Troubleshooter - Portable JAMMA Test Rig / Supergun - Finished

[Nephasth]

Here's my next little project. I'll be building a portable JAMMA test rig/supergun. It will be able to test JAMMA game boards by itself thanks to a 7" monitor. It will also be able to test arcade monitors with its RGB-S video out and isolated power out. It will have composite, s-video, and VGA out and internal and external audio. Also 2 DB15 connectors for NeoGeo and custom controllers. Just got the case the other day, and will be ordering the rest of the parts soon.







Want one? I'm thinking about building more than one: http://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?t=244322

[ark_ader]

Looks like a great project. 

I will follow it with interest.   

[emphatic]

Cool stuff. Will the 7" monitor be a small CRT or will a scaler be involved?

[Nephasth]

Will the 7" monitor be a small CRT or will a scaler be involved?

The 7" monitor is an LCD. This particular monitor directly accepts the 15khz RGB-S signal put out by most JAMMA boards. It's a 16:9 ratio, but if you put 5V to one of its pins, it will letterbox 4:3.

Here's a shot under the lid showing a little more detail:

[Le Chuck]

Subscribe!   

[TopJimmyCooks]

For a test rig, why not use a much smaller joystick or Dpad - to keep it from sticking up so much.  maybe one of those digi-key ones like people have used on their mini builds. 

Also, what about putting everything under the top lid rather than on top.  Then either remove or flip up the lid to use it. 

Also, I would have the jamma connector on a cable and able to flip out when needed so the board can lie flat on the work surface.  With the connector built into the side, you may have to support the other end of the board while plugged in. 

Recess the RCA jacks.  or put them on top under the lid.  maybe the display could be on the underside of the lid and used bartop style when opened. 

[Nephasth]

For a test rig, why not use a much smaller joystick or Dpad - to keep it from sticking up so much.  maybe one of those digi-key ones like people have used on their mini builds.   

I've ordered a much smaller industrial joystick, the JLW was all I had access to in Sketchup. Here's the one that will be used: http://www.farnell.com/datasheets/75512.pdf
It will only protrude 39mm from the lid. Compared to the JLW's ~70mm height with balltop installed.

Also, what about putting everything under the top lid rather than on top.  Then either remove or flip up the lid to use it. 

The dimensions and design of the box I am using would make this difficult. The lid isn't readily removable and only opens 90 degrees as is.

Also, I would have the jamma connector on a cable and able to flip out when needed so the board can lie flat on the work surface.  With the connector built into the side, you may have to support the other end of the board while plugged in.   

I'll be making my own JAMMA extension harness about 3' long. I won't be connecting boards directly to the unit.

Recess the RCA jacks.  or put them on top under the lid.  maybe the display could be on the underside of the lid and used bartop style when opened. 

The onboard monitor is for testing purposes only. When the unit is being used as a supergun the display used while playing will be a much larger TV/monitor.

There won't be much room inside the box to have everything be internal. The power supply, isolation transformer, and video converters will take up a lot of real estate inside (along with the lid components' depth and internal wiring). But there will be enough room to store the various cords and harnesses (but I don't think I'll be able to store NeoGeo controllers inside).

[TopJimmyCooks]

I knew you'd thought out all the details.  Interested to see the case/source thereof. 

[cigardude]

Where did you get the case from?

[Nephasth]

Interested to see the case/source thereof.

Where did you get the case from?

I've found a guy with a limited quantity. I'm trying to work out a deal for 10 more, once that's done or falls through I'll post pics of the case.

[emphatic]

That monitor sounds awesome, but will it work with funky refreshrates, like Seibu's Raiden series?

To bring the profile down you could use a SANWA JLF equipped with The Link (detachable shaft) or just use 24 mm pushbuttons mounted hitbox style?

[Nephasth]

That monitor sounds awesome, but will it work with funky refreshrates, like Seibu's Raiden series?

No clue. Don't even know if the video converter boards will handle that. This setup will be able to test/play the majority of "standard" game boards and a good hand full of classics via adapters.

To bring the profile down you could use a SANWA JLF equipped with The Link (detachable shaft) or just use 24 mm pushbuttons mounted hitbox style?

This was something that I tossed around back and forth in my head. But in the end I decided on a non-conventional joystick with 24mm buttons to test P1 and 12mm buttons for P2. Mainly due to the fact that if I wanted to enjoy decent playability, I can hook up custom controllers via the DB15 connectors. JAMMA+ games will have additional harnesses for custom controllers to plug into each game's kick harness header.

[Nephasth]

About 98% of the parts (for the first one) have been ordered. This just showed up today.



Even came with different restrictors (and mounting hardware not pictured).


8-way operation feels pretty good on this. This is a much higher quality stick than I was expecting. We'll see how it performs once installed.

[yotsuya]

That's a pretty cool little stick.

