Gribbli's first cab - Project Aperture [Complete]

[gribbli]

Hi guys, been lurking on the forum for a couple of weeks now and have decided to have a go at my first build. I have had a small (~5ft tall/17" screen) stand up cab for about 10 years, but alas it is now feeling its age.

In it's most recent resurrection, I had to replace the original arcade monitor with an LCD  - This final escapade made me realize I just wasn't willing to keep spending money on it anymore.

So instead, this very cool forum has inspired me to build my own 'everything i ever wanted' cab. I started off by having a run through google images to give myself some ideas, I'm a big outrun fan and really love the cut out style of the upright version. So using that and a couple of other designs I threw together a quick sketch of the kind of thing I was looking for.

Apologies to people with eyes, I can not draw.


With that in hand I had heard of sketchup on the forum, so had a go at that to put together a more realistic basis for the system. I have never used this software before, so again apologies for what I am sure is a crude representation. I am pretty happy with the style going forward though.


I am already through the fist couple of steps of the build and will post them up momentarily.

EDIT:

So here they are, some completion photos. ED209 was actually a really good guess, but not quite 


So whatever you prefer to call it, Glados/Wheatley/Aperture Labs based cab, blue and orange theme for obvious reasons


I left some apertures on the front for the option of spinner(s) later, thought I ended up moving around some of the controls, so they will probably be too tight a squeeze now. Still they look cool enough as they are


Despite the rearrangement of the controls, there was still enough space to store a mini keyboard in the draw below, chucked the Marquee remote in there as well just to have it close to hand should I want to change the colours


Out of the left over foot plate metal I decided to make a slot in the side for the power button and volume controls, simple enough and I have left some space to add USB ports in there in future as well


Last piece was the acrylic for the screen, I just sprayed the bezel black so it comes up dark behind and bought some dark grey tinted acrylic


So there we have it, I have a few touch ups to do and made some mistakes along the way. But learned a lot of tricks too, not bad for a first attempt 


I have a few things I want to do in future, add some pinball buttons on the sides and maybe get some gun controls, but other than that we are pretty much done. Thanks for all the help and encouragement guys

[gribbli]

Originally I had 21" CRT monitor from a friend on standby for this project. However on a visit to my folks I found this beast languishing in my dad's shed. A 28" phillips 4:3 CRT 


So I upscaled the size of the cab quite a bit and then stipped the tv down to the bare essentials:


Much thanks goes out to the guys on the monitor->scart thread. With all the info on there I was able to knock together a vga->scart cable and voila:


Only minor gripe is you can just make out here there is a minor discoloration in the top left corner - for a free 28" screen I will live with that 

[gribbli]

Next up I started work on the cab body itself. I have decided to go with 3/4 MDF and will probably be looking to laminate it as that seems to have a nice finish.

I managed to use all the measurements from sketchup, with a margin of error to the nearest 1 degree for all the angles. I think it came out pretty well:


Rather than clean it up straight off, I use the first side as a stencil for the second and do another rough cut with the jigsaw and circular. I current task as we speak now is to clamp them together and sand them down flush and tidy.


Next job is to start work on the skirt. I have some castors to put this on to make it a bit easier to move around. Also I have lots of the gear arriving on the weekend, including some sample t molding - so I can have a go at routing with the slot cutter before the week is out with a bit of luck.

Stay tuned

[shiori1425]

dude, I really like the design! A very modern take on a classic machine.  I am very interested to see how you plan to do the inside curved part. 

Also, I used sketchup too.  You can import sanwa and seimitsu joys/buttons from the 3D warehouse in the file menu.  They look good and are to scale.  I used them on mine to plan out the CP as well as the cab. 

Excited to see the next few stages come together.  Don't forget top take pics and update all of us...like I did....haha.

[gribbli]

I am very interested to see how you plan to do the inside curved part. 

You and me both haha, I have an idea I am going to try, we will see how it plays out later on in the project.

Only one minor update, just trying to be productive while I wait for some of the gear to arrive, so I put together the skirt. I have omitted a skirt panel on the front in order to have access to the locking casters, will probably create a hinged door on the front of the cab to keep it hidden.


Tonight I think I will mark out the panel fixings ready, hopefully the next time I post will be it all in one piece

[SpaceHedgehog]

Flexible MDF may be the solution to your curve challenge. Interesting design!

[shiori1425]

If you use some 1/2" or 3/4" wood and make a four to six "u" shapes from your current piece then you can use them to make a curved face piece. 
So, for example, you can get some 1/8" plywood (the really flexible stuff) and force it to bend to the u shape you have cut, then glue a second sheet to that and use the second set of u shapes to clamp it together. 

