First Cabinet Build. ** Artwork Complete ready to print!

[dezmond]

Hello Everyone. 

Well I did my research and started to build my first Cabinet. It's been taking some time but I got a lot of work done Yesterday.  Going with some nice curves throughout this project. Here is what I hope to accomplish..

1. 2 Player Cabinet
2. 32" LED TV
3. LED Accent Lighting
4. Trackball
5. Nice sound
6. Run from a PC
7. Incorporating a Arduino for some cool add on's like switches, hidden buttons, etc.

I am thinking of a 7 button layout for each player and trackball with 2 buttons somewhere in the middle???  I haven't started on a control panel layout yet..  Not sure which way to go on this one.. 

Would love some feedback..  hoping I am building this right   It's been a blast so far..   

[dezmond]

More Pics

[dezmond]

No Idea for a theme yet...  I was thinking Green Lantern...  Not sure yet...  Maybe something Old School....  Dunno.....

Having fun though!!!!

[dezmond]

Since this is a 32" Cabinet, Could I make it a 4 Player?  I would like to play TMNT, NBA Jam, and Gauntlet...

[BadMouth]

Since this is a 32" Cabinet, Could I make it a 4 Player?  I would like to play TMNT, NBA Jam, and Gauntlet...

You can do anything you like, just don't angle the player 3 and 4 joysticks.
The player can stand at an angle and the buttons can be on an angle, but the joystick orientation should be parallel with the first two players.


This hasn't been done many times, but if you put them all in a straight line you can play the dual joystick games like smash TV.
As far as appearance goes, I think they look better offset.


It might get tight with a trackball in there.

No games in MAME use more than 4 buttons for players 3 and 4.  And only two games use 4, the two Dungeons & Dragons games.
The rest in MAME only use 3. 
So if you don't plan on emulating 4 player console games, there's no point in having more than 4 buttons for those players.
Personally I'd only do 3 and then map a combo for the D&D games.

Looks good so far.
Your woodworking puts mine to shame.

[RetroArcadePro]

Having the joystick and buttons laid out like the left player in your picture just doesn't make sense to me. You will either have a weird orientation of your joystick hand or button hand. Definitely don't think I could play like that, would be too weird and would be a wrist killer.

[BadMouth]

Having the joystick and buttons laid out like the left player in your picture just doesn't make sense to me. You will either have a weird orientation of your joystick hand or button hand. Definitely don't think I could play like that, would be too weird and would be a wrist killer.

If you're talking about the top pic with the green and red joystick, please look at where the up arrow points on the original 4 player control panels.  If there is no up arrow look at the mounting bolts.
People instinctively move the joystick in the relation to the character on-screen, not their own body position.
(you still hold the joystick at an angle, no need to twist your wrist)
It's counterintuitive, so ends up being a common mistake for first time builders.  To make matters worse, there are more bad DIY examples than good ones online.  Search the main forum for "angled joysticks" if you want to read some more discussion on the matter.

Not looking to debate it, just giving you a heads up.

The pic is from the BYOAC Wiki FAQ
http://newwiki.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?title=FAQ#Joysticks

[drewjbx]

Nice shop you got to work with there..


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[yotsuya]

Having the joystick and buttons laid out like the left player in your picture just doesn't make sense to me. You will either have a weird orientation of your joystick hand or button hand. Definitely don't think I could play like that, would be too weird and would be a wrist killer.

Yeah, you'd THINK that was the case, but don't overthink it. Orient the joystick up, but rotate the buttons if you want. That's the way all the classic machines were designed, and I'm pretty sure they did their research.

[dezmond]

Nice shop you got to work with there..


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks   Nice and roomy.. That's where I work so I go in after hours, weekends, holidays etc. and get to use whatever I need..   We have to CNC Lazers to cut wood, CNC Router, 2 CNC Lathes and all the machinery for dressing wood, etc..   Love it here

Anywho, Got a bit more done today.  I was able to get the bottom front attached.  All glued and screwed.   Trying to work on a CP Layout today.

Tomorrow I hope to get my templates cut for the top and attached.  Then figure out the monitor mounting. hmmmmmm.....

