Author Topic: Fully CNC-machined cab from Finland (Read 32289 times)

Raitsa · « **on:** March 25, 2009, 12:50:12 pm »

Hi guys.

Started building my first Mame cabinet and the first day of actual building here in Finland was today and the day was a success, everything went wery smoothly.
We CNC-machined all the parts from 19mm MDF-board and glued the cabinet together.

This is the first prototype to test the ideas out and the company that owns the CNC machining station/wood shop is thinkin of maybe selling cabinet kits for all EU countries for all interested parties.

2 different kits, maybe 3, will be available:

- assembled, unpainted
- assembled, painted (black)
(- and maybe unassembled kit, unpainted)

I will be updating this thread with new infos & pics.

Would love to get some feedback too

Pixelhugger · « **Reply #1 on:** March 25, 2009, 01:15:56 pm »

That CNC machine looks like it was made by Festool. *wonders how much a Festool CNC station would cost*

Anyhow.... you cut and glued up the same day?

Wow.

Looks great. I would think a kit would be the most cost effective way to sell across the EU unless crate shipping and insurance are cheap.

Good luck!

meltman · « **Reply #2 on:** March 25, 2009, 02:57:12 pm »

CNC'd?

Wow. That is cheating!

Very very sweet cab. I bet it put-together very easily.

DaOld Man · « **Reply #3 on:** March 25, 2009, 06:50:15 pm »

I said it once, I will say it again...

You young hooligans and your fancy smancy CNCs.... Get off my lawn!

Oh what the heck.. heres a afro dude for you..

BASS! · « **Reply #4 on:** March 25, 2009, 07:54:20 pm »

Man, that is so cool, I am annoyed. Good work!! Now just find a way to ship em and were in business:-)

psychotech · « **Reply #5 on:** March 25, 2009, 08:21:11 pm »

Awesome !

The cab looks great and very professionally designed

FWIW I'd go with the unassembled & unpainted kit as the main option as that seems to be the easiest way to start selling them ..at least if/when you're going to sell these to all EU countries...

Just think of all the shipping fees (as Pixelhugger already mentioned..). Actually, even if you were to sell these in Finland only .., well, you know the local (FI) shipping fees and how much they would add to the cab's price (Posti/Matkahuolto/Rahti) ;(

Anyway, are you planning to do other (or to create your own) designs in the future?

How about giving the potential customers something extra.. Optional artwork or an easy way to order the controls along with the cab..? Custom designs maybe....

Anyway, en osta

*

Joka tapauksessa, toivottavasti homma lahtee hyvin kayntiin ja saatte ihan sairaasti asiakkaita

psychotech

* Anyway, I wont be buying

Expressline99 · « **Reply #6 on:** March 26, 2009, 12:35:29 am »

That looks great. Does the control panel open up?

Raitsa · « **Reply #7 on:** March 26, 2009, 05:37:17 am »

Hey guys, thanks for the warm welcome and encouraging feedback. Good to be here among other arcade maniacs.

The controller in this proto will be a dual X-Arcade™ Dual Joystick, which will be dropped into a slot, so the control panel does not open up, although beneath the controller there is a sliding keyboard+mouse drawer too.

The keyboard drawer will be push/open type, like will the big door where the coinslot usually resides.

This is the only cabinet design for now, but if there is enough interest/market, other versions might just follow. Time will tell.
But we will concentrate on this (beautiful?) design for now and we will try make this product as good as it possibly can be done.

Please note that the inside MDF-panel is grooved with a constant 19mm CNC groove so the joining boards fit perfectly, making the glueing process easier and resulting on a very tight and precise fit.

At this stage, we do not plan to start selling control panels ot other accessories, that is something for the customer to buy themselves.

We are concentrating on what we do best: 100% precise woodwork with the help of modern equipment.

Still, this is a hobby project which might end up a joy for other arcade afficianados too.

On the business side of things, we are still counting the costs and only time will tell, if there is a reasonable market for this kinda product.
Just the 2 needed 19mm MDF 3050*1220 boards cost about 80€ (108.5 US$).
So the price of the kit/final product is not yet known even by us.

We might very well ship a kit anywhere in the world, why stop at EU borders, if need be?

