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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: SirPoonga on May 19, 2025, 09:30:56 pm

Title: Time to re-work the cabinet
Post by: SirPoonga on May 19, 2025, 09:30:56 pm
Time to modernize and rework my cabinet.  Top-to-bottom ideas/checklist.
1. Infinity mirror marquee
2. A simple amp and speaker setup (If I go retropi go with Pimoroni hardware?)
3. New monitor and bezel (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0C4NXDRNM/ref=ox_sc_saved_image_5?smid=A2J5Y5WZPRUIT9&psc=1)
4. Replace the start button shelf. No plexi. No USB ports.  Probably just drink holders.
5. Control panel
   a. Flush mount controls, no plexy.  I will put a coat of poly on it.
   b. Add coin and start buttons to the front face.
   c. Add USB panel to front face with USB-A and USB-C.
   d. Computer (retropi?) will be contained in the control panel.
   e. New spinner?  I think the Oscar spinner should still work, but a flush mount would be better.
   f. New trackball needed for flush mount?
   g. Replace old IPac with something new.  Is the new IPac still good? Other options in the US?

Optional:
1. Light up controls?
2. Better option than retropie?
Title: Re: Time to re-work the cabinet
Post by: SirPoonga on May 19, 2025, 09:44:18 pm
I am fairly certain I do not need to rewire. Just move the wires from the old IPac to the new controls, putting the wire int he appropriate spot.  Then plug the parallel port in.  I will probably want to do a continuity test to make sure the plug is clean.

Should I put on dedicated mouse buttons?  Though a wireless mouse and neoprene on the shelf is an option.  I can then get rid of the switch that toggles the 2 player buttons from keyboard to mouse buttons.
Title: Re: Time to re-work the cabinet
Post by: PL1 on May 20, 2025, 06:20:49 am
Quote from: SirPoonga on May 19, 2025, 09:30:56 pm
   d. Computer (retropi?) will be contained in the control panel.
One downside to using a RasPi instead of a PC is the difference in computing power.

Also, there are more applications if you're using a Windows computer.

Depending on your desired game list and applications, it may not be an issue.

Quote from: SirPoonga on May 19, 2025, 09:30:56 pm
   e. New spinner?  I think the Oscar spinner should still work, but a flush mount would be better.
   f. New trackball needed for flush mount?
If you're good with a router, you can countersink the trackball and spinner mount plates and cover it with a vinyl overlay.

If you want a new spinner and trackball, the U-Trak and SpinTrak are plug-and-play with an I-PAC2.

I really like the TT2 spinner, but Randy only sells one with Slave configuration wiring (Dupont pins that can plug into the I-PAC2) if you also order one with Master wiring.
- If you want a TT2, you can use the TT2 (Master) alongside the I-PAC2 and U-Trak -- two USB connections instead of one.

If you want to use the U-Trak with the optional trim bezel on a 3/4" panel, consider routing out a 1/8" pocket on the underside of the panel so the top of the bezel is level with the top lip of the trackball body.

(https://www.ultimarc.com/images/1/tb_diag.jpg)

Quote from: SirPoonga on May 19, 2025, 09:30:56 pm
   g. Replace old IPac with something new.  Is the new IPac still good? Other options in the US?
Yes, the 2015 and newer I-PAC2 encoder is great and is an optical (mouse) encoder for trackball and spinner optos via the Dupont pins.

(https://www.ultimarc.com/images/detailed/1/ipac2_top[1]_o551-gg.jpg)

Quote from: SirPoonga on May 19, 2025, 09:30:56 pm
1. Light up controls?
I like always-on single color 12v LED buttons powered by 5v from a hacked USB cable for admin buttons (low current draw, longer life) and un-lit player buttons.

Some people like RGB buttons for everything, but the price adds up quickly and you have the added complexity of setting up and powering the LED controller.

Only you can decide if the juice is worth the squeeze.

Quote from: SirPoonga on May 19, 2025, 09:30:56 pm
2. Better option than retropie?
Retropie is running some pretty old versions of MAME.

