Mame on a stick

[kop]

G'Day all, first post on my first build.

Thought I'd ad my 2c worth to this great community as I have gotten heaps of good ideas and building tips from others on here.  It's the internet's one stop shop for all of your arcade building info!

So here goes;

I've always wanted a mame cab.  So when I got a free 32" LCD panel from my old work, I thought I'd use it to build a mame cab as it's pretty useless for anything else in its current state.  The only advantage an LCD has over a CRT IMO is its physical size.  I thought I'd make the most of this by designing a slim looking cabinet around the screen.

My basic design is 3 rectangular boxes. One for the CP and computer, one for the screen and one for the speakers and marquee.  They'll all be joined together by a 125mm x 125mm square piece of metal tube bolted to a metal base.  The screen will be recessed into the metal frame.  I've included a crappy photo of a drawing of my design.



Here's the screen.





I'll try and keep posting updates as I go along.

Cheers.

[drventure]

Interesting idea. I wish I had a monitor that size to play with 

You ought to grab a copy of Sketch up and model up something. It really helps to firm up the proportions and being able to view the idea from all sides helps in making sure the design will all "fit".

Looking forward to more pics.

One question. With it that thin, where will the CPU, ps, etc go?

Personally, I think what could be interesting in a plan like this is to construct something that would appear as it it couldn't even +have+ any internals, maybe use an atom board and mount it actually in the CP itself, so that there's very little of a cab at all.

[Malenko]

youre still going to need a moderately heavy /wide base for stability or its just going to topple over.

[drventure]

Yeah, there's that too. But I could still see that be handled by a wide "frame" as opposed to a solid base.

Then again, I'm pretty bad at making projects far more complicated than they started out 

[kop]

youre still going to need a moderately heavy /wide base for stability or its just going to topple over.

Definately.  I'm going to use a 20mm piece of flat carbon steel for the base.  It should weigh in at >50kg.  It should hopefully be heavy enough to provide a solid foundation.

Interesting idea. I wish I had a monitor that size to play with 

You ought to grab a copy of Sketch up and model up something. It really helps to firm up the proportions and being able to view the idea from all sides helps in making sure the design will all "fit".

Looking forward to more pics.

One question. With it that thin, where will the CPU, ps, etc go?

Personally, I think what could be interesting in a plan like this is to construct something that would appear as it it couldn't even +have+ any internals, maybe use an atom board and mount it actually in the CP itself, so that there's very little of a cab at all.

I initially tried sketchup for about 10 minutes and then gave up.  Just didn't have the patience for it.  I did make cardboard cutouts of the screen and CP and positioned them exactly how I wanted them on the cab.  This gave me a rough idea of how it all should look and feel to play.

My idea is to place the CPU & all other electronics in the CP box.  It's 160mm high so it should (just) fit a computer with a 1/2 height graphics card under all the buttons.  I think my biggest problem will be keeping everything cool.

A pic of my cardboard CP

[drventure]

Cooling really shouldn't be much of a prob. just keep the wiring reasonably neat, have some intake holes or grilles and a couple of exhaust fans, and you should be fine.

Is your idea to have a single post down to the center of the steel plate, or something else?

[Xenor]

Just an idea.   If you're using a steel plate for the base, seems you could weld a reasonable piece of moly tubing to the center of the base that your 125mm x 125mm square metal supporting tube could slip over instead of bolting solid.  This would provide a clean look, with no bolt holes or support bracketry, but also allow the top section to lift off of the heavy base for mobility.

[kop]

Is your idea to have a single post down to the center of the steel plate, or something else?

It is.  There will be one single tube in the middle of the plate.

Just an idea.   If you're using a steel plate for the base, seems you could weld a reasonable piece of moly tubing to the center of the base that your 125mm x 125mm square metal supporting tube could slip over instead of bolting solid.  This would provide a clean look, with no bolt holes or support bracketry, but also allow the top section to lift off of the heavy base for mobility.

Not a bad idea at all.  I'll keep it in mind.  It definately needs to be a modular design as I'll need to transport it around in the back of a Toyota Corolla.

[kop]

Update:

Have cut the metal tubing to size for my frame.

[DaOld Man]

I like the concept. Will be following this build.

[Santoro]

Nice idea.  Watching as well.

[kop]

Update:

Got the frame welded together.

[drventure]

Nice job. The few times I've tried welding, well, they looked nothing like that 

An all steel cabinet is an interesting take.

