Just bought 2 x Qanba q4 RAF sticks...looking for cab ideas? if you bored :)

[Bonoscot]

Guys i just recently purchased 2 Qanba q4 raf sticks Black,stunning to look at and p16.1 inches long sticks i played with so far.
They are dual sticks out of the box and work fantastically on PC/PS3/360 via USB plug and play.

Now im looking into building a new mame cab (i built one years ago,was good,not great) that had  x arcade sticks built in.

The problem i have is....I was gonna make my new Control panel first,i wanted to have the qanba open up and refitted into my control panel,but i actually love the way they look outta the box,therefore i want to build both sticks in a control unit without breaking them down.

I am also going to add a USB Trackball and 2 x USB Spinners to the unit.

Now i know a very high majoity of people have Ipac etc,but have you guys built/seen/or have any good ideas on how to add both these sticks(16.2" long x 10" wide) plus a track ball and 2 usb spinners to a  control unit ( i dont really want to just stick them on top of MDF board.

well something like this track ball and neon blue spinners....i kind of want a modern look,carbon fibre,plexi glass,neon blue theme,plasma plates look etc.

Again if you guys have any ideas let me know,id appreciate any help on this before i begin .

i did plan on ipac but i needed to have all consoles working as well as mame (without all the soldering etc)....hence my original concept out the window..

i know you guys are good at building mame so.....

[Yvan256]

The best way to do it would be to make the merging part of the design, do not try to hide the fact that it's separate units.

All I can recommend is to plan ahead with Sketchup. And if you have access to a CNC (yourself, a friend or a furniture company in your area that accepts custom orders) the possibilities are endless.

[BadMouth]

The vewlix type designs don't look too bad with fightsticks for a CP.



I'd make all the controls look like modular things fitted together rather than having a big solid CP with two spaces where the fight sticks slide in.
To put it another way, have the area the trackball is in resemble a box similar in style to the Qanbas.

Not sure what to tell you about the spinners.  I'm not sure how well those rotary usb things work for actual gameplay.
What games did you plan on using them for?


EDIT: other styles that might work

SEGA net city


Global VR Justice League

[Bonoscot]

thanks for input,

i been looking all day at designs and got a few ideas now.

i was planning on using spinners for MAME games......like tempest,pong,araknoid etc

The q4 really are nice to look at and i didnt want to hide that fact either....ill keep looking at designs etc tho


again thank you

[PL1]

i was planning on using spinners for MAME games......like tempest,pong,araknoid etc

To play Arkanoid properly, you'll probably want to use a TT2 or SpinTrak due to the high resolution.


Scott

[Bonoscot]

As long as there USB spinners,they will do....However,i want to add a few more button,maybe 6,if im using both sticks,how would i add another six buttons to my cab? Would i need to buy an Ipac? or is there another way?

[BadMouth]

As long as there USB spinners,they will do....However,i want to add a few more button,maybe 6,if im using both sticks,how would i add another six buttons to my cab? Would i need to buy an Ipac? or is there another way?

The trackball will show up as a mouse and will include a harness for the 3 mouse buttons.
If you can whittle it down to only needing 3 extra buttons, you could get by with that.

For more than that, you'd have to add a keyboard or gamepad encoder, or hack a cheap gamepad by soldering wires to the PCB of it.

[PL1]

As long as there USB spinners,they will do.

They both come with a USB encoder.

i want to add a few more button,maybe 6,if im using both sticks,how would i add another six buttons to my cab? Would i need to buy an Ipac? or is there another way?

This is a perfect place for an AVR Encoder or the soon-to-be-released KADE.

If one of the maps on the AVR encoder page above has the admin buttons you want -- I assume that is what you are wanting to add here -- you can:

1.) Go the budget route and program an AVR yourself and solder on 7 wires (6 inputs + ground) like Degenatrons did here.


2.) Get one from Degenatrons (PM him for details) that's already programmed and has labelled screw terminals.


You can upgrade the firmware from AVR Encoder to KADE when it releases in several weeks.

3. Wait for the KADE to release and order one. (More expensive, but it is easier to mount)



Scott

[Bonoscot]

Very nice...can i buy it or do i have to make it?

im from UK,i was only wanting to add a few more buttons to my cab as im using 2 sticks (but want a few more buttone,the ipac was too much)

[PL1]

Very nice...can i buy it or do i have to make it?

There are different places like this where you can buy the basic Minimus AVR if you are decent at soldering. (Disclaimer: I haven't done business with MrModchips.)


If you want the small screw terminals version, PM Degenatrons.  He should still have some left.



Scott