The SquareVision Max cabinet

[markiej]

If you have the joysticks and the buttons: Just cut a piece of cardboard to CP-size, place your hands on the cardboard, mark the positions of your fingers of your right hand for the buttons and for the joystick, cut out the holes, put the controls in, see if it's comfortable.

If you don't have the joysticks and the buttons: Don't worry about the CP until you have them. You have plenty of things to build, you can literally put the controls in as a finishing touch.

Like the ergo-engineering - thanks!

[markiej]

Most of the way through the assembly - the left side still isn't attached - just sat in on the photo.  Need to let the glue overnight.  I think this thing is going to be a real low-res looker (look really good in low-res shots, and "did your son make that?" in person.  Also, got all my parts

Controls

• seimitsu joysticks x2
• happ black buttons x 21 (8 + coin/start each + one as hotkey)
• ultimarc trackball and spinner
• mini-pac opti[/i]
  

PC: i5-4590, GTX980, 16GB, case, 512GB SSD (had most of that lying around)
Monitor: TCL 43S425 43" 4K TV
Setup: Big Box with primarily MAME64, and a handful of other games (some naomi, dreamcast, and windows).

[Nephasth]

Man... you edited out the best parts of that pic!

[Alejo I]

Put a coin door there and you have a winner.

I'm surprised by how much I like it IRL compared to the renders. I think some good side art could elevate it further.

[Jimbo]

So glad you didn't switch to the viewlix look...

I like the design.  Only thing I'd change is where the CP top hits the side panels, make the side panels surround it a bit... same at the top of the marquee... looks a bit odd with it stopping in line with the top of the cab.  Just my opinion though.  Good luck with the build.

[markiej]

So glad you didn't switch to the viewlix look...

I like the design.  Only thing I'd change is where the CP top hits the side panels, make the side panels surround it a bit... same at the top of the marquee... looks a bit odd with it stopping in line with the top of the cab.  Just my opinion though.  Good luck with the build.

Unless I'm misunderstanding, it already does that - just hard to tell from that angle - the side panels stick out 1/2" forward or above the other parts (and flush with the bottom & back).  The t-molding will bump that a little too.  And thanks!

[markiej]

Put a coin door there and you have a winner.

I'm surprised by how much I like it IRL compared to the renders. I think some good side art could elevate it further.

I agree, especially on the coin door - be a nice visual anchor in the front, and draw the eye away from the dodgy speaker slots.  Although for Rev 1 of this cab, I'm running out of gas so I'm going to stick with paint for now, which will leave the option open for future art & mods.  Thanks!

[Jimbo]

Heh, so I see... I totally missed a bunch of posts, dunno what happened there.

Bring back revision e.

I agree with Mike.

[markiej]

Heh, so I see... I totally missed a bunch of posts, dunno what happened there.

I agree with Mike.

Cutting and assembling this simple build has only confirmed my decision not to attempt anything close to original design - pretty much every board but the side had angled edges.  The sit-down version works way better with all right-angles.  Also I totally get that this is not a crowd-pleaser, and have made peace with that

[Jimbo]

In that case, good luck!

[markiej]

More progress - fully assembled - painted - control panel designed and cut - monitor attached (detachable to save 16lb when moving it) - pc built and mostly configured.

to do - control panel installation and wiring - moving it upstairs - stuffing the CP into cabinet - tight fit - tough up paint after that - attach black t-molding - make peace with some minor dodginess here and there.

I painted it this color because I liked the color, but I'm fairly certain I'll want to vinyl it soon sides n cp, and possibly grab a nonfunctioning coindoor (no room for the workings behind it) - I'm just running out of gas and don't want to rush the design, and want to actually use it.

[yotsuya]

Might I suggest renaming it RectangleVision Max?

[Jimbo]

With that size of telly and cp, surely you need two massive booming speakers instead of those tiny grills under the cp?   

[markiej]

Might I suggest renaming it RectangleVision Max?

Ha!  Yeah - it's kind of nameless at the moment.  But I am sticking with the square concept for MAME - in that the gamefield is bound inside a 2160x2160 square in the middle (using artwork).  Also have been tinkering with artwork and creating a set of cp.png files that have the different buttons layouts (the screenshots show the default layouts used for most games).  The ultimate fantasy is to use controls.ini and scripting to plug button layouts into all the games.  We'll see :O

[yotsuya]

BTW, I would forgo the coin door on this particular build.

