my first cab

[jipp]

hey guys. i wish i would of found this forum before i started my mame cab 4 months ago about.
after looking at so many great cabs on here my cab looks like a first grader built it.   o well, live and learn.  i did do some research before diving in and came up with the plans from mameroom. the ultimate 2.
the plans are good. they do not go into great detail so if you do use the plans use some common sense:)
which i lack obv.  laughs. also do not use OSB.  that is my only real regret in this build. i feel so stupid using it now, all cause i wanted to save a few bucks cause if i messed up on my first cab i figured would not be that big of a deal using OSB.  i did not mess up ( well i did build to left side to the base.. oops ), and now i well yeah you get the point. laughs.  i can say its probably over built too.  after seeing most of you do not use 2x4 for the frame.  

i did blog the whole thing and take pictures they can be found here if you wish to take a peek..


http://pulse.yahoo.com/_LGSZUREL2Z5MZSB3LEHT3JPX6E/album/photos

for the pictures.  they tell the story of the build.  the blog is just my poor excuse to try to explain what i did. heh blog here:

latest entry:
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_LGSZUREL2Z5MZSB3LEHT3JPX6E/blog

first:
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_LGSZUREL2Z5MZSB3LEHT3JPX6E/blog/articles/171188?listPage=date&listItem=201008
im down to the control panel now.  so ill update that part here while still adding to my yahoo thing.

i so wish i would of found this place before i started  after i finish this ill start on a cab for my sister taking what i learn from this and doing 110% better job.. which in returns mean ill have to build another cab to replace this one. laughs.

anyhow.  


chris.

[eds1275]

hey dont be so hard on yourself. The woodchip pattern actually works well with the pirate thing. I think you did an excellent job building it - looks really REALLY sturdy. Imagine how good it'll turn out on the next one!

[IG-88]

I like it.  You should've seen my first. Made the crap mame website. 

[eds1275]

I like it.  You should've seen my first. Made the crap mame website. 

oh you gotta tell me which one!

[IG-88]

NO WAY    I'd never hear the end of it!

[jipp]

Thanks guys.  made the crap webpage? well hell id say be proud someone took notice of your work heh.

yeah the one main thing i did learn from this is:
A:  i could of made the darn thing a lot thinner, and wider.

you see i have narrow door ways so this cab is 25 1/2" wide.  and i went with the two piece design because in two pieces i figure i could get it in and out of door ways just in case i could not push it through.. which turned out to be the case.  so i will go with a thin line cab on my next one.  that is what my sister wants anyhow she says this is to big for her.   however, unlike my rather boring cab.. she wants it full arcade or not at all.  so i will have to do crazy side art LED everything.  well i guess her husband will dig it. LOL

chris.

[jipp]

ok so i got this cp box put together i just have to see what bits im missing and how many extra buttons ill need as i only have 14 right now.  this is the first time playing with T molding i do like how it looks but man what a pain to install.  i guess t molding will just take some practice knowing how much to cut and where for corners. after i tally up what i need ill order and hope to start to wire it up next week.

hope you all are having a great Sunday, mine is great..  i can stand at the cab now and imagine my self playing and the height is perfect for my tall self.. i did have to add 3" to the mameroom dot com plans cause of my height.  and it all worked out in the end..  ROCK ON>> guitar solo.
chris.

[jipp]

I have a question for you guys/gals.  im gonna buy a 4way stick for my control panel.. and since i will use the guts of this one when i build a better one for my self after i build my sis her cab.. anyhow.. i figure i will want it to be LED etc.  so may as well get a LED 4 way stick as i need a 4 way stick anyhow.. will be one less LED item ill have to buy when i do gut this cab.  the options are 5v, or 12v. which do you recommend?  thank you.

chris.

[DirtyDachshunds]

Welcome to the club!  I'm also building a cab based on the Ultimate arcade II.
Awesome job so far.

As for the LED.  How bright do you want it?  Also, how translucent is your stick?  I find 12V LEDs can be extremely bright to the point of distracting.  I would probably go with the 5V if I were you.  And that way it's easy to hook up from a USB connection. 

[jipp]

Welcome to the club!  I'm also building a cab based on the Ultimate arcade II.
Awesome job so far.

As for the LED.  How bright do you want it?  Also, how translucent is your stick?  I find 12V LEDs can be extremely bright to the point of distracting.  I would probably go with the 5V if I were you.  And that way it's easy to hook up from a USB connection.  

hey thank you.. 5v it is.  i do not want over kill.  good luck on your cab.  i like the looks of the ultimate arcade II cab.  but maybe im just weird.  heh.  

picked up some 18 gauge wire to wire it up my control panel.  just have to figure out what size female connectors and i need to order 18 buttons.   then it will be on to configuring this computer.  i look forward to that part tho.  


chris.

update:
ordered a 3" led blue trackball.. ( i originally bought a red one but it was 2 1/4" to small for the hole i had in my control panel.  will use this for a bar top down the road along with the none LED buttons in this cab.. so in theory i will not have to many extra parts laying around when im done with these cabs )  and the LED stick will have a blue top and blue led.. went with5v as recommended. thanks for that.  new to this stuff. got the stick from the guy in Hawaii  paradise arcade or something. 

so after i build my sisters cab i will gut this current cab, and then ill only have to buy the LED controller, and LED buttons.. and two extra led sticks.. but figured since i plan on going led down the road may as well get them now instead of having two buy two items twice.  and end up having a box of stuff in the closet of bits i did not use.   

[Ond]

Welcome!  This is the place to be for all things -arcade project- related, blogs are good, but here you will get a ton of help, advice and information.  Caution!  Very addictive hobby ahead 

 

Ond

[jipp]

Welcome!  This is the place to be for all things -arcade project- related, blogs are good, but here you will get a ton of help, advice and information.  Caution!  Very addictive hobby ahead 

 

Ond

thank you for the warm welcome sir.  yeah i can see my self getting addicted to this and giving cabs away to family.. already have my sister lined up...  my brother is hinting too.. and of course i already want to re do the current one ( no thanks to you and your kick butt work.. inspire me to do better ) and def need a bartop model for the kitchen.  gets boring cooking you know. LOL

chris.

[Termin8tor]

Congratulations Chris, good start and welcome to the club I'm sure you'll have your cab up and running in no time.

[jipp]

Congratulations Chris, good start and welcome to the club I'm sure you'll have your cab up and running in no time.

thanks for the encouragement.  always helps with projects like this especially when we are new to it.. and im just flying by the seat of our pants and hoping for the best.  what would we do with out the internet.. o yeah i know.. get more stuff done. Laughs.

anyhow..  im ready to wire this master control panel up ( yeah i watched tron last night. laughs )  master control aka "the MCP" sounds way cooler than just cp.. at any rate.

before i start i have a couple of questions. 

my control panel is rather generic in whats in it.  track ball ( hole drilled for spinner but not sure which spinner to get can anyone recommend a good spinner? ), two 8 way joystick, 1 four way.  and buttons, and more buttons. 

by the way i plan on going to LED after i build my sister her cabinet.. and i needed a 4 way joystick.. so I ordered a LED stick.. and I will not hook up the LED part of it.  anyhow.. i bought it from:

http://www.paradisearcadeshop.com/

this stick is high quality, apparently its just a modified zippy.  anyhow, the build quality feels 100% better than the happ 8 way sticks i bought.  obv personal opinion.. but i can say i will only be buying these for my cabs from now on.  also i was little concern about shipping.. but the stick was here in 2 days about.. faster than some parts I ordered here in the states.. go figure.. laughs. 

