Arcade Bones (Marquee & Dashboard graphics finalised)

[danny_galaga]

go bones! its gunna be a doozy (",)

[tommy]

Looking good dude, you're making me want to start a new project.

[Bones]

I have really enjoyed the process so far. It's only 75% completed and already I am considering what my next project will be.....

[Bones]

Saturday night update.

Let me start tonight

[Bones]

Next I got the foam/cardboard I purchased and cut it to size, I then cut a square out of the middle for the actual screen display and put everything in place. My intention is to also paint the back of the lexan to conceal its mounting blocks.

[Bones]

Now the problems

[bossyman15]

gee that sucks....

why not while you are waiting for happ's email, why don't you try the $2.00 bezel a shot? 

maybe you will like it better than having to pay load of $$$$$ from happs.

[Bones]

Since posting the update I have been adjusting the bezel and thinking more about it. I might still be able to use this cardboard thing and get a reasonable result if I can't find a bezel in Aus.

Really, spending $100 freight for a $20 part is not something I want to do. Also, I would like to stay faithful to my original plan of not buying parts from overseas.

[RaggedEdge]

Were the scratches put in the Lexan-like material before you bought it?  It seems like an good idea and one I would try also, but I have not held up any Lexan in front of a monitor to see if it has any inherent scratches.  I will probably buy the Happs bezel too, fortunately I am here in the states.  I guess I take that for granted, although, my Ultimarc stuff came from the UK.

[nostrebor]

The $2 bezel is a piece of cake to do, just make cardstock mockups until its right, then cut parts from your black stock to match.

I used hot glue at the corners of mine. It really made it sturdy.

[Bones]

Were the scratches put in the Lexan-like material before you bought it?

If was given to me free of charge and yes, the scratches were in it when I got it. The protective covering was missing in some places like it had been torn. It really isn't terrible and I could easily use this piece if I had to. I am leaning heavily towards tinted glass now, I just know I won't be 100% happy unless I get some.

I am over stressing about the bezel & will give Tailgunner's tutorial a go.

nostrebor, that bezel looks bloody great.

[Bones]

Sunday night update.

Minor work today. In the morning I messed around with the bezel before deciding I could procrastinate this task. This is probably a good thing because I can make it to suit when the monitor is fully installed.

I have pretty much dismissed any thoughts of getting a Happ

[D5A1AC]

I just want to second the $2 bezel - It was really my only option when I made my bezel, but I was happy with the results. If/when you do it, like most things, the longer you spend on it the better it will look. I suggest making the depth of the bezel bigger than you want to account for heaps of little trimmings here and there - Once I had mine fitting snug it almost didn't reach the frame that it is supposed to join. (You know the old story about sanding the table legs level..  )

Good luck!

[Bones]

Thanks. I will likely make a cardboard blueprint to get the sizes and angles right and then transfer this design to balsa wood.

[Bones]

Saturday night update.

I made the decision to use tinted safety glass for my monitor screen. The Lexan I cut looked fine, but the more I read on this tinted stuff the keener I became. I sent out some emails and as usual I got no replies. Refusing to chase the places I had emailed for answers, I rang a local glass glazier and had a chat with him explaining what I wanted.

He recommended

[Bones]

Another mid week realisation I had was about my damn sound system

[Bones]

Only other construction today was strengthening my cabinet design. In the short time the monitor was in place there appeared to be the slightest bowing of the MDF monitor shelf.

I reinforced the shelf and sides with 2X4 pine and installed 4 big ass metal brackets.

Further construction today was cut short when my one month old cordless drill failed. The chuck become stuck wide open and could not be closed. I had to run around getting another. I was lucky I kept the docket because normally these end up in the bin or lost. The drill was exchanged with no questions asked and zero fuss which was nice.

[Bones]

Tomorrow I might play with the potentiometer for my volume control although at the moment I am in dire need of a cleanup before I even think about going much further. This picture speaks for itself regarding the state or my workshop. It is obvious who is to blame for this mess and I blame saint, his book & this web site.

[M3talhead]

I think you'll be very happy with the tinted safety glass. I used tinted Lexan in my first cab and when the monitor is on, you cant even see if a bezel is there or not. Dont worry, if you go the $2 route, it wont be as bad as you think. 

