Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Project Announcements => Topic started by: loz1962 on February 14, 2012, 08:28:04 am
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Well as the weather here in UK is to cold, I've decided to build a ARCADE MACHINE BAR TOP MACHINE MAME. (http://)
Got the panels last week but no instructions, so flying blind on the build. Buttons & joysticks were purchased 8 months ago, PC was donated by brother in law and software was found and purchased 6 months ago. Not gonna start my new Jukebox till summer when I can work in the gardenhttp://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=117288.0 (ftp://http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=117288.0). Any Advice?
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Bartops are a lot of fun but are also super visible on pretty much all sides. Make sure you have a cool hand when constructing and measure multiple times. If it doesn't look good don't feel discouraged, just do it again. Practice makes perfect.
I'm a huge fan of 2 players on a bartop. I'm actually in the middle of updating my bartop to two players so good choice there.
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Open the box Yesterday and sterted marking out cutting supports.
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more piccies
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Final pic's for today screwing & glueing tonight, (not as much fun as it sounds) Pic of tool box (must buy new 1 soon)
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Did you buy that as a kit? Just curious because the kit looks pretty suspect. I mean it looks like it arrived in a round box with a bunch of tape... The side panels were not pre drilled or anything... did they even cut the slots for the t-molding? Did they cut you some speaker holes atleast? If it was a kit who did you get it from and how much $ did you pay if you dont mind letting us know?
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Hi Unstupid. Thanks for the inquiry It was purchased from someone on EBAY as a kit, but he did state that the holes hadn't been cut/drilled. I did buy it to save me having to cut the MDF myself, so I could concentrate on the build. The big thing for me will be the MAME, Wiring , & controls, having never done any Arcade stuff before. The PC side I've tackled in the Jukebox I built ( http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=117288.0 (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=117288.0) ) http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=117288.0 (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=117288.0) and holds no worries there. The cost was £25 or $30 so not too bad, saving me loads of time & labor. More pictures soon as I dry fitted some parts last night & need to modify the back board & drill vents.
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Well since you only paid £25 then I guess it's a pretty good deal.... Not having MDF dust all over your garage it worth the £25 right there! :) Good luck on the build...
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Thanks, I thought that It was worth that, just so I didn't have to cut all the pieces. More pictures
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I have lost all my button & joysticks, my missus has "tidied up" and put them somewhere safe.
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What are you doing for t-molding?
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I have lost all my button & joysticks, my missus has "tidied up" and put them somewhere safe.
I know that feeling, I still cannot find the new chisels and clamps I recently purchased. I know the wife has put them somewhere but as to where :dunno
Useless tip for the day. "You will find them in the last place you look for them". (Unless of course you just stumble over them by accident).
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I've put my own parts or tools away so I can find them and then I have forgotten where I put them. The odd time I have not found them at all until after they were replaced with new bits. :banghead: :banghead:
Now I try to label each box with some indication of what is in them.
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T-Molding is so far off for me, once I've completed the build so that it all works I will then be on to the finishing. Not sure the benefits of t-molding out way the effort to install it, as this is for personal use I'm gonna use MDF sealer, then spray paint a white base coats rubbing down in between. I haven't even thought about the Graphics for the sides.
I think I've got 5 hours of opening every box in the spare room , then another 3 hours in the Attic(loft), If they don't turn up, then I'm on buying some more joysticks & buttons :-\
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T-Molding is so far off for me, once I've completed the build so that it all works I will then be on to the finishing. Not sure the benefits of t-molding out way the effort to install it, as this is for personal use I'm gonna use MDF sealer, then spray paint a white base coats rubbing down in between. I haven't even thought about the Graphics for the sides.
I think I've got 5 hours of opening every box in the spare room , then another 3 hours in the Attic(loft), If they don't turn up, then I'm on buying some more joysticks & buttons :-\
I think people get worried with T-Molding because they think it's a boat load of work, but that couldn't be further from the truth. If you own a router, you're already 85% to being completed with T-Molding. Buy the bit/arbor, buy the t-molding. Take a scrap piece of wood and test the depth until you get it right. DO NOT BLIND CUT your finished product. Lots of people do this and they wind up missing the mark and having to Bondo and redo.