But lets finish this cabinet first: time to start mocking things up with a 24" flat screen monitor etc.
A local company will make personalized sideart stickers, the design has not been started yet.
*Raitsa makes a note to himself*
Something to do with time travel i guess, or my old time favourite game, Wizard Of Wor...

Keep the questions, ideas & feedback coming guys

MrMojoZ · « **Reply #8 on:** March 26, 2009, 09:44:13 am »

Any plans on building your own control panel at some point? Even a blank panel that users could configure to their liking might work well.

Raitsa · « **Reply #9 on:** March 26, 2009, 09:50:53 am »

Thats possible MrMojoZ, if we´d have suitable autocad drawings available.
Wanna send me some to check out to raitsa at gmail.com?

I have not personally made any controllers yet so i dont know what works and what to avoid.

MrMojoZ · « **Reply #10 on:** March 26, 2009, 04:32:28 pm »

I've only built self contained sticks and modified exisiting control panels so far so I can't help there. I just hate to see your nice cabinets marred by the inflexability of your current control panel choice.

ivwshane · « **Reply #11 on:** March 26, 2009, 04:40:42 pm »

Quote from: MrMojoZ on March 26, 2009, 04:32:28 pm

I've only built self contained sticks and modified exisiting control panels so far so I can't help there. I just hate to see your nice cabinets marred by the inflexability of your current control panel choice.

I agree with this as well. In my opinion as soon as you throw an x-arcade stick into the mix (or any pre built controller) you are limiting your scope of appeal.

I'd make the design so that that if someone wanted to all they would have to do is bolt their cp box to the cab (including an x-arcade box) and they are good to go.

psychotech · « **Reply #12 on:** March 26, 2009, 09:43:41 pm »

Jeps, just like the guys (MrMojoZ & ivwshane) already told you...

Do not make it only X-Arcade depended. Or if you do, then AT LEAST offer the potential customer another couple of options along the lines suggested...

In essence.. Give em´ a couple of "good looking & feeling" control panel options that can be just "dropped into place" and You're on to profits!

Paskaaks mina naista oikeasti tiedan, kunhan huutelen

Peace

psychotech

PS. Jos kiinnostaa, niin voin osallistua paneleiden "ergonomiasuunnitteluun" .. Heh. (Ihan harrastusmielessä, ei palkkiovaatimuksia.) Löydät meitsin täältä ja sieltä "ainoasta?" suomalaisesta..

Raitsa · « **Reply #13 on:** March 27, 2009, 01:13:12 pm »

Hey again guys, here´s a small update on the project status:

we will ditch this design (aint that what prototypes are for)...

First thing next week we will be making a new run & a new improved cabinet kit on the CNC station.

Reasons for this are quite tiny but important for us; we have this "humble" goal to make the best damn arcade cabinet kit in Europe

To reach that stage we want to make the kit even better than it is at this stage.

Some of the changes will be:
- change the controller area so that any controller can be used easily (or you can make your own controller in the controller base we supply with the kit)
- the keyboard drawer will be remade
- marquee area will be slide on/off
- monitor sides will be remade & a slot for 6mm glass will be grooved for fast&easy assembly
- the main door will be remade so the hinges can be mounted on either side
- the kit will be even more easy to assemble
- a few other small changes

The look & size of the cabinet will remain about the same.
The changes are mainly to ease the assembly and to further improve the functionality of the cabinet.

Thanks for the feedback, keep it coming, please!

Raitsa · « **Reply #14 on:** March 27, 2009, 01:46:30 pm »

I have no real clue on what the sensible asking price (in euros) for a kit like this would be.
It takes quite a lot of work and will be made with using high quality parts, hinges etc.

Any ideas guys?

www.xe.com/ucc translates your currency to euros...

thatitalian · « **Reply #15 on:** March 27, 2009, 02:26:24 pm »

Ship one to me and I will check the quality, then I can give you a rough price to charge.....

Sir Headless VII · « **Reply #16 on:** March 27, 2009, 03:47:16 pm »

mameroom.... er North Coast Custom Arcades makes kits. Their price are available here

thatitalian · « **Reply #17 on:** March 28, 2009, 09:10:13 am »

So if it is not laminated you are looking at about 250 euros without a CP. Is that a fair assumption?