[BadMouth]

Then figure out the monitor mounting. hmmmmmm.....

Most people just use a board that spans the width of the cab and drill holes in it to match the VESA mounting points on the back of the TV.
If they're in a really wide pattern you can do two boards rather than closing everything in with one wide one.

Do some testing to figure out the best height and angle for yourself or the people who will be using it.

[dezmond]

Then figure out the monitor mounting. hmmmmmm.....

Most people just use a board that spans the width of the cab and drill holes in it to match the VESA mounting points on the back of the TV.
If they're in a really wide pattern you can do two boards rather than closing everything in with one wide one.

Do some testing to figure out the best height and angle for yourself or the people who will be using it.

Sounds good.. I will try that.. Thanks for the advice

[RetroArcadePro]

Having the joystick and buttons laid out like the left player in your picture just doesn't make sense to me. You will either have a weird orientation of your joystick hand or button hand. Definitely don't think I could play like that, would be too weird and would be a wrist killer.

If you're talking about the top pic with the green and red joystick, please look at where the up arrow points on the original 4 player control panels.  If there is no up arrow look at the mounting bolts.
People instinctively move the joystick in the relation to the character on-screen, not their own body position.
(you still hold the joystick at an angle, no need to twist your wrist)
It's counterintuitive, so ends up being a common mistake for first time builders.  To make matters worse, there are more bad DIY examples than good ones online.  Search the main forum for "angled joysticks" if you want to read some more discussion on the matter.

Not looking to debate it, just giving you a heads up.

The pic is from the BYOAC Wiki FAQ
http://newwiki.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?title=FAQ#Joysticks

Yeah I know that is how commercial cabs do it. It is also the reason why I utterly hate playing on one of the outside positions on panels such as those. Guess it is just me and the few that find it more reasonable as it obviously lost the coin toss when arcades were created. I find it more logical for myself for up/forward of a joystick to be in line of the direction I am facing. If the buttons were rotated a little more counterclockwise than that though then I don't find it too bad.

[yotsuya]

Having the joystick and buttons laid out like the left player in your picture just doesn't make sense to me. You will either have a weird orientation of your joystick hand or button hand. Definitely don't think I could play like that, would be too weird and would be a wrist killer.

If you're talking about the top pic with the green and red joystick, please look at where the up arrow points on the original 4 player control panels.  If there is no up arrow look at the mounting bolts.
People instinctively move the joystick in the relation to the character on-screen, not their own body position.
(you still hold the joystick at an angle, no need to twist your wrist)
It's counterintuitive, so ends up being a common mistake for first time builders.  To make matters worse, there are more bad DIY examples than good ones online.  Search the main forum for "angled joysticks" if you want to read some more discussion on the matter.

Not looking to debate it, just giving you a heads up.

The pic is from the BYOAC Wiki FAQ
http://newwiki.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?title=FAQ#Joysticks

Yeah I know that is how commercial cabs do it. It is also the reason why I utterly hate playing on one of the outside positions on panels such as those. Guess it is just me and the few that find it more reasonable as it obviously lost the coin toss when arcades were created. I find it more logical for myself for up/forward of a joystick to be in line of the direction I am facing.

You think that because you've probably sat at an angle on the couch playing console games, and in your head you're thinking "if it works there for me, it should be the same on an arcade cab". But think about when you make an extreme movement on the gamepad..  what do most people do? They physically move their body or the controller in the direction they want to go relative to the screen. We've all seen it or done it.

Although you might see it one way,  it's generally good arcade practice to orient them towards the screen, and to encourage otherwise can be a costly mistake. Not saying your opinion is wrong, just saying it's been tested and vetted through the years that it's generally not a good idea to angle your joysticks.

[PL1]

A cheap test panel is the best way to find out which way actually does work better for you before you sink the time and effort into making a finished control panel.

It will also let you test button layouts using actual buttons.   


Scott

[dezmond]

Figure I will cut one out of cardboard first and see how it feels and looks.   

Just not sure what I all need for buttons.  I know I will make it a 2 player and 7 button? What else do i need? Player one and player 2, credit p1 and p2, admin buttons? Power? Or???

[PL1]

Figure I will cut one out of cardboard first and see how it feels and looks.   