here are some pictures so you get a idea of my generic lay out:

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_LGSZUREL2Z5MZSB3LEHT3JPX6E/album/photos/313684

sorry i do not know how to post pictures here or i would.   
the trackball is not installed yet.. figure that be the last thing i installed. 
i will be using the Ipac2 to hook the buttons up too.  now this gives me 32 inputs.  i can wire the 4 way into the same connectors as the 8 way..  3 of the buttons will be connected to the trackball.

now what im wondering.  for the pinball buttons on the side and the very front.. there are two on the left side of the control panel and two on the right and then the red button up front is for the plunger im guessing.   i originally wanted a real plunger but maybe ill play with that idea when i rebuild this cab..  to many fires in the iron at this point..  Now which action buttons would you wire the pinball buttons into?  im not sure if it matters or not.  i just know i have to wire them into the action buttons or i will not have enough room on the ipac. ( im guessing here ) and i really do not want to have to buy a second Ipac2 controller.  maybe i should of err, i mean suppose to have bought the  4 player ipac board..  if so, well  would not be the first time my logic did me in. laughs. 

also do any of you have a link to a tutorial of a control panel build?  i dunno why im so nervouse about this part of the build.  i had to rewire my 1966 baja bug 8 years ago.. but then the wire harness did come with good instructions.  and i was drinking then.. laughs.. ( im a chronic pain patient.  I was in a bad accident.. died for 2 mins,  over 60 operations, fake knee in 2004 etc etc.. so doctors keep me drugged up so cant really drink.. but a single glass of hefeweizen to go with my dinner and overall sanity is ok!! )  cans of courrage :d 

oo yeah, can you recomend a spinner?  my goal is to get this cab finish by next month.  so i can start on my sisters cab.. she stop by tonight with her new born baby.. and man she was so excited about my cab.. and she is really into the idea of her own cab.  i orginaly thought this was more for her husband.. but truth be told..  i think its for her

ok thank you for your time.  you guys rock!!

chris. 

[jipp]

Morning, well today im gonna try this. I have not found any tutorials per-say that walk one through the process using the ipac2.  but i think i have learn enough to give this a try. ( thank goodness for this forum and google ) and i figure ill wire the pinball flippers to the first two action buttons on the group of 7 by the sticks.   

ill be using female connectors instead of solder, main reason is not because my solder skills suck.. but so i can reuse the buttons again with ease... and i bought the store out of them and picked up 80 more feet of 18 gauge wire.  so, ill just dive in.. and hope i can keep the rats nest syndrome down. if all goes well ill be able to play a game on my desktop. as i do not have a monitor for the cab that im happy with yet. yeah i have something i can throw in there but.. it just be easier to fire up mame on my desktop and go from there for now.  im still not sure on what front end ill be using.. thought about hyperspin.. but personally i do not really want to have to sign up to another forum just to give the software a try.. so im thinking mala...

so i wish you guys/gals a great Sunday and as the wise man said.. kick back and relax your self.

im really indeed of a game of street fighter! 

I still would like some recommendations for a spinner tho   heh.. cheers.
chris.

[DirtyDachshunds]

For the spinner I use a spintrak and couldn't be happier.  I've also heard good things about GGG's spinner.  Both can interface via usb with no drivers needed.

Either would be a good choice

[jipp]

For the spinner I use a spintrak and couldn't be happier.  I've also heard good things about GGG's spinner.  Both can interface via usb with no drivers needed.

Either would be a good choice

cool. will check them out.  yeah thats only thing that matters to me is they run off USB.  saw a couple that were for jama cabs.  im guessing.  saw one on ebay made from plastic for 30.00 thought, price maybe good compared to a 100.00 others seem to run.. but i want durability.  metal!! 



chris.

[yotsuya]

I can vouch for the GGG Turbo Twist. Solid device.

[jipp]

I can vouch for the GGG Turbo Twist. Solid device.

sounds good ill give the GGG  team a try, thanks for the recommendation you two!  looks like they even sell a snap on steering wheel for said spinner.  dunno if i have enough room for it between the plexi and the spinners location.

also i see they sell LED buttons and ledwiz for when i do my sisters cab.  so yeah will give them a try.

well i procrastinated yesterday.  i bolted the trackball in and hooked up the three buttons. laughs.
now im in the process of looking for a spot on the board to mount the ipac2 using them little plastic feet things.
then ill daisy chain up the ground. ( i plan on hooking up the pinball buttons after i get the computer up and running so i can see which buttons to wire them too.. seems the most logical.. than just hooking them into a random button which  i really have no idea what buttons do what at this point in time ) and go from there.  i can be a slacker, ill admit it.  at least with things that are new to me.

also future plans for this box im calling a arcade cab is some guns.  there are three brands it seems.

aimtrack,  EMS top gun, and last act labs.  i am probably going to be using a LCD,  as finding a crt is almost impossible these days. laughs.

and it seems aimtrack as was recommended DirtyDachshunds would be the best choice for the flat screen LCDs.  ( i just wish the darn flat screens were square.  i have 24" i can fit a monitor in.. but most flat screens that are 20-24 are only 16" or so tall.  blah, rants )

so all i have left to buy for my cab is a monitor ( i do have a few laying around i can throw in for the mean time tho.  i do have one tv i could use that has s video but id have to de-case it..  and i do not really want to deal with that at this point because ill be rebuilding my cab sometime next year and the only thing i know about that build is its gonna be a thin line as this thing takes up more space than i like.. funny how, things on paper do not seem all that big till its sitting in front of you@ )  a ggg spinner, and the aimtrack light bar kit and the gun shell.

also anyone have any tips on posting a picture on this forum?  i tried using the links of the pictures and they do not show.  my next project i want to document on here so we can all learn from my mistakes.  iv learn a lot from reading other peoples builds.  and lets face it.  most people do not want to follow a link to look at a picture while reading the text.  they just look and move on.  im guilty of it sometimes.

chris.

[DirtyDachshunds]

The can add a picture as an attachment under the 'additional options' or use the 'bracket'img'endbracket'URL_of_picture'bracket'/img'endbracket'

If that's confusing just google how to add picture to forum.

[jipp]

The can add a picture as an attachment under the 'additional options' or use the 'bracket'img'endbracket'URL_of_picture'bracket'/img'endbracket'

If that's confusing just google how to add picture to forum.

naw, i did not even look at that.  again, my own stupid self for not looking at that, and i saw it too.

also, after looking at the ipac2 board it self.. yeah that text onit.. any other person would of read it before hand..laughs i only read when i was adding the ground.. o well call me stupid.   i totally understand how to wire this up.  sometimes i make stuff more complicated than it needs to be.  

just have to figure which buttons im gonna share now.  will share the 4 way joystick with player 1 joystick. as recommended on http://www.ultimarc.com/ipac2.html webpage.

thanks for the help.

chris.

P.S

http://shogunbros.com/

when this mouse is ready for public use im gonna get it.  i found it on engadget.com i read that gadget blog every day.. its a mouse but when you flip it over its a game pad.  figure i need a mouse for my cab why not be able to use it as a game pad too yeah?  well thats assuming its not 80.00  thats just to much for any dang mouse im afraid.  ill go 25.00 tho

[jipp]

i hope everyone had a great christmas, day off or whatever you like to do on this day.  Im happy to say the hospital as let me loose. been stick in the damn hospital since Tuesday.  infected Colan, etc..  and when the probed my gut they were not to careful ans scratches my inner throat liner, safe to say it hurts like heck to even swallow..  merry christmas to me. ( i was in the hospital over thanksgiving weekend...  they had to remove my gallbladder, they all think its a method just to get out of the holidays with family LAUGHS. )

ok, so where do i start since my last post.. yeah this damn control panel.  

