*Scratch Build 32" wide Upright Cab - White Melamine **99.9% Complete**

[a1pharm]

Here are some pics of the marquee area.  I will sandwich artwork from gameongraphics in between some plexi sheets.  I had Lowes cut the plexi for me.  It didn't cost anything to have it cut, and it saved me a bunch of time and dust...

[a1pharm]

Here are some shots of the wiring/computer work (the subwoofer is mounted next to the motherboard and is forward firing).  The cable management is not beautifully meticulous, but it will do just fine for this application.  I'm just waiting on the CP art to arrive before I create the CP (that rat's nest of cables and USB controllers has everything I need for all of the control interfaces).  It just shipped a few days ago, so hopefully this thing will be completed in the next two weeks...

[a1pharm]

Here's the marquee.  Nothing fancy, that was the point.

[otsep]

Love the simple design.

The melamine gives it such a clean look.

[a1pharm]

I think I'll be using melamine from here on out for all commissioned builds.  No painting or laminating makes up for the slight extra work on making the edges "pretty."

[otsep]

I think I'll be using melamine from here on out for all commissioned builds.  No painting or laminating makes up for the slight extra work on making the edges "pretty."

Good point.  You can order it with all kinds of different surfaces on it too.  My stepfather uses it a lot for his cabinetry business.

[ChanceKJ]

I really wished i could have gotten my hands on some MDO here in Calgary, All the benefits of the surface, but none of the particle board issues. Its like the best of both worlds.  Oddly, its just not found anywhere here, which i find quite strange. Of the dozen places i called only one was even willing to help me with it, and only if i bought a whole flat of boards. Unless i had access to a CnC and could make cab kits to sell it really wouldn't be worth it.

 

[a1pharm]

Each 4' x 8' x 3/4" sheet was $25 at Lowes.  I used 2 for this build (I have VERY little scrap left).  The finish is not as durable as laminate, but it feels damn close.  Considering laminate = ~150-200, and MDF = 40/sheet around here, this is a steal of a deal.  Saves a helluva lot of time, too.  The only downside (and it is a serious one if you don't do things carefully) is the chipping along cut edges.  Special saw blades or a router will have to be used for all cuts if you want things to be perfect.   

[a1pharm]

So I finished the beast about a week ago, but didn't get around to taking any final HDR pics of it.  If anyone has questions, let me know.  For those of you interested in this type of thing: it took 35 days from start to finish, including all planning, ordering, and artwork. 

In addition to MAME, it runs Future Pinball (flipper buttons on sides of cab) Gameboy, NES, SNES, and N64 emulators (CP used for everything but N64 - I got USB N64 controllers for that emulator).  In addition to traditional type game options, I also installed 3 PC games:

1. Mushroom Kingdom Fusion
2. Super Mario Fusion
3. Tiger Woods 2008 (uses the trackball quite nicely)

Here's the final itemized list of all costs (grand total = $897.96 USD):

Dirtcheaptrading.com      
Item   Cost   link
2 1/4 trackball ps2 LED   24.95   http://www.dirtcheaptrading.com/arcade-parts/arcade-controls.html?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=80&category_id=2
Mounting plate   9.95   http://www.dirtcheaptrading.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=101&category_id=2&redirected=1&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=6
Xin MO USB controller   18.95   http://www.dirtcheaptrading.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=78&category_id=2&redirected=1&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=6
Shipping   7.95   


Amazon      
USB extension cable x 2   4.7   http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00P3HYHOK/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=AS7T8BPEDKV97
USB 2 port external hub   5.25   http://www.amazon.com/female-socket-panel-mount-extension/dp/B00NIH1PZ6/ref=pd_cp_pc_0
Power port panel mount   3   http://www.amazon.com/Inlet-Module-Switch-Socket-IEC320/dp/B0050HH70E/ref=pd_sim_e_6?ie=UTF8&refRID=1YGWNVJA23QV6ZM85DEY
2.1 Logitech speakers   33.94   http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-980-000382-Z313-Speaker-System/dp/B002HWRZ2K/ref=sr_1_186?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1423230570&sr=1-186&keywords=2.1+speakers
Geforce 610   34.99   http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-GeForce-1024MB-Graphics-01G-P3-2615-KR/dp/B00847TOLC/ref=lh_ni_t?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3FLCJBXDR8DL8


GroovyGameGear.com      
Zippy Arcade Stick x 3   23.85   http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=65&products_id=371
Joystick Mounting Kit x 4   6.95   http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=70&products_id=317
White pushbuttons x 23   27.6   http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=73&products_id=351
T-molding white 40 ft   16   http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=75&products_id=222
Shipping   14.45   


Newegg.com      
320 gb HDD   29.99   http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA5AD1S71713
2 gb DDR3 1333 x 2   35.99   http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231394
500w PSU 80 plus cert   34.99   http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817159124
Motherboard LGA 1155   29.99   http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813186244
Intel Celeron 2.7 ghz G1620   46.99   http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116888
Shipping   3.99   


Best Buy      
Insignia 32" 1080p 60hz LED   189.99   http://www.ebay.com/itm/Insignia-32-034-Class-31-1-2-034-Diag-LED-1080p-HDTV-Black-/201190265417?_trksid=p2054897.l4275#shpCntId
tax   10.45   


Lowes #1      
2 x 3/4 x 4 x 8 Melamine      
5 x 2x2x8      
L rail      
U rail      
various hardware      
plexi      
   153.82   


Gameongraphix      
Marquee   29.99   
Control Panel   65.99   
Shipping   8.85   


Ebay      
N64 Usb controllers x 2   24.4   http://www.ebay.com/itm/171649106403


Grand Total   897.96   

[otsep]

  Nice!

I really like the clean, simple look.

[Demon-Seed]

Any chance you could post plans? (the detailed ones you made)?
Do they make this Malemine stuff in black?  When drilling wholes I would thing it would be prone to chipping/cracking?

Great clean cabinet!

[otsep]

Do they make this Malemine stuff in black?  When drilling wholes I would thing it would be prone to chipping/cracking?

Great clean cabinet!

They make melamine with many different surface finishes.

http://www.builddirect.com/Melamine-Sheets-Results.aspx

For drilling holes you can sandwich scrap wood above and below to minimize chipping, use a forstner bit or a spiral upcut bit with a router.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Demon-Seed]

Hey,
So...... I had to google the two bits as I had no idea!! LOL My first cab ever was based on LUSIDs design way back in the day.. it has been 13 years since my last cabinet!! Times have changed... I have a nice router now.. just need to learn how to use it   I am starting to plan a new build very similar to this one... and seems a router could be useful. Any links or how to use the darn thing? I am such a newbie again..

[a1pharm]

Take a look at my first cab (in my sig) for info on how to use a router and other useful tidbits.  As for the plans, I can't scan them anymore (got a new printer, still trying to figure it out).  As for black melamine, I've never seen it.  However, painting white melamine black is always an option.  Let me know when you have bought the wood and other tools, and hopefully I'll have this printer/scanner figured out by then.

Cheers!