First Build - Cocktail MAME cab.

[pjl83]

Hi All,

I've not done much actual construction yet but now I have the majority of my parts and some pics I thought it'd be good to start a project thread to spur me on a bit with the build. I got myself a free computer from work (we've upgraded a few machines) and bought myself some buttons and joysticks. I'm building the cab around a coffee table that my brother was throwing out. It has a nice thick glass top so the cab will be a functional table as well as an arcade cab when completed.

I was originally going to use a CRT monitor which I had with the computer from work, but I just couldn't keep the size down enough for it to fit into the living room. The monitor pictured below may not be the final one I use as I am keeping my eye out on the local ad pages for something with a bigger screen.

Here's the PC tower stripped down to keep it as small as possible.... 



Here's the coffee table and monitor....



And some of the controls fitted onto a piece of cardboard as a trial layout.



I've not got a final picture of what it will hopefully look like, I'll just be seeing how it evolves. All I am missing for now is an IPac and some speakers.

Here's to a busy weekend ahead 

Paul

[abispac]

good start, waiting to see more....

[Shortbus]

very cool idea, there is another one in a coffee table on here, that i've seen, excellent Idea, if I could ever get off reading about everyone else's projects and pick one of the 50 that I've seen on here and want to build, this might be it.

I like the idea and look forward to more info & pics....

peace

[pjl83]

Thanks for the replies,

I got busy the last few nights and made a good start on the cabinet.



The open side is the front where the control panel will be. I've not worked out exactly how I'll do it yet, but the controls will fold away when not in use.



The back folds down for access into the base.





Hinged at the bottom and held up by magnet catches.



I mocked up a control panel in some thin MDF as a trial but I'm not happy with the layout. I'll have a play around and see what works out best before I build the final one. The last photo is where it will eventually sit.



I'm not sure about the hinges on the back door. I may change these for something else before the final assembly and glue up.

[pjl83]

Spent a good few ours in the garage today working on the cab. Almost all of the assembly is now done. I just need to make a couple of decisions about hinges and catches. The ones in the photo's are only temporary, they allowed me to line things up and, measure other bit's and pieces in position.

I got the monitor mounted.



And the front panel that folds out to reveal the control panel.





When folded down the control panel clashed on the inside with the monitor mounts so I had to modify these slightly to make some room.



I got the top piece cut out for the screen and sat everything on to see how it looked with the glass over.



Should hopefully be painting by next weekend and then I'll bring it into the house and get the computer back together and fire up.

Thanks for looking 

[Xenor]

What is the vertical viewing angle on the LCD?

I am about to build two identical cocktail cabinets, not like the one you're building but more of a retro classic look.  I am trying to find a monitor with a wide viewing angle and I'm having trouble.

[Blanka]

You want 4:3 say 20 inch?
Buy either a new HP LP2065, still about the best 4:3 display with very low lag, or use tftcentral.co.uk's panel search to dig up a list of old brothers with the same panel, to start an e-bay hunt.