Author Topic: Troubleshooter - Portable JAMMA Test Rig / Supergun - Finished (Read 41547 times)

jmike · « **Reply #40 on:** October 26, 2012, 11:57:00 am »

Hey Nephasth,
what did you use to get the composite to work? (got a link) Raiden II is one of my favorites, good find.

Nephasth · « **Reply #41 on:** October 26, 2012, 12:01:23 pm »

A Weiya CV-04. eBay link. It will also output s-video (not labelled in the auction pics, but the s-video connector is right next to the composite connector and has a sticker on top of it).

Nephasth · « **Reply #42 on:** October 27, 2012, 05:06:11 pm »

Top layout is finalized. Hopefully cutting and drilling will begin soon...

Nephasth · « **Reply #43 on:** October 28, 2012, 04:45:47 pm »

I was able to get a couple hours of work in on this project today. I got all the round holes in the top panel drilled and those components test fitted.

First I printed off my cutout template I made in Visio and taped it to the top of the case. Then I cut out the square holes and scribed the lid with a razor blade for the straight cuts. This is why I love using Visio for templates.

Then I cut up some scrap wood and placed the boards inside the case with some rags. This was done to provide support for the lid while center punching and drilling to help reduce the amount of surface distortion.

Drill baby drill! I used cheap Chinese hole saws I got off ebay for the larger holes. They ended up working better than expected for the price. All the holes drilled out.

Most of the lid components test fitted. The round rocker switches aren't installed all the way, they're a press fit and I won't fully install them until final assembly. The joystick works and feels great installed.

A closer shot to show the scribe lines for the monitor cutout.

Getting excited seeing this in its current state!

emphatic · « **Reply #44 on:** October 28, 2012, 05:13:21 pm »

I'm excited too.

Nephasth · « **Reply #45 on:** October 29, 2012, 06:44:00 pm »

Quote from: emphatic on October 28, 2012, 05:13:21 pm

I'm excited too.

Side templates are made and ready to print out. Cut out the monitor and volt meter holes this afternoon.

Fit test. Monitor is just taped to the back side of the lid. There will be no gap when the monitor brackets get bolted to the lid.

yotsuya · « **Reply #46 on:** October 29, 2012, 06:46:34 pm »

Looking good so far. Did you use the Dremel for the squares after all?

Nephasth · « **Reply #47 on:** October 29, 2012, 07:05:42 pm »

Thanks. I used a Dremel with a cutoff wheel for the volt meter hole since it is so small. I used an air cutoff wheel to cut the monitor hole. My biggest concern with both was "run away". I used a metal "fence" and cut on the insides of the lines to get staight cuts. I actually took a pic of the setup, but the damned phone didn't save it properly. You can see a couple of notches in the top and bottom of the volt meter hole, the volt meter has retaining tabs at those locations that don't squeeze in far enough to clear those sides without notches present.

Nephasth · « **Reply #48 on:** November 03, 2012, 04:59:31 pm »

Bailing on the old name. Renamed this project the Troubleshooter supergun. Got all but one of the side holes cut out. I was able to mount the fan to determine the final position of the power supply and the approximate positions of the rest of the internal components. She'll be ready for paint before too long...

emphatic · « **Reply #49 on:** November 03, 2012, 05:58:08 pm »

Looks like there's plenty of space in there.

Nephasth · « **Reply #50 on:** November 11, 2012, 07:06:20 pm »

Finished all the holes finally. Test fit everything together.

This is not the JAMMA harness I will be using during final assembly, it's just in there to fill the edge connector hole. Also, the power cord is to show where the harnesses will be stored.

Player 1 and 2 controller ports.

Top power outlet is fused power in, bottom is isolated power out for arcade monitors.

Malenko · « **Reply #51 on:** November 11, 2012, 08:03:24 pm »

This is epic!

CoryBee · « **Reply #52 on:** November 11, 2012, 08:06:49 pm »

I am a tard I know, but what is this thing supposed to do? Make sure a game board works properly?

Nephasth · « **Reply #53 on:** November 11, 2012, 08:40:48 pm »

Quote from: Malenko on November 11, 2012, 08:03:24 pm

This is epic!

Quote from: CoryDee on November 11, 2012, 08:06:49 pm

I am a tard I know, but what is this thing supposed to do? Make sure a game board works properly?

