Zeta Psi Arcade - Complete

[DrTongue]

I discovered the entire concept of MAME and self-made arcade cabinets about 2 months ago. I started construction on my first cab one month ago.

I looked through other examples before deciding to use the cabinet plans and dimensions from Arcade Paradise 3. I have made a couple modifications to the construction, however.

I decided to title the project "Zeta Psi Arcade" because after it is complete I will move it over to my fraternity at college (I am 19).

Here are some pics of the project thus far, which is moving slowly but surely along.

As per the plans of AP3, all the screws to keep the cabinet together are inside of the cabinet. Wood filler not necessary. These wood strips made from picket fence will help support the panels.




I then attached six 1x4 boards to allow me to create a "frame" of the cabinet.



After the frame was complete I installed the monitor shelf. I sat on it to make sure it could hold a TV. It didn't break.



Next I decided that I wanted to install a keyboard tray, as this unit will be used often (probably always) and for more than just games (i.e. Music station at parties, etc.). I didn't originally think to add one of these, so as such there was a strip of picket fence hindering the keyboard slider. I had to cut that out and clear up some space.


I also bought a USB face plate and mounting cords from DataPro International. I attached it to the front coin door panel for easy plug-in access for gamepads (2 x Logitech Rumblepads). This rig will be used for plenty of console gaming, also.



This is my construction progress so far. The next step is to screw in the front "coin door" panel and then the paint the cabinet glossy black.

For the control panel, I decided to buy a precut box from eBay seller 123gumby123. I purchased his 2-player box. There are a few reasons I decided to have the box precut:

-This cabinet is my first ever creation from wood. I have never used most power tools before this project. I would not trust myself with the precision involved in the cutting.
-I see the deal as a bargain and the seller has great feedback.
-I like the fact that the box has a layer of protective plexiglass. I would NEVER want to cut my own plexiglass panel.
-I have a limited amount of time to work on this project. This saves time.

I also bought Happ marquee retainers and his 2 player-home arcade control kit with 8 extra buttons. This should fill the control panel except for the spinner and a dedicated 4-way joystick, which I will get elsewhere. The control panel, buttons, and marquee retainer should arrive in a couple weeks.

I also have bought a 27" TV from eBay for $100 shipped. Hopefully it works when it arrives.

I will be buying a computer for the rig soon from Newegg for about $350.

I booted up Photoshop the other day and put together a possible marquee design, which I will get printed from Mame Marquees. I found the background photo from an image archive and the NASA webiste. Let me know what you think of the design (I know I will have to alter the dimensions).


I will update this post later with additional pics, information, and a costs sheet. For now I must be off to work.

[spyderdsm]

looks good so far...good planning is the key...
I also bought  a 2 player-home arcade control kit from that ebay seller...
Im in the planning stages also...I bought everything except the MDF wood...I need a way to bring it home...Will be hard to bring in my car

[jcroach]

If your fraternity is anything like mine was, and you're going to put this in a common area, I'd suggest making the thing as tough as a tank and waterproof.  And get a good lock on the thing so no one steals your PC.

[javeryh]

Agreed.  If one of these was in my fraternity there would be beer and cigarette ashes covering the thing inside of three days and of course it would break.  You are doing a great job though!

[Crafty]

Looking good so far.

I second the build it like a tank comment.

The marquee looks good.

[theCoder]

Be careful for ANY exposed holes.  This includes USB ports, keyboard, fan, speakers, etc.  I once saw a machine that had a big hole where a lower speaker was, kicked out in an attempt to get at the probably small amount of quarters in the box.

Do not have ANY exposed screws or fasteners! 

You may also want to put a few hundred pounds of weights (maybe 4 sacks of cement) in the bottom once you get it in place.  If a cab were placed in my old college dorm, two drunk dudes would try carrying it out the back door the first Saturday night it installed.

Have fun with this project.

[DrTongue]

Okay, after reading some of the feedback regarding security, I decided to install a panel onto the back of the cabinet (originally the back was to remain open). I will however have a few screws exposed still so that I can get inside later on should I need to.

I should point out that the fraternity I'm bringing this too only has about 15 people in it; it is very small. It is not the stereotypical frat of drunk dudes and ---uvulas---. Sure, idiots from the outside make their way in from time to time, and that is why I am installing a back panel.

Here is a picture of the back panel. I have drilled several holes in it to help with airflow and passive cooling.


Because I am installing this back panel, I decided to buy a coin door. I shopped on eBay and found a coin door only for $40 shipped. It will light up and open and close, but it doesn't work (no mechs). That doesn't really matter though, since I don't need it to work. The coin door hatch will allow me to get to the computer ports and drives whenever I need to.

In the past couple days I have made good progress on the cabinet itself. First I primed it:


Then I added the first coat of paint and sanded it:


Then I added a couple more layers of paint, installed T-molding, and installed the marquee backlight. This is my progress so far.



As for the future:

-I should be getting my 27" TV in the mail tomorrow. I will see how well that works and try to install it in the cabinet soon.
-The control box, joysticks, buttons, and trackball should arrive sometime next week.
-I am ordering a computer from Newegg on Friday, so it should arrive next week.

This project is moving along quickly and I hope to be finished in a couple of weeks or so.

[Crafty]

Looking good...

Keep the pictures coming

[DrTongue]

Well it's been a while since my last update but I've made some good progress in that time. Here are some new pics:

I got my computer in and put it together. It's a shame that it's gonna be hidden within that cabinet.


I also got my faux coin door in; It's just the face, no coin mech or coin box. It's there for aesthetics and the access door.


The neighborhood kids wanted to "beta test" the cabinet. They are playing Pokemon Stadium with the two gamepads.


Finally I got my precut control panel in the mail. Here it is with artwork applied and buttons attached. I have not yet wired it up.



Here is an overall view of the cabinet, artwork applied. I haven't yet secured the marquee, though.


I also installed some towel racks to serve as gamepad racks.


That's my progress so far. All I really have left to do is finish wiring the control panel, install some smoked plexiglass, and get some LEDs for the coin door. I will post another update sometime soon, hopefully with completion pics.

[toe.]

looking good AP3 plans using buddy.
i will have questions for you when i get
around to starting my box soon.

edit: whoops. tis friday. 1 week tops

[DrTongue]

Well... that's about it. I'm finally content to call my project complete (or nearly...).

Here are some pictures of the finished product:






In the following picture, you can see my clever method of lighting up the coin door. All I did was take the side panel case fan out of the computer, which had 4 bright blue LEDs in it, remove the spinning part of the fan, and duct tape the fan enclosure to the inside of the door. It works very well.






The only change I might make is to add smoked plexiglass over the monitor. I don't really know if that's necessary though. I'm also adding two more gamepads because Super Smash Bros. seems to get played a lot on this machine. 

Thanks to the resources of Arcade Controls and Arcade Paradise for helping me figure out exactly how to go about building such a monument. Building this was a ton of fun.

-fin-