My Design + Questions ?

[shayvidas]

hi,
amm.. to help me explain myself i rendered my cabinet  (removed a couple of panels to help you see better)
ok
so generally speaking i think my mame cabinet design is pretty complete...but
i have 2 questions about it + if you could tell me what you think of it.

so in the first Image is the mame cabinet,
straght forword

* the first thing you could see ive done is air ventilation for where the PC would be (in the button) they're made with this in the front AND the back for full air circulation.

* another thing is the speaker mounting on the top, the speakers would be at en angle, directed straight for the user, instead of just down (i know it won't make any difference but still)

* then i have a keyboard and a mouse on a "hidden" compartment benith the control panel, to use the computer if there will be a problem

*then i have on the back 2 panels that just opens up (as seen in picture 3) for east accesses for the control panel area and the pc area

now my questions is these >

1. i though of how people do this so that my control panel would be able to lift up or something ? i mean if i'd put 2 cylinders next to the control panel so it would be able to lift (as in picture 4) it would be pretty ugly no ? how do people usually do that ?

2. my biggest problem now is how to make the keyboard hidden ? i mean, if i just have another panel that i sort-of put into place there... it doesn't really looks smooth, how do people have it there and consil it as it closes ?

3. as i designed it my LED screen is sitting flat on a shelf, is that a problem it's not angled ? and does it mean that the only way i angle it is by taking it completely apart ?

[kahlid74]

Your monitor/tv should be angled.  15 degrees is pretty common.  Control panel you can use hinges hidden under it attached forward or reverse.

Use a sliding door for keyboard.

[mgb]

I find that a non angled screen make it very hard to play.
The Romstar Sky shark cabinet has an almost straight monitor and it makes it very uncomfortable.

Personally I'm not a fan of keyboard drawers on arcade cabs. Have you thought about a wireless keyboard and just stick it somewhere else. The idea is to not use it often at all.