First cab attempt

[Kashyyyk]

Just wanted to post up my cab. My daughter really wanted to get into gaming but newer games were a bit complex and more time consuming than what she was looking for. She peaked my interest and we decided to build a cab. Still not done, but really just have the decals and the T-moulding to do. This is my first attempt at a cab, so I really had a good bit of trial and error. We are running an xbox with unleashed X and coinops. Since time is a huge commodity at this point with 2 daughters, we decided to go with an xarcade. Thus far, I have no complaints despite the general consensus. It just made sense for us and our level of play, but I did leave the cab open for conversion at a later time. What started as a father daughter projected morphed into a father son project when my daughter said enough with manual labor and my father got addicted!  A huge thanks to ChanceKJ for allowing me to use his plans for his magnificent Flynn Cab. Another huge thanks to Ark_ader for his mentoring and helpful advice. Couldn't have gotten this done without the direction these two gave.  The daughters are big in DC Comics at this point, as am I, so we probably going with that theme instead of a traditional gaming side art.

[DeLuSioNal29]

Welcome to the forums!  Nice work!

I also love the fact that you left the front open for a future control panel design in the future!

DeLuSioNaL29

[ChanceKJ]

I just realized i missed this thread. (And it was made on my birthday too! )

Great job on the Cab man,  It's seriously crazy seeing something so familiar but so very different at the same time.

 

[Yenome]

What is the screen size and make?

[Kashyyyk]

Thanks Chance, and again, much appreciated for the help. I've still got to get the artwork done on the sides and marquee but time has been limited lately.

Yenome, I just grabbed the cheapest 32 inch TV from Wal-Mart, an Emerson. Since the brain is an xbox with coinops, it plugs right into the TV as usual with no issues. As long as the TV is on game mode, there is no delay. I also don't have to worry about adding a sound control button since I can just use the remote.

I also added my old Wii to the cab recently so we could play lightgun games. I ended up cutting a slot just above the TV for the sensor and put in a switch box in the bottom to flip between the emulator/xbox and the Wii. I bought a couple of cheap pistols and shotguns off online for next to nothing for the Wii controllers. The set up works pretty well with all things considering.

[Kashyyyk]

Maybe the vast experience on here can help. I'm getting pretty tired of having to reach into the trap door on the bottom to turn on the xbox and Wii. I would like to add power switches onto the cab just above the control panel and below the TV but I have no experience on how this could be done or even if it could be done on an xbox and Wii. Any ideas?

[gbeef]

very nice work. When you get time look into swapping the Xarcade with with a custom CP you will notice a big difference. Your craftsmanship on the cab is awesome. Nice build

[Yenome]

Maybe the vast experience on here can help. I'm getting pretty tired of having to reach into the trap door on the bottom to turn on the xbox and Wii. I would like to add power switches onto the cab just above the control panel and below the TV but I have no experience on how this could be done or even if it could be done on an xbox and Wii. Any ideas?

open the xbox and the wii and you could solder two wires into the power button and run them to the switches. i know its not in depth but im sure someone on google will have an indept guide

[Kashyyyk]

Anyone suggest someone to print and compile the art for the cab and marquee? My problem is, I really have a crappy computer and no photoshop to be able to really make something myself.

[stavros693000]

great first attempt, welcome to BYOAC friend...

just for next time try and rotate your pics the right way up before yoy post.
anywho very nice build congrats

[Kashyyyk]

Well, I wanted to do some art on the side, but with Christmas coming up, money was a bit tight for me to pay for the design as well as printing. I ended up running across fathead and grabbed something that will work for the time being. I will eventually replace the marquee and get a skin for the xarcade, but for now I'm ok with it.

[Kashyyyk]

Still can't figure out how to turn the photos when posting from my phone.

[Frank Drebin]

Maybe the vast experience on here can help. I'm getting pretty tired of having to reach into the trap door on the bottom to turn on the xbox and Wii. I would like to add power switches onto the cab just above the control panel and below the TV but I have no experience on how this could be done or even if it could be done on an xbox and Wii. Any ideas?

open the xbox and the wii and you could solder two wires into the power button and run them to the switches. i know its not in depth but im sure someone on google will have an indept guide

Yeah.  I took apart my OUYA for my build and was able to solder two wires right beside the power switch.  It was pretty easy, I jumpered them to see if they would work of course prior.  Now I have an arcade button to start from the outside.

From this:



To This:



I'm sure the XBOX is very similar.

By the way, very nice work!  If it was me I'd take apart that tankstick and use the parts for a custom panel.  You and your dad obviously have the woodworking skills, just need to buy a bit more mdf.

Edit:  Here's your power button.  2 of those 4 wire's when connected power on and off your machine.



From this page:

http://www.question-defense.com/2010/12/29/open-xbox-360-take-xbox-360-apart

And on the Wii.  Of course dismantling to access is necessary

[Kashyyyk]

That's awesome and greatly appreciated. I'm such a wimp when it comes to electronics though in fear I'll mess it up. I'll try to take it apart to see what I can figure out along the line you suggested. Yeah eventually I'm going to switch to a custom CP but for the time being I'm pleased with the xarcade.

[Frank Drebin]

That's awesome and greatly appreciated. I'm such a wimp when it comes to electronics though in fear I'll mess it up. I'll try to take it apart to see what I can figure out along the line you suggested. Yeah eventually I'm going to switch to a custom CP but for the time being I'm pleased with the xarcade.

Ya its easier to practice on a $70 OUYA than on an XBOX or Wii for sure.

You can always practice soldering on an old junk circuitboard too.  PC's are way easier to remote locate the power switch.  There is are 2 wirew that connect to the motherboard and you just cut the little microswitch out and put your arcade switch in there instead.

Good luck if you do decide to try!