[Malenko]

you gonna grind down the bead or leave it as is? Going to use an automotive paint or just get it powdercoated?

Just wondering, looks good! great idea with the tubing, it acts like a conduit to hide the wiring, BRILLIANT!

[drventure]

+1 on the powder coat. That stuff is fantastic!

[kop]

Nice job. The few times I've tried welding, well, they looked nothing like that 

An all steel cabinet is an interesting take.

Thanks

The base & steel tube frame will be the only metal parts.  The boxes containing the CP screen & speakers will be made from MDF.

you gonna grind down the bead or leave it as is? Going to use an automotive paint or just get it powdercoated?

Just wondering, looks good! great idea with the tubing, it acts like a conduit to hide the wiring, BRILLIANT!

The beads will be ground down smooth.  It's taking a lot longer than I thought it would to get a smooth finish.  I'm definitely going to powdercoat it.  It'll look really good and the finish should last years.

The tubing is perfect for running all the connecting wires.  They'll all be hidden.  I'm also planning to use the tube as a kind of an exhaust system to extract the hot air from the CP below, through the tube and out through an exhaust fan up top using some computer fans.  Hopefully this works as well in reality as it does in my head.

[kop]

Update:

Smoothed out the welds on my frame.  I wasn't able to get it perfectly flat.  I accidentally ground too much off in certain sections. 

It'll have to do.  Still looks OK.  I'm thinking I might go a thicker type textured finish of powder coat to try and help fix my crappy use of an angle grinder.

[bigpete405]

Instead of hoping the powder coat will fix the ground down spots, get some car panel filler and use it to even out the surface it will work perfect.

[versapak]

Instead of hoping the powder coat will fix the ground down spots, get some car panel filler and use it to even out the surface it will work perfect.

Can you powder coat bondo?

[gryhnd]

Can you powder coat bondo?

or solder?

Heck...maybe just run some brazing rod right onto the shallow spots, then regrind?

[mpm32]

you can powder coat over this;

http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=all+metal+filler&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=

[CheffoJeffo]

I love the design.

 

[r32]

Such a cool idea! I love it. 

That reminds me. I have got to get a welding license. 

[kop]

Such a cool idea! I love it. 

I love the design.

 

Thanks    Hopefully it turns out looking as good as it currently does in my head.

you can powder coat over this;

http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=all+metal+filler&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=

Brilliant!  Thanks for the link.  This stuff looks good.  I'll just need to find a local source for it now.

[Bender]

Looking Great!
Can't wait to see how this one turns out!

[kop]

Update:

Have put together 2 metal brackets that will join the control panel & speaker/marquee boxes to the main frame.

Top bracket for speaker/marquee.



Bottom bracket for control panel.  I had to angle the 2 metal bits that slide into the frame to match the angle of the frame.  This should provide about a 10 degree angle to the CP.



Painted

[Franco B]

Looking goooooood 

It's always nice to see some metal work 

[kop]

Update:

Cut out my base out of 10mm carbon steel.  Ended up being about 70kg all up, a bit heavier than I thought it would be.  Oh well, at least its alleviated any concerns I had about the cab being unstable.

I made it a triangular type shape to help it fit neater into corners if I decide to place it in one.

[Silas (son of Silas)]

This is really weird... I know I'm on the BYOAC forum but it's starting to feel scarily like my other hang out

Some tidy work going on there. 

[emphatic]

You should get the Sherman Tank logo on that thing. 

[IG-88]

Not to be a smart --I'm attempting to get by the auto-censor and should be beaten after I re-read the rules-- but how do you plan on moving this thing once it's built? It's gonna end up weighing a thousand pounds!!!   

[Havok]

Not to be a smart --I'm attempting to get by the auto-censor and should be beaten after I re-read the rules-- but how do you plan on moving this thing once it's built? It's gonna end up weighing a thousand pounds!!!   

Without the control panel and LCD, it's 150 pounds. He's still under the average weight for a classic arcade cabinet. If it get's too heavy with everything mounted, just remove the LCD and control panel to move. Should still be fairly easy. Hell, my Race Drivin cockpit cabinet is 750 pounds. This one's a feather in comparison...

[IG-88]

Well I hope you are right. Looks flippen heavy to me. 

[drventure]

Wow. Hadn't check on this build in a few days. Damn that looks like a tank!

