Rotating Monitor - Plans, Ideas, Pics?

[JayTea]

I have an idea for a rotating monitor on an upright cab, but I wanted to hear from some of you that have rotating monitors... Anyone have pics or rough diagrams?  Thanks!

JT

[Carsten Carlos]

I have a "professional" motorized rotating monitor in my cab - luckily I got this monitormount from an old universal-cab that was build in germany. I doubt you'll see one of those ever again on Ebay, but maybe it gives you some kind of inspiration.

By the way, my frontend is working (nothing really showable at this stage) - so you can choose a game with joystick and the monitor rotates and degausses automatically when needed.

Works like a charm!  

[Pipercub]

Let me see, I didn't take any pics but let me try to describe the process as well as I can.

Materials: 2 squares of 3/8 inch thick ply that are 3x3ft
                 couple of 2x4s
                 4 refridgerator rollers
                 Electric reciprcating saw (jig saw)
                 A box of 2 3/4 wood screws
                 2 wheels with fixed castors

The cabnet I used was a Asteroids delux cabnet. The original monitor was at a right angle to the display area which was a mirror reflecting the monitor to give a 3-D effect.

First thing to do is construct the monitor frame, think of this as a tube that the monitor is mounted in that you could roll accross the floor. The way to make this is to measure your inner width of the cabnet, in my case about 24 inches. You want to cut a circle out of each square of plywood that is just slightly smaller than the width of the cabnet. You want it to be as wide as possible so that you get as much "meat" as possible remaining in the circle once you cut out the center.

Test fit the plywood circles and make sure you can spin them in the cab without binding. Then take your monitor, if using a PC one you will need to ditch the plastic casing. and make a paper template that gives you the corner bolt locations and clearance needed for the tube. Then lay this template over the plywood circle and cut out the rectangle in the center so that the circle will bolt in place over the front of the monitor. Now measure the length of the monitor and cut 4 2x4 lengths to match. Screw the end of the 2x4s to the back of the plate so that you have 4 2x4s projecting to the rear of the monitor. Place the 2nd circle at the rear and screw it in place. You now have a round cage that you can roll, two discs connected by 4 2x4s.

The support frame is the hard part and you will need help. Lift the monitor into place in the gutted cabnet. Then take two lengths of 2x4 that are about an inch longer than the monitor cage and slip one on each side under the cage. The idea is that you have two rails that support the tube and are at the right angle and height to position it where you want it. Mark the location and pull everything back out.

The rollers I used took the most work to figure out. They are a double roller (two side by side) that are made for the bottoms of refridgerators so they are very stout. They have a stud out the back of them. I measured so that the roller's frame would be level with the top of the 2x4 and then drilled a hole. On the other side I countersunk a hole so that the nut could go over the stud and the back of the 2x4 would be flush. Then I mounted the rails inside the cabnet and about an inch lower than the marks so that the extra height added by the rollers would be negated.

Then I placed the monitor into the cabnet on the rollers and had a friend hold it on the front. I then attached two castor wheels (fixed so that they did not swivel) on a 2x4 that was long enough to go accross the back of the pivot frame. The wheels run along the back of the plywood circle so that the monitor does not bind or fall off the rollers. Now the monitor will pivot.

Another problem you will have is degaussing the monitor each time you pivot. Most monitors have a degauss function and many do it on power up. Mine did so I just power down the monitor and rotate it. When it comes back on it is clear. If you do not degauss the colors will be wrong.

It is allot of trouble but well worth it when you play Galaga at full screen verticle and defender at full screen horizontal.

[Amra]

I have an Idea for a rotating monitor, but I am still trying to put it into practice.

Essentially its as follows, the monitor is on a steel frame that is tapered to the shape of the monitor.

On the top and bottom of the longer sides there are handles for gripping the monitor

The back is supported by an assembly that allows easy front/back movement, and smooth rotation.  (i.e. a simple steel structure that has ball bearings

The monitor is gripped by the handles and slid foward far enough so that the corners will clear the walls of the cabinet when rotated.  The monitor is then turned, and pushed back into place only in a diffrent orientation.

I am still designing the entire thing, but the movement forward will either be spring or lever assisted, then simply grip the handles and rotate and use lever to slide back in.  

Its an Idea...

[telengard]

I have an idea for a rotating monitor on an upright cab, but I wanted to hear from some of you that have rotating monitors... Anyone have pics or rough diagrams?  Thanks!

JT

I have a rotating monitor, and I am *very* glad I did it.  However, it's a lot of work.
Most of the time on my cabinet was spent on the rotating monitor.  I used a slightly
modified design which I got originally at "The Lilypad".  A key thing to remember is
that you'll have to deguass after rotating.

[danny_galaga]

have a look at mine for some ideas. granted its a cocktail, but im going to use the same setup for an upright one day and use a mirror...