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_LGSZUREL2Z5MZSB3LEHT3JPX6E/album/photos

18 gauge wire is way to big for a control panel.  will def be using 20 something next tie.  period.

anyhow, i got it wired up and sure enough its not working.  the ipac2  green led flashes real quick twice on start up.. then stays solid..  from what i read that means its normal.  but ill be damn if i can get anything to work.   fired up copy con in the dos menu and turns up blank.  the only thing that works is the track ball.  at least that's idiot proof.   iv been using a laptop set inside where the monitor goes as a test computer before i start working with the computer that will power it.  also iv not decided on a monitor.  the laptop is old. 500mhz running windows xp service pack3.  i have the trackball plugged into a usb port, and had to use the ps2 port ( which is the mouse port on this laptop on the side.. not sure if that make any difference i doubt it.  as if i plug the track ball into it comes up as a HID device anyhow i ordered a PS2 to USB adapter for good measure ) but good enough for NES games  and what not.

so with my frustration, i said hell with it and stop trying to get the buttons and sticks to work.. and installed "world of goo"  http://www.worldofgoo.com/   this game works much better with a trackball than a regular mouse it was ment to use. laughs.. .  

so once i start feeling better.. aka, pain meds kick some solid sleep.. in and i start feeling strong again.  i think im gonna just yank all the wires out, and try to wire up a the joystick and see if it works. if it dose then go to a couple of buttons etc and repeat till i get them all working.  (only way im gonna get this control panel wired up i think.. (  instead of what i did, and just wire it all up thinking it would work on my first try. as all the leads go where teh suppose too..  checked for no loose wires etc.

as you can see in the picture im using 18 gauge wires,  it was hard to even try to make it look organized with zip ties.  also if you building your first control panel regardless what gauge wire you use.  do not worrie about trying to make it look pretty till you know the damn thing works.  i have to cut all the zip ties off now to debug it..   or spend more money on wire and connectors..  which i may have too but ill try it with what i have..  as its paid for already.  

ok, thats where i stand as of now.  will update if and when i get the control panel working.  im hoping i can get it figure out with in the next two months. ( thats when I told my sister i would start to work on her cab.. aka christmas gift... )

chris.

[kingchimp]

I believe you have actually correctly identified your problem, even if you did then discount it as an option. ;-)

Sadly I'm pretty sure keyboard and mouse ps/2 ports are not the same and not interchangeable.

I would suggest you test your ipac in a pc with a keyboard port before you start yanking wires.

[jipp]

I believe you have actually correctly identified your problem, even if you did then discount it as an option. ;-)

Sadly I'm pretty sure keyboard and mouse ps/2 ports are not the same and not interchangeable.

I would suggest you test your ipac in a pc with a keyboard port before you start yanking wires.

hey thank you for the feed back.  been playing with this pos laptop.  man 500mhz is so slow.. laughs. but the ps2 to usb adapter was what i needed.  iv only been able to test player 1 in a few nes game ( FUN so worth building this i tell you ).   when i configure player 2 the letters are showing up so im pretty confident saying i did it right. ( shocked ) if i can do this anyone can do it.  so do not even think twice about buying a x-arcade tank stick or whatever.  just buy your self a ipac.  if i had to do it all over again, i would buy a ipac4.  will do that for my sisters cab which ill be starting with in 2 months.  also use 22 gauge wire, 18 gauge is to darn thick i think@.  i picked up some 22 gauge stranded from ratshack today need to find some female connectors radio shack did not have any go figure..  bought this originally think id have to start rewiring this to get it working.. now im just gonna leave it be and save the wire for my sisters cab and when i rebuild mine ill redo the cp.  this laptop im using for temp just to try the control panel out and debug it.. is not fast enough to try to run a pinball game so i have no clue what buttons to tie the flippers into yet.  it just makes me happy that it appears i wired this up correctly on my first try.  struts.

now tomorrow if im feeling up to it i need to search the pond shops. good will, etc for a tv with s-video ( my mom said i could have their tv. they are going to flat screen for there bed room.  problem is its huge. wont fit in side my cab unless i decase it which i do not really want to do at this point.. plus i dunno if they are ready for me to pick it up yet.. ie.. replaced it with a flat screen.  ill have to talk to her.. but am def keeping it for a project instead of them just giving it to good will.   I have a lcd screen i can temp use for now.. I need to do some research on flat screen monitors now. the monitor i originally bought for this arcade cab became my computer monitor.. oops.. it was just so much better than the square lcd screen i was using. ( you can even dedicate it to portate mode or regular..  which would be handy for shooters.  iv seen some monitors when they turn on windows shows up side down.  i like the monitor just fixes that all together.. im guessing mame originally took care of that. the problem  with the spare monitor besides it just being old and having one dead pixel which is annoying..  its only 19-20" square flat screen monitor ( wish you had the choice of buying more square flat screens.. i hate the space you waste.. they give it length but not height which seems to be the trend these days   ).. just to small for inside my cab..

 now this month my hobbie money allows monitor, and either a spinner or  guns.  im thinking id have more fun with the guns plus i need to learn how to do that for my sisters cab.

so now once i get the monitor situation under control.  ill need to get the computer up and running i plan on using, and decide on a front-end.  get it wired to turn on and off from a arcade button mounted on the outside..  hook up the speakers, mount the control panel with the brackets i bought.  light up the coin door.  and lots of small things im probably forgetting.  but confident in saying by the time i start my sis cab in 2 months my cab will be finish.  will be sure to take a video of it for proof. laughs. 

thank you guys for all your help and just letting me rant.  you guys have a great damn new years, you better you hear me!!! smiles/

im in the home stretch!!!  and it feels good.

( i just have to be sure not to get stuck in the loop of playing and not finishing the last details.. i hear that can be a problem

chris.

[jipp]

well i could not find any tv at the pond shops, or good will that would work.. seems flat screens are what people are hawking right now.  so..  i have two choices.  i can use the original 23" gateway i bought for this project.  and go to using a crappy monitor for my desktop computer.  ( now this idea is not so good, A it would look funny as its 23" wide and like 16" width..  and also i use the hell out of this for netflix.) so now im thinking of using my regular flat screen tv.  i bought a few months back.  now its a few inches to wide. 

i can fit a 24" wide object in my cab and this sanyo flat screen tv ( its a good quality tv with a built in spot for thumb drive so you could use it for a picture frame and has all the needed holes to hook up to a computer.. when i bought it i almost did hook it up to my computer but was to big.. i could not get use to 2" font. laughs ) its 26" wide with 1 3/4" bevels.  i could just slot some holes in the side of the cab and it could fit. 

or i could just flip it around like you would for a shooter.  and it would fit no problem.  however, i plan on playing horizontal games and i dunno what it be like playing with the monitor flipped vertical.

if i do slot the sides of the cab.  i would need to now a few things. what recommended angel to tilt the flat screen tv?  and how close do i want it to the plexi glass?  the one side benefit of slotting the side.  the slots would act to help hold the thing in place ( i originally built this thing so it could go through my skinny doors.. well it turns out i would have to take it apart to get it in and out anyway.. so i was stupid and should of went for 27" monitor when i built it.. but i plan on rebuilding this cab anyhow so no big deal).. and i could hide the slot in the side with some wood trim or couple pieces of fiberglass molded into a bevel or something.    i guess ill have to sleep on it.. o yeah, why am i even thinking of using my regular flat screen tv that is hooked up to dish tv.  well to be honest since i bought netflix iv not turned it on im always watching movies on this kick butt computer monitor..

i guess ill have to sleep on this any feed back on angle and how close to the plexiglass the tv should be would be helpful.. as i can only slot it once..  well i only want too anyhow..

also i plan on ordering the aimtrack guns.  are all these kits on ebay the same stuff ultramarc is selling?  he is in the uk.. so if i can buy it state side i would rather.  to me seems like it is and they just have the rights to sell it state side for him.  or maybe his aimtrack kit is different than what i see on ebay.. any thoughts?

chris.