In the end, you'll be super happy you T-Molded. If you don't have a router, buy one. Best damn wood working tool you can own but also one of the most dangerous. Be super thorough and smart when using one.
You've got time for the graphics but keep them on the forefront of your mind as it takes time to print them.
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I'm not worried about T- molding, Just don't have a router, so never thought of this step.
Good news I've found my Buttons & 2 joysticks (under everything else of course), But then had to look at the build on the front section as I want to install a button each side for pinball, and the frame is too big where I want the buttons to go. Luckily nothing glued yet, so modification to frame will be easy but will have a hole to fill on the outside.
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Can I get 12mm (1/2") T-molding ? ???
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Yes... But I've only seen it in black and white... Tmolding.com is a good place to start
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What button layout to use? or what is the standard button color layout?
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Make all of player 1's buttons one color* and all of player 2's buttons another color*...
*don't use pink buttons :D
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+1 on the button colors.
I personally prefer all the same color (1 & 2 player). Or go with a less "gaypride" color scheme :laugh:
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I designed this cabinet:
http://www.koenigs.dk/mame/eng/drawweecade.htm (http://www.koenigs.dk/mame/eng/drawweecade.htm)
More and more of these "kits" are showing up on ebay for sale. I have nothing to do with it.
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It's not one of your cabinets, Your designs are much better. this cabinet has 6 buttons per player, but no player 1 or 2 buttons. Just shows you get what you pay for. Thanks for looking
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It is his cabinet.... It's the typical weecade design... Every other "bartop" on this site is based on this general design. weecade clones are all the rage nowadays and now people are trying to profit off of lokesen's design by repackaging it and selling it... You bought a weecade clone! :D
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as I said His design is much better than the CLONE that I got, If I had known in the beginning I would have got the original version, but I'm stuck with a inferior product and just trying the best I can with it. :badmood:
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Got some more done Saturday afternoon (see picture) Installed a bigger screen that I had found being scrapped, works okay for now. Trouble was I had design everything around a 15" monitor, so all the supports were wrong, Had to modify internally alot, and removed the plastic surround on monitor to get the 20" screen in in the cabinet. I hope that its worth it.
On another note The McLaren team delivered Jenson Buttons formula 1 racing car to my work today for a show as we sponsor the team. (see other picture)
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On another note The McLaren team delivered Jenson Buttons formula 1 racing car to my work today for a show as we sponsor the team. (see other picture)
You should take it out for a spin! :D
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Bah Humbug! The 20" monitor that was working when tested, now will only work for 15 minutes before switching off/screen goes blank. so close to actually playing a game , now gotta remake the monitor supports for old 15" screen. :angry: and Easter weekend My missus wants the conservatory back to have her family over for a Sunday dinner........ gotta clear all away so little ones cant get to the parts.
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le' old caps and stuff going on?
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Looking great Loz..
Loving the pic of Buttons car, there so much bigger in real life arn`t they...
Keep the Pics coming!
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Haven't done any more to the mini arcade, due to working for a living. But have fitted a new touch screen into my jukebox. (see before & after pictures)
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Ok more pictures fo the build with the basic paint work done.Side and trim to be designed next
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More Pics
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Final Button colors, just side art to do.
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Nice Job. My Bro also got one of those kits and has been having a hard time in resolving issues with fitting a larger monitor in there.
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Thanks, It's been a challenge. The black paint work isn't black it's granite styled paint.
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Hi There,, Side art has been done, unfortunately I had to use photo copies & stickers to finish off. Varnished over the top to hold in place, not sure about it now ?
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Not a bad looking unit! I like the choices for button colors, very nice. Also, the stickers surrounding the side buttons really add that pop. Good work!
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Thanks