The NEW Build Your Own Arcade Controls
Main => Project Announcements => Topic started by: Minwah on May 16, 2013, 10:01:20 am
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I've been planning this for several months, and at times the weather in the UK is almost good enough to actually do something outside, so I'm thinking about getting on with it at last...
Basically a mini-cabaret mainly inspired by the Atari woodgrain cabarets of the early 80's. It will have a vertical screen (de-cased Scart 14" CRT TV), driven by Soft15khz from an old P4 PC I have.
I'm not 100% sure about the ergonomics but it's intended to be played sat on a 'normal' chair, so it's pretty low. Dimensions are 376mm (W) x 1040mm (H) x 635mm (D). The height figure doesn't include the base, which I will need to try out to find the best height.
The model is not completely accurate but good enough. Most of the panels will be laminated black, with the side panels of course being woodgrain laminate.
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Looks good to me. I hear what your saying about the weather. :badmood:
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That's a cool looking cabinet. :cheers:
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Cool idea there!
One thing draw My attention, the spinner is hard to reach comfortable perhaps?
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Very nice looking design.
I'm also using a 14" crt tv in Popeye build that I working on right now.
So it's gonna be a big beast :cheers:
Looking forward to your w.i.p.
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The trackball and spinner look like they're way too close together.
What size/style of trackball are you planning on using for this?
Scott
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One thing draw My attention, the spinner is hard to reach comfortable perhaps?
The trackball and spinner look like they're way too close together.
I hear you, and would usually agree. However with such a small control panel (340mm x 140mm) they cannot be any further apart (the only space below the panel is around the buttons). Obviously I could get rid of the trackball and/or spinner (originally I was just going to have the spinner), but there are just a few games I would like the trackball & spinner for...and I'm not going to try to play Golden Tee or anything like that.
What size/style of trackball are you planning on using for this?
This one:
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,118979.0.html (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,118979.0.html)
Honestly I don't know if the controls will work ok or not until I try it - if it's no good I will make a sacrifice.
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I'm also using a 14" crt tv in Popeye build that I working on right now.
So it's gonna be a big beast :cheers:
Love it - extra kudos for using a CRT! Look forward to seeing that finished.
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Awesome project!
Been looking for something similar in my area for a long time now.
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I've slowly been making progress, all the rectangular panels cut, and one of the side panels (not quite finished).
With the exception of one panel which is a few mm too big, I seem to have cut everything correct...
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Finished cutting the panels and t-molding slots. Dowel joints next...
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Dowel jointed the front/base/rear bottom, and top/rear top panels together (not glued yet).
Cut the marquee, coin mech & screen cutouts. Also drilled a hole for the power button on the top panel.
Need to do a few minor woodworking jobs and start laminating panels. Getting a trifle annoyed with the weather - every time I get my work bench & tools out it starts raining.
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Had a week off work and the weather has been scorching for a change, so got quite a lot done...
Top panel laminated both sides, glass groove cut, and dowelled to monitor support panel:
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Assembling:
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Assembled...sides need to be laminated:
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Laminated side:
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Done!
I've put the PC in, just need to finish the mains, speaker and power button wiring.
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(Plus of course marquee, control panel, glass and bezel. I've put the t-molding on).
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Absolutely love it. I'd love to make a horizontal version.
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Thanks 404!
It lives!
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The guts:
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Love this cab! :applaud:
Building a vertical cab is the only way to play the classics
Always good to see CRT and loving that laminate. Can I ask where you got it?
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Always good to see CRT and loving that laminate. Can I ask where you got it?
Thanks!
Sure, I used Formica Jet Black (F6468 Shell) and Sombre Walnut (F5147). Got it from here (Swindon branch):
http://www.idsurfaces.co.uk (http://www.idsurfaces.co.uk)
Very expensive (especially the woodgrain) but it does give a great professional looking tough finish.
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Thanks for that
I'll ping them a mail and get some (probably extortionate) costings but I don't really see anywhere that sells it for a sensible amount in the sunny UK.
That woodgrain takes it to another level though!
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I'll ping them a mail and get some (probably extortionate) costings but I don't really see anywhere that sells it for a sensible amount in the sunny UK.
I'll tell you that I paid £29 + VAT (not bad) for the black sheet, £69.20 + VAT (gasp) for the woodgrain sheet. Sheets being 3050x1220mm (11x5 feet ish). Other places I contacted were more expensive.
You may want to ring one of the IDS branches instead of via web - I didn't get a reply via web but they were very good on the phone.