[jipp]

morning guys iv decided to go ahead and use the 26" sanyo tv for my monitor.  i started a thread on the main section of the forum to get some feed back on running a vertical monitor in a cab..  and it was enough info to convince my self it will work just fine. ( besides i already own it )  here is the link:


http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=108283.0

after something, cutting some slots into the side of the cab seem a little to redneck even for me.


i will be using a universal vesa flat screen tv adapter to mount the tv vertical into my cab.  i will be using a 24" long 2x6 mounted to the side of the cab using metal brackets you can pick up at home depot for such purposes.  the bracket im hoping i can find here in town looks like:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824998240&cm_re=vesa_mount-_-24-998-240-_-Product

Now the bracket dose cost a little more than what i originally wanted to spend. ill be able to use it for other projects down the road if i do not use it when i rebuild this cab. 

when im at home depot ill pick up a 4x.25 pine board to use as spacers for the front of the cab/bezel and to hold the tinted plexi glass in place.  thats the plan, ill wing that as I go after i install the tv. 

i also need to pick up a paddle bit so i can drill a hole for the spare arcade button i bought to use for a external power button.  im thinking of mounting this on the top of the cab around the marquee.  i originally was thinking mounting it under the control panel..  on the angle piece between the drawer and access panel.  but as my little sister has had her first kid 4 months ago.  he s gonna start getting him self in all kinds of trouble when he starts walking.  so mounting the button on top seems like a logical place to me.

if i can find a vesa bracket in town like the one in the url/pic.. I hope to get this tv power button figured out this weekend.

well thats it for now.  i have a doctors appointment tomorrow see if they cant figure out whats wrong with my guts and why my legs are swollen up to the size of basketballs.  who knows maybe i can get off these anti biotic too.  take care of your selfs.. life is fragile..    take it from a crippled.  cheers.

chris.

[eds1275]

Holy hell!!! Were you routing in the wrong direction or something!?!?!?

[yotsuya]

Chris-

I bought this bracket below, and I was really happy with it. It's great for a small monitor:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Small-LCD-LED-TV-Flush-Wall-Mount-Bracket-VESA-75-100-/370438500174?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item563fdaef4e

[jipp]

Holy hell!!! Were you routing in the wrong direction or something!?!?!?

heh, naw motorcycle accident.  throttle stuck wide open on a corner. and had to crawl for two days with a compound fracture to the left distal femur, and tibula.  shaterd the leg.  drag my self a mile and half for help.  took me two days.  over 30 operations later, fake knee in 2004..  took me 2 years to learn to walk again..  only a month after the fake knee.  thats the short version of what happen.

[jipp]

Chris-

I bought this bracket below, and I was really happy with it. It's great for a small monitor:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Small-LCD-LED-TV-Flush-Wall-Mount-Bracket-VESA-75-100-/370438500174?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item563fdaef4e

\\

thanks for the link.  ill keep that in mind after my doctors appointment and i go looking for a bracket so if all goes well i can get my tv mounted tomorrow.  not sure how much this 26" tv weighs. 

[DaOld Man]

You were out in the elements crawling for 2 1/2 days??
Have you thought about calling that TV show "I shouldnt be alive"?

[jipp]

You were out in the elements crawling for 2 1/2 days??
Have you thought about calling that TV show "I shouldnt be alive"?

yeah two days.  crashed sat around 8am.. did not find help till sunday around 9pm.. right at dark..  i died for two mins and stuff in the hospital...  but i did my part.  i stay alive till the helicopter took me to the OR.   

laughs.  naw i have no interest in that real tv stuff.  but hell if they call me and offer me a few bucks to build another cab..  id consider it, laughs

when i came to the following morning after the accident.  i can say i woke up to all these medical students telling me i should do a book.. all i wanted was water.. two days no water man.. i wanted water not med students looking at me when i came too.

well today i will go to home depot and get the needed hardware to mount the tv.. and hope best buy or something has a generic vesa adapter for my tv.

have a great morning

chris.

[jipp]

back from the doctors, blah... have to see a heart specialist now..  at any rate i found the vesa bracket.  doctor told me to stay off my feet for a bit..  so will try to get the needed hardware from home depot tomorrow after i get blood work done.  and see about getting this flat screen installed this weekend with out breaking the doctors rules to much.  have a great weekend.


will order the aimtrack light guns today  i did look for some donor guns.. and lets just say all the guns i saw looked like toys a 4 year old would play with.  sigh, just give me a desert eagle housing and id be happy..  some metal in it to for weight, and ill build the custom exotic wood grips my self..  get that out of the way.  now i think ill play some NES..  yeah silly me bought some NES usb joypads for this project.. in hind sight should of just got ps2 sticks, and could of used them for more games.. o well live and learn. 


chris.

[jipp]

afternoon.  well i broke my doctors advice.. yes, i mounted the dang tv.  however, im paying for it now my leg has swollen up pretty bad. laughs.. ill just deal with it.  the tv was a pain to install by the way by my self.. no room what so ever to move around inside the monitor box.  anyhow.

i bought a 2x6 is was gonna mount the tv using it.. but in the end i used a .50 scrap piece of wood screwed and wood glued into the back of the cab.
then i mounted the vesa mount via 3 screws.  my first try i was one inch to high.. i was annoyed at that..  so i took it all apart and moved the hole down one inch and was perfect on my second try.. i really should not complain as i did just guess on where to screw the darn thing in the first place.

now the tv is solid with the mount.  but there is about 1/4" space between the monitor shelf and the tv it self..  so i will mak ea little 1/4" spacer and put it under the tv.  this will take any stress off the vesa bracket even if its design for such.   but as its in a arcade cab.. that will get rocked around.  by putting a strip of wood under it for it to rest on, and also some side pieces ill lock the tv into place.  then i plan on using some 1/2" x 4.5" pine boards to board in the side to hide the space.  i will paint this wood black to match the rest of the cab.  then ill take some 1" strips of wood for the plexi glass to rest up against too.   and from here we will start to work on the brains of this darn thing. a old computer.. now i do not remember if this computer had issues or no t.  so we will find out soon enough.  if so i will have to fix it.  then install all the game software configure the OS..  configure the front end for the games.
but this is all something i can do in my chair for most part.  well looks like i am on target to start my sisters cab  with in the time period i gave her. that makes me very happy. also its amazing seahacks won..  yeah im originally from Oregon so we always rooted for the ducks and the seahacks..

now all i have left hardware wise is a spinner and guns..

anyhow, you have a great day.

 

chris.

P.S

forgot to mention.. i mounted a arcade button in the top left hand corner of the cab..  above the marquee on the slanted piece that comes down.  t hat will be my power button.  i mounted it there cause my little sis had her first kid who will be learning to walk with in a year..  and could see him hitting it if i mounted it lower where i originally planed on it.  still not ordered the guns been slacking..  

as for guns im trying to figure out if aimtrack or the ems top guns II are the way to go.. the only thing i can think is the aimtrack have less stuff so maybe thats why they used in mame cabs.. as they do not need the ps2 buttons. but they have force feed back and say they work with mame.. so who knows.. im still reading up.  i know i should just do whatever everyone else dose but i can be odd that way..  also will the guns with a vertically mounted monitor/tv.. need to figure that out too.  unfortunately, i wanted a horizontal monitor but would not fit so i had to go vertically out of no other options.. which is ok.. ill see w hat its like before i build a second cab. 
 

