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Author Topic: RCadecast - It's getting a face lift!  (Read 7321 times)

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btp2k2

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RCadecast - It's getting a face lift!
« on: May 15, 2007, 12:43:00 am »
Here is some pics from my newest project....

It's powered by a Sega Dreamcast. I was going to hack some spair control pads I had, but ended up buying an adapter for the old 2 player X-Arcade I had laying around. The sticks are Competition sticks with Happs buttons, the screen is a 19" Sylvania. The TV was originally purchased for another project. It was supposed to be hooked up to a computer. As such, I didn't really care about the sound at the time....turns out I wish I did. The TV is mono. I am in the process of implementing a way to have the memory cards plug in. Luckily, most of the games I intend to use on this cab can access the memory card from any port. I will get some pics of my solution when I come up with it....still brainstorming.

It's all but complete....just some light sanding to prep for paint. I have a semi gloss black latex paint I will be rolling on with a foam roller. The t-molding is red to match the controls. Then cut the plexi for the bezel and marquee. My neighbor has this great tool called a "Roto-Zip". He has a diamond edged circular blade that is used for glass, it scores the plexi so clean and sharp....makes snapping it a breeze. I have never heard of the RotoZip before, but I think I am in the market for one now.





The cabinet is made out of 1/2 MDF. I tried to find 5/8, but it seems no one but a lumber yard all the way across the city has it. , so the t-molding overlaps. To solve this, I cut the slot to one side, so the t-molding is flush on the outside and hangs over the inside. When I put the cabinet together, I put the corners together, rather than having any overlap. The nice thing about doing it like that is the t-mold that hangs over covers any seams. To hold everything together, I used polyurethane glue with a nail gun. the nail gun leaves holes so small, you can do any spackle work with your finger tip...very easy to prep for painting. I used 3x1.5 inch studs and split them down the center. These are the supports in the corners and for the monitor shelf. In whole, the thing is rock solid and half the weight of my other cabinets.

EDIT - I forgot to add....I used the Moon Patrol layout from Jakobud's site
« Last Edit: November 02, 2007, 06:11:09 pm by btp2k2 »

IG-88

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Re: RCadecast - It's Thinking
« Reply #1 on: May 16, 2007, 02:58:04 pm »
Looks nice. I like the style of those cabs. Just curious, was there an option to go 1/2 or thicker plywood? Reason being is that 1/2 MDF is some real flimsy stuff. I wouldn't use it if it was free. That was a good idea on using glue on the joints tho. And be careful around any moisture. All-in-all a real nice looking cab.  :)
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leapinlew

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Re: RCadecast - It's Thinking
« Reply #2 on: May 16, 2007, 03:01:51 pm »
Lookin good...

Have you tried using a flush trim bit to cut plexi? Don't ever have to snap plexi again...

btp2k2

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Re: RCadecast - It's Thinking
« Reply #3 on: May 16, 2007, 04:03:23 pm »
@IG-88....Once I glued the supports it was rock solid, no flex at all. It almost is like a stringer on a surfboard.

@leapinlew...no, haven't tried a flush trim bit....this rotozip was what was available at the time. No snapping, huh? I will have to give that one a go.....Though I have to say, with the rotozip scoring it the snap isn't as bad as it used to be.....Still...a nice clean line would make life easier

leapinlew

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Re: RCadecast - It's Thinking
« Reply #4 on: May 16, 2007, 08:37:43 pm »
@leapinlew...no, haven't tried a flush trim bit....this rotozip was what was available at the time. No snapping, huh? I will have to give that one a go.....Though I have to say, with the rotozip scoring it the snap isn't as bad as it used to be.....Still...a nice clean line would make life easier

It's good for cutting plexi in a straight line, but it's real beauty comes in cutting out the button holes and trackball hole. If you don't have a flush trim bit, get one. Best reason I have to own a router yet.

SavannahLion

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Re: RCadecast - It's Thinking
« Reply #5 on: May 17, 2007, 02:39:19 am »
It almost is like a stringer on a surfboard.

Wahuh??

Congrats, I had to ask the GF what that was in exchange for an explanation on cornices and palisades.

btp2k2

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Re: RCadecast - It's Thinking
« Reply #6 on: May 17, 2007, 09:29:47 pm »
Got the plexi cut today....

I ended up using a tablesaw going backwards. It worked really well. I ran it through twice per cut, once to make the actual cut, and the second time just to clean off any extra melted plexi that re-attached itself.

I am pretty happy with the results.

Also, I made a box for the memory cards to load. I had a spare DC controller that no longer worked, but the memory card loader still worked fine. I took it apart and took out the PCB and built a little box around the board. Then I attached the box to the inside of the front panel just under the coin door. I will get some pics of this soon.

SavannahLion

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Re: RCadecast - It's Thinking
« Reply #7 on: May 17, 2007, 10:18:36 pm »
Got the plexi cut today....

I ended up using a tablesaw going backwards. It worked really well. I ran it through twice per cut, once to make the actual cut, and the second time just to clean off any extra melted plexi that re-attached itself.