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With the machine built I've been able to plan the control panel a bit more practically...I think envisaged joystick/spinner/trackball positioning were too close the the sides to be comfortable, so I've lost the spinner/trackball and moved everything in a bit.
Tad gutted as I wanted to play Tempest & Tac/Scan but this should be quite comfortable to use. Just waiting for a ServoStik to arrive before I can get on...it's going to be quite a squeeze fitting that on too, there's not a lot of depth to play with as the glass is supported underneath the control panel.
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:applaud:
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Ive got to say that's one pretty sweet looking Cab my friend. :applaud: :applaud:
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Thanks chaps :)
Made some more progress...got some bronze toughened glass, and made a card bezel. I've also made the control panel and got it working, so had a few games at last ;D Have taken this apart again now though to paint, and get artwork printed...
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Control panel artwork just about finished (it has excess on right/bottom edges for printing):
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This is a really cool project! Love the progress so far. :applaud:
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Thanks opt!
Made a marquee tonight. Its just a bit of perspex with a sticker on the front. I spray painted the back black around the edges as the sticker doesn't quite fill the perspex.
I was planning to do something better at some point, but it actually looks pretty good!
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Did a few boring PC related things:
Replaced some bad capacitors on the motherboard.
Added a fan to the fanless CPU heatsink.
Replaced the standard noisy fan with a quieter one and lowered the speed (fan came with a voltage lowering cable).
Added some ducting to guide hot air from PSU / fan to cabinet vents.
Reinstalled XP from an nLite install, did registry tweaks etc.
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Did a few boring PC related things:
Replaced some bad capacitors on the motherboard.
Added a fan to the fanless CPU heatsink.
Replaced the standard noisy fan with a quieter one and lowered the speed (fan came with a voltage lowering cable).
Added some ducting to guide hot air from PSU / fan to cabinet vents.
Reinstalled XP from an nLite install, did registry tweaks etc.
Let me guess. Dell or HP? :P
I'm the same way to be honest. I don't let a few measly caps get in my way in salvaging pc stuff. At least someone else down the line may find a use for it if i don't. Good job there. :)
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Let me guess. Dell or HP? :P
Hah yes it is a Dell! I'd made my mind up to use it before I noticed the bad caps. It's ideal really, AGP slot which I need, and powerful enough (P4).
But yeah, no big deal, I hate throwing things away!
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Dell gx270's Bless em and their cap issue. Lost count of the number of those I've swapped out in the past 5 Years, :laugh2: :laugh2:
The woodgrain laminate makes this look like a true classic :applaud: :applaud:
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great cab,you don't hang about mate just get it done ,big up the UK :applaud:
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great cab,you don't hang about mate just get it done ,big up the UK :applaud:
Thanks! Well my last cabinet took me 8 years to finish so I wanted to get my arse into gear for this one! Plus I was very lucky that I booked a week off which turned out to be scorching weather so I was able to get a lot done. Back to crap weather now of course though...
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Just received my control panel overlay (ended up getting it done at Game on Grafix), and it looks great. This just about finishes things off ;D
For controls I have used:
Servo-Stik (with longer shaft, and Seimitsu dust washer)
GGG ClassX True-Leaf Pro buttons
Atari start buttons with repro cones
Cheap (£5) SNES-style USB joypad hack
Gave it a good play test on Saturday night and am very happy with it. I hadn't used a Servo-Stik before and so far it is proving to be great. Likewise the True-Leaf buttons, I love them so far, great for rapid fire games.
Will try to take some decent photos of the finished article at some point.
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Looking sharp! :applaud:
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Looks great...
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Sweet. Can we see more of the Control Panel from the underside. Beautiful build my friend. :notworthy:
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Thanks chaps!
Sweet. Can we see more of the Control Panel from the underside.
Yes, I meant to take some pics but I was eager to put the panel on and forgot. I will be sure to take some...
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Sweet. Can we see more of the Control Panel from the underside.
Sorry for the bad lighting (it's usually dark when I work on this).
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Very nice build! I really enjoy minis. My pinball cab is more of a 3/4 size cab, but I think it would be cool to have an entire mini arcade. A verticle/shmup cab, a showcase/fighter cab, my pinball cab, and a smaller-than-usual cockpit racer.
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Thanks chaps :)
Made some more progress...got some bronze toughened glass, and made a card bezel. I've also made the control panel and got it working, so had a few games at last ;D Have taken this apart again now though to paint, and get artwork printed...