[Funnel]

Man you should really listen to your doctor even though you're doing an amazing job! Whoa crawling for 2  days? Dang!

[DirtyDachshunds]

Yea I wouldn't want to mess you leg up any more than it is.  Don't you have anyone who can help?

Your story is amazing, but I'm sure you've heard that a million times.  Curious question though, will you ever ride a motorcycle again?  Seems like 1/2 the people in bad bike accidents hop back on and the other 1/2 dont.

Anyway, the aimtraks will work fine on your vertically mounted monitor.  One of the first steps in setting them up is calibrating them to your screen.

[jipp]

funnel - yeah 2 days.  i do not recommend it. i did all kinds of crazy things to stay alive.. it happen in summer.. so i put mud all over my upper body to protect me from the sun.. i originally drag my self to the side of the logging road and crawled into the ditch cause i was gonna dig for water in the mud but i was a couple days to late for that.. stuff like this i did over the two days. laughs.

dirty ( for some reason i parsed your nick as dad.. laughs ) -  ( i know i should of just go slow.. but i promise my sister id start on her cab in two months.. so i just want to get mine done. ) yeah i would honestly get back on a bike if i could bend my leg further than what you see in the picture.. that is it.  i just can not bend it enough to ride a bike.. plus, i do not trust my leg..i would be afraid of it giving out at a stop light.. and having the weight of the bike crash onto my bad leg,, would be messy.  i started riding when i was 4.. so its in my blood.
im convince.. its not if you will wreck a bike.. it just when.

thanks for the info on the aimtrack.  will go that rout.. and ditch the ems idea.  must be a reason aimtracks are recommended time and time after again on this forum.

stay healthy.

chris,

[DirtyDachshunds]

yeah i would honestly get back on a bike if i could bend my leg further than what you see in the picture.. that is it.  i just can not bend it enough to ride a bike.. plus, i do not trust my leg..i would be afraid of it giving out at a stop light.. and having the weight of the bike crash onto my bad leg,, would be messy.  i started riding when i was 4.. so its in my blood.
im convince.. its not if you will wreck a bike.. it just when.

Don't take this the wrong way, but your insane imo.  I hope you're not married or have kids.  You're gonna end up killing yourself.

I hope you at least wear a helmet.

[Rando]

im convince.. its not if you will wreck a bike.. it just when.

I hear that.  The goal is to limit damage done to you/bike on the eventual crash/fall.  When I had my first kid I gave my bike to my brother.  When I got divorced I got it back again, then gave it away to a friend with new marriage & kid.  Now I moved to an old Mustang which gives me much more protection for similar enjoyment!

But helluva leg and story there jipp, glad you made it!! 

[jipp]

yeah i would honestly get back on a bike if i could bend my leg further than what you see in the picture.. that is it.  i just can not bend it enough to ride a bike.. plus, i do not trust my leg..i would be afraid of it giving out at a stop light.. and having the weight of the bike crash onto my bad leg,, would be messy.  i started riding when i was 4.. so its in my blood.
im convince.. its not if you will wreck a bike.. it just when.

Don't take this the wrong way, but your insane imo.  I hope you're not married or have kids.  You're gonna end up killing yourself.

I hope you at least wear a helmet.

i  think you read my response wrong.  no need for a helmet i cant ride anymore.  my leg dose not bend enough.

no wife or kids..  mom was raped when she was 17 so i decided when i was a little boy to not have kids.. no wife because well no chick needs to put up with a guy who lives in pain.. so i just keep to my self.
its all good.  never claimed to be sain tho. heh.

chris.

[jipp]

im convince.. its not if you will wreck a bike.. it just when.

I hear that.  The goal is to limit damage done to you/bike on the eventual crash/fall.  When I had my first kid I gave my bike to my brother.  When I got divorced I got it back again, then gave it away to a friend with new marriage & kid.  Now I moved to an old Mustang which gives me much more protection for similar enjoyment!

But helluva leg and story there jipp, glad you made it!! 

thanks, sometimes i wonder why i bothered to crawl that day if i knew the life i would end up having ( living off narcotics for so many years... blah ) , i was gonna get married but she left me in the hospital etc..  laughs. i do not blame her.. but her parents do.. and i still speak with them.. life is a trip.  mustang sounds fun.  keep on having fun, life is to short not too.

chris.

[Funnel]

Your wife left you at the hospital?! Damn dude sorry to hear that... in times like that we have to be strong and cut through all the crap life throws at us. I admire you sir Jipp!!! You're still standing.

[Donkbaca]

Wow, all this and you are building the cab for your sister! Not even yourself!

To give a little advice:

I looked into aimtracks vs. Top guns, decided aimtracks because from what I read the force feedback on the top guns isn't that great, and you have to mount these two huge sensor bars on the outside of your cab, plus you have to stand pretyt far back for it to work.

The aimtracks are easy to set up, there is just one little light bar.

As for which guns to put the aimtracks in.  I followed this tutorial:
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=101016.0

and got the guns here:
http://www.vpgames.com/p-6290-ps2-psx-mini-light-gun-w-usb-port.aspx

If you paint the guns black, they look pretty good.  They have these little motors in them that vibrate when you press the trigger, they add a good heft, and the vibration is pretty cool, not as cool as the arcade ones that kick back but I think its better than nothing. Its about the same amount of vibration as an xbox 360 controller, and there is a little switch on the bottom that lets you turn it off if you don't like it.  I don't think you can find better looking gun shells that have some heft and will give you force feedback for less than 12 bucks each.

Plus, that would be a good project to keep you off your feet. soldering all those little wires and such...

[jipp]

thanks for the feed back.. i ordered the aimtrack today the main thing that convince me was seeing how involved Andy was.  he is working on a firmware update to add feedback..  no promises he can make it work, but the fact he would even try says he is in this for more than just a buck..  so i ordered the item on the spot.  .. will check out the links.  you guys rock. yeah, i was a good boy and did not even try to work on the cab today.

so yeah solder sounds like something i can do on my seat. heh. 

have a great night

chris.

[Donkbaca]

That tutorial on the guns rocks and the guns are cheap and good looking when painted. You won't be disappointed, I love mine

[jipp]

found this gun on youtube.  would be pretty cool to find another.

i like the blow back.. hell with feed back.. just teh slide would be more than enough feed back for me.


chris.

[jipp]

im tinkering with my cab.. just setup the smart power strip.  plugged in the marquee light, tv and cleaning the inside out and gonna arrange the bass speaker and drill whatever hole is need to mount the volume pod. etc.   im leaving the pc out of the cab to work on it with a spare monitor ( that's the plan much easier to work on it that way in case i have to replace any hardware on it ).. however, i cant find a spare monitor vga cable.. so ill have to buy one..  so no big deal.. im going slow anyhow.. while doing this mindless stuff we all have to do as part of the cab building process..  i was thinking about my monitor angle..

  what angle should this monitor be at or roughly.. whats a good angle... be it a average or whatever. anything to work with from your experience with vertical cabs or heck horizontal mounted monitors for that matter.. i need to learn both as my next cab will be horizontal unless i fall in love with vertical. right now its at about 6 degrees.. pretty strait.. seems to me i would want it at more of a angle.. so before i box it in.. i thought i would ask you guys expert opinions.. thank you so much.

chris.

