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Main => Project Announcements => Topic started by: DrZhark on November 18, 2015, 11:23:40 pm

Title: Scratch: Standup RetroBox / LCD Marquee Dual Screen / with Sketchup blueprints
Post by: DrZhark on November 18, 2015, 11:23:40 pm
Hi

I have finally finished my first ever build: RetroBox. It was built from Scratch. I started with zero woodworking knowledge or experience and thanks to lurking on this forums, browsing many inspiring projects, reading the book and lots of patience and hard work, I was able to finish it (keeping all my fingers, except for a few minor wounds). It is not perfect but I'm pretty satisfied with it.

This project is heavily inspired by griffindodd's 'Marvel vs Capcom: Revolution' (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,121570.msg1289719.html#msg1289719)

I wanted a dual screen with lcd marquee cabinet that could be relatively easy to disassemble for transportation in and out of the basement (as I'm planning on moving in the near future).

The project was started on August 2014 and Finished in September 2015.  I spent about two months planning and working on sketchUp.   I failed to document the build up photographically as I worked at a friend's garage in precarious light conditions.

I designed a small circuit (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,147712.msg1538463.html#msg1538463) to add a key switch with a dual red/green led to disable/enable free play

Thanks to gbeef (Arcadepix) (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,113707.0.html) for his excellent artwork. I strongly recommend him.

Title: Re: Scratch: RetroBox
Post by: BradleyA on November 18, 2015, 11:39:56 pm
Very nice job!  Love the artwork.
Title: Re: Scratch: RetroBox
Post by: Frank Drebin on November 19, 2015, 12:54:16 am
Looks great!  You should post a vid.
Title: Re: Scratch: RetroBox
Post by: Alejo I on November 19, 2015, 06:27:47 am
Top job, but specially for a first timer with no previous experience. You can tell there was a lot of planning involved. The front panel is particularly interesting.

What kind of audio setup did you use?
Title: Re: Scratch: RetroBox
Post by: DrZhark on November 19, 2015, 09:31:48 am
Quote
What kind of audio setup did you use?

Thanks

I used an old Creative Inspire 5.1 5200 speaker set

It comes with a wired volume and bass controller:

(http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTA2NlgxNjAw/z/AW0AAOSw0e9UwbWK/$_1.JPG)

So I had to replicate the circuit of that controller to be able to mount it on the control panel.  I like it as I can easily adjust bass and volume or use headphones depending on the situation... If nobody's home, I blast it at full bass / volume
Title: Re: Scratch: Standup RetroBox / LCD Marquee Dual Screen
Post by: gbeef on November 24, 2015, 03:39:11 pm
The build turned out great! I like the lighting you added.. Im happy you went with the marquee. It makes the whole thing come together.
That LCD marquee is tempting!!!!.
Title: Re: Scratch: RetroBox
Post by: imagebuff on November 24, 2015, 08:10:06 pm
Quote
What kind of audio setup did you use?

Thanks

I used an old Creative Inspire 5.1 5200 speaker set

It comes with a wired volume and bass controller:

(http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTA2NlgxNjAw/z/AW0AAOSw0e9UwbWK/$_1.JPG)

So I had to replicate the circuit of that controller to be able to mount it on the control panel.  I like it as I can easily adjust bass and volume or use headphones depending on the situation... If nobody's home, I blast it at full bass / volume

I'm using the same speaker set and would LOVE to build in the volume / bass / and headphones jack.  Would you mind providing details on the circuit?

Also very interested in the dual monitor / marquee monitor.  I'm trying to finish a custom cab that is literally a 15 YEAR project!!

Thanks
Chris
Title: Re: Scratch: Standup RetroBox / LCD Marquee Dual Screen
Post by: markc74 on November 25, 2015, 10:14:57 am
Very cool. The marquee mounting looks really well integrated into the cab too. Have you got any pics of how it's attached?

And welcome to the endless-search-for-hd-marquees brigade  ;D
Title: Re: Scratch: Standup RetroBox / LCD Marquee Dual Screen
Post by: DrZhark on November 25, 2015, 07:57:14 pm
The build turned out great! I like the lighting you added.. Im happy you went with the marquee. It makes the whole thing come together.
That LCD marquee is tempting!!!!.

Indeed, I'm so glad we did the marquee. As there are many low res marquees that I'm omitting and replacing with the RetroBox one
Title: Re: Scratch: Standup RetroBox / LCD Marquee Dual Screen
Post by: DrZhark on November 25, 2015, 07:59:17 pm
Very cool. The marquee mounting looks really well integrated into the cab too. Have you got any pics of how it's attached?