Card bezel? Where'd you get that? That looks amazing!
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Sweet. Can we see more of the Control Panel from the underside.
Sorry for the bad lighting (it's usually dark when I work on this).
Your cab is looking great! Really authentic!
How's that ServoStik? Does it autoswitch when you change games? I've been thinking of getting a couple of those. They are so cool!
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Card bezel? Where'd you get that? That looks amazing!
I made that. Not easy but if you can make a good template of the screen curves then you are half way there!
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Your cab is looking great! Really authentic!
How's that ServoStik? Does it autoswitch when you change games? I've been thinking of getting a couple of those. They are so cool!
Thanks! The ServoStik is great, and yes you can configure it to auto switch when you load a game. Love it so far, it makes a huge difference not having to worry about what mode you should be in, and taking the control panel off (or gaining access through the front if you have a door).
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Card bezel? Where'd you get that? That looks amazing!
I made that. Not easy but if you can make a good template of the screen curves then you are half way there!
But what kind of card material did you use?
I haven't seen anything like that. It looks so good!
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But what kind of card material did you use?
I haven't seen anything like that. It looks so good!
I'm not sure if it has a name, it is just plain black card from a local arts and crafts shop, it comes in either A2 or A1 size, I can't remember which. I'm sure it probably has a GSM rating but I'm afraid I don't know it for this card.
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We have a couple of stores like that here too. Will check it out. Thanks!
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I really like this design. The CP artwork is fantastic too. :cheers:
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yes very nice design
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Will try to take some decent photos of the finished article at some point.
Got any more to post? ;D
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Got any more to post? ;D
Not yet sorry, hopefully over the weekend!
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Still not brilliant pics, bad camera and bad light, but this is the best I can do...
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Few more:
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:applaud:
I love it.
Very classy looking cabaret you got there. :)
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Very classy! :cheers:
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Sweet! Thanks for the pics.
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Nice!
Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk 2
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Love it! Any thoughts on some sexy side art?
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Love it! Any thoughts on some sexy side art?
Sideart? Naaa...
I much prefer it as it is with the wood grain. Any sideart would ruin the effect.
Looks great - its wider than I though though!
Nice cab...
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I much prefer it as it is with the wood grain. Any sideart would ruin the effect.
That's like ... your opinion, man.
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Your cabinet is just perfect!
I simply love those Atari like woody cabaret cabinets... Definitely my arcade cab will be based in your design and on the rockyrocket's cabinet design
(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,123455.0/all.html (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,123455.0/all.html))
:applaud: :applaud: :applaud:
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I much prefer it as it is with the wood grain. Any sideart would ruin the effect.
That's like ... your opinion, man.
I'm kind of in between...I've seen some of the Atari cabarets with the optional sideart which I quite like, Asteroids Deluxe for example. But that said I think even that one would look better with artwork on a white side panel.
So each to their own, but there will be no side art on mine!
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Looks great - its wider than I though though!
Do you mean deeper? It is pretty deep, a bit too deep for the other proportions of the cabinet really. There wasn't much I could do about this, most of the depth is due to the CRT. I was going to have the screen 'flatter' (ala Asteroids cabaret) which would have reduced the depth, but I don't think it would have been comfortable to play being so low.
In hindsight I could have chosen a different side panel shape which although would have been just as deep at it's deepest point, could have made it appear slightly shallower. ie something more like the Tempest cabaret shape. That said I wanted that 'enclosed' feeling around the control panel and monitor though, and I'm happy how it turned out :)
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I much prefer it as it is with the wood grain. Any sideart would ruin the effect.
That's like ... your opinion, man.
I'm kind of in between...I've seen some of the Atari cabarets with the optional sideart which I quite like, Asteroids Deluxe for example. But that said I think even that one would look better with artwork on a white side panel.
So each to their own, but there will be no side art on mine!
Good choice :))
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Looks great - its wider than I though though!
Do you mean deeper? It is pretty deep, a bit too deep for the other proportions of the cabinet really. There wasn't much I could do about this, most of the depth is due to the CRT. I was going to have the screen 'flatter' (ala Asteroids cabaret) which would have reduced the depth, but I don't think it would have been comfortable to play being so low.
In hindsight I could have chosen a different side panel shape which although would have been just as deep at it's deepest point, could have made it appear slightly shallower. ie something more like the Tempest cabaret shape. That said I wanted that 'enclosed' feeling around the control panel and monitor though, and I'm happy how it turned out :)
Yea, sorry I mean deeper.