Raitsa · « **Reply #18 on:** March 28, 2009, 10:53:12 am »

thatitalian, i honestly dont think thats possible. But thanks for the feedback.

ken_cinder · « **Reply #19 on:** March 28, 2009, 06:53:14 pm »

All this prep and quality work........only to be ruined by dropping a prefab X-Arcade stick on it.

Why? I'll never understand, it's instant fail on something that was win.

Raitsa · « **Reply #20 on:** March 28, 2009, 07:05:47 pm »

No no no IJTF_Cinder, please read post 13 again.

"Some of the changes will be:
- change the controller area so that any controller can be used easily (or you can make your own controller in the controller base we supply with the kit)"

psychotech · « **Reply #21 on:** March 28, 2009, 09:27:34 pm »

As I already replied on the (Finnish) Huoltovalikko forum:

A sensible price for the kit could maybe be calculated this way...

1. Take for example "a comparable" Ultimate Arcade kit, add shipping to EU (including customs) ..and the final cost for the kit would be like XXX Euros?
2. So, Your cabinet could cost at most: The above XXX sum ..and plus/minus a few % ..which would equal about

Euros.

How else would/could you calculate a feasible selling price for a product not yet finished and not nearly adequately presented?

Make a website for the kit(s) to showcase all the design innovations vs. competition and that way justify a slightly higher price?

(If I were looking for a cabkit and could get "a fairly similar product" shipped at my doorstep overseas cheaper, well ..)

Yeah, CNC programming/machining ain't too cheap and your product seems top notch, so obviously the price'll be a tough question.

And hey, I'm really not trying to be hostile

Great stuff

Onnea matkaan. All the best

psychotech

Raitsa · « **Reply #22 on:** March 29, 2009, 04:57:48 am »

Hey arcade friends, I just uploaded some of our CNC-cabinet machining videos to:

http://keskustelupalstat.com/mame/

Ummon · « **Reply #23 on:** March 30, 2009, 04:07:12 am »

Since NCCA is 'dollars', and you're Euros, maybe look at TurnArcades and see what they're offering, if they are outside the UK.

BASS! · « **Reply #24 on:** March 30, 2009, 02:04:37 pm »

Hey I converted those massive avis that you put up to flash flv. You may wanna give these a shot considering I got all of them to 7mb in one zip file.

Just upload em to your website and use this player to display em. http://www.longtailvideo.com/players/jw-flv-player/

Check your email.

Raitsa · « **Reply #25 on:** March 30, 2009, 02:18:38 pm »

Hey uprightbass360, sounds good, thats a new thing for me to check out.
But nothing in my email at raitsa at gmail com

BASS! · « **Reply #26 on:** March 30, 2009, 10:16:21 pm »

Yeah, I realized after you posted you hadn't put your email in your profile. Check now:-)

Sam

BASS! · « **Reply #27 on:** April 01, 2009, 05:01:59 am »

http://www.walkernews.net/2008/01/11/how-to-embed-flv-flash-in-wordpress-or-html/

There is a good walkthrough how to embed the videos in your wordpress:-) Lemmie know if you have any issues.

I did the same at www.annaberentsen.com if you wanna see another example

Raitsa · « **Reply #28 on:** April 01, 2009, 05:07:45 am »

CNC cabinet construction videos at http://keskustelupalstat.com/mame/ are now much smaller, thanks to uprightbass360´s skills.

VLC (videolan.org) plays the files nicely on my PC too.

Raitsa · « **Reply #29 on:** April 03, 2009, 12:16:02 pm »

43 new pics added of the final design, now the kit comes with a control panel too.
The right one is the final design in the pic 081-1, left one was a prototype to test things out.

All the pics are at
http://huoltovalikko.keskustelupalstat.com/showthread.php?t=4407&page=3

DashRendar · « **Reply #30 on:** April 03, 2009, 03:48:40 pm »

That's arcade perfection right there.

I would be interested to see what price you charge for these, if you decide to sell them.

Raitsa · « **Reply #31 on:** April 04, 2009, 03:21:40 am »

Thanks DashRendar, the final prices for the cabinet kit are as follows:

- unpainted unassembled kit 460 euros (without shipping)
- unpainted, assembled kit 520 euros (without shipping)

All needed 19mm MDF parts are included + keyboard slider, hinges for the door and other parts.

