Slim NoName Multicade - Moving along

[otsep]

So this is my second attempt at a build and I feel like I'm in a much better place to get this done.

Before I get started, I wanted to recognized a few of the many awesome builds here that have inspired me:
edekoning's Magneto
Martijn's Slim Marvel vs Capcom
ChanceKJ's Flynn's Arcade
Knievel's Woody

Control Panel:
- 2 players with 6 buttons & recessed trackball.
- RGB LED Illuminated buttons
- Still on the fence about MAME admin buttons

PARTS LIST (So Far):
Acer 27" LED Display

Cabinet
Cabinet Wheel Assembly
Heavy Duty Leg Leveler

Controls:
UltraStik 360
UltraStik 360 Octagonal Restrictor Plates
UltraStik 360 Hard Spring
U-Trak USB
I-PAC ULTIMATE I/O
NovaGem2 Lightable Horizontal Pushbutton - CLEAR

Lighting
IL-lumination RGB 5VDC LED

Tools:
Dewalt 611 Router kit
RIDGID R4512 Table Saw
Rikon 14" Open Stand 1 HP Bandsaw
Freud 58-100 1/16-Inch 4-Wing Slot Cutter for 5/16 Router Arbor
Freud 60-120 5/16-Inch Slot Cutter Arbor w/Bearing 1-Inchstud height (1/4-Inch Shank)
Jasper 200J Model 200 Circle Cutting Jig for Plunge Router
Freud 75-102 1/4-Inch Double-Flute Up Spiral Router Bit

[otsep]

Here are is my most current SketchUp of the cab and a grid of my side panel.

[otsep]

Place holder.

[Frank Drebin]

Looks good.  32" monitor?

[otsep]

I'm using a 27" acer display.  I was worried about making to too narrow to accommodate a two player with trackball setup.  I looked for a layout plan for the control panel, but didn't find one that was close.

Here is what I came up with.

[jugger18]

Maybe think about moving the joystick/6 buttons up and the trackball down

[PL1]

Maybe think about moving the joystick/6 buttons up and the trackball down

+1

What 4 admin buttons do plan to have top-center?

I assume the two buttons above the P1/P2 player buttons are for coin and start.


Scott

[otsep]

Maybe think about moving the joystick/6 buttons up and the trackball down

[jugger18]

Definitely better.  You don't want an enthusiastic game of golden tee having a hand flying into your display

[otsep]

Maybe think about moving the joystick/6 buttons up and the trackball down

+1

What 4 admin buttons do plan to have top-center?

I assume the two buttons above the P1/P2 player buttons are for coin and start.


Scott

I planned on four, but can only think of two I know I need. Esc & Shift.  Thoughts?

[otsep]

Definitely better.  You don't want an enthusiastic game of golden tee having a hand flying into your display

Final version?

[PL1]

What 4 admin buttons do plan to have top-center?

I assume the two buttons above the P1/P2 player buttons are for coin and start.

I planned on four, but can only think of two I know I need. Esc & Shift.  Thoughts?

For the row of four the main ones that I'd recommend are Esc and Pause.

The only reason to have a shift button is to avoid having dedicated admin buttons. (See here in the wiki and numerous threads on shifted functions vs. dedicated admin buttons.)

One button to almost always avoid putting on the CP of a dedicated cab is the Tab (menu) button.

+10,000 if you have kids or any friends/family members that are not-so-tech-savvy -- after you spend months getting everything just right, they can make a mess in 5 minutes that takes you longer to clean up than the original setup, assuming you find all the changes. 

If you haven't done so yet, get your software -- FE and emulators -- installed and configured before you drill holes in your CP.

That will tell you what buttons you need to make your cab work the way you want it to work.

Check out the suggested design process here in the FAQ.


Scott

[otsep]

Thanks for the input Scott.

I've already built the computer, but I've been through a few different builds of HS, etc.  I think I might wipe it and start it fresh. the computer is lacking a dedicated video card, but it's otherwise fairly powerful.

[otsep]

I'll be plugging the computer back in tomorrow to give it a once over.  My next challenge will be identifying all the parts.

I have the computer, display & speakers.

I need to figure out the items below:
Lighted Push-buttons. (Chrome rim with red plunger or red rim with black plunger or ?)
Encoder
LED Controller (Wiz, etc)
Joysticks (Ultimarc? Lighted?)
Chamfers and metal screens for the vents (Magneto)
Relocating the controls off the sub (a task I'm apprehensive about)
Display bezel (Wood/plexi, smoked plexi, ?)
Cabinet finish (Laminate, paint, vinyl wrap, art)

Ya' know.. little stuff

[a1pharm]

Your sketchup looks pretty good. You are building a pretty similar cab to the one Martijn made.  I essentially copied Martijn w/ mine.  Looking at each build may answer most/all of your questions.  As for lighted buttons, I would not use Chromalite buttons again - they don't have a very nice "feel."  I would get the Electric Ice buttons from GGG if I were to do another CP.

 

[otsep]

Started cutting today. 