 

[djfunkshun]

I would have gone with aluminum, but to each his own. Great looking project though.  I have years of experience welding, as skill sets go it has to be the most under rated. Woodworkers get all the glory, but metalworkers build the world. Steel is just so heavy/cheap compared to aluminum. I forget not everyone can get aluminum as easily as I can.

[Havok]

I would think aluminum would be too light? The cab's got to be heavy enough to support a control panel that overhangs the center of gravity, with people putting weight on it to further destabilize it. Since you work with it, to cut the same size structure, how heavy would it be if made of aluminum?

[kop]

This is really weird... I know I'm on the BYOAC forum but it's starting to feel scarily like my other hang out

Some tidy work going on there. 

Many thanks    I've added that forum to my favourites.  Some pretty good reading there.

You should get the Sherman Tank logo on that thing. 

Wow. Hadn't check on this build in a few days. Damn that looks like a tank!

 

It definately feels like a Sherman tank when you try and lift it yourself   

Not to be a smart --I'm attempting to get by the auto-censor and should be beaten after I re-read the rules-- but how do you plan on moving this thing once it's built? It's gonna end up weighing a thousand pounds!!!   

Not to be a smart --I'm attempting to get by the auto-censor and should be beaten after I re-read the rules-- but how do you plan on moving this thing once it's built? It's gonna end up weighing a thousand pounds!!!   

Without the control panel and LCD, it's 150 pounds. He's still under the average weight for a classic arcade cabinet. If it get's too heavy with everything mounted, just remove the LCD and control panel to move. Should still be fairly easy. Hell, my Race Drivin cockpit cabinet is 750 pounds. This one's a feather in comparison...

The base is by far the heaviest part of the cab.  I have designed it to be modular and be held together by bolts.  It will be heavy but shouldn't bee to much of an issue moving with a little help.

I would have gone with aluminum, but to each his own. Great looking project though.  I have years of experience welding, as skill sets go it has to be the most under rated. Woodworkers get all the glory, but metalworkers build the world. Steel is just so heavy/cheap compared to aluminum. I forget not everyone can get aluminum as easily as I can.

I would think aluminum would be too light? The cab's got to be heavy enough to support a control panel that overhangs the center of gravity, with people putting weight on it to further destabilize it. Since you work with it, to cut the same size structure, how heavy would it be if made of aluminum?

Aluminium is about 1/3 of the weight of carbon steel, so probably a little light to keep the cabinet stable.  That and even with access to the best MIG welder money can buy, my Aluminuim welding skills are horrible.  Welding aluminuim well is definately a fine art.

[Comtek]

Do you have anything sketched up in 3d to give us a batter idea of what you envision

definetly and awesome machine so far

[djfunkshun]

I would think aluminum would be too light? The cab's got to be heavy enough to support a control panel that overhangs the center of gravity, with people putting weight on it to further destabilize it. Since you work with it, to cut the same size structure, how heavy would it be if made of aluminum?

I guess it would depend on how stable you would want it. I would still use a steel base attached to aluminum plate, but the rest would all be tube 1"x 1" for bracing and 2" x 2" for the actual structure. I imagine it could weigh less than 100 pounds fully assembled. I guess the details would be in the design as to how much lean one would need to support players and monitor. A steel base should be enough with proper slant to counterbalance if made from aluminum.


That is one hell of a project though steel or not.

[kop]

Do you have anything sketched up in 3d to give us a batter idea of what you envision

definetly and awesome machine so far

Thanks    I tried to do something 3D in Sketchup but gave up after about 10min.  Just didn't have the patience with it.  Hopefully the 3D sketch in my head turns into what i want the cabinet to look like.

I would think aluminum would be too light? The cab's got to be heavy enough to support a control panel that overhangs the center of gravity, with people putting weight on it to further destabilize it. Since you work with it, to cut the same size structure, how heavy would it be if made of aluminum?

I guess it would depend on how stable you would want it. I would still use a steel base attached to aluminum plate, but the rest would all be tube 1"x 1" for bracing and 2" x 2" for the actual structure. I imagine it could weigh less than 100 pounds fully assembled. I guess the details would be in the design as to how much lean one would need to support players and monitor. A steel base should be enough with proper slant to counterbalance if made from aluminum.


That is one hell of a project though steel or not.

I did briefly toy with the idea if an aluminium centre tube.  I would have left it unpainted cos it would have looked awesome.  At the end of the day though steel ticked all the boxes.  It was much cheaper, I find it easier to work with, and it should make the cabinet more stable due to the extra weight.  I'll just have to paint it for it to look any good.