In addition to this being a SuperGun that can output video via VGA, composite, or S-Video (in the future), it also doubles as a JAMMA test rig that can test JAMMA PCBs, non-JAMMA PCBs (with appropriate adapters), and arcade monitors to verify functionality. Let's say I want to go check out a game for sale, and it plays blind. I can bring this with me, unplug the JAMMA harness from the game board in the cabinet and plug in my JAMMA extension harness to the game board, then turn it on to see if the game plays on the test rig. If the game doesn't play on the test rig, I can test the monitor (with a PCB I bring with me, like a 60in1 because it's small) to see if it works. If I ever get a hold of a pattern generator, I'll incorporate it into the test rig as well, negating the need to bring a working PCB with me to check monitors. So... this will allow me to quickly narrow down main problems with new (to me) games, and also play arcade PCBs in my living room (due to the lack of a JAMMA cab in my game room) or even in hotel rooms when I'm on the road for work.

jmike · « **Reply #54 on:** November 12, 2012, 07:04:50 am »

Really cool Nephasth,

This will definitely come in handy. Just wondering how many jamma boards you own?

Le Chuck · « **Reply #55 on:** November 14, 2012, 09:10:50 pm »

Can't recall if it's been covered but is there a final finish slated for the case? I'd recommend getting it powder coated but you'd need to bore everything a little bigger to account for the paint. This is a great tool you're making.

mcseforsale · « **Reply #56 on:** February 15, 2013, 02:37:44 pm »

Neato. Subscribed.

AJ

Nephasth · « **Reply #57 on:** February 15, 2013, 05:03:07 pm »

This one's been on the back burner for a while. Pretty busy through the holidays. Built a dollhouse for my daughter, a CP for KeithPuetz, and have been working on other smaller projects. But a big kick in the pants just showed up today from down south! Thanks again yotsuya! You're the ---smurfing--- man!

Yotsuya was nice enough to make some stencils for this project, most of which are for button/switch labels and the logo as seen above.

Quote from: Le Chuck on November 14, 2012, 09:10:50 pm

Can't recall if it's been covered but is there a final finish slated for the case? I'd recommend getting it powder coated but you'd need to bore everything a little bigger to account for the paint. This is a great tool you're making.

I might bring the case down to the local powder coat shop to see what they say about it. But the handle and latches are rivetted on with chrome rivets and I'm not sure if they can mask those from the powder coat or not. More than likely I'll just spray paint the top to try and color match the gray, maybe with a black pinstripe border. The stencils will be used to paint the labels on in black, and I may clear coat afterwards. We'll find out soon enough.

Yvan256 · « **Reply #58 on:** February 15, 2013, 05:04:29 pm »

Where did you get all those small black buttons and what's the part number? They seem to be smaller than Sanwa SDM-20?

edit: we're all jealous of your Raiden II board.

Nephasth · « **Reply #59 on:** February 15, 2013, 05:14:51 pm »

Ebay. They're much smaller. They mount in a 12mm hole. Looks like they come in red too, so they may also have them in other colors as well.

yotsuya · « **Reply #60 on:** February 15, 2013, 05:26:57 pm »

Quote from: Nephasth on February 15, 2013, 05:03:07 pm

Cool story, bro.

opt2not · « **Reply #61 on:** February 15, 2013, 05:27:11 pm »

Woah.
Just jumped in here for the first time, I gotta say:

You really thought of everything! Isolated power for arcade monitors? what!??

TopJimmyCooks · « **Reply #62 on:** February 15, 2013, 07:59:14 pm »

drill out and re-rivet or mini carriage bolt. Must have PC.

Nephasth · « **Reply #63 on:** February 22, 2013, 08:00:18 pm »

Quote from: TopJimmyCooks on February 15, 2013, 07:59:14 pm

drill out and re-rivet or mini carriage bolt. Must have PC.

There are two companies that do powder coating in my town. Both gave me a quote of $75 to blast and coat. Most of the parts purchased for this build have been budget items, so I think I'll splurge a little and go the PC route.

This has been sitting on a shelf for months with all the components installed. I disassemble the whole thing today and prepped it for powder coating. I knocked down the high edges left behind by drilling with my die grinder and popped those rivets out with a cutoff wheel. Carriage bolts sound like the way to go as far as remounting the latches and handle.

I'm going to try to save about $25 on the powder coating, and see if my buddy Dmen can help me out with the blasting. Might have to trade some of my automotive skills this time, I feel a little guilty asking for help from him with some of my arcade related items, but he does such great work.

Nephasth · « **Reply #64 on:** February 28, 2013, 04:23:24 pm »

The powder coater called this morning, and I just picked this beauty up! Thanks to those who helped push me in this direction, the finish is amazing!

A close up.

Powder coating was done by T&T Customs in Cheyenne. The finish is T064-GR05 Silver Hammertone Semi-Gloss by Cardinal Paint.