Basically you glue 4-6 sheets of this super flexible stuff together while clamping the U shapes to it so that it will form the curve you want. You should be using a press but I doubt any of us have some curve press clamp laying around. haha

IDK, I suck at explaining stuff like this. This wood, bend to shape, glue together to make thick wood, done. 

[yotsuya]

IDK, I suck at explaining stuff like this. This wood, bend to shape, glue together to make thick wood, done. 

***Cue Scott and his magic diagramming skillz***

[paigeoliver]

Good choice for a test game. I thought your design looked totally 87' era Sega.

[PL1]

Only minor gripe is you can just make out here there is a minor discoloration in the top left corner - for a free 28" screen I will live with that 

Degauss the CRT and that should clear it up.   

IDK, I suck at explaining stuff like this. This wood, bend to shape, glue together to make thick wood, done. 

***Cue Scott and his magic diagramming skillz***

I'll leave it to the pros here and here.   


Scott

[gribbli]

Thanks for the info guys, it will be interesting to have a go on the curve, I will try and pick up some 1/8th" MDF next week and see what I can do with it.

Did a couple more tasks, put in most of the frame


And then bolted everything together to give it a first look. Got a couple of pieces out of alignment but other than thatis is looking pretty good. I dont think my old cab has ever looked so small 


Thinking right next to the tv board might be the idea placement for my micro atx.


Most of the electronics should be arriving today, though I probably wont have time to play with, will update in a couple of days.

[Martijn]

Looking good , i like the design and no rush building.

btw, that purple discoloration, isn't that from proper or broken shielding?
there is a wire around the tube that shields it from magnetic interference.



something like that, i am no expert, but that is what comes to mind when i see a spot like that.

[emphatic]

Very cool. Sideart suggestion (and overall theme):



 

[404]

^^ dead or alive, you're coming with me.

that is all

[Rick]

^^ dead or alive, you're coming with me.

Your move, creep!

[apfelanni]

without degauss coil > no degauss ... ps. goodmans = philips ??

[gribbli]

Liking the Robocop theme, yeah ignore my phillip comment - just a brain fade on my part

I did indeed forget to put the degauss cable back on  so yeah should sort that out soon as I am taking it all apart again in the next couple of days.

In other news, most of the electronic arrived yesterday, so I will be able to start looking at a mock up of the control panel etc. And colour me surprised but I actually found panel of 1/4" bendy mdf in b&q , bits up a few other bits and bobs while I was there so my list of stuff I need to get is quite small now. Big one is the laminate, I registered with black heath and they requested a letter head, so will see if I can talk around that to get some matt black laminate delivered soonish.

[404]

^^ dead or alive, you're coming with me.

Your move, creep!

Thank you for your cooperation. Good night.

[mcseforsale]

Love the design. 

Subscriboroonied.

AJ

[gribbli]

Hi guys, so I havent been able to do a whole lot the last few days, but I figured I would give a minor update anyway.

So I fabricated the central column that will be the coin mech enclose, I think it is starting to look like the original design now.


As I had the door and mech arrive I chucked them in to see what they look like. Once I have finished the back I will post some pictures, but as can be seen here the back is on along with a couple other panels


I order a cheap & cheerful creative labs 2.1 system, and ripped it apart as soon as it was out of the box. The speakers look quite small but they are more than loud enough when tested - only job here was to cut the speakers off and lengthen all the wiring. Still undecided where I will place the volume control on the machine though...


Last thing I have done is finally decide where I was going to place the keyboard. I am trying to keep everything as discrete as possible and this placement worked out quite well in the end.


My laminate arrived from blackheath (thinking i may need more though). All in all I think I have about another week worth of fabrication before I take it all apart and laminate it - so far so good

[jimmy2x2x]

Looking great!

OT: any relevance?

[eds1275]

If you're using 3/4 mdf and laminating it, won't you be heading towards 7/8 width? Will you be adding t-molding?

[gribbli]

Looking great!

OT: any relevance?

Yes I was temped to do a Gribbly themed machine, but instead decided to go for something altogether different 

[gribbli]

If you're using 3/4 mdf and laminating it, won't you be heading towards 7/8 width? Will you be adding t-molding?

Well the laminate I picked up is 0.7mm so I am hoping it is going to be negligible as I have 3/4 t-molding on the way

[gribbli]

So I was a bit more productive today than I expected. I finished fabrication of the rear panels, came out better than I expected.