And welcome to the endless-search-for-hd-marquees brigade  ;D

Thanks!!!

Your awesome Blip was one of the sources of inspiration for RetroBox.

I designed the cabinet around the LCD marquee. I found it for $150 it is an LG M2901S

(http://www.lg.com/uk/images/commercial-display/m2901s/gallery/medium02.jpg)


I'm going to add some sketchUp pics that shows the frame of the cabinet [edit.. see next post]

Maybe we should work on a repository of HD marquees, there are so many missing....
Title: Re: Scratch: RetroBox
Post by: DrZhark on November 25, 2015, 08:10:57 pm
I'm using the same speaker set and would LOVE to build in the volume / bass / and headphones jack.  Would you mind providing details on the circuit?

Also very interested in the dual monitor / marquee monitor.  I'm trying to finish a custom cab that is literally a 15 YEAR project!!

Thanks
Chris

Well I digged around and found the schematic:

(http://i.imgur.com/U2m7EjR.jpg)

I just made the same circuit. The difficult part was soldering the cables to the male 9 din connector (http://www.ebay.com/itm/1pcs-9-pin-Male-Mini-Din-Connector-soldering-/151766850496?hash=item2356025bc0:g:BrYAAOSwT6pVvxtM)

The only part that was hard to find was the headphone jack, as it needs a particular built in switch. I found the right one on digikey (https://www.digikey.ca/product-detail/en/SJ-3598/CP-3598-ND/3064632)

I didn't have 30k potentiometers, so I replaced them with 10k and adjusted the attached resistors to obtain the same voltage results. 

One of the potentiometers has a built in switch (http://www.ebay.com/itm/10x-10K-Linear-1-4W-Rotary-Potentiometer-Single-Turn-B10K-Pot-With-Switch-OFF-ON-/371230558448?hash=item566f10c8f0:g:FHoAAOSwc3ZUrBgX)

If you have any questions, let me know, I'll help in any way I can
Title: Re: Scratch: Standup RetroBox / LCD Marquee Dual Screen
Post by: PL1 on November 25, 2015, 08:56:45 pm
Maybe we should work on a repository of HD marquees, there are so many missing....
Stigzler's already on it here (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,148204.0.html).   ;D


Scott
Title: Re: Scratch: Standup RetroBox / LCD Marquee Dual Screen
Post by: DrZhark on November 25, 2015, 09:47:50 pm
I have made some pictures with the SketchUp drawing:


The sides do not provide structural support and are attached to the frame with removable screws

(http://i.imgur.com/vhK1j6h.png)



here is the frame without the side panels and control panel

(http://i.imgur.com/jEoHMWu.png)



The frame has two separate pieces that can be split and transported individually

(http://i.imgur.com/EOzLMZ6.png)



here is the upper frame with both LCD screens.  I Think I overdid the frame, but as the LCD marquee is heavy I did not want to take any chances.
And I'm no structural engineer :)

(http://i.imgur.com/bp37mnN.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/3Go4WkY.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/iQmaSVZ.png)


The bottom part has even more structural support than needed I think....  The computer is housed in the upper deck of the bottom frame. The subwoofer in the bottom part.

(http://i.imgur.com/zLaL50X.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/a8IFOW5.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/nLhs2bk.png)

If anyone wants to use the sketchUp file for their own project / measurements, ect.. you can get it here (https://www.mediafire.com/?5nekarl9116kair)

Title: Re: Scratch: Standup RetroBox / LCD Marquee Dual Screen / with Sketchup blueprints
Post by: gustavoya on February 08, 2019, 01:36:29 pm
I really like your design, the control layout is great, any chance you can send the plans if you have them in sketchup?
Title: Re: Scratch: Standup RetroBox / LCD Marquee Dual Screen / with Sketchup blueprints
Post by: CraigBallard on August 01, 2020, 08:19:09 pm
Hi,

This is so awesome, I know this my be a little bit of a big ask, any chance you be so kind to share your artwork as I would love to get these printed for my cabinet.

Cheers
Title: Re: Scratch: Standup RetroBox / LCD Marquee Dual Screen / with Sketchup blueprints
Post by: javeryh on August 02, 2020, 10:45:30 am
I missed this one.  That came out great for a first time build.   :applaud:
Title: Re: Scratch: Standup RetroBox / LCD Marquee Dual Screen / with Sketchup blueprints
Post by: Bgates on April 20, 2021, 01:15:27 pm
Looking to build something similar. Do you have measurements for sketchup photo's