Once the weather gets a little nicer I'll be painting the stencils on.

brad808 · « **Reply #65 on:** February 28, 2013, 05:35:32 pm »

Damn that looks slick man, good job.

CraftyMech · « **Reply #66 on:** February 28, 2013, 08:28:01 pm »

Sweet project!

When you get tired of your Raiden II board, just let me know

Nephasth · « **Reply #67 on:** March 01, 2013, 02:37:39 pm »

Thanks guys!

Got excited about this and couldn't wait to paint it. Using vinyl stickers as stencils worked out pretty slick. Once the paint fully cures I'll have to go back and make a few tiny touch ups (like the second "u" in "supergun").

Here's a shot during vinyl removal.

And the rest with some close ups.

I can't thank yotsuya enough. The stencils turned out great! Thanks again man!

harveybirdman · « **Reply #68 on:** March 01, 2013, 05:14:30 pm »

This looks spetacularly professional.

Nephasth · « **Reply #69 on:** March 17, 2013, 08:00:24 pm »

Quote from: harveybirdman on March 01, 2013, 05:14:30 pm

This looks spetacularly professional.

Thank you!

Finished up the JAMMA extension harness this evening. Made it three feet long.

TopJimmyCooks · « **Reply #70 on:** March 18, 2013, 08:42:22 am »

Oops - I think I see a little solder bridge on the edge board . . . . wait for it . . . .between the two black wires! [rimshot] Oh, I kill myself.

Nephasth · « **Reply #71 on:** March 18, 2013, 08:50:32 am »

Nephasth · « **Reply #72 on:** March 19, 2013, 07:29:47 pm »

Coming all back together. Assembly is about 98% done. I've got a replacement volume knob on the way (last one was damaged), need to make a plate out of the monitor cutout for the 24mm buttons so they snug up, and I'm looking into some feet for this since the screw heads on the bottom have the potential to scratch whatever surface this is set on. Pretty much just the wiring left now.

I added some tinted plexi between the monitor and the lid to protect the screen.

CoryBee · « **Reply #73 on:** March 19, 2013, 07:51:22 pm »

This thing looks awesome!

Can't wait to see some boards hooked up to it....perhaps a Cave-Man Ninja board you might have laying around.....

Nephasth · « **Reply #74 on:** March 19, 2013, 08:57:01 pm »

Quote from: CoryBee on March 19, 2013, 07:51:22 pm

This thing looks awesome!

Can't wait to see some boards hooked up to it....perhaps a Cave-Man Ninja board you might have laying around.....

I might have one of those laying around here somewhere...

Thanks again man!

Nephasth · « **Reply #75 on:** April 05, 2013, 11:01:13 pm »

CoryBee · « **Reply #76 on:** April 05, 2013, 11:32:00 pm »

Ohhhh snap! Cave-Man NINJA!

Had quite a lot of fun playing that thing before I tore it out of that beat up machine.

sabreerbasAlpha · « **Reply #77 on:** April 06, 2013, 05:08:14 am »

amazing just amazing mate. Congrats on owning the slickest supergun around.

Nephasth · « **Reply #78 on:** April 06, 2013, 03:35:22 pm »

Quote from: CoryBee on April 05, 2013, 11:32:00 pm

Ohhhh snap! Cave-Man NINJA!

Had quite a lot of fun playing that thing before I tore it out of that beat up machine.

The game seems to have a bit of a graphics glitch, missing some colors and a little blocky in some spots. But this why I'm building the Troubleshooter, to start doing some board repair!

Quote from: sabreerbasAlpha on April 06, 2013, 05:08:14 am

amazing just amazing mate. Congrats on owning the slickest supergun around.

Thanks man! Being a supergun just happened to be a "throw in" with this project. Not sure how often I'll use it as a supergun, but it's there if I ever want it to be.

Only about 25%-33% done with the wiring. I've only got all the power wired up (includes AC in, ISO AC out, fan, 5V pot and meter, LED switch lighting, converter board power, and monitor power) and the video signal to the monitor at this point. Probably about 10 more hours of wiring before the core is complete, then it's on to making some of the external harnesses... and maybe a controller or two.

Nephasth · « **Reply #79 on:** April 18, 2013, 11:42:50 pm »

Finished up the internal wiring tonight. She's fully functional now!

What's left: Make the external harnesses, fabricate a compartment for the inside, and touchup some paint.

I'm going to be bringing this to the Rocky Mountain Pinball Showdown just in case someone may have a board or two I'm interested in.

You can see the shim I made for the 24mm buttons to better hold them in place. And if you look real close you can see the back sides of the rivets of the rubber rivet feet.


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