Keep up that attention to detail!

[Bones]

I think you'll be very happy with the tinted safety glass. I used tinted Lexan in my first cab and when the monitor is on, you cant even see if a bezel is there or not. Dont worry, if you go the $2 route, it wont be as bad as you think. 

Keep up that attention to detail!

Yeah, the tinted glass should hide any bezel roughness. <bonus!> 



*Edit spelling.

[RaggedEdge]

That workshop doesn't look too bad.  It looks like you can still walk around.  What type of car is that in the picture on your wall.  I suspect it is a Dodge Charger since I see a licence plate with "Charger" writtin on it.  You know.....I had never considered blaming Saint for all my mess/struggles until you mentioned it.  It's definitely his fault.  How dare he wrote that book.  I was just minding my own business walking around a book store that one day, and there was his book and it just reached out and grabbed me.  I haven't been the same since    But I sure am having fun 

[Bones]

What type of car is that in the picture on your wall. I suspect it is a Dodge Charger since I see a licence plate with "Charger" writtin on it.

The picture on the wall is a Phase 3 Australian Ford Falcon XYGTHO.

I used to own a Charger, but an Aussie one (Not Dodge). I sold it a couple of years ago. 
The number plate was a gift from a dude I used to work when I had the car.

[Bones]

Sunday Morning.

I got lazy & didn

[Bones]

The blue marks on the wood are off the dropsaw body. It was a big slam.

[GameOver]

Glad you're ok.  Tools can do some serious damage.  I've NEVER used clamps when using a miter saw, I've always held the wood by hand.  You're supposed to clamp the wood you're cutting somehow? 

Since my machine is on (somewhat permanent!) loan from my father-in-law, I've never had the manual to read. 

Again, glad you're ok.  It coulda been a completely different story you just told.

[Santoro]

I had the same thing happen to me TWICE before I figured out why it was happening.

[pointdablame]

wow, those blue marks really show how hard that thing must have hit.

If I've learned anything from good ol' dad, it's to respect power tools.  Although I think we're all guilty of being a bit lazy at time since it's "only one cut" or "too much work to set it all up"  I know I've done that before, and I'm betting most of us have.  I'll think twice about that next time I fire up the saw.


Keep up the good work on the cab though, it really is looking good.

[Tailgunner]

Glad you're okay Bones, power tools will bite you without a second thought when given half a chance.

Also glad to see you're warming up to the $2 cardboard bezel.  I figure cardboard was good enough for almost all of the manufacturers, and you can waste a lot of it perfecting your pattern without costing you anywhere near the price of a plastic bezel.

[shodokan123]

looks nice... but if it is going to be a showpeice.. shell out the $ for a plastic bezel bro.

[M3talhead]

Sunday Morning.

I got lazy & didn

[Bones]

Heh. Everybody loves a little drama. My link has never had this many hints in such a short time before! You guys want me to do something else stupid? 

After my close call today I dedicated the rest of my weekend to cleaning up my workspace. I should have done it ages ago. I finally have a floor again and everything has it's place. Thinking safety-first for the duration of my build. This was a really close one and to not take notice of the warning signs would be extremely foolish.

Today I also went to the place that sold me the dropsaw and had a talk to them. I told them about the problem and I may have curved reality just a little bit, ahem...ummm, OK then, a fair bit. Anyway, they are happy to replace the dropsaw with a new one under warranty which with any luck will arrive prior to next weekend.

[Bones]

looks nice... but if it is going to be a showpeice.. shell out the $ for a plastic bezel bro.

No way man, I ain't coughing up over $100 for a plastic square on principal alone. I am confident with effort I can make something that will look the biz.

Also glad to see you're warming up to the $2 cardboard bezel. I figure cardboard was good enough for almost all of the manufacturers, and you can waste a lot of it perfecting your pattern without costing you anywhere near the price of a plastic bezel.

Yeah I will give it a shot when the monitor has been permanently installed. Thanks for the effort you put into the $2.00 bezel link.

You know 'Bones, no project, no matter what kind, is complete without atleast one drop of human blood. Every project I finish, whether its working on a car, arcade, or house, I always somehow manage to get a cut or deep scrape that draws blood.