[jipp]

grr, had a huge update typed out, and i normally copy and paste to note pad and delete after words but this time i did not even tho i had a bad feeling thinking i should.. but man i was feeling good getting tinyXp running on this PC i had to fix.  Fixing this.. saved me from having to buy a new computer and the specs are not to bad. and the price was free. its plenty good for Mame etc.. and of course the internet died right as i hit send... so, i will keep this short.

iv made progress, compiling mame with the hi_139.diff patch.  hooked the computer up to the tv using a vga cable, i originally tired to use s-video cable to no avail.  read the documentation to the tv, told me that was for video..  hence, vga..

and now im gonna be learning how to use MaLa, and hypsin.. at this point ill focus on MalA..  i think it will suit me better..however, my sister liked hyperspin from the video i sent her of it.. so i signed up to the forum just to download it.. I may have to learn that.. but we will see once i learn how to get mala setup ill let her use it and see what she thinks.

umm, still waiting for the aimtrack guns, should be here next week..

i can say next cab will be a horizontal.. lot of my pc games wont work vertically.. go figure.. annoying.

umm, i need to get a sheet of plexi as the one i cut is to short now as i originally planed on horizontal monitor.

so ill box it in and do the plexi glass st uff down the road.. and before i box it in ill be able to adjust the tv angle to what i like.. as the vesa adapter i used is so configurable this will be way easy to adjust the angle etc.... on my next cab ill use tinted glass also will not waste money on a nice marquee so will use my paper/marker for now.  the only thing i know for sure is my next cab will be wide enough for this tv to sit proper all horizontal and such..   This cab is a temp for now.. and the plexi will work and its cheap.  when i build the replacement..  I hope ill be able to give this cab away to someone.  minus the hardware.  if not ill tear it down and store it i guess.  or maybe a bond fire to the arcade gods   after all its only cheap OSB.   my stupidity for not using MDF.   

now the fun.. learning to configure and use Mala +mame.. and other emulators and hope the front end will do everything i need..

once the aim track guns get here ill have to learn to configure them too.. 

my only regret is making my cab so skinny.  would of loved to have a horizontal monitor.  but, you know beggars cant be choosers, and this tv was not being used for anything, so ill use it!!  grandma use to say if its free its for me

ok my friends, rock on..



chris.

[jipp]

well i got mame installed today. and playing with MaLa now..  however, iv tried to play a few games and i cant play them.  the joysticks are happs competitions.  anyhow,  the motion is all jerky with them.. when you push to the left i would exect it would go all the way to the left side smoothly.. all i get is jerky 2" movement, sometimes more sometimes less.  any ideas?    i have a different kind of stick for the 4 way and its jerky too.  so, i do not know what the problem is.  any ideas?

chris.

[Ond]

What an inspiration you are Chris!  Despite living with strong pain from a disabling injury, and coping with various illnesses and medical inconveniences you are building arcade cabinets and sharing the journey. 

I enjoy reading your posts because you describe how you work through each problem and document your learning as you go.  You have enthusiasm that reminds me of why I’m in this hobby in the first place.  It’s pretty sweet satisfaction when you wire up your first CP, fire up your favorite arcade game and see your hard work take on a life of its own. If you search around in the ‘Reviews’ board you can find long running debates on the pros and cons of different switch and button types, joysticks etc (I even have a few posts in there for for some joystick mods I did).   There is an excellent review Epyx did on the GGG Spinner as well.  Look for some of his other reviews and tutorials for a source of great info.
 
Keep going with your build and your update posts Chris.  Don’t worry about comparisons or mistakes or the learning curve etc,  everyone is learning here.   



Ond

[jipp]

Morning Ond.  Thank you for the kind words.  Yeah, sometimes we take the simple things for granted. being healthy is one i can recall before my accident. Like with anything we have choices, we can throw the towel in, or grin and bear it and see where it takes us.  i choose the ladder.  however, each year i get older i question the sanity in such a way of going through life. Laughs.  but i just remind my self..  "enjoy today, tomorrow could be worse"  and what not.

when i read on topics and threads, i always wonder why someone did it like X instead of Y.  thats the main reason i have no problem showing where i messed up.  granted i am hard on my self.. probably to the point not so good for one self esteem, but im from a small logging town we did not know we were suppose to have any anyway..  so i just say it gives me character hyeh. 

ill have to look into the joystick topics you mention of.. cause its unplayable right now.. just pisses me off.  even tho i found a few shooters i like.  but with such jerky joystick motion its really hard to get very far with out adding a dumb amount of credits. heh

also, i did make one mistake so far iv  notice in my first wire cp.. i wired the left to the right and the right to the left. oops.

could of been way worse.  so ill rewire that and see if that helps with the jerkyness i doubt it.. but it needs to be done anyhow. 


also im still working on sound.  i had it working when it was directly hooked up to the monitor i used to fix the computer.  the monitor had built in speakers.. so i know the sound works in the computer.  i took the old laptop and hooked the speakers i am using for the cab.. and thats working.

so,  i dunno..  will play with that. 

so to do,  get sound working.

fix these dang jerky happ joysticks.  ( maybe i assembled it wrong.  i put the bevel edge up for that square piece that goes on the joystick shaft.. maybe ill try to switch it around see if that helps any, but logic says no )

still learning mala.. not got the videos to work yet. and get a proper theme going.  and I need to add some other game software to mala that is not related to mame. 

waiting for the aimtrack guns.

i have two months to get this cab working before i start on the next cab.

the first things on my list, get the joysticks working right, and MaLa configured 100%.

have a great day. 

chris.

[yotsuya]

Chris-

Flip that square piece over. That's probably your issue.

[jipp]

hi, from the diagram on happs webpage i do not think thats the  issue.

i did not assemble the stick im using for a 4way and it has the same jerky feeling too.. why do i mention the 4way stick.. well they are both using the same input on the Ipac-2.  i have both sticks wired to player one.

here is a picture of my stick. 

shrugs.   really is to bad.. the games really are unplayable as it is.

maybe its the ipac2.. i am using a ps2 to usb adapter maybe the Ipac dose not like such.   i tried to search for similar problem and found no threads.  maybe i should try one on the main forum.. since a lot of people only read the main..

thanks for the feedback.

chris.

[Donkbaca]

Is the problem the physical feel of the joystick?  Those happs sticks are the same bat top joysticks you will find in most arcades.  I am guessing that maybe the spring isn't set properly, or that the little grommet thingy under it is upside down.  I say take it completely apart and put it back together according to the exploded view here

http://www.happ.com/joysticks/competition_joy_e.htm

If its a physical, jerky feeling, its probably something mechanically wrong with the stick

[jipp]

no its not the physical.. its when i push to the left for example.  i would expect the ship for example to smoothly go all the way to the left.  it dose not.. it goes from 1 - 5 characters.  i checked this using note pad.  and its happening to all the sticks, i have three.

2 happs, and 1 zippy stick.

chris.

[Spock]

I know it's a broken record by now, but you're the man for dragging yourself that far for help.  I broke my femur in a skiing accident, and I can tell you dragging yourself 5 feet is nearly impossible due to pain.  I'm glad you've found such a rewarding outlet to look forward to every day.  It goes to show how rewarding of a hobby this is.

[piecesof8]

I'm betting your problem is the ps2-usb adapter you're using with the ipac - I'm fairly certain I've read about that problem somewhere before. Can you connect the ipac directly via USB and do away with the adapter?