[Nephasth]

Modelled the stick this morning.

How it compares to a JLW.


Makes those 24mm buttons look big...


Underneath.

[Nephasth]

I've got some more cases on the way. Here's what they look like. The logo is painted on, but I've got plans to take care of that.



Approximate monitor and joystick placement.


Inside. Those brackets will be removed...

[emphatic]

Cases look great!

[dextercf]

Now this looks like something I might wanna subscribe to..

[Nephasth]

Did a bench test of the major components going into the Briefcase. I've had the Hellfire board for half a year, and this is the first time I've powered it up (big thanks to nitz for the board). Monitor needs a little adjustment, and the little speaker works good too. Waiting for the last of the parts to come in. I've started the cutout template in Visio for the top of the lid as well.

[yotsuya]

Man, I wish I would have got in on those monitors back then...

[Nephasth]

Yeah, they're pretty awesome little monitors. I grabbed 3 back then, and made the harnesses for ~80% of the monitors that were ordered (kind of glad that's over with). I was considering scrapping the MiniBeast project to use all my monitors for Briefcases... but after getting one going last night I kind of want to make a MiniBeast or two again. Now I'm wishing I had bought more monitors when I had the chance.

[teeuwen]

Where are you going to fit the MAME PC?

its jamma i don't think he is putting a pc in there.

[Nephasth]

.

[Nephasth]

VGA - check.



Composite - check.

[Nephasth]

.

[jmike]

Composite check?   

Awesome work!!

 

[BadMouth]

Bit late to this thread.
Sure you've seen it, but just in case not:
http://www.focusattack.com/jlf-link/
(detachable shaft for Sanwa JLF)

[Brian74]

where did you get that little joystick. I need one for my racing cab!

[Nephasth]

Composite check?   

Awesome work!!

 

Thanks man.

Bit late to this thread.
Sure you've seen it, but just in case not:
http://www.focusattack.com/jlf-link/
(detachable shaft for Sanwa JLF)

It was a consideration, but cost and size led me to the stick I'm using.

where did you get that little joystick. I need one for my racing cab!

UPS.
Search for "Apem joystick", you find a few cool ones.

[Nephasth]

Here's the main reason why I "bench tested" the components the other day... New board just came in, and I wanted to make sure it was working when it got here.



Yep, it works.

[harveybirdman]

Where's the I'm Jealous you son of a ---smurfette--- emoticon?

Some day the devs will tackle Raiden II. 

[Well Fed Games]

Nice! Out of curiosity, does it save high scores?

[Nephasth]

Nice! Out of curiosity, does it save high scores?

Nope.    "xxx" for names on high score list.

[Well Fed Games]

Nice! Out of curiosity, does it save high scores?

Nope.    "xxx" for names on high score list.

Figured, both my Seibu boards are the same way. Thought you might be luckier! (Not that I will be posting many scores to be proud of  )

[Unstupid]

I'm all for projects for the sake of keeping a man's hands busy, but what's the ultimate purpose of this?

I like this question!

[emphatic]

Seibu boards are great to test as they have weird refresh rates that some screens can't handle.

[Nephasth]

Well, I really thought I'd be done with this project by now. A parts order from China has been holding the whole thing up. The small momentary pushbuttons are what I'm waiting on. I ordered them back in late July. The first package got lost in LA, the seller was nice enough to send a replacement package (15 buttons total), but it showed up with only 1 button inside. Notified the seller and they said that they would ship out the remaining 14 in a hurry. Got those today... but they're not momentary!!! Ordering from China is pretty much a crap shoot...

Well, the seller is sending yet another package. The lengths they'll go to for peanuts...

[yotsuya]

Well, I really thought I'd be done with this project by now. A parts order from China has been holding the whole thing up. The small momentary pushbuttons are what I'm waiting on. I ordered them back in late July. The first package got lost in LA, the seller was nice enough to send a replacement package (15 buttons total), but it showed up with only 1 button inside. Notified the seller and they said that they would ship out the remaining 14 in a hurry. Got those today... but they're not momentary!!! Ordering from China is pretty much a crap shoot...

Well, the seller is sending yet another package. The lengths they'll go to for peanuts...

What did you pay? Like $10 shipped? 

[Nephasth]

What did you pay? Like $10 shipped? 

$27.75 shipped. $1.85 each. Which is the only reason I've kept on it...

[Nephasth]

Well, the right buttons finally made it here. Now it's time to get the ball rolling on this one. Yesterday I removed the 5V adjustment pot from the power supply so I can solder in a remote pot that will be adjustable from the top of the case. I also fabricated the mounting brackets for the only two components that will require them; the monitor and the power supply.







I need to finalize the cutout template for the top of the case and then I can begin making the holes for all of the components. Hopefully I'll get a little momentum going on this thing...