Mame on a stick

[kop]

Update:

Stuck the base together. Pretty heavy, but not as heavy as I thought it would be moving it around.  Still most definately a 2 man lift though.

[HaRuMaN]

Awesome work...  for some reason, I thought this was a thread about MAME on a thumb drive, so I've been skipping it.  Nice metal work!   

[drventure]

You could always let it get rusty for that "old battleship" look 

[kop]

Awesome work...  for some reason, I thought this was a thread about MAME on a thumb drive, so I've been skipping it.  Nice metal work!   

Cheers. 

You could always let it get rusty for that "old battleship" look 

   Rust is the natural born enemy of this build. I fear it!  (Although the rustic look would be cool)

[kop]

Update:

Drilled all the bolt holes out of the frame with a fancy drill press with a magnetic base we have at work.  Made life heaps easier.

[djfunkshun]

^We have one of those where i work, just about need the overhead crane to get in to place when working on a sign. And yes they do make life easier.

[kop]

Update:

Welded 2 bits of 10mm metal at 90 degrees to bolt the frame to the base. The holes are drilled and tapped for the bolts.

I ended up welding little spots evenly on each side of metal to keep a perfect 90 degree angle.  It worked a treat, the bolt holes lined up perfectly. The welding looks awful but should be strong enough.



The outside ground down for the frame to fit.



Bolted on.



All together.

[t3design]

Man, that is sick!

Question: Why did you put the side of the base with the holes for the welds up? I would have thought you would want the smooth solid side up.

[drventure]

I dunno. I think the holes look pretty slick. Gives it a factory/military look.

[kop]

Man, that is sick!

Question: Why did you put the side of the base with the holes for the welds up? I would have thought you would want the smooth solid side up.

I dunno. I think the holes look pretty slick. Gives it a factory/military look.

Thanks. 

I will cover the metal base with a wooden surrounding so it won't be seen. The welds are on the top so the bottom is the flattest side.

[drventure]

Aw. Dont' do that! Maybe trim it in wood, but leave the center part bare metal?

I think it looks pretty cool as is.

[t3design]

Aw. Dont' do that! Maybe trim it in wood, but leave the center part bare metal?

I think it looks pretty cool as is.

+1

The whole thing here is the metal. You gotta stick with that. I can see the holes as "decoration", so I would just grind the welds smooth and powder coat the whole thing. That would look fantastic!

[Potts]

very cool indeed - it's great that people are trying new things.  Good luck with the build kop

cheers
Potts

[kop]

Aw. Dont' do that! Maybe trim it in wood, but leave the center part bare metal?

I think it looks pretty cool as is.

+1

The whole thing here is the metal. You gotta stick with that. I can see the holes as "decoration", so I would just grind the welds smooth and powder coat the whole thing. That would look fantastic!

You guys do have me thinking, but I still reckon the base would look better finished the same colour as the rest. This way the rectangular frame will be a different colour and will stand out more.

Love the input though    Other opinions always open your eyes to things you never think of.  Cheers. 

very cool indeed - it's great that people are trying new things.  Good luck with the build kop

cheers
Potts

Thanks Potts.

Trying something different has so far meant spending much more time, money and effort than I thought I ever would.  Will be worth it when i finish though, I should have something pretty unique.

[kop]

Update:

Have fixed the metal brackets I made to the frame.  I will then fix the MDF CP & marquee boxes to the brackets.  The box holding the screen will slide into the slot cut out for it in the middle of the frame.





I found these bolts to use that don't look too unsightly.  I'll paint them up to match the colour of the CP & the rest.

[drventure]

Very cool, but boy, that metal base plate looks like a real toe stumper! Better not play barefoot! 

[versapak]

This thing looks awesome so far.

All these things designed to into one another...

Are you allowing for the size differences you will have after powder coating?

[kop]

Very cool, but boy, that metal base plate looks like a real toe stumper! Better not play barefoot! 

  I'll be sure to keep my feet away.  Especially on cold winter mornings 

This thing looks awesome so far.

All these things designed to into one another...

Are you allowing for the size differences you will have after powder coating?

Cheers. 

I've left enough clearance.  I was told beforehand powder coating is pretty thick, so I factored it in.

[Nacimroc]

This thing is nuts! Can't wait to see it done! Can't picture how it will turn out yet! How heavy is it now ? Can 2 people lift it ?

[kop]

This thing is nuts! Can't wait to see it done! Can't picture how it will turn out yet! How heavy is it now ? Can 2 people lift it ?

Cheers    It's probably around 90kg all together, with the base making up around 70kg of that.  My dad & I just managed to get it up 2 flights of 8 stairs (with a rest in between each flight )  It was heavy but doable.

[kop]

Update:

Drilled all the holes in the brackets for the MDF to bolt to.





I also decided AFTER finishing the base that I should rout the power cable through the base for a neater look.  So what would have been a 2min adjustment to a CAD drawing turned out to be hours drilling & grinding a groove in the base.

Drilled



Cut out.



That's all i have to do metal wise so I have now finally dragged it home. (inflicting only minimal back pain in the process.)  

[Blanka]

What game theme are you gonna use?
Tank?
Next time do better in construction class. OMG, this holds 200 people if used as a column for a balcony. The Maastricht balcony incident would not have happened!

[ammitz]

Nice build 

[Havok]

So I take you aren't going to have any exposed metal then, since it's in the house already? I thought you were going to powder coat it?

[drventure]

Oh, he's going to assemble the whole thing now just to "make sure it all works" and then the cab'll stay looking just like that for the next year 

[kop]

What game theme are you gonna use?
Tank?
Next time do better in construction class. OMG, this holds 200 people if used as a column for a balcony. The Maastricht balcony incident would not have happened!

  I agree it's pretty big.  Maybe I should apply for a job in balcony construction?

Nice build 

Cheers. 

So I take you aren't going to have any exposed metal then, since it's in the house already? I thought you were going to powder coat it?

The base will be covered in wood but the blue metal frame will be powder coated.  I want to get all the woodworking done before I start adding colour.  I reckon this will be a while coming.

Oh, he's going to assemble the whole thing now just to "make sure it all works" and then the cab'll stay looking just like that for the next year 

  I reckon that comment is right on the money.

[kop]

Update:

Brought all the wood I need this weekend and started by making up some mounting brackets for the electronics running my LCD panel.  I will then glue them onto the back of the panel.

[kop]

Update:

Worked on the cover for my base.

It's a 6mm MDF sheet with a hole cut for the metal frame/pole.







Cut the side coverings.



Glued and screwed them together.



Then stuck them together ready for routing.

[emphatic]

 

Foot/toe hazard increased though.

[kop]

Foot/toe hazard increased though.

I've trimmed all that excess off with a router. 

It's still sