Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Project Announcements => Topic started by: mann0mann on September 19, 2013, 02:50:25 am
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I know this is not the normal project here on BYOAC, but I recently became interested in building my own cabinets and have been lurking everywhere - BYOAC is where I've gotten the most help and the forum I enjoy the most.
So I apologize if this isn't everyone's cup of tea and if needs to be moved/deleted I understand. I just am happy to be done with this project and wanted to share.
(https://scontent-a-pao.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/1233317_10151973534049892_1522118678_n.jpg)
I recently joined this forum after going to an arcade with my daughter and having her fall in love with Mrs. Pac-Man. I saw a project similar to this on Farsight's The Pinball Arcade forum. If you're not familiar with it, it's a pretty nice Pinball App the emulates real cabinets and most importantly supports the iCade from ION, which is a essentially arcade controls through a keyboard map via bluetooth on the iPad.
So the sides have a Left & Right - Flipper, Table Nudge and "Special" (a few tables have a special button feature)
The font Chrome Buttons are - Blue is Enter/Game Start and Red is Down Joystick & Ball Launch
The smaller control panel buttons are mapped L to R as - Pause/Exit, Left Joystick, Right Joystick, Up Joystick
I wanted to start on a small project before I built a real cabinet and I thought this would be something easy to take on and small enough to not overwhelm me (boy was I mistaken...I really have a whole new and different respect for the craftsmanship and builds that go on here).
So I obviously started with an Ion Icade which I gutted. I ordered UltimateArc Goldleaf pushputtons for the Flippers, Nudge and Special puttons on the side. I went with 5/8" MDF to keep the weight down. But since I wasn't using any furring strips it really made the assembly go much slower, pre-drilling and measuring every screw hole in advance.
(https://scontent-b-pao.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/954691_10151973538049892_697189594_n.jpg)
(https://scontent-b-pao.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/1010872_10151973538069892_1208108257_n.jpg)
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All my screws were covered over. I didn't want anything showing.
(https://scontent-a-pao.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/1239728_10151973539399892_1552826912_n.jpg)
I struggled a little with how to finish. I decided on a Rustoleum Hammered Finish in Black. To me it was better than just gloss black and I felt like it resembled what I thought a pinball cabinet looked like.
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/577904_10151973540579892_1610061011_n.jpg)
I also figured the "texture" would help me hide any poor woodworking skills I had. I did BTW Primer and seal everything up with Zinnser Binz (sp?)
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I wanted to use a real lockdown bar from a pinball cabinet, but I just could not justify spending that much to cut one up and possible robbing some dude's restoration over this. LOL.
So I went with Aluminum "L" channel. I chose an offest 1/2" by 1/4" on the sides and then the front was a 1" that I cut down to match the 1/4" in the front. I sanded all the aluminum and did my best to give it a brushed finish, I also softened and rounded all the corners so there is no sharp edge when your hand rests.
(https://scontent-b-pao.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/1233577_10151973531604892_127293274_n.jpg)
I ended up running into my first big problem with the control panel buttons on the front. I wanted them to look like a coindoor and chose all rectangle buttons, well I only got 2 of the 4 I ordered and then I discovered they weren't going to clear the plywood and be deep enough! Doh.
So I decided to make a plastic faceplate to attach them to and then attach that to the front of the cabinet.
(https://scontent-a-pao.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/73384_10151973531559892_1547495790_n.jpg)
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Quick mock up of the ipad sitting in the cabinet.
So what I did is go to my local Tap Plastics and I got 1/8" thick polycarbonate in black cut to fit the inside of the cabinet and it rests as a shelf for the ipad. I used 3/4" foam weatherstripping to "frame" the ipad in the cabinet. So when you set it on the shelf it can't shift in any direction.
(https://scontent-a-pao.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/1235405_10151973539394892_2102592275_n.jpg)
I wanted to get the same piece of polycarbonate made for the top cover over the ipad...but Tap wanted $30 to router the center out and they were scheduling 3 weeks out to even have it done. I don't have a router myself, and I didn't think I was capable of doing it on my own and having it look even remotely clean.
As a backup, I went to a frame store in town and had them cut me out a piece semi-glosse matte board just like a picture frame. I got the thickest they had and got it with a black core center so the when the bevel cut it, you still saw black. It's not what I wanted and I'm not sure how much it will hold up, since this piece does slide up and down to access the ipad. But it was $5 and took the guy 5 minutes.
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I got going along here and forgot to take alot of pictures. Sorry.
Here's a backshot of and some of the controls, the board in the center is the icade control board. I added a Power Switch to the unit which I think is needed. The iCade is seen by the iPad as a keyboard...so when it's connected you can't use the virtual keyboard. With the switch I can power off, type if needed and then switch it back on.
(https://scontent-a-pao.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/1237162_10151973536214892_914654678_n.jpg)
I still need to add a back panel to my marquee. I own a hobbystore and am just going to order some black styrene and attach it to the back.
(https://scontent-b-pao.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/1236097_10151973536619892_117797887_n.jpg)
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and here she is finished up as much as I could tonight -
(https://scontent-b-pao.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/547767_10151973538684892_1505245206_n.jpg)
(https://scontent-a-pao.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/1233317_10151973534049892_1522118678_n.jpg)
(https://scontent-a-pao.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/1236904_10151973536624892_1588043180_n.jpg)
I had my wife take it for a spin tonight to see what she thought. she's about as good at pinball as I am, she kept saying it was the game, not the gamer. LOL. Never thought I'd hear my wife use the term "gamer".
(https://scontent-a-pao.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/1001438_10151973534059892_1328029142_n.jpg)
(https://scontent-a-pao.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/554606_10151973531574892_943377197_n.jpg)
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So I apologize if this isn't everyone's cup of tea and if needs to be moved/deleted I understand. I just am happy to be done with this project and wanted to share.
No need to apologize. I think its a cool project that turned out great! Thanks for sharing.
How much does it actually weigh?
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Thanks. :)
About 8 lbs.
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About 8 lbs.
So about 3.6 kg (I really wish we would just all use the Metric system ;D)
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I like it, looks great. I especially like the brushed effect you got on the aluminium. Nice one!
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That looks great. I'm going to build one of these myself this winter. The aluminum lock-down bar is a great touch. :cheers:
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Thanks guys! I appreciate it. Looking forward to the next build. I thought something this small would have been an easy project, I have a whole new appreciation for the builds here. You can really underestimate the amount of work that goes into eveyrthing at first. This is a very impressive community! :applaud: