Coffee table Arcade

[m1cky69]

K so after building my first arcade i wanted to do a bit better so i decided to build a coffee table arcade. But after viewing forums etc i noticed that everyone moans about viewing angles....my solution......a lift out monitor (in theory should work)
I shall be using this ikea table as a base as its great for hacking and modding.


Here is the parts i have so far with plenty more on the way



Gluing the frame for the 19" monitor which has already been stripped



This is the test framing, so please excuse the rough cuts and scews....only for test purposes.



This is how it will look when extended out of the table

[m1cky69]

I shall be mounting an external hdmi also so it can be plugged directly into the tv also and external usbs for moderating purposes and usb joypads should i ever choose to use them. Currently working on the maximus arcade front end.

[talkgeek]

I'm liking your approach - subscribed!

[menace]

I have a special place in my heart for convertible coffee tables!  Looks good!  Did you do any designs before hand or just start cutting?

[m1cky69]

I have a special place in my heart for convertible coffee tables!  Looks good!  Did you do any designs before hand or just start cutting?

i tend to run into things full on, i have rough designs and plans but should be prett straight forward. Most my plans are in my head, i know how i want it and just implement it into the build.

[m1cky69]

Sprayed up the monitor bezel now just waiting for it to dry. Ordering my logo and button vinyls at the mo......slow progress but progress none the less

[m1cky69]

I have a special place in my heart for convertible coffee tables!  Looks good!  Did you do any designs before hand or just start cutting?

This is my kind of planning lol.

[m1cky69]

This is what the front panel should look like, again excuse the rough drawing its not to scale or anything just yet.

[wirenut]

Looking good!  It would be over the top if you through a few pistons in there and had that thing open up automatically!

[talkgeek]

Just to clarify - the joysticks and buttons are going to be on the top of the coffee table (potentially in the way of the coffee mugs holding the coffee ? ) and the flip out console has the power / select and pinball flipper buttons ? 

Can I suggest you re think that approach - make the console wider / contain all the controls / buttons etc - so Coffee table can also function as a coffee table 

[m1cky69]

Just to clarify - the joysticks and buttons are going to be on the top of the coffee table (potentially in the way of the coffee mugs holding the coffee ? ) and the flip out console has the power / select and pinball flipper buttons ? 

Can I suggest you re think that approach - make the console wider / contain all the controls / buttons etc - so Coffee table can also function as a coffee table 

I was going to put them in a drawer but then it seemed that the controls was too low to use.....been trying to think of ways to have the controls so they pop out but im stuck.....any suggestions would be appreciated.  Its not gonna act as a coffee table as it will be put away when not in use....more of a portable table but i would like to hide controls if i could. Don't want to make table higher either. I have seen one other person achieve a pop up control drawer but how its done  dont know.

[m1cky69]

Looking good!  It would be over the top if you through a few pistons in there and had that thing open up automatically!

Already got the pistons and lock catches

[m1cky69]

Todays work involved finalizing the bezel......



Cutting out the screen hole



Checking fit.......and its like a glove!



Now just reinforcing the cut out.

Any ideas for improvement by the way are always welcomed

[emphatic]

If you could route out a hole for a player panel in the top of your table, then add support bars under the table that this rests on. While you play, you have the panel inserted into the cutout hole that fits snugly around it and this holds it in place while you play. When you're done playing, you grab the joystick and lift the panel out and put a blank piece that covers this hole. The panel is fitted with a small harness for stick and buttons that you connect under the table when you are about to play.

[m1cky69]

If you could route out a hole for a player panel in the top of your table, then add support bars under the table that this rests on. While you play, you have the panel inserted into the cutout hole that fits snugly around it and this holds it in place while you play. When you're done playing, you grab the joystick and lift the panel out and put a blank piece that covers this hole. The panel is fitted with a small harness for stick and buttons that you connect under the table when you are about to play.