[markiej]

With that size of telly and cp, surely you need two massive booming speakers instead of those tiny grills under the cp?   

Missed opportunity to create a massive boom-box-themed kick plate


but yeah, there'll be a sub inside.

[markiej]

BTW, I would forgo the coin door on this particular build.

Still up in the air on the version 1.1 updates - I figure I'll live with it as is, and my eyes will eventually tell me what's missing.  You're right in that it's not quite arcadey enough to warrant that particular treatment (the profile is more arcadey than the front view - looks a bit asteroids and a bit tempest).

[Mike A]

But I am sticking with the square concept for MAME - in that the gamefield is bound inside a 2160x2160 square in the middle (using artwork).

So.....Are you going to use this for something other than classic video games? I don't really understand why you made it so wide if you are only using half of the width.

[markiej]

But I am sticking with the square concept for MAME - in that the gamefield is bound inside a 2160x2160 square in the middle (using artwork).

So.....Are you going to use this for something other than classic video games? I don't really understand why you made it so wide if you are only using half of the width.

yeah - it's multi-functional, being the only tech in the room.  It's core purpose is to provide me with a solid mame experience (seriously mame64 + hlsl + all those pixels + that size = amazing & I'm assuming the controls I spent through the nose will add to that.  Also, when it's time to watch a disney movie or paw patrol with my littlest, it'll do that.  If I want a little Game Cube smash Melee 1v1 with my teen, it'll do that too, or certain steam games that I can get the controls to map to.

[Mike A]

Got it.

[JDFan]

But I am sticking with the square concept for MAME - in that the gamefield is bound inside a 2160x2160 square in the middle (using artwork).

So.....Are you going to use this for something other than classic video games? I don't really understand why you made it so wide if you are only using half of the width.

Agreed - IF only using a 2160x2160 square - Seems it would make more sense to mount the screen vertically and hide the unused portion rather than making the cab twice the needed width.

[markiej]

Agreed - IF only using a 2160x2160 square - Seems it would make more sense to mount the screen vertically and hide the unused portion rather than making the cab twice the needed width.

That was the original plan - and I designed something with exactly that in mind - then I looked at a cross-section and saw all those angles and miter cuts, required to get a decent looking build that also fits a 43" vertical monitor, and I knew I don't nearly have that in me just yet.  judging by the issues I ran into with my simple-cab, I was totally right. 

[Jimbo]

It's a shame you think doing some mitre cuts was a show stopper.  I think that's actually far simpler than other parts of building a cab (wiring up control panels for example).

If you don't have a power mitre saw then it's a bit harder, but even so, totally doable!

[markiej]

It's a shame you think doing some mitre cuts was a show stopper.  I think that's actually far simpler than other parts of building a cab (wiring up control panels for example).

If you don't have a power mitre saw then it's a bit harder, but even so, totally doable!

Funny you should say that - that & software are the easy part for me.  I mean, I've done a lot of things with this cab I didn't think doable - routing scared and intimidated me bigtime for example and once I learned about safety and best practices, it was shockingly straightforward, and cutting a decent curve in MDF was not so bad, with the right blade.  But trying to get holes in the CP was decidedly difficult - 3/4" MDF was like "you.are.NOT. poking.HOLES.in.ME!"  I think if I had table-versus-hand equipment, I'd probably feel more confident.  And while it might not win more than a participation ribbon on this forum (if that ) I'm kind of thrilled with the results so far.

[Jimbo]

Well it's what you like that counts. 

[markiej]

welp - it's done.  Gaming on this looks, plays and sounds fantastic.  I'm going to art it up later, as a separate undertaking, no idea what kind of treatment, likely  something retro-artsy-tasteful-ish, rather than a tribute to any particular game/publisher.  Anyhow, thanks for your help!  Especially all the old posts that helped me figure out things like t-molding, routing, and cabinetry.
 

And yeah - my dodgy bondo job above the bezel looked way better before putting some paint on it.  It's sanded smooth, just, you know, funky.

[yotsuya]

He certainly built what he dug.