Just not sure what I all need for buttons.  I know I will make it a 2 player and 7 button? What else do i need? Player one and player 2, credit p1 and p2, admin buttons? Power? Or???

http://newwiki.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?title=FAQ#Number_of_admin_buttons


Scott

[dezmond]

Hey Everyone.   Started to work on a layout for my CP.

Would love to get some input from you all on what you think.  I tried to use the curves from the cabinet itself. 

I plan to cut it out of cardboard tomorrow morning and see how it feels on the cabinet....

Thanks!!!

[BadMouth]

I think the players are a bit far apart and the controls might be too close to the edges to fit, but other than that the design looks good to me.   I like the shape.  My concern would be standing that far left while playing a 1 player game.  Especially if it's a vertical game centered on the widescreen.  If you get the tv in, display some games on it so you get a feels playing from that position.

[Frank Drebin]

I think the players are a bit far apart and the controls might be too close to the edges to fit, but other than that the design looks good to me.   I like the shape.  My concern would be standing that far left while playing a 1 player game.  Especially if it's a vertical game centered on the widescreen.  If you get the tv in, display some games on it so you get a feels playing from that position.

FWIW my cabinet is 27.5" Wide, and the bolt on CP is 32" wide with the P1 joystick 4" from the outside edge, so 12" from the center of the screen?  No issues for me.  But good point I think you need minimum 2.5" from the edge for a joystick.

[dezmond]

Hey Everyone!!!  Been a great weekend on working on the cabinet.  Got a fair bit done. Let me know what you all think

Got the template cut for the formers on the top of the cabinet and routed out 5 of them like I did for the bottom.   They all lined up nice and level.  Glued and screwed and ready for covering.

[dezmond]

Next Up...   Cut out a sheet of 1/4" Poplar Ply and kerfed the inside to help it bend.  Glued and screwed the roof on.   It went really well!!!  Nice smooth contour.  Will be putting on some bondo to fill my screws so it's nice and clean.

[dezmond]

On To the Monitor Mount

I know I could of went out and bought a bracket and mounted it on wood and blah blah blah..  But hey I got lot's of wood here at the shop so why not do it for pennies instead of dollars.

Made up some 3/4" MDF side brackets with 1/4" Slots to hold the Monitor mount board.  Cut a 10" x 32" Board from 1/4" Birch Plywood and added Stiffeners to the back.  Drilled out my holes to match the back of the monitor.  Attached the monitor and slid it in to the brackets.  Was a Perfect fit.  I like this as well incase I ever need to pull the monitor out it is really easy to do..

[dezmond]

And here are some pics with the monitor mounted and my test CP layout.   

Need to move the joysticks a bit farther from the buttons and also I think I need to put the 2 button above the trackball over to the side of it or maybe one on each side?  I would like to use the trackball as a mouse with buttons in case I need to do something in Windows or whatever but would also like to use the buttons for games.  Missile Command and Centipede.

Any feedback about what you guys think of the layout?

Thanks again!!

Dezi

[Frank Drebin]

looking great!  Love the woodworking.

[BadMouth]

I think the two buttons above the trackball will be fine where they are, assuming you're going to use them as the direction buttons for golden tee.
Personally I wouldn't wire them up as mouse buttons if you plan to run emulators other than MAME.  It is convenient to have mouse buttons, but I'd put them underneath the CP.

A right mouse click can open menus in some front ends and emulators.
Even if there is only a tiny chance of someone being able to mess up your setup with the controls provided, some guests will find it.
It just blew my mind how some guests would just rapidly mash random buttons on the CP while in the front-end trying to get it to do
One of my friend's kids managed to hit the combo to exit the front end and shut the pc down every 10 minutes and then come bug me to turn the games back on.


EDIT: I just remembered something in regard to the placement of the controls on my cab.
On a lot of the old cabs, the player 1 joystick was about even with the left edge of the screen.
Seems to be both aesthetically pleasing and functional.  A reasonable starting point if nothing else.

[yotsuya]

I think the two buttons above the trackball will be fine where they are, assuming you're going to use them as the direction buttons for golden tee.
Personally I wouldn't wire them up as mouse buttons if you plan to run emulators other than MAME.  It is convenient to have mouse buttons, but I'd put them underneath the CP.

