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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: j1345 on April 05, 2015, 11:03:34 am

Title: best way to mount laptop to cabnet?
Post by: j1345 on April 05, 2015, 11:03:34 am

Was thinking about buying the Raspberry Pi 2 and trashing my laptop...

But is there an easy (newbie easy) way to hook up my old laptop to my cabinet.  Get rid of the LCD connected to it and make it self booting into mame?  (much like how the Raspberry Pi 2 would do?)

Right now i'm booting it up launching mame, putting it back into the cabinet and then playing   

Thanks

Title: Re: best way to mount laptop to cabnet?
Post by: Slippyblade on April 05, 2015, 12:47:51 pm

I stripped the laptop down to the bare board and just used PCB mounting feet.  Wires soldered to the power switch and then attached to an arcade button on the side of the cab.

Title: Re: best way to mount laptop to cabnet?
Post by: thomas_surles on April 05, 2015, 02:02:33 pm

I just took the screen of mine (was broke anyway) and it just sits on a shelf inside. I haven't got around to wiring up the power button yet so I have to open up the door and hit the power button to turn it on.

Title: Re: best way to mount laptop to cabnet?
Post by: ark_ader on April 06, 2015, 02:46:00 am

Keep the laptop in plastics.  Get some Pipe Strapping and make a harness, then screw it into your cab.

You can mount it basically anywhere.

Title: Re: best way to mount laptop to cabnet?
Post by: j1345 on April 06, 2015, 08:35:38 am

Quote from: ark_ader on April 06, 2015, 02:46:00 am

Keep the laptop in plastics.  Get some Pipe Strapping and make a harness, then screw it into your cab.

You can mount it basically anywhere.

Did you also take off the screen of the laptop and just have the power button visible? 
Thanks

Title: Re: best way to mount laptop to cabnet?
Post by: ark_ader on April 08, 2015, 04:37:04 am

I took off the screen (it was broken anyway) and attached it facing the back of the cab, drilled a hole aligned with the power button and used a dowel to activate the laptop.  Mega low tech but it worked.

Title: Re: best way to mount laptop to cabnet?
Post by: thomas_surles on April 08, 2015, 01:38:56 pm

Quote from: ark_ader on April 08, 2015, 04:37:04 am

I took off the screen (it was broken anyway) and attached it facing the back of the cab, drilled a hole aligned with the power button and used a dowel to activate the laptop.  Mega low tech but it worked.

I like your style.

Title: Re: best way to mount laptop to cabnet?
Post by: Vigo on April 08, 2015, 01:49:23 pm

I did similar as ark did with ratchet tie down strap since I had an abundance of them.

As far as power button, I risked taking out the button and soldering wire. It paid off and I was able to do on first attempt, but on some days i probably wouldn't be so lucky because those were tiny solder points.

Title: Re: best way to mount laptop to cabnet?
Post by: j1345 on April 08, 2015, 10:08:19 pm

Can you guys post some picts of what the laptop mount looks like? 

Thanks!