What blade?

btp2k2

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Re: RCadecast - It's Thinking
« Reply #8 on: May 17, 2007, 11:52:51 pm »
Just a standard circular blade. It was the same blade we used for cutting out all the MDF and splitting the 3x1.5s. We just went from the back of the table instead of the front. He said he got the idea yesterday when he was cutting vinyl siding for a house restoration. Apperently, it does the same thing plexiglass does when you try to cut it....kind of melts and fuses itself back together....they cut vinyl siding on a standard tablesaw with the blade going backwards. We tried it on the plexi and it worked great. I was just looking at the piece we cut for the marquee, and I can't even tell which side was cut and which side was the edge of the sheet. It looks great

superbigjay

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Re: RCadecast - It's Thinking
« Reply #9 on: May 18, 2007, 01:02:41 am »
Have you tried using a flush trim bit to cut plexi? Don't ever have to snap plexi again...
Leapinew, can you post an example of such a bit?
Thanks

btp2k2, looking good.  Like the title for the arcade via dreamcast :D

Jay

leapinlew

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Re: RCadecast - It's Thinking
« Reply #10 on: May 18, 2007, 01:26:17 am »
Have you tried using a flush trim bit to cut plexi? Don't ever have to snap plexi again...
Leapinew, can you post an example of such a bit?
Thanks

btp2k2, looking good.  Like the title for the arcade via dreamcast :D

Jay

I don't want to clog up btp2k2's thread with any of my pictures, but here is a link to my cabinet that I showed plexi cutting. The bit is on the 1st page and the examples of cutting plexi are at the bottom of page 1 and top of page 2:
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=55021.40

theCoder

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Re: RCadecast - It's Thinking
« Reply #11 on: May 18, 2007, 02:58:40 pm »
If the marquee is still in progress, I'd recommend making the font a bit smaller.  It looks a bit too big.  Good luck with the rest of your build.

btp2k2

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Re: RCadecast - It's Thinking
« Reply #12 on: May 18, 2007, 07:12:22 pm »
That marquee is finished.

That is the finished product printed by Scott at MameMarquees

btp2k2

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Re: RCadecast - It's Thinking
« Reply #13 on: May 29, 2007, 06:38:47 pm »
Prepped for painting today. It is a hot one here in Seattle, about 85. I was going to paint this afternoon but decided to sit on the porch with a glass of lemonade and wire the CP instead.

Just to illustrate how awesome using a nail gun is....



That is a hole spackled in. I just used a tiny dab of spackle on my finger tip and rubbed it in and then rubbed any excess off with my finger. It is smooth as a babies ass. No sanding to do....I actually had to search for the holes.

I am using a nail gun for everything going forward now.

I am in double time mode now, we finally found a house and we close on the 27th of June, so I need to get this and the Seahawks cab done in time to move. Hopefully, the RCadecast cabinet will be done by the time I go to work friday night.

btp2k2

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Re: RCadecast - It's Thinking
« Reply #14 on: May 31, 2007, 08:18:02 pm »
Almost done!!!!

Painted today. I used a foam roller for the first time. MAN! What a difference! The paint rolled on like glass! So smooth. I am debating a fourth coat, so I haven't taken pics yet.

Now, I just need to complete the bezel and install the marquee glass and the CP and t-molding.

btp2k2

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Re: RCadecast - It's Thinking
« Reply #15 on: June 01, 2007, 05:11:24 pm »
DONE!!!!!






amadama

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Re: RCadecast - It's DONE!!!! 6-1-07
« Reply #16 on: June 01, 2007, 11:01:27 pm »
btp2k2,
I really like your cabinet. Thanks for sharing your pics.
Great idea using a nail gun. I am going to shop around for one and a compressor. Any suggestions?

stuckpixel

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Re: RCadecast - It's DONE!!!! 6-1-07
« Reply #17 on: June 02, 2007, 12:01:43 am »
Nice work! Very traditional fighter with the Black/Red colors. How do you have the DC in there? Accessible through the coin door I assume?

Is the coin door eye-candy, or is it wired to anything?

theCoder

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Re: RCadecast - It's DONE!!!! 6-1-07
« Reply #18 on: June 02, 2007, 01:53:22 am »
And just when you thought you were done....   What is that other cab to the left in your last pic?

How stable is it, given the 1/2" MDF?

Very clean.

btp2k2

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Re: RCadecast - It's DONE!!!! 6-1-07
« Reply #19 on: June 02, 2007, 07:02:42 am »
Great idea using a nail gun. I am going to shop around for one and a compressor. Any suggestions?


I actually used my neighbors, so I am not sure. I am going to pick up my own, based on his suggestion. I will let you know what I end up with.

 
How do you have the DC in there? Accessible through the coin door I assume?
Is the coin door eye-candy, or is it wired to anything?

Yeah, the DC sits on a shelf underneath the monitor. It is accessible through the coin door. I took a pic of it through the door and thought "Nah, nobody would ask about that"...and sure enough....As their was no way to emulate a coin function with a DC game, I just went with a eye candy door through Happ

  What is that other cab to the left in your last pic?
How stable is it, given the 1/2" MDF?
Very clean.

