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Scratch build project-Is it so hard??
Bones:
I visit or call an arcade vendor with simple questions regarding availability of parts and in every instance they regurgitate something like the following;
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paigeoliver:
THe problem with scratchbuilt cabinets is that most of them come out quite inferior when compared to factory built cabinets, AND it costs about 6 times as much to build one as it does to buy a used one.
I have been doing arcade games, projects, mame cabinets, and such for years, and I have scratchbuilt ONE cabinet. Not counting tools, monitor or controls or ANYTHING, it still cost me about $120 to build it. And that is WAY CHEAP compared to what most people spend scratchbuilding (I used a skinny design to do it with 2 sheets of MDF instead of 3).
It came out looking pretty good. But not as good as if I had simply found myself a factory built cabinet and put the same effort into it.
neuromancer:
There are two aspects to the scratch built project:
1) The cabinet, and 2) the controls.
The cabinet is just a woodworking project. If you have the tools and the knowhow, then you already know what's involved. It's not too bad. Then again, I bought a working game in a cabinet for $120 off Ebay. I could build a plywood box for less than $120, but I got a monitor, some leaf sticks and a coin door too.
The controls take a variety of skills, including either wood or metal working, electrical, conceptual, design, and general jack of all trades. It's kind of tedious work. I expect a lot of people get the parts, but just never get around to doing anything. Or they buy extra stuff, or they get stuff and change their minds about what they're going to make.
I've made three panels, and I'll make at least one more -- probably modular.
Bob
DrewKaree:
--- Quote from: BrokenBones1 on November 20, 2004, 06:56:43 pm ---I visit or call an arcade vendor with simple questions regarding availability of parts and in every instance they regurgitate something like the following;
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--- End quote ---
dmsuchy:
I have a history of some wood working and when I came across this site I instantly wanted to build my own cabinet from scratch. I am now completeing my second cabinet for a friend. I mean all it is, is a box with a computer and monitor in it. MDF is cheap and you can buy a decent circular saw and jig saw pretty cheap from the local HD. My hardest part was designing the layout of how I wanted my cab to look like, I borrowed heavy from GXR Moviestars cab and I think it looks great. Wiring a control panel is straight forward if you get a decent keyboard encoder, I recommend an Ipac. My hardest part was programing the computer since I'm a complete computer IDIOT! If you already have some tools I say go for it and if you run into troubles post them here, this is the best forum for people who want to help!
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