You cant avoid it 'Bones. It WILL happen!

Yeah I agree. Skinning knuckles and cuts are always gunna happen, I ain't afraid of those. But this one was different. This was 2200 watts of spinning blade, this could have been life changing.

[pointdablame]

You guys want me to do something else stupid? 

Of course we do   But next time put a piece of the cab on backwards or something..... nothing involving power tools or possible lost appendages.  Keep up the stupid stuff, just not the potentially deadly ones heh.

As they say, it's all fun and games until someone loses an eye.

[DrewKaree]

looks nice... but if it is going to be a showpeice.. shell out the $ for a plastic bezel bro.

That's just silly.  My Time Pilot would WHOLEHEARTEDLY disagree with that, as would MANY other games.  Not only did they use cardboard bezels to surround the screen and mask off the innards, Tailgunner's method and Bones' use of tinted glass would make it so that not only could you couldn't tell, but he could use whatever color he wants AND it won't cost him at LEAST a hundred friggen dollars (go ahead, find out what SHIPPING that thing costs.  I'd bet shipping runs a C-note, since it's expensive as hell just to ship in the states)

Bones, it might be the picture and the angle it was taken, but it looks to me like when you had your accident you bent your fence on the saw.  It might not make a difference on pieces that span the whole table on it, but for shorter pieces, you might end up with some stuffed up angles that'll have you pulling out your hair.  It you did, see if there's attachment holes on the table and build yourself a new (better/taller/useful) fence to screw back on there.  MDF will be fine for that too, in fact, I may have plans for a saw "center" floating around the house if you want me to see if I can scan 'em in and send 'em.  It'll give me a reason to buy a new printer/scanner

I'd bet you bent your blade and perhaps the hold-down washer (if there is one) and arbor bolt.  Check 'em out and see if replacements are cheap.

[DrewKaree]

You guys want me to do something else stupid? 

Of course we do   But next time put a piece of the cab on backwards or something..... nothing involving power tools or possible lost appendages.  Keep up the stupid stuff, just not the potentially deadly ones heh.

Try to work bacon in there somehow too.

As they say, it's all fun and games until someone loses an eye.

I thought it was supposed to be "it's funny until someone ruptures their uvula"

looks nice... but if it is going to be a showpeice.. shell out the $ for a plastic bezel bro.

No way man, I ain't coughing up over $100 for a plastic square on principal alone. I am confident with effort I can make something that will look the biz.

I can't believe that without even reading this first that I was balls-on the money for how much that thing would cost....throwing useless overpayments at our projects doesn't "make" a project, doing a quality job with what's available for ease of construction is what ultimately "makes" it. 

[RayB]

So... how do you auto-trace in Illustrator?

[Bones]

Bones, it might be the picture and the angle it was taken, but it looks to me like when you had your accident you bent your fence on the saw.

Hmm... yeah I had a look at the picture and it does look bent although I don't remember spotting any damage when I was cleaning it up last night. Anyway, it is in my car now and will be covered under warranty. I am dropping it back tonight on the way home from work.

This works out well because I would have had to change the blade soon and I don't know how to change it.

[Tailgunner]

This works out well because I would have had to change the blade soon and I don't know how to change it.

[Bones]

That's likely the cause of what happened, dull blades are far more likely to bind up during a cut.

In all honesty the blade is still pretty sharp and appears in good condition. I checked all the teeth expecting to find a couple missing after the Dropsaw Incident^TM, but they all look perfect. There are no chips or bruises that I can find anywhere.

The blame for what happenned rests firmly on my shoulders. No other external factors contributed to the Dropsaw Incident^TM.

[Zakk]

I'm with Tailgunner on this one.  As soon as I saw it, I thought "crappy blade".  I used to reno houses, and I've probably made a gazillion cuts on a gazillion pieces of lumber, of all sizes.  One, I recommend DeWalt chopsaws, and Two I recommend DeWalt or Diablo blades.    The things that can cause a piece to jam would be dull or bent blade, and reduced speed on the motor (were you pushing too hard on a dull blade maybe?).

 I've never had a piece slam like that, and I've never clamped the wood.  Get an upgraded blade when they replace the saw.  Oh, but DO wear safety glasses at all times!