TableTop Tron Cabinet

[bishmasterb]

Stingray,

Fortune favors the Brave! Go for it man, that would look really slick. Are you just going to use light gauge rolled steel? Do you have a welding torch!?

Definitely post pics of your progress.

[patrickl]

Ehhe, that's cute too yes.

[Stingray]

I used 20 guage steel for my MAME cab's control panels which works fine. If you've ever taken apart a compact Mac you know there's a steel frame inside the plastic box that would be about right for welding the CP to. I have access to a professional body shop including a sheet metal brake and a MIG welder. I've already pretty much decided to go ahead with this project. I've got around 30 Atari carts left over from my mis-spent youth, but my 2600 seems to have vanished. I already made a deal with one of the members here to buy one from him. I also have a red ball top 8 way stick on it's way.

Sorry for hijacking your thread. I should have started a new one.

-S

[corvettec5dave]

Hey Bishmasterb:

I have dell laptop that I am considering in using for a mame project. How did you hook up the wire to turn the laptop on and did you use the svideo output from the computer to the TV?

Thanks
Dave

[bishmasterb]

dave,

For the power, I simply soldered to very small gauge wires (for wire wrap) directly onto the circuit board that holds the normal laptop power switch. I wired these up to one of the Happ buttons on the front of the cab. From there I can power on the computer, and power it off (which sends a shutdown command to Windows).

The display in the cab is the normal laptop display. I've removed it from the hinges that normally attach it to the bottom half of the laptop, and rotated it all the way backwards (360 degrees) and attached it to the bottom of the laptop. I'm using the stock video cable that attaches it directly to the motherboard.

You've got to be really careful dealing with the LCD cable as it is very easy to tear. On the particular laptop I used, I had to route out some of the plastic on the back of the laptop so the cable would reach okay.

Here are some pictures that should make it a little more clear:

[theCoder]

Hey Bishmasterb:

I have dell laptop that I am considering in using for a mame project. How did you hook up the wire to turn the laptop on and did you use the svideo output from the computer to the TV?

Thanks
Dave

bishmasterb, I don't mean to jack your thread, but...

Dave, I'm currently doing a bartop project with a laptop & LCD.  I too tapped into the circuit board and soldered in a few wires.  My project uses an external LCD.  I've got a writeup on power on the first page, and I just posted a new photo with the wires soldered on on the second page.  I'd go with the fine gauge stuff bishmasterb used.  The wire I used was too large and was hard to get a good connection with. http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=53486.0

[corvettec5dave]

I really appreciate the information given on the wiring. The Dell laptop is the same design as you have. Is it easy to get the top cover off to expose the on/off button?
Thanks
Dave Seng

[bishmasterb]

Dave,

Actually, the laptop in those pictures of the Tron cab is not a Dell laptop (it's a cheap clone knockoff), so I can't speak directly to the Dell model. I'd be surprised if it wasn't easy to get to the power switch though. Normally the powerswitch is on a small daughterboard that's pretty easily removed.

I've got another project going that uses a Dell laptop, although I haven't got to the power switch yet. It's a bartop cocktail:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=46691.0

Be sure to post pics of your project. I've seen relatively few laptop based projects, which is a shame. You can get a decent laptop (for MAME anyhow) off eBay cheap.

[SuperRabbit0]

I built a machine that utilized bishmasterb's basic design using a cheap old no-name laptop.  For me, wiring to the power button was also very simple...

Here's my project

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=19813.0

(the memories, hadn't looked at that in a while...)

[Zeosstud]

Hey Bish,
                Got a question for you.  Recently had some MDF cut out using your design.  I was wondering, at what height do you have the monitor shelf?  I will most likely start to put this baby together in the coming weeks and I was just curious.

Zeosstud

[bishmasterb]

zeos,

Are you talking about the plans for the Namco style cab, or this Tron cab?

In the Tron cab, the monitor shelf is at about 6" from the bottom.

In the Namco cabs, the top edge of the monitor shelf sits at 7", see diagram below. If you can , you might place the monitor shelf intentionally a little low (by a 1/2" or so), and then you can always fine tune by simply adding a spacer.

[Zeosstud]

Bish,
         Its the Namco style, 7" sounds good.  Thanks for the reply.

Zeosstud

[bishmasterb]

I'm selling this cabinet. If interested, see the link in the Buy/Sell/Trade section below.


http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=66213.msg669028#msg669028

[spacies]

Hey dude,

I love these cabs you have built. I would buy this Tron one in a flash if I was in the US.

A question, I tried to DL your plans for the NAMCO ones from your website but the link is dead.
Do you still have them 'cos I would love a copy.

Good luck with the sale. I am sure they won't last long.

 

[bishmasterb]

A couple of other members were hosting the plans for a while. If you PM me your email address, I'll send them to you.

[spacies]

Thanks for the emails

 

[ark_ader]

Is there any good alternatives to the joystick for the tron mini cab? 

I was thinking an USB joystick but the size is too big.

Any suggestions?

[bishmasterb]

I used the joystick from a Tron cocktail tab. In fact, I purchased it from a member on this board. Works pretty well, although not as well as the full-size Tron joystick.