A right mouse click can open menus in some front ends and emulators.
Even if there is only a tiny chance of someone being able to mess up your setup with the controls provided, some guests will find it.
It just blew my mind how some guests would just rapidly mash random buttons on the CP while in the front-end trying to get it to do
One of my friend's kids managed to hit the combo to exit the front end and shut the pc down every 10 minutes and then come bug me to turn the games back on.

Tell me about it. Guests would be like "Why is the screen black?" At first I thought it was glitches, then I realized they were exiting out of the front end as well. My desktop is blank for booting purposes. I should make a wallpaper that says "IF YOU CAN READ THIS, RESTART THE MACHINE USING THE RED BUTTON ON THE TOP BACK OF THIS CABINET".

[rablack97]

You probably wont have a need for the two buttons above the tball, even if for Centipede and or Missle Command, they are in a weird spot for firing.

If you using them for maint, that route will get old really quickly.  You will need a keyboard as well not just the mouse.  I suggest getting a 2 neutrik USB pass thru's and hide them under your panel.  That way you can connect and disconnect an external KB and mouse at will, or get a BT adaptor and find a AIO keyboard mouse to do your windows maint etc.

If you connect those buttons as right and left mouse clicks, you chance the issue of your frontend losing focus or the right click function box showing up during gamplay.

You could just re-assign your fire buttons to be bottom right buttons of your 7 button layout for centipedes etc, and do the same for LR views for goldentee.

You've already cut the panel looks like, but configuring your setup using the trackball and buttons is not very efficient.

Very nice woodworking though........

[yotsuya]

You probably wont have a need for the two buttons above the tball, even if for Centipede and or Missle Command, they are in a weird spot for firing.

I agree.

[08091981]

Nice build. I am going to follow. Thanks for sharing.

I would place duplicate buttons under or next te the trackball. Game buttons from player 1 parallel to some buttens at the trackball?

[Token]

Any feedback about what you guys think of the layout?

I really like the overall look of the cabinet. The cabinet curves look really good. 

However, the control panel curve doesn't work for me. I think because it is such a smaller radius than the other curves on the cab.

Also, you might consider tightening up your control panel control spacing and shrinking the overall width of the panel. It looks like you could make it the same width as the cab itself, which IMO is a better look.

Maybe I missed it, but what is each admin button for?

[yotsuya]

Any feedback about what you guys think of the layout?

I really like the overall look of the cabinet. The cabinet curves look really good. 

However, the control panel curve doesn't work for me. I think because it is such a smaller radius than the other curves on the cab.

Also, you might consider tightening up your control panel control spacing and shrinking the overall width of the panel. It looks like you could make it the same width as the cab itself, which IMO is a better look.

Excellent point, Token. When I think of playing games, I think of standing in front of the cab, not off to the side. That design basically makes you as a player stand off to the side to play games. Just some food for thought.

[rablack97]

Thats code for the fleet design is not needed for your 2 player application.

Admin -  Pause, Exit and Go?

Start and Credit are my guesses.

[dezmond]

looking great!  Love the woodworking.

Thanks    Still learning lot's. 

Any feedback about what you guys think of the layout?

I really like the overall look of the cabinet. The cabinet curves look really good. 

However, the control panel curve doesn't work for me. I think because it is such a smaller radius than the other curves on the cab.

Also, you might consider tightening up your control panel control spacing and shrinking the overall width of the panel. It looks like you could make it the same width as the cab itself, which IMO is a better look.

Maybe I missed it, but what is each admin button for?

Ya the front curve is not very comfortable.  It "pushes" you off to the side when you step up to it.  I need to change that for sure.

The Admin buttons are pause, exit and go.

Thats code for the fleet design is not needed for your 2 player application.

Admin -  Pause, Exit and Go?

Start and Credit are my guesses.

You Guessed correct

You probably wont have a need for the two buttons above the tball, even if for Centipede and or Missle Command, they are in a weird spot for firing.