I used a circular say and jigsaw to get close to the pencil lines.  Once close, I used a template bit in my Dewalt DWP611 hand router.  It's a handy little router and did a great job considering I discovered an issue with my bit.

The bit is more worn than I thought and didn't produce the best finish. I'm thinking I'll grab some filler and sand it all smooth.  In reality, the t-molding will cover it, but I'll know its there.

The next step is to cut the other side.

[otsep]

This filler is awesome!

http://www.homedepot.com/p/DAP-4-oz-White-Plastic-Wood-Solvent-Wood-Filler-21412/100493605

It has fibers and is perfect for MDF.  It dries hard like plastic, but finishes smooth.

[otsep]

Fixed my SketchUp and tweaked the CP.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/hmgoe54uh6m0j55/NoNameMAME.skp?dl=0

[EMDB]

Started cutting today. 

...

The next step is to cut the other side.

You know you can just "copy" the first side using a flush-copy bit?

[otsep]

Started cutting today. 

...

The next step is to cut the other side.

You know you can just "copy" the first side using a flush-copy bit?

Of course!  I'm new to cab builds, not woodworking.

I also used the my router to cut out parts of the first piece since my jigsaw isn't terribly good.

[otsep]

The weather isn't cooperating, so I ordered some parts today:

- I-PAC ULTIMATE I/O
- A sampling of buttons
- IL-lumination RGB 5VDC LED

I hope to figure out which button setup I like and go from there.

[johnrt]

The weather isn't cooperating, so I ordered some parts today:

You live in Orlando, FL, right? I'm in Norway and today I cut my side panels outside in 0.8 degrees celsius. (that's about 34 degrees Fahrenheit). 

[otsep]

The weather isn't cooperating, so I ordered some parts today:

You live in Orlando, FL, right? I'm in Norway and today I cut my side panels outside in 0.8 degrees celsius. (that's about 34 degrees Fahrenheit). 

It was in the 50s here, but the 20mph winds with 35mph gusts kept me from working outside.

[otsep]

Should be heading to Home Depot today to pickup the base and baton material today.  If all goes well, I should have some kind of shape today.

[otsep]

Some CP parts arrived today. 

[otsep]

Finally finished the second side.

[otsep]

Also got the base squared away.

Glued and screwed the panel to 2x2 strips.



I really love working with the Woodpecker measuring tools.  They're a little more expensive, but super accurate.

Tomorrow I plan on mounting the wheels and feet.

[otsep]

I took some time today to finish the base of the cab.  It's similar to some others on here, except I boxed my wheels and did not compromise the 2x2 framing.

Using left over 2x4 I cut out the box pieces on the bandsaw.  Once I figured out how I was going to do it, the cutting moved along quickly.


I ended up notching the two side pieces because I didn't want to compromise the 2x2 I used for the frame.


I then glued & screwed the pieces together and attached them to the 2x2 framing and screwed through the base down.

Additionally, I cut a 1/2" hardwood board I had and used it for the leg bases.  This was glued and screwed from the underside as well as the top.

Here is a view of everything in place.


I'm contemplating adding some additional framing to the sides but I'm not sure if that is overkill.

Thoughts?

[EMDB]

I got a Déjà vu while reading your last update 

[otsep]

I got a Déjà vu while reading your last update 

Lol. Well it's similar to your build as well. There are so many on here, I haven't read them all. No disrespect.

[yotsuya]

EMDB never misses an opportunity to post photos of his own builds - especially in other people's threads. 

[EMDB]

EMDB never misses an opportunity to post photos of his own builds - especially in other people's threads. 

I got a Déjà vu while reading your same old boring comment 

[yotsuya]

EMDB never misses an opportunity to post photos of his own builds - especially in other people's threads. 

I got a Déjà vu while reading your same old boring comment 

That just goes to show you how often you do it. 

[otsep]

I edited the post. 

[yotsuya]

Threadcrapping aside, you don't need to add any bracing. You have a good base there.

[otsep]

Threadcrapping aside, you don't need to add any bracing. You have a good base there.

Thanks for the feedback. 
No more bracing it is.

[otsep]

Heading to Cupertino for the week so I won't be able to get anything done until next weekend at the earliest.

[otsep]

Made a little bit of progress today.

Finally got around to cutting the slot for the t-moulding (no pic) and building the support structure.  I definitely went a little overboard, but that's alright.

I screwed a piece of hardwood to my miter saw fence to facilitate cutting identical lengths for the batons.  A clamp to holding a simple stop block in place allowed me to make sure all the same size parts were true.


After getting all the pieces cut, I started assembling the frame.


First side complete and now on to the next.


This isn't moving terribly fast, but it's getting done nonetheless.

[ChanceKJ]

I got a Déjà vu while reading your last update 

I had some too.

Great job so far. I'm gonna follow this build for sure.

[otsep]

It's raining down here in the sunshine state  so I had to work in the garage.

On a positive note, I was able to finish the second side.



The next thing I need to figure out is the screen placement. 

Any advice from those who've been down this road?