Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: Necro on January 05, 2006, 10:03:41 pm

Title: Sturditity (?) of Ultimate Arcade II Kit
Post by: Necro on January 05, 2006, 10:03:41 pm
The sturdiness (yeah, the word above was to catch attention :) ) of the UA2 kits seems to not be mentioned (at least not to the degree I would like) in many of the reviews I've read on the unassembled kits.  I'm wondering how sturdy they are since they use the cam/lock mechanism.

I know how some of the entertainment center and Ikea furniture that uses these type of mechanisms are not really what I would consider 'arcade cabinet' sturdy, so I'm wondering if many people find that it needs to be reinforced, etc.?

Just wondering as I try to find a job (biotec. research, if anyone knows someone...please help :) ) that will allow me to move into a place where I can build/make/etc. a cab.
Title: Re: Sturditity (?) of Ultimate Arcade II Kit
Post by: Roughy on January 06, 2006, 11:24:34 am
Mine feels pretty F'ing sturdy.

The only real issue I have so far seems to be with the keyboard drawer in that it just feels cheap.  I'm going to reinforce it with some gorilla glue to keep the cam from popping out (again and again).

Additionally, they have a panel on the back (not sure, think it may be K) that they want you to wood screw in.  I looked at it and immediately thought "This is RETARDED!" so, instead, I went and got some black velcro and placed it on the two support boards.  Dropped in a little stylish knob (Menards, maybe $2) and now I have a secured door that I can at least take on/off a little easier.
 
A note on that, however--the cam for one of those supports popped on me and I'm gorilla gluing it, to.  I was going to hinge that panel, but given the angle and my incompetency, the whole velcro route works pretty well.
Title: Re: Sturditity (?) of Ultimate Arcade II Kit
Post by: Kremmit on January 06, 2006, 11:26:55 pm
Sturdity is a perfectly cromulent word.
Title: Re: Sturditity (?) of Ultimate Arcade II Kit
Post by: Yoder on January 07, 2006, 09:38:30 am
Hey Necro,

  I'm a molecular biologist in Tampa at the local cancer center.  I work in the Affymetrix microarray core facility doing bench work and analysis/programming.  We don't have any biotech companies down here so you're stuck with working at the cancer center or the local university, but cost-of-living is low (kinda) and the weather rules.

  There are jobs where I work posted on our website at www.moffitt.usf.edu...you can see a picture of me holding a pipette in front of a microarray image as a header in the research section  ;D

  Check postings there and at the med school at www.hsc.usf.edu if you're curious about moving to Tampa.  My friend is a supervisor at Moffitt and is looking for someone with good experience in microscopy (confocal, fluorescence, etc) but the job isn't posted yet...I can get your resume on his desk as well as a few others there if interested.

Good luck!
Title: Re: Sturditity (?) of Ultimate Arcade II Kit
Post by: Necro on January 07, 2006, 03:06:57 pm
Wow...never would have expected a reply to the job comment :).  I'm in DC right now and looking in the NE portion of the US because the wife and I want to stay close to family.  Thanks though :).  I appreciate the offer....if, by some strange coincidence, we end up heading down there I will def. contact you :).
Title: Re: Sturditity (?) of Ultimate Arcade II Kit
Post by: Yoder on January 07, 2006, 03:35:45 pm
I almost moved to Gaithersburg/Rockville area 3 years ago.  Interviewed at GeneLogic, Human Genome Sci., TIGR, and a couple of small pharmas.  Ended up staying in FL due to cost of living, traffic, and weather...glad we did.  Good luck!

Back to the sturditity issue... 8)
Title: Re: Sturditity (?) of Ultimate Arcade II Kit
Post by: Comp1demon on January 08, 2006, 07:20:41 am
95% of it is sturdy as hell.

IF you are short and need to climb inside the cabinet to tighten cams or do work the floor can come loose.   I atually Just used (4) Wood screws in each corner to make sure that floor stays in.  IM 175 lbs I got in that ---smurf--- and jumped around and the floor when NOWHERE!.

So I'd say it's sturdy as F&*K

But if you need to climb inside you might consider the (4) Screw re-enforcement.

UA-II Full review coming VERY VERY SOON - WHen i finish my cab late next week and find time to write it after playing lots of old school arcade games.
Title: Re: Sturditity (?) of Ultimate Arcade II Kit
Post by: MikeQ on January 08, 2006, 09:01:22 am
I almost moved to Gaithersburg/Rockville area 3 years ago.
Title: Re: Sturditity (?) of Ultimate Arcade II Kit
Post by: Yoder on January 08, 2006, 07:44:30 pm
Yep, they are.  That's way down there, though and I don't know if the high cost-of-living in S. Florida is compatible with Scripps' salaries...
Title: Re: Sturditity (?) of Ultimate Arcade II Kit
Post by: Necro on January 09, 2006, 12:10:40 am
Since this is now a dual-topic thread, I'll make a dual post.

First.  Thanks for the comments on the sturdiness of the cab.  So, have people put plastic over the CP of the cab?  (or has no one used one of mamerooms cabs)...

Second, I kind of want to move back to Philly/NJ area where my families from (even NYC area) so I'm focusing up there now....although any 'real' job making me feel like my PhD is worth something would be nice :).
Title: Re: Sturditity (?) of Ultimate Arcade II Kit
Post by: DrewKaree on January 09, 2006, 12:49:20 am

Sturdity is a perfectly cromulent word.


It'd be the height of retarditty to think otherwise.