So to be clear your on about a removable joystick panel that you keep elsewhere ( under table lerhaps) then when u want to play ya just pull blank plate out and insert joystick. Possible.....not sure....ill have a think. Gd idea though.  Ill have a think just in a rush to take daughter school so have a proper look in a bit

[wirenut]

Looking good!  It would be over the top if you through a few pistons in there and had that thing open up automatically!

Already got the pistons and lock catches

Oh man!!!!  Now I'm pumped!

[m1cky69]

If you could route out a hole for a player panel in the top of your table, then add support bars under the table that this rests on. While you play, you have the panel inserted into the cutout hole that fits snugly around it and this holds it in place while you play. When you're done playing, you grab the joystick and lift the panel out and put a blank piece that covers this hole. The panel is fitted with a small harness for stick and buttons that you connect under the table when you are about to play.

Had a think and im actually going to use your idea here kudos for the idea going to be a hell of a lot simpler

[m1cky69]

Ok so this is gonna be the revised version....the cp is gonna be inset, gonna add usb adaptor so all i have to do is insert the usb lead(im using the ipac2), sit the cp inside the inset hole and away i go. had the cp sticking out slightly so i can still have pinball buttons (dunno y i just love pinball games) and then just going to have a piece of perspex to fit once cp is away (under table inside lid)

What you say guys?

[talkgeek]

Sounds like a better plan to me 

just make sure the insert is deep enough / solid enough (or some type of simple pin system) so the console can't move around or dislodge during game play.

looking forward to see the progress - and I promise I won't suggest any more design changes, this is your project after all 

[emphatic]

 

If you rest your hands on the panel when you play along with the friction created by the panel against the sides of the hole, that should make it quite solid. Or you could either weigh it down with something or construct a locking mechanism. But that shouldn't be needed TBH. You'll need to think of a simple way to lift the empty panel from the hole though. Or will you be able to push it up from below?

[m1cky69]

I'm gonna hopefully have it  snug fit so there shouldnt be any rocking inside it.........shouldnt lol

Anyways today i got the control panel gluing up......while still fresh in my mind



Rough layout of buttons.......



Question though guys.......i seen may cabs with 7 main buttons instead of the 6.....why is this and do you need the 7th button??

i read  up and cant find a definitive answer lol

[lamprey]

Question though guys.......i seen may cabs with 7 main buttons instead of the 6.....why is this and do you need the 7th button??

i read  up and cant find a definitive answer lol

You don't need 7 buttons. Heck, most of the games use 4 or less. But, the main reasons for 7 is to keep the Neo-Geo 4 button layout intact (row of 4) and/or if you like MK games to have the MK Run button (thumb for most) set down and to the left.

There are lost of threads about this if you search. But, at the end of the day it's about what you want to play and how you want to configure your panel to play those games.

And the build is looking good! Can't wait to see the result!! 

[monkeychunkuk]

I'm building a similar  or project without the moving screen but I'm very tempted to do the same !

But with a oak top

[m1cky69]

Very nice idea using oak.....im on a budget though(so the mrs says lol) but if i could i deffo would. How are you doing your controls might i ask? The screen only uses fire escape window hinges ( they open more rather that the half open on standard hinges) readily available

[emphatic]

Question though guys.......i seen may cabs with 7 main buttons instead of the 6.....why is this and do you need the 7th button??

i read  up and cant find a definitive answer lol

As lamprey says, it's a compromise to suit many game systems. If I was building this, I would keep the encoder PCB out of the control panel and instead tailor the panels to the games/systems I mainly play:

1 x 1 player panel with six buttons and 1 start button (joystick and buttons closer to the center as it's more economical) - use button colours to show button layouts*

(If you wanna play 4-way games, get a stick that's easy to switch so you can pull the panel up and switch it)

1 x 2 player panel with six buttons and 2 start buttons  - if you play CPS1 and CPS2 fighters a lot
1 x 2 player panel with 4 buttons and 2 start buttons - if you play NEO-GEO games a lot

* Use NEO-GEO button colours for buttons 1-4 (or get black buttons also and have coloured rims only):

(2) (3) (4)
(1) (5) (6)

or

(1) (2) (3)
(4) (5) (6)

Only make two 2-player panels if you mostly play with a friend/spouse.