Then fed up with all the mdf dust I decided on a change of pace and check out some electronics. Did a quick test of my mini pac by plugging in my new buttons/joysticks etc and making sure it all worked by hooking it up to my old cab, mini pac seems to be about as easy as it gets.

Also I wired my new multi coin mech into the power supply on the pc, then one little wire for the signal and it was away (well after spending ~10 minutes programming in 5 different coins that is). These things are great, if like me you want a machine that can double up as a piggy bank, these are much better suited than those single coin only mechs.

Finally I had a go at the marquee lighting. Behold the brightest marquee in the land 


Though on closer inspection we can see its just a bunch of LEDs. I had to solder 4 wires for each one of these strips  that was fun 


Thats enough for tonight, I am running out of things to do before having to tackle the dreaded curved section so wish me luck 

[zanna5910]

Is this thing going to be top heavy/fall hazard?  Hard to tell with design.  If it isn't, it is one sweet design.

Also, to make the rounded bit, I've seen people cut a bunch of slats in the back of the wood, thereby reducing the thickness and allowing it to bend.  You can also cold bend it by making a template of the bend and then clamping it together.  This is usually done with a bunch of thin boards glued together to the desired thickness then clamped together in a jig to get the desired bend.

Good luck?

[gribbli]

Is this thing going to be top heavy/fall hazard?  Hard to tell with design.  If it isn't, it is one sweet design.

Also, to make the rounded bit, I've seen people cut a bunch of slats in the back of the wood, thereby reducing the thickness and allowing it to bend.  You can also cold bend it by making a template of the bend and then clamping it together.  This is usually done with a bunch of thin boards glued together to the desired thickness then clamped together in a jig to get the desired bend.

Good luck?

It was a concern as I was putting it together, but the reality is it has way to large a base to topple. Add to that that now everything is bolted together, I would say it is as sturdy as any commercial machine I have used, probably more so than I was expecting in the end.

[gribbli]

Ok so a few fun bits for update. Originally I had thrown together a mess of a vga->scart wire just to do the odd test here and there. Trying it today though it was already falling to pieces so I decided to put the final cable together.

Started off simpe. Took a molex->sata converter and cut off the sata end. Also pulled out one of the ground wires as I will only be needing the one. I then soldered this to a longer piece of wire so that it would be the same length as the video cable.


Then I took the scart apart and resoldered it with all the wires tidy and screwed it all together. I should have put some of my larger heat shrink around the entire thing to bind the cables together tidy, but failing that I just got out a bit of insulation tape to do the job just as well.


Now onto the fun bit, having finally run out of odd jobs to do, I quit procrastinating and got on with the curved section. It actually was not that bad in the end. Having had a think about it and take in a few of the suggestions here I decided to go for wooden 'ribs' to define the curve and two layers of 1/4" bendable mdf.

The first layer will just be screwed directly onto the wooden ribs to add some structure and stability to the curve, then the second layer will be glued on top afterwards.

So nothing scientific here, I decided to eyeball the curve as accurately as I can (you aren't going to be staring at it all day so no point over thinking it). What I did instead was cut the mdf to size so it was a snug fit. I then pushed it into the shape I was happy with and then marked around it as an edge for the ribs to be screwed in along.

Here is the first set of ribs screwed in, I put in 6 on each side, again I eyeballed the spacing. After this it was just a matter of putting the mdf back in again and screwing it to the ribs


So here is the picture I have been waiting for, the full body fabrication. (ok there is still a panel missing but you cant see it at this angle  )


Im really pleased with how it has turned out. Now I need to decide whether to put all the electronics in and test every last detail before taking it apart, or just go straight into preping it for laminate, paint, artwork etc.

While I am here, pretty much last thing on my shopping list is the glass/perspex panel for the monitor. Does anyone know a good place to get this in the UK? And also, what level of tint is good for a CRT?

Cheers

[Malenko]

looks fantastic. Ed 209 would rock the sides.

As for front plexi, tap plastic's solar grey.

[opt2not]

Good choice for a test game. I thought your design looked totally 87' era Sega.

Yeah, I was thinking a mix between an Outrun stand-up and the BAS Jamma cabinets released in Europe:

[Malenko]

Good choice for a test game. I thought your design looked totally 87' era Sega.

Yeah, I was thinking a mix between an Outrun stand-up and the BAS Jamma cabinets released in Europe:

I thought Paperboy because of the middle:

[mcseforsale]

If you're looking for plexi (or glass), 27% is what the dude at Tap told me is the tint.

AJ

looks fantastic. Ed 209 would rock the sides.