I kind of like that though. I was wondering if the monitor had something to do with that.
One thing I was going to ask.
I have one of those coin mechs, and I'm now regretting it a little for a couple of reasons.
There is no 'coin door' and cutting one out of the front panel would be a pain to get right. Therefore the only real way to get at the bucket would be through the back which is not a very practical solution.
I suspect like yours, I would not be using the coin mech other than for authenticity, but it is authentically wrong!
I'm not sure if I should scrap it and buy a door, or just stick it on then and try to live with it...
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I have one of those coin mechs, and I'm now regretting it a little for a couple of reasons.
There is no 'coin door' and cutting one out of the front panel would be a pain to get right. Therefore the only real way to get at the bucket would be through the back which is not a very practical solution.
I suspect like yours, I would not be using the coin mech other than for authenticity, but it is authentically wrong!
I'm not sure if I should scrap it and buy a door, or just stick it on then and try to live with it...
I know what you mean. For a full size machine I would personally put the mech on a single coin door. I didn't want to do that on mine as a standard door would not be in proportion with the cabinet.
So I either have to get to the coin bin from the back door, or by taking the control panel off - both a bit of a pain, but I can live with that. However I've been saving 10p's for ages so have got loads of them...AND for desperate times I added a credit switch to the coin reject button:
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So how did you hook it up? I have a couple of cheap ones (no door) and they need power to operate. I got a 5V-relay (it's 5v output) to trigger each time it gets a coin, but it's a bit of a hassle to get it working...
A friend of mine has one that accepts 4 different coins, but the problem was that the output was very low, which meant a lot of work just to get it to send signals.
What we did there was use the count-output, so we set it to only accept a token, and then used it to activate a relay, which again activates a button push.
Is it the same hassle with this one?
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So how did you hook it up? I have a couple of cheap ones (no door) and they need power to operate. I got a 5V-relay (it's 5v output) to trigger each time it gets a coin, but it's a bit of a hassle to get it working...
A friend of mine has one that accepts 4 different coins, but the problem was that the output was very low, which meant a lot of work just to get it to send signals.
What we did there was use the count-output, so we set it to only accept a token, and then used it to activate a relay, which again activates a button push.
Is it the same hassle with this one?
This is a single coin acceptor. Mine takes 20p's and no powe is required, just a switch.
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Been enjoying playing on this, but the darn thing has developed a PC hardware fault (BSOD).
I've ruled out RAM, going to check video / sound cards next...hope its not the motherboard.
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Always happens with these things, always good to engineer easy access to the guts so that they can be easily replaced.
if its not connected to the net, i'm guessing its a peripheral issue, start unplugging any additional periphs excluding mouse and keyboard and rebooting see if that help narrowing down the problem.
Awesome build, hope you find your issue.
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Always happens with these things, always good to engineer easy access to the guts so that they can be easily replaced.
In my previous Mame machine, I put all of the PC components on a board, easily removable via front door on the cabinet...but I have never had to take the PC out! For this one I only have access via back door, which is not the end of the world but a bit more hassle.
if its not connected to the net, i'm guessing its a peripheral issue, start unplugging any additional periphs excluding mouse and keyboard and rebooting see if that help narrowing down the problem.
Not connected to net. I don't have a mouse/keyboard connected. The only 'optional' things plugged in are the gamepad (hack) and ServoStik controller board. I am 99% sure it is a PC hardware issue as the setup has not changed, and has been working fine for some time now.
It's a bit of a pain to reproduce...it *usually* crashes within about 10 minutes of Gyruss. But occasionally works fine all night.
Awesome build, hope you find your issue.
Many thanks, I'm sure I will work it out eventually!
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Did you ever get your BSOD issue figured out?
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Did you ever get your BSOD issue figured out?
Sorry for extremely slow response. It was as I feared, the motherboard (or CPU I suppose). I had a few others laying around (given to me by people, otherwise destined for the tip) so I was able to put one of those in. It was slightly annoying in that the original mobo had an AGP graphics card slot and the others I had all had PCIe. I luckily also had some PCIe graphics cards, but after some trial and error I worked out that I needed an EDID dongle for the Soft15khz custom modes to work properly. Anyway, all up and running again :D
The only other thing to report, is that having been playing a lot of Donkey Kong, I have found the ServoStik with long shaft to have more throw (at the top) than I would like. So I recently put the standard short shaft and a smaller (30mm) ball top on. Took a bit of getting used to but definitely prefer it.