That other cab is the beginnings of my Seahawks themed cabinet. It is based on Assault, with some minor modifications. I hope to get that one completed in the next week or so.
This cabinet is one of the sturdiest cabinets I have built...and the lightest. The aforementioned neighbor is a contractor, and he really gave me some good ideas on construction and wood working. Stuff that is pretty basic, but when you don't have a background in wood working you would have no idea. I am actually very impressed with how stable and sturdy it is.

Powerstone 2 is an absolute blast on it. As is Gauntlet Legends. My wife seems to like it cause the power up is easy and there is no hidden button combos to press to change games and stuff.
« Last Edit: June 02, 2007, 07:05:21 am by btp2k2 »

barnes

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Re: RCadecast - It's DONE!!!! 6-1-07
« Reply #20 on: June 02, 2007, 09:45:05 am »
Are you just running normal Dreamcast games, or running this Dreamcast MAME thing I have seen? I made a disc to test on my DC one day, but never got around to testing it.

I love it, and love the dreamcast idea. I think I might look into that for my next project.

Or a four player N64, me and my friends are N64 addicts. Super Smash, Mario Tennis, Mario Party, Perfect Dark, Goldeneye, to much fun man, to much fun. Not sure how the controls would feel as an arcade cab.

leapinlew

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Re: RCadecast - It's DONE!!!! 6-1-07
« Reply #21 on: June 02, 2007, 10:24:10 am »
 :cheers:

Good job. Are the speakers hidden?

btp2k2

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Re: RCadecast - It's DONE!!!! 6-1-07
« Reply #22 on: June 02, 2007, 07:04:01 pm »
@ barnes - no, these are just standard DC games. I never bothered with the DC MAME, since I have a full version of MAME on my PC. I did this cab mostly because we have parties at my house about once a month and fighting games are always very popular. But after a while, the question comes up "Does it play Street Fighter 3?" or something like that. So now, I have a machine that can play all the CPS3 games that MAME can't...

@ lew - Actually, there are no speakers. The sound comes from the TV. Well....let me rephrase. There are speakers, just no stand alone speakers. It is actually quite loud. I had to adjust it several times just to quite it down...I could hear it all the way at the other end of the house. I put the bezel glass far enough away from the front of the TV that there is no muzzling of the sound at all.

superbigjay

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Re: RCadecast - It's DONE!!!! 6-1-07
« Reply #23 on: June 03, 2007, 12:21:45 pm »
@ lew - Actually, there are no speakers. The sound comes from the TV. Well....let me rephrase. There are speakers, just no stand alone speakers. It is actually quite loud. I had to adjust it several times just to quite it down...I could hear it all the way at the other end of the house. I put the bezel glass far enough away from the front of the TV that there is no muzzling of the sound at all.

Nice and simple design.  I like it  :cheers:
Using the tv speakers is a good idea, especially if you don't use the arcade to play music.  So the sound quality is not an issue...

Jay

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Re: RCadecast - It's DONE!!!! 6-1-07
« Reply #24 on: June 03, 2007, 01:03:10 pm »
I love it. The DC was one of my favorite consoles and just looking at your cab gives me a hankering for some Bangai-O! Or some Shenmue!

btp2k2

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Re: RCadecast - It's DONE!!!! 6-1-07
« Reply #25 on: June 04, 2007, 03:15:09 am »
Shenmue doesn't play....well, it does...but I can't control it. It uses strictly analog controls. The RCadecast is mostly for fighting, sports, arcade games.

I have about 80 games from the DC and out of those, I tested about 50 that function with a standard arcade stick.

smackifilia

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Re: RCadecast - It's DONE!!!! 6-1-07
« Reply #26 on: June 22, 2007, 09:53:09 pm »
Best way to get those Naomi games in a cab...looks great!
« Last Edit: June 22, 2007, 09:55:39 pm by smackifilia »

btp2k2

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Re: RCadecast - It's getting updated!
« Reply #27 on: November 02, 2007, 06:10:51 pm »
The Rcadecast is going to be getting an upgrade soon.

I am going to be switching from the X-Arcade to a couple of hacked DC gamepads with analog sticks

The idea is to give the cabinet 100% compatibilty with the games....I will be posting pictures of my progress

thorus

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Re: RCadecast - It's getting a face lift!
« Reply #28 on: November 05, 2007, 03:51:41 pm »
What kind of supports did you do to make the cabinet so sturdy?
My current project: Yet to be named

btp2k2

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Re: RCadecast - It's getting a face lift!
« Reply #29 on: November 05, 2007, 04:37:08 pm »
I used 3x1.5 inch studs and split them down the center.


thorus

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Re: RCadecast - It's getting a face lift!
« Reply #30 on: November 05, 2007, 05:02:26 pm »
I had already read that but where did you place them?  at all joints or did you make a structure that the 1/2" MDF was nailed to?
My current project: Yet to be named

btp2k2

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Re: RCadecast - It's getting a face lift!
« Reply #31 on: November 05, 2007, 05:05:08 pm »
They were placed in all joints, the only cross beams that exist are for the monitor shelf and the shelf that holds the dreamcast.