As for front plexi, tap plastic's solar grey.

[stigzler]

Great cab - great lines.

All I remember from Gribbli's day out was than mean sob black sprite with pincers! Who needs HD, surround sound and 3D?

Good luck with the finishing touches.

[boomerbrian]

Looks great. Love the lines.

[gribbli]

Hi guys, thanks for the nice comments

Sadly I found out I had ordered a slot cutting with the wrong shank size, no chance of fitting into my router so I have had to order another one - this has kind of ground things to a halt somewhat as there is a certain order I want to complete things in.

So I have been trying to do everything I can, firstly I glued the second layer of bendy mdf to the lower panels, this was pretty easy. I just got one of those high strength adhesive tubes for a mastic gun, simples


Next I cut out the metal for the foot plate. This metal is around 2-3mm, easy to cut with a metal cutting blade in a jigsaw


Then I started thinking about what design to do the bezel, after much thought it occured to me I had a perfectly good one sitting in the garage, namely the original tv case. I have since cut off the speakers enclosures on the sides


I have been giving all the insides a quick spray of matt white just to get rid of the mdf finish, so as I was putting the tv frame back together I figured I would do it properly this time, I.e. putting the degaussing cable back in this time 


And shock horror no more funny colours 


So here we have it so far, almost finished the paint work, but still waiting for the damn slot cutter! 

[mcseforsale]

Ahh, the slot-cutter.  Bane of any cab builders existence.

AJ

[CoryBee]

Ahh, the slot-cutter.  Bane of any cab builders existence.

AJ

Until you have one, then it is just awesomely useful

[matsadona]

Looking good so far.
Could you please share some more information about the gfx-setup (hardware & software)? Arcade VGA or Soft15kHz etc...

[gribbli]

Looking good so far.
Could you please share some more information about the gfx-setup (hardware & software)? Arcade VGA or Soft15kHz etc...

Sure, to get my old cab working (pc had died in it) I had an old Q6600 quad core/4GB Ram floating around after doing an i7 upgrade on my server machine. So at the time I upgraded to the Arcade VGA 3000 and latest JPAC to replace my old versions. Sadly at this point the original arcade monitor died and I replaced it with an equivalent LCD in a pinch. This also meant me buying a modest ATI 5450 GFX card just to have something a bit better than the onboard.

So with the new machine I will be pulling out all those bits from the old to put into it. As this is a CRT project again, I created the VGA2Scart cable and swapped back to the ArcadeVGA for the 15kHz - So no need to to play with Soft15kHz (Incidentally I did have a go with it at first with the 5450 card, but on my Win7 machine Soft15kHz seemed to have no effect)

I am thinking about running some games off steam though the UI via the command line interface, in which case the AVGA card might not be up to scratch. In this case I would probably go for a Soft15kHz dongle. I know there is not much in it performance wise between that card and my 5450 so I would probably buy a better gfx card as well.

UI wise for the last month or so I have been using Mala. It is pretty easy to set up and has a great deal of functionality, but its not very pretty, nanocade theme is ok, but most are quite ugly. So I am currently on the look out for a replacement UI. Hyperspin & Maximus seem to be popular so I will probably look into those first.

For audio I picked up a simple creative labs 2.1 system, I will store the sub at the base of the cab, while the speakers have been stripped out of their casings, wires lengthened and pretty much ready to mount when I put it all together. It wont be hugely loud, but I dont really need it to be when I am standing right in front of it.

For mounting the PC I have an old midi tower case that I will rip down to the bare essentials and mount next to the tv board on its side. I have also 3 120mm fans that I will try to place strategically, between that and the large grill on the back door there should be plenty on airflow in there - and the Q6600 has always run pretty cool anyway ~35C

Controls wise I have 4 USB extension cables, I will place these so that I have room to plug in USB light guns (should I decide to get some in future), the couple left over I will be mounting next to a power button and volume control on the side of the cab. Control panel wise I will have pinball buttons on the side, 1 & 2 player 6 button & joystick input and an X Arcade 3" trackball in the centre with the 4 'mouse' button off to the top left.

I am considering putting a spinner in somewhere in the future, but that will only be if there is room after all this stuff has gone in.

So still lots to do!

[matsadona]

With Arcade VGA and Mala, are the resoloution set per game, or do you have one generic for all games?

By the way, I have Maximus in my MAME cabinet, and am pleased with it. It is, from my perspective, multi emu friendly, and the whole gui is pretty good. It is old, and hasn't been updated, so perhaps others have been better - I really can't tell since I have been running real arcade machines for the last three years.