Nora's Neo-Geo MVS Mini (5/12/14 UPDATE)

[PL1]

You can wire it directly to the encoder.

This page shows the pinout at the bottom and has the controller schematic, too.

Here is a Neo-Geo extender cable that might work well for you.


Scott

[CWorley]

You can wire it directly to the encoder.

This page shows the pinout at the bottom and has the controller schematic, too.

Here is a Neo-Geo extender cable that might work well for you.


Scott

That extender cable should work great.  Thanks!  Now the question is how do I mount it on the cab so that it looks nice and clean?

[PL1]

That extender cable should work great.  Thanks!  Now the question is how do I mount it on the cab so that it looks nice and clean?

Do you know where on the cab you want the connector to be?

Method#1 -
Get a strain relief boot the size of the cable.

Drill the proper size hole through the panel.
Push boot through from inside.
Feed cable through boot from outside until connector is snug against it.
Securely tighten several zip ties around the cable and against the inside of the panel to keep the cable from pulling back out.

Method #2 - embed connector body in panel
Drill a hole large enough for the cable and widen it enough to wedge the connector in place.  (Put a clamp on the back to keep it from pulling forward)

Flat sides before the taper appear to be around .6" long, so you might want to leave it sticking out a bit.

.     |         |
.   -------------
.   |              |
.   |              |------------
.   \              /   panel
.     \           /-------------
.       \       /      clamp 
.         ----     
.         |  |


Scott

[CWorley]

Thanks Scott!  I'm definitely interested in doing something more like method#1.

Right now, I'm thinking the connector will either go on the right side of the front panel near the top or on the side of the cab by the control panel.

[PL1]

Thanks Scott!  I'm definitely interested in doing something more like method#1.

Right now, I'm thinking the connector will either go on the right side of the front panel near the top or on the side of the cab by the control panel.

Looking closer at your cab plans, it occurred to me that you might be able to use method #1 to come out the back (maybe on the 45 degree inset?) and have a couple of hooks to hang the controller on when not in use.  Add two velcro cable wraps -- 1 on the extender cable and one on the controller cable -- to keep the controller from unplugging  accidently.




Scott

[CWorley]

Received some more parts the other day from divemaster:

GoldLeaf Pushbuttons


Coin Door


Cheers!

[CWorley]

Construction has begun...


Cheers!

[CWorley]

Side panels cut...


Cheers!

[Yvan256]

Side panels cut...

The Neo-Geo profile really is a classic! 

[CWorley]

What do you guys think?  Black or white for the joystick ball top?

[Le Chuck]

What do you guys think?  Black or white for the joystick ball top?

White! 

[Yvan256]

What do you guys think?  Black or white for the joystick ball top?

Neo-Geo had black bat tops. 

[Unstupid]

I'd vote for bat tops in whatever color you are going to use for your t-molding... 

[CWorley]

:::UPDATE:::

T-molding slots have been cut...


Cheers!

[CWorley]

The base for the cabinet has been completed.


Most of the support pieces have also been put into place.  Still need to decide the best way to mount the monitor.  The two support pieces by the marquee area also need to be modified.



Cheers!

[CWorley]

More progress being made...









Cheers!

[CWorley]

I have a few questions for you guys:

First, I'm planning on purchasing a GGG NovaMatrix for the marquee.  Is the "standard" set of 6 (18 LEDs) enough to light my 18.5" x 6" marquee?

Second, what do you guys think about corner protectors for the front bottom corner of cabinets?  I've seen a lot of Neo Geo cabinets with them.


Finally, any thoughts on the progress so far?  Do you guys see any red flags in the construction?

Cheers!

[BadMouth]

First, I'm planning on purchasing a GGG NovaMatrix for the marquee.  Is the "standard" set of 6 (18 LEDs) enough to light my 18.5" x 6" marquee?

It will be plenty.  I'm using one to light a 30.5 x 4.5" marquee.

Second, what do you guys think about corner protectors for the front bottom corner of cabinets?  I've seen a lot of Neo Geo cabinets with them.

I think it will look better without them, especially since the cab is scaled down and the protectors won't be.
However, if you think the front corners might get damaged by a vacuum cleaner or toys banging against them, definitely include them.
(of course you can always add them to hide the damage after it has happened)
I thought hard about them for my current build, but I needed them on the back since my corners were getting mushroomed by laying the cab back to work on it.
All the ones I've seen were on the front through, so decided against it.

Finally, any thoughts on the progress so far?  Do you guys see any red flags in the construction?

Looking good to me.  Especially that you angled the framing in the marquee area to avoid shadows. 

[CWorley]

Regarding fans/airflow, my initial plan was to put two 120mm fans w/ dust filters on the bottom of the cab blowing up for intake and two 120mm fans on the top/slanted back of the cab for outtake.

Is that too much?  Should I go with just one intake and one outtake?

What do you guys think?

Thanks!

[BadMouth]

Way too much.

On my current build, I have two 120mm fans in the bottom and another one on the cpu cooler.
It feels like a friggin house fan.  I plan to add a fan controller to slow them down.

