch mounted on each side.  Of course this requires your CP to pivot up to access the latches.

Title: Re: MiniCade² -- First cab looking for opinions & advice.
Post by: upper2bits on July 27, 2011, 09:15:45 am
I think it would be more stable with a control panel latch and catch mounted on each side.  Of course this requires your CP to pivot up to access the latches.



Yeah, I'm worried about it looking cheap with latches on the sides. I was trying to hide it if possible.
Title: Re: MiniCade² -- First cab looking for opinions & advice.
Post by: Yvan256 on July 27, 2011, 09:21:01 am
Yeah, I'm worried about it looking cheap with latches on the sides. I was trying to hide it if possible.

Put the latches inside, like a real arcade cabinet. Then simply drill holes big enough underneath to allow you to reach those latches.

Title: Re: MiniCade² -- First cab looking for opinions & advice.
Post by: upper2bits on July 27, 2011, 10:39:09 am
I guess I'll play with how to attach it after I have the sections built.  There is one small angle I have to deal with where the control panel lines up with the cabinet but I can probably router that out.  Here is a shot with them in sections.