If you using them for maint, that route will get old really quickly.  You will need a keyboard as well not just the mouse.  I suggest getting a 2 neutrik USB pass thru's and hide them under your panel.  That way you can connect and disconnect an external KB and mouse at will, or get a BT adaptor and find a AIO keyboard mouse to do your windows maint etc.

If you connect those buttons as right and left mouse clicks, you chance the issue of your frontend losing focus or the right click function box showing up during gamplay.

You could just re-assign your fire buttons to be bottom right buttons of your 7 button layout for centipedes etc, and do the same for LR views for goldentee.

You've already cut the panel looks like, but configuring your setup using the trackball and buttons is not very efficient.

Very nice woodworking though........

Great idea for the button assignment   I only cut the top of the panel with some scrap plywood we had at the shop.  I will re-do the layout and post it here to see what you all think.  I will use your suggestions as well and see how it looks.

Thanks all!!

Dezi

[dezmond]

Well here is a new layout for the CP...  I used the same contour from the bottom front of the cabinet.  Took out some buttons that were not needed and also pulled things together a little tighter.  Also I made it the width of the cabinet instead of going outside.

Thoughts?

Thanks

Dezi

[Token]

Well here is a new layout for the CP...  I used the same contour from the bottom front of the cabinet.  Took out some buttons that were not needed and also pulled things together a little tighter.  Also I made it the width of the cabinet instead of going outside.

Thoughts?

Thanks

Dezi

Very nice curves! 

[Speed Racer]

    I would like to use the trackball as a mouse with buttons in case I need to do something in Windows or whatever ...

For doing stuff in windows I would recommend having one of these wireless keyboard combos (eg Logitech K400r) stashed inside your cab.

They are fairly cheap (about $30AUD), and I have found on my pincab that the wireless receiver is good enough to work through the cab wall. Just leave the receiver plugged into a motherboard USB. This particular one is battery powered, but has an on/off switch so the batteries last ages.

The best part is that no-one can accidentally change your setup/admin stuff without it, and it keeps control panel clutter to a minimum.

[rablack97]

Well here is a new layout for the CP...  I used the same contour from the bottom front of the cabinet.  Took out some buttons that were not needed and also pulled things together a little tighter.  Also I made it the width of the cabinet instead of going outside.

Thoughts?

Thanks

Dezi

Whats the one button for?

Why not use button 6 on plyr 1 as fire?  There's only a few tball games that require a button in mame, so you could just assign button 6 as the fire button for those games.  It looks kinda cramped right now on the right.

Also those 2 sharp edges, consider your tmolding, if you dont notch it correctly you will have a corner gaps.

[rablack97]

    I would like to use the trackball as a mouse with buttons in case I need to do something in Windows or whatever ...

For doing stuff in windows I would recommend having one of these wireless keyboard combos (eg Logitech K400r) stashed inside your cab.

They are fairly cheap (about $30AUD), and I have found on my pincab that the wireless receiver is good enough to work through the cab wall. Just leave the receiver plugged into a motherboard USB. This particular one is battery powered, but has an on/off switch so the batteries last ages.

The best part is that no-one can accidentally change your setup/admin stuff without it, and it keeps control panel clutter to a minimum.

+1

[dezmond]

    I would like to use the trackball as a mouse with buttons in case I need to do something in Windows or whatever ...

For doing stuff in windows I would recommend having one of these wireless keyboard combos (eg Logitech K400r) stashed inside your cab.

They are fairly cheap (about $30AUD), and I have found on my pincab that the wireless receiver is good enough to work through the cab wall. Just leave the receiver plugged into a motherboard USB. This particular one is battery powered, but has an on/off switch so the batteries last ages.

The best part is that no-one can accidentally change your setup/admin stuff without it, and it keeps control panel clutter to a minimum.

+1

I got me one of those somewhere around here   Thanks!!!  I will make sure to tuck it away for this one...

Also I removed the button beside the trackball and taking the advice to use Button 6 on P1 when needed...

Going to be a crazy week for me at work.  We are just finishing up forming the shape of a F4 Jet for a customer and getting ready to start laying up fiberglass...  I hope to get a little bit in on the cabinet but it may have to wait till the weekend...

Here is what I am working on right now...  Gonna go outside on a pole at a guys business somewhere in the USA