Possible customers must arrange delivery by themselves, looks like the shipping prices are quite high because of the weight & size of the kit.
Atleast from the companies we asked the shipping price from.
I will be adding the weight & size of the package here next week.

We will be offering a painted, assembled version version of the cabinet kit soon too, price yet to be finalized.

The original assembled prototype is for sale for 250€.

We are in the process of making a proper product / ordering webpage.

The cabinet kit is being manufactured by http://www.puujaloste.com/valokuvat.html
We are located in Turku, Finland. http://stable.toolserver.org/geohack/geohack.php?pagename=Turku&params=60_27_N_022_16_E_region:FI_type:city%28175689%29

If you guys ask around for possible shipping prices, please let me know.

ivwshane · « **Reply #32 on:** April 04, 2009, 03:37:29 am »

Much better with the new design!!!

Raitsa · « **Reply #33 on:** April 06, 2009, 05:51:21 am »

I was looking forward to some comments & feedback on the final design above, but its been a bit quiet, so i´ll ask for some infos:

whats the "recommended" height for a control panel?
How much do the more popular joysticks & trackballs etc need space?

How does the control panel we made for the cabinet kit look like to you guys?

psychotech · « **Reply #34 on:** April 08, 2009, 08:10:09 pm »

Awesome!

Quote from: Raitsa on April 06, 2009, 05:51:21 am

How does the control panel we made for the cabinet kit look like to you guys?

The CP looks really good

Anyway, to answer at least some of your questions...

Could you tell us the (real, usable) CP inside dimensions at the moment?

Width/height/depth ...both in- and outside.. preferably with some kind of schematic for the "docking system" used?

Dimensions ...?

Height of the panel.. Make it adjustable and you Rock!

psychotech

PS. .. Ei voi mitaan.

mayhem · « **Reply #35 on:** April 08, 2009, 08:51:17 pm »

Im hopeing your not putting all your eggs in one baskit .. youll be supprised this hoppy isnt as big as you may think and youll not make a fortune less you goto the leths or importing controlls and thinsg like that. If you only sell the cabs then your going no ware fast and thats were people tend to make mistakes. ....

Just a thought for you.

ivwshane · « **Reply #36 on:** April 09, 2009, 05:09:41 am »

Quote from: Raitsa on April 06, 2009, 05:51:21 am

I was looking forward to some comments & feedback on the final design above, but its been a bit quiet, so i´ll ask for some infos:

whats the "recommended" height for a control panel?
How much do the more popular joysticks & trackballs etc need space?

How does the control panel we made for the cabinet kit look like to you guys?

I'd take a look at real production cabs and design your cp dimensions around what they have.
http://www.jakobud.com/cabinetPlans.php

Franco B · « **Reply #37 on:** April 09, 2009, 06:04:01 am »

Quote from: mayhem on April 08, 2009, 08:51:17 pm

Im hopeing your not putting all your eggs in one baskit .. youll be supprised this hoppy isnt as big as you may think and youll not make a fortune less you goto the leths or importing controlls and thinsg like that. If you only sell the cabs then your going no ware fast and thats were people tend to make mistakes. ....

Just a thought for you.

These may help you, just a thought. [Linky] :Linky:

Twin-X · « **Reply #38 on:** April 09, 2009, 06:40:52 am »

Quote from: Franco B on April 09, 2009, 06:04:01 am

Quote from: mayhem on April 08, 2009, 08:51:17 pm
Im hopeing your not putting all your eggs in one baskit .. youll be supprised this hoppy isnt as big as you may think and youll not make a fortune less you goto the leths or importing controlls and thinsg like that. If you only sell the cabs then your going no ware fast and thats were people tend to make mistakes. ....

Just a thought for you.

These may help you, just a thought. [Linky] :Linky:

mountain · « **Reply #39 on:** April 09, 2009, 06:48:44 am »

Quote from: Franco B on April 09, 2009, 06:04:01 am

Quote from: mayhem on April 08, 2009, 08:51:17 pm
Im hopeing your not putting all your eggs in one baskit .. youll be supprised this hoppy isnt as big as you may think and youll not make a fortune less you goto the leths or importing controlls and thinsg like that. If you only sell the cabs then your going no ware fast and thats were people tend to make mistakes. ....

Just a thought for you.

These may help you, just a thought. [Linky] :Linky:

Note: When in the UK, find Franco and buy him a beer.


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