[jipp]

I know it's a broken record by now, but you're the man for dragging yourself that far for help.  I broke my femur in a skiing accident, and I can tell you dragging yourself 5 feet is nearly impossible due to pain.  I'm glad you've found such a rewarding outlet to look forward to every day.  It goes to show how rewarding of a hobby this is.

yeah, broken bones hurt period.  5 feet, mile and half.. all the same if you ask me.  thanks for the kind words.  guess just goes to show you,  the human mind is capable of almost anything once you set your mind to something.   mind is a true super computer   hopefully our computer/robot overloads will not hook up skynet anytime soon.. even tho Watson, the IBM super trivia computer is gonna make watching jeopardy obsolete

chris.

[jipp]

I'm betting your problem is the ps2-usb adapter you're using with the ipac - I'm fairly certain I've read about that problem somewhere before. Can you connect the ipac directly via USB and do away with the adapter?

no, my Ipac only came with a ps2 cable.  when i tried to hook it up to the ps2  mouse port on the laptop i got nothing.  so i figured i needed the USB adapter.

now, maybe the laptop was the issue.  i will try to use the PS2 on this and see if i get the same problem. 

if the ps2 wont work..  i guess ill have to see if i can buy a usb cable for my Ipac and try that.  thanks, im thinking the adapter sounds like a good cause as its happening to all three sticks.. and two different brand of sticks.. even tho the 4 way and 8 way are hooked up to player 1..

chris.

[jipp]

I'm betting your problem is the ps2-usb adapter you're using with the ipac - I'm fairly certain I've read about that problem somewhere before. Can you connect the ipac directly via USB and do away with the adapter?

yeah, thank you so much man.  im a idiot i spent way to much money for this USB adapter.  if i would of thought about why it did not work with the laptop, i would of never bought the adapter.. duh.. i was trying to use a keyboard with the mouse port on the laptop...  so, i plug the Ipac into the keyboard PS2 port, the track ball into the mouse port, and the keyboard im using the adapter for it.. everything rocks now.. you rock.

now i have to fix sound.. then onto configuring mala. and trying to find the 139 control.ini and cat*.ini:)

but i think im gonna go play some satins hollow :d

chris.

[jipp]

Update:

Well, iv been in the hospital last week.. could not stop throwing up.. they have no clue whats going on. ( am waiting to get referral to a GI doctor etc ).  anyhow, i felt well enough to assemble the aimtrack gun from ultramarc.com.  It went together real easy.  I hope the instructions are as good for install it onto the mame computer.

Snapped some photos fro those who are considering buy the kit,  it seems well made.. however, i think i want it to be a little heavier.. will wait till i get it figured out and installed onto the computer tho.. if i do, i figure ill add some modeling clay.  should not hurt anything, lots of places to put a few pieces with out interfering with the electronics.

with my list of things i needed to get fixed glad to say i got a couple of them done.

A, hey i got sound to work.  I had to download the latest high def sound driver from realtec..  was harder finding the right driver/software package that getting it to work with tinyXP.

B, i got the .avi's to work in MaLa.  downloaded the codec recommended from MaLa wiki page.  I really wish MaLa had a readme file i could print out, feeling like im gonna throw up and trying to sit at the computer and clicking each link to learn how MaLa works just aint doing it for me.

whats left to do:

Well, i need to keep learning MaLa so i can get the trackball to work in Mame.  right now i can get the trackball to work as a mouse in Mame..  but if i try to use it on a game that is a trackball game, it dose not do anything, and you can only get joystick feedback.. marble madness is the game im trying to get to work with the trackball/MaLa.

I also need to figure out how to get MaLa to show the history of each game.. not sure how that works yet.

and last but least.. add other emulators to Mala..  again, i wish it had one nice .PDF for a sick person i could read in bed..  running to the toilet to puck and trying to type this out sucks.  LOL

and I have to figure out how to install the aimtrack gun.  not sure how you suppose to attach the tha led sensor to the monitor and where.  hoping i could use veclro  I have some of that.

Once i get the above figure out, it will be time to box in the monitor, and buy a tinted sheet of Plexiglas.  also i have decided to ditch the .25 mech.. i will use that for my sisters project.. i suck, and need the credit button, id go broke.

the logictec 2.1 speaker setup sounds nice in the cab.  been rocking out to pantera cowboys from hell. ( R.I.P Dime.  )
while being ill.  heh, i had portable speakers for my ipod and was jammin to pantera in the hospital..  lots of cute nurses like heavy metal.. who would of thunk.

well ill throw a few pictures of the aimtrack gun for others who may be interested in it and maybe it help them see how it goes together

this project is getting closer to being finish, so i hopefully can start on the next cab. take what iv learn from this and build a even better mame cab.

O yeah, on the next control panel.. i like all the buttons and what not for the basic configuration i guess its called the classic setup.  but i do not care for the strait buttons they hurt my wrist after a while.. so i will def want to have them in a arc on my next control panel..  will test that on the bartop.. as ill be building it at the same time as thin line cab.  let me sis decide which she likes.

heck, sorry im all over the place..  next month i need to buy a spinner..  so spinner and full sheet of tinted plexiglass are the last two items i need to buy next month.

and instead of trying to cut the plexi with my bandsaw, im gonna try the score method..  you know yardstick, exacto knife or maybe a old flathead ground to a edge..  run it down the yardstick.. then tap it underneath and it should break, or so iv read.  anyone know for sure?

stay healthy.  sorry i throw my health into this so often i know people have there own issues.. but, its part of the build.. so what the hell.
rock on.
chris.


P.S

ok, my kit came with 3 cables, USB.  and it would appear i installed to short of one for the gun..  there is a 8 footer that should be installed in the gun it self.  after looking at the pictures and realizing how short the cable was i messed up.. you see i also have a extension USB that came with the kit.. and i thought that was for the gun.  but, the USB cable coming of the sensor that mounts to the TV.  is like only 3 feet and i need much more than that to reach from the top of the TV to the mame computer.  So, now i have to take the gun apart and switch the proper cable out.  So, be sure you measure you setup before you screw the gun together.  if this gun was for a bar top the 3 foot cable would of been fine.  Sometimes i wonder wtf am i doing.  anyhow, did not want anyone else to make the same mistake i just notice i did. im hoping i can mount the pcb board with Velcro but instructions dose not say what to use to mount.. silly, would think they would offer a recommendation you know.  for idiots like me.  so, i plan on mounting the pcb board to the upper left side of the tv.  and we will see what happens.  will update if i fail or not.  worse case, i have to spend another 50 bucks for a pcb if i totally mess up. laughs. 

peace. 
chris.







here are more pics of the assembly if needed:

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_LGSZUREL2Z5MZSB3LEHT3JPX6E/album

[jipp]

I reinstalled the usb cable with the proper one this time into the aimtrack gun housing.   I also installed the aimtrack light bar thingamajig using Velcro.. worked just fine.  Now time to configure the gun and see what happens.  lets cross our fingers..  i feel so ill, but i want this gun to work.  so we will man up, and see what happens.  if the gun works, then i will start reading up on how to get the trackball to work in mame using Mala.. im assuming thats how it has to be done.. until tomorrows update  rock on.   and def need tinted plexi to hide that ugly light bar thing.  

just noticed, i need to get some cleaner that screen is DIRTY! heh. 

chris.