[EightBySix]

You can always make another panel with the extra buttons one day if bugs you they you don't have 7

[PL1]

Have you tested the flipper and button placement on a test panel? (the current positions look too far forward to comfortably rest your thumb/heel of the palm)

How are you handling nudging? (L/R/Up or analog)

Is one of the buttons on the front intended as a ball launch/plunger?

What admin buttons are you planning to have?

Do you want Upper Flippers/MagnaSave?

Search for my "MagnaSave" posts for many details and related considerations like overlaps in VP/FP/MAME default keys.


Scott

[m1cky69]

Im thinking of making 2 panels now as suggested. What emulators use 4 way joystick and hich use 8 way? And would using 8 way for 4 way games work still or would it cause lag or other errors? Still learning ad I go along. I know this is my second build but dont forget my first was a console hack so dont really count as a true build

[monkeychunkuk]

Very nice idea using oak.....im on a budget though(so the mrs says lol) but if i could i deffo would. How are you doing your controls might i ask? The screen only uses fire escape window hinges ( they open more rather that the half open on standard hinges) readily available

I plan to do a draw that leans forward the Same as your original design, it should work better for me as I'm making my table a little higher,could you link me to those hinges

And what are your plans on speaker mounting location?

[m1cky69]

I plan to mount my speakers underneith so they wont be on show. I want as little on show as poss.

Link for hinges

http://m.screwfix.com/p/era-e1-fire-escape-window-hinge-egress-only-side-hung-324-x-14mm-pk2/70701

[emphatic]

Im thinking of making 2 panels now as suggested. What emulators use 4 way joystick and hich use 8 way? And would using 8 way for 4 way games work still or would it cause lag or other errors?

It's the games rather than the emulator that might cause issues when you play 4-way games with an 8-way stick. Rolling Thunder and Pac Man comes to mind. It also depends on what type of joysticks you wanna use. Japanese joysticks, such as the Seimitsu LS-32 or SANWA JLF are prone to hit corners easier than say, HAPP style joysticks in 8-way mode. I'm not a big fan of 4-way games myself, but I know many, many people visitors of this site are.

[m1cky69]

Im using happ competition buttons and joysticks so I should be ok then

[m1cky69]

k so i had a little more progress today

final layout design



Ya gotta love the router trimming bit



gonna be tight lol



cut into the tabletop for the controls



and finally how its gonna sit inside it

[KevinFlynn]

Looks great man!  Love everything about it.  Can't wait to see a finished product 

[m1cky69]

Photoshopped a little layout sheet to hopefully have laminated at hand to use

[emphatic]

 

[monkeychunkuk]

More questions can you link me to where you got your happ buttons and joysticks please

And what did you use to coat the top of control panel ?

All great progress

[m1cky69]

More questions can you link me to where you got your happ buttons and joysticks please

And what did you use to coat the top of control panel ?

All great progress

I use www.arcadeworlduk.com best uk arcade source i found so far

I cut the top out of acrylic/perspex ( whatever ya call it....too many names for same material lol). If ya do use acrylic be very careful because it snaps very easily (found that out on my nintendo cab) When drilling/cutting always make sure its supported.

[monkeychunkuk]

More questions can you link me to where you got your happ buttons and joysticks please

And what did you use to coat the top of control panel ?

All great progress

I use www.arcadeworlduk.com best uk arcade source i found so far

I cut the top out of acrylic/perspex ( whatever ya call it....too many names for same material lol). If ya do use acrylic be very careful because it snaps very easily (found that out on my nintendo cab) When drilling/cutting always make sure its supported.

Wow nice work did you use a router to round  to smooth the edges?

Also where are your admin/menu buttons?

[emphatic]

Also where are your admin/menu buttons?

No need to clutter the panel with that, just use button combinations instead (credit 1 + credit 2 = exit to frontend or player 1 start + player 1 button 6 = pause, etc). I think. I'm just guessing.