A single fan at the top would probably be enough.

I put the fans on the bottom because the back of my cab sits flush with the wall.
Not sure I've seen it done that way before and there's probably a reason. 

The bottom of yours won't be against the wall, so why not put the vent on the bottom of the back?

[CWorley]

Way too much.

On my current build, I have two 120mm fans in the bottom and another one on the cpu cooler.
It feels like a friggin house fan.  I plan to add a fan controller to slow them down.

A single fan at the top would probably be enough.

I put the fans on the bottom because the back of my cab sits flush with the wall.
Not sure I've seen it done that way before and there's probably a reason. 

The bottom of yours won't be against the wall, so why not put the vent on the bottom of the back?

:::UPDATE::

Sorry, read that wrong the first time around.  Putting the fan at the bottom of the back is a possibility.  I like the idea of putting it in the bottom base because then it blows up through the cab.

[PL1]

I put the fans on the bottom because the back of my cab sits flush with the wall.
Not sure I've seen it done that way before and there's probably a reason. 

The main reason that comes to mind is that you'll probably pick up a lot more dust.

Also makes cleaning dust bunnies off an intake filter a real pain.   


Scott

[CWorley]

Alright, I'll definitley just go with one outtake fan then on the top incline.

Is an intake fan needed?

This isn't a full upright, but it's not a small bartop either.

[eds1275]

Random question. Is your daughter's name Nora because you are a huge batman fan and that's Mr. Freeze's wife's' name? If so, how long could you hide it before your wife found out?

[BadMouth]

Alright, I'll definitley just go with one outtake fan then on the top incline.

Is an intake fan needed?

This isn't a full upright, but it's not a small bartop either.

I don't think it's needed as long as the thing isn't full of leaks that will prevent air from being sucked in from the lower vent.
Heat rises, so even if the cab is leaky, the heat will go to the top and be removed by the exhaust fan.
On the other hand, it's not going to hurt anything and would be extra insurance to have it.
 
I put a single 80mm fan in the top and a long, large vent in the bottom of a 3/4 scale pacman style cabinet that I built for my nephew last year. 

[CWorley]

Random question. Is your daughter's name Nora because you are a huge batman fan and that's Mr. Freeze's wife's' name? If so, how long could you hide it before your wife found out?

Sorry, this isn't the case.  While I do consider myself a Batman fan, I don't care much for Mr. Freeze.  Going with 'Nora' was my idea, but there's no interesting (geeky) story behind it.  For all you George R. R. Martin fans, we did consider 'Arya' though.

[CWorley]

The top/back panel is cut with holes for an exhaust fan and power button.



Cheers!

[CWorley]

Trying to decide if should go with black or white t-molding.  What do you guys think?

Also, what do you guys think about adding a kick plate?

[TPA5]

Trying to decide if should go with black or white t-molding.  What do you guys think?

Also, what do you guys think about adding a kick plate?

I lurk mostly and don't know jack about arcade builds...But I'm a sucker for white t molding. It looks super good in my opinion.

[Unstupid]

T-Molding matches your joysticks....  What color are your joysticks?

[BadMouth]

T-Molding matches your joysticks....  What color are your joysticks?

I never thought about it that way.....you're absolutely right!

[CWorley]

Well, the joystick ball top will be white, so there ya go.  White it is!

Any thoughts on a kick plate?

[CWorley]

The monitor is now mounted...


What do you guys think about the location of the monitor (height/depth)?

Cheers!

[Unstupid]

Hard to tell cause your speaker panel and control panel are not there, but I would have put them in the middle of them.  That way you bezel is even on the top and bottom. 

[CWorley]

Hard to tell cause your speaker panel and control panel are not there, but I would have put them in the middle of them.  That way you bezel is even on the top and bottom. 

Ended up raising the monitor about an inch.  The bezel will be a little bit bigger on top than on the bottom, but I don't think it'll be that noticable.  The whole bezel itself will be really thin due to the screen taking up almost the entire space.  I'll be using tinted grey glass which will make it even less noticable.

Cheers!

[Woodshop Flunky]

Just stumbled onto your build.  Looking really great.  Love this style cab. 

[CWorley]

Just stumbled onto your build.  Looking really great.  Love this style cab. 

Thanks Woodshop!  Your American Ace cab definitely helped set the idea for this cab in motion.

[CWorley]

This is the current state of the cab.  Here you can see the mount for the lcd monitor.


Working on the speaker shelf, bezel, and back panels at the moment.

Cheers!

[CWorley]

Slowly but surely...

I've attached some pics of the speaker shelf.  The width of the shelf will need to be trimmed down later.







Will be working on the bezel and control panel next.

Cheers!

[CWorley]

Progress has been slow lately because the work room is not heated and it's cold in Wisconsin.

Here are some pictures of how the connector for the Neo Geo controller will be held in place:







This panel is not cut to size yet, but it will be at the bottom of the back of the cabinet.  It will have the controller connector, an intake fan, and the outlet for the power cord.

Cheers!