[jipp]

well anyone want to buy a gun?  im ready to throw the damn thing out the window. 

in windows it points like a mouse.... in mame tho.. it will move the game list and start a game.. but if you try to play a game like operation wolf it dose jack.  zero. 

i dunno, the read.pdf is not very clear. tells you to type mame roby and then goes into what seems to set it up.. but it says if you do not have a mame.ini to do this.   i have a basic mame.ini from Mala.  so, i dunno.. i should of just bought a spinner i guess as i needed one of them to complete my CP, i did not need a gun.  my head hurts.  anyhow, im just gonna call it a night. blah



 

[Donkbaca]

What version of mame are you using? I had the same problem and then I realized the name version i was using was too old

[jipp]

morning, im using 139.  thanks for any feed back.  i have a brighter look out on the problem today.  i guess sometimes taking a break from something clears the mind.  i have doctors appointment dis morning, then ill try again.

im thinking maybe i have to go through the mame.ini setup like in the .pdf even tho i have a mame.ini file. 
ill make a back up of it before i try that later today.


chris.

[Donkbaca]

Okay, so the version of MAME isn't the issue.  go to your command prompt, go to your mame directory and type mame-cc.  That instructs mame to "create config" a mame.ini file should appear in your root directory.

Let me know if that works.  I had a few issues setting up my guns, but I think its worth it.  I love the point blank series.  I just wish i could get model 2 up and running with 2 guns so I could play house of the dead.

[DirtyDachshunds]

I just wish i could get model 2 up and running with 2 guns so I could play house of the dead.

Me too!  HOTD2 with Demul doesn't work with 2 players either

[jipp]

hey guys.  well  operation wolf sees the gun now.. not very accurate.  i need to calibrate it.  and the problem i have by mounting the IR pcb board to the top.. and having such a large vertical monitor.  its not seeing the very bottom.  so i think i have to mount the IR board to the side in the middle of the TV.  i think this will allow the camera in the gun to see the whole monitor.  also i did use the colored glass that came with the gun.  so hope, we are suppose to use it.  i choose to use it to keep dust out.  but im on the right track.  and things make much more sense now i understand tab is to bring up the mame configure.  its starting to make sense, and it makes Mala much more logical.  so, tomorrow im gonna move the IR sensor to the side of the TV.. and try to calibrate.  but, at least operation wolf sees the gun and i can blow things up but its not accurate so i think by moving that IR board to the middle side.. things will be much better.  and with Velcro it will be easy enough to try.    I think im gonna have a blast once i get it configured.  crosses finger that putting the board in the middle of the TV on the left side helps for the gun to see the whole surface area.  its a learning process tho.. no doubt.  


i hope i do not have to calibrate every single game in mame.. or that be annoying.


just thought of something.. maybe im not standing back far enough?  i do not have much space in the current location.  i plan on moving this to the corner.. but i wanted to wait till i had it mostly finish.. so maybe ill have to hold off on the gun till i finish up the other stuff and distance is the problem for not seeing the whole screen.  so, i guess ill make some kind of gun holder for this tomorrow.  and then move on to getting the trackball to work in games that use it.. and now i know Tab key is to get into mame config should be easy to get the track ball working in marble madness. 

also..  i did not know what the function keys did so i have the tab key on player 2 side.. when it should of been on player 1 along with enter.   

so yeah.. thanks for letting me think out loud.

[Donkbaca]

Do NOT move the led bar! It supposed to be on the top of the screen, the little camera on the PCM in the gun is angled to look up to find themled bar. If you move the bar to the side, it will seriously confuse the gun. I it's not working near the bottom of the screen, use the aimtrak config tool to see I the camera can see the led bar while being pointed at the bottom of the screen. If it does , then calibrate the gun in windows and you should be fine. If it does not, then either move the pcb closer to the end of the gun barrel, or point the LEDs on the led bar downward, stepping a little farther back also helps.   As for setting it up in MAME, set it up in the global controls and you should be fine, there are a handful of games that you have to calibrate within the game itself, but you only have to do this once as long as you keep the guns plugged in.

It's a little bit of a pain, but a couple of games of

[jipp]

Do NOT move the led bar! It supposed to be on the top of the screen, the little camera on the PCM in the gun is angled to look up to find themled bar. If you move the bar to the side, it will seriously confuse the gun. I it's not working near the bottom of the screen, use the aimtrak config tool to see I the camera can see the led bar while being pointed at the bottom of the screen. If it does , then calibrate the gun in windows and you should be fine. If it does not, then either move the pcb closer to the end of the gun barrel, or point the LEDs on the led bar downward, stepping a little farther back also helps.   As for setting it up in MAME, set it up in the global controls and you should be fine, there are a handful of games that you have to calibrate within the game itself, but you only have to do this once as long as you keep the guns plugged in.

It's a little bit of a pain, but a couple of games of

Ok, thanks for the info.  i wont touch it.  will try to move the LEDs down a bit.  i have a feeling moving back a extra foot would help.  so, ill just have to hold off on configuring the gun for now.  but i have no doubt it will work fine.  as i got mame to recognize it.  

iv been snooping around the mame folder and the config files, and exploring the setup config for mame it self.  things are becoming much clearer on how mame works.  

cant sleep. so im playing around with adding another emulator to mala now. 3am blah.  i do wish mala had the emulator type separator that hyperspin appears to have.. hyperspin is heavy resources tho.. so cant be using it.  maybe when i build a new pc and mount the monitor regular ill try hyperspin.. it looks funny in vertical.. to stretched out.

one day ill sleep, one day
chris.


P.S

man im having so much fun.. been playing bowling, and some old school zaxxon.  i love this mame stuff.  so easy to take my mind off my pain.  so i got the trackball working in mame games now.  the gun will work once i get it move to the corner where i planned on from the start of the build.  and today i need to make some kind of gun holder.  

im so gonna need a stool tho. LOL.  im having fun.  now the basic configuration is done.. i need to pop the lid on the control panel and move the function keys around a bit.  also i need to figure out what buttons pinball uses as i do not have the pinball buttons hooked up was not sure what buttons to daisy chain them into.    MAME is FUN.  if you on the fence build your self a mame cab..  you will have so much fun.

i have some stuff to do yeah, and figure out but i got the basics figured out now and im having FUN!  wooot.  also notice other emulators no like vertical monitor.  fyi!  mame seems to handle it fine.  and thats good enough for me.  i want to get bejewel 3 to fire up via mala.  so today, is build some kind of holster for the gun.  and get Mala to fire up pc games.    then who knows maybe ill fire up paint and get rid of the generic rock vertical theme picture.  

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added a report card of the mames computers hardware in the form of a MAME-CED14A6EEC.txt document to check out of the computer im using, found this program called cpu-z  gives lots of info. id recommended downloading it and checking out your system..  (  http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html ) if anything will help you buy the right hardware if you are unsure what you need to update your system.  i think ill update the video card to 1 gig nvida, as the computer sits now it only has 512megs and hyperspin runs like a dog, and ill buy a spinner too, and a sheet of tinted plexi..  and get this project finish up in feb.  and start onto the next project.   project thin line!   

well i bought a 3d video pinball game today on gogo.com to try and see how the pinball buttons i have in my control panel need to be wired.    have to love all the vintage games you can buy for cheap there..

so far i have wired the plunger button into the Enter slot on the Ipac.  and the left plunger into the first fire button on player 1 side..  button, B, and C seem to act as tilt.  cant get the right plunger to move yet.

i see gogo.com costing me a lot of money, buy offering all these 90s pc games i grew up with.  not sure how many will fold over to arcade controls but im willing to try  



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update ( 3:28pm friday )
and i think im addicted to world of goo been playing it all day on my cab. laughs

[DaOld Man]

+1 on CPU-Z. Been using for years.