One advantage of running a fairly recent (v0.253+) version of MAME is some of the LUA plugins that are available like defenderlr (https://github.com/AaronBPaden/defenderlr) and skipstartupframes (https://github.com/Jakobud/skipstartupframes) -- not sure if these have been tested on a RasPi setup.   :dunno

If you decide to go with a RasPi, check out this thread.
https://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,162889.0.html (https://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,162889.0.html)
- This guy posted his version updated to 0.265. (no ROMS included)
https://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,162889.msg1772128.html#msg1772128 (https://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,162889.msg1772128.html#msg1772128)

Quote from: SirPoonga on May 19, 2025, 09:44:18 pm
Should I put on dedicated mouse buttons?
You really only need them while you're setting things up.

They could lead to trouble if kids or drunk friends start button-mashing on your cab and get into the configuration menus.
- This is also a good reason to remove the default P1 Start+ P1 Joy Right (TAB) shifted function on the I-PAC.

Either a USB wired or wireless keyboard/mouse will let you update things as needed while keeping others from accidently messing up your system configuration.


Scott
Title: Re: Time to re-work the cabinet
Post by: Crazy Cooter on May 22, 2025, 12:37:35 am
Quote from: PL1 on May 20, 2025, 06:20:49 am
If you decide to go with a RasPi, check out this thread.
https://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,162889.0.html (https://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,162889.0.html)
- This guy posted his version updated to 0.265. (no ROMS included)
https://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,162889.msg1772128.html#msg1772128 (https://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,162889.msg1772128.html#msg1772128)

I can vouch for MAME 0.258 with this "appliance" approach - I used it for a fresh cocktail build for myself recently.  Notes off the top of my head from that build:

I would build the same thing again for myself.  When I want to play, I just hit the start up button and play.  I shut it down via button combo & a confirmation when I'm done.  If you want all teh romz, I would look into a Pi5 (maybe?) or something even bigger.
Title: Re: Time to re-work the cabinet
Post by: SirPoonga on August 12, 2025, 11:43:43 pm
This is going to take longer than I originally thought. New medical issues showed up. Kids don't get old. It sucks.

However, here's a picture of the materials for the infinity mirror. Reflective film, one-way mirror film, a 5-volt power supply, LEDs, and a wled controller.

But Poonga, do you know how to use wled. Check out this video!
https://youtu.be/5rOyGKINZtQ?feature=shared


I need to redo the speaker board first. But while doing thatI will be thinking about how to modify it so it can support the bottom side of the infinity mirror.  The speaker I was using was an old set of computer speakers with a subwoofer (hence the three holes).  I picked up a pair of speakers that came with a small amp that I will be using instead.

I am fairly certain I did not use any wood glue on this so taking it apart to modify stuff should be easier.  I knew tech would change I may have to change the cabinet.
Title: Re: Time to re-work the cabinet
Post by: leapinlew on September 01, 2025, 09:13:17 am
Wooooo! Go SirPoonga!

I abandoned my Raspberry Pi after I had to reimage it a couple times a year due to corruption of the SD card. Not a huge deal, but I use Windows on a PC and it's working as expected.
Title: Re: Time to re-work the cabinet
Post by: Ond on September 01, 2025, 06:44:33 pm
Quote from: leapinlew on September 01, 2025, 09:13:17 am
Wooooo! Go SirPoonga!

I abandoned my Raspberry Pi after I had to reimage it a couple times a year due to corruption of the SD card. Not a huge deal, but I use Windows on a PC and it's working as expected.

Yeah SD cards are rubbish for re-writable tasks in the long term. To make the Pi a viable solution consider using one of these instead. 

(https://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=164992.0;attach=396280;image)
Title: Re: Time to re-work the cabinet
Post by: Xiaou2 on September 04, 2025, 10:34:20 pm
Look for Sellers of Used Dell PCs for Dirt Cheap (often from Recycling Sellers).   These machines might not run
modern 3d games... but they should FAR outperform any PI type of device.   They might also be able to run visual Shaders,
if they are new enough.

Many of these PCs come from businesses closing, or upgrading to newer machines.   They also have pretty
reliable hardware

A lot of these are  "Small Form Factor"  PCs... so you cant install a separate video card unless its a Half Height card..
OR.. you just remove the cover   (or mount the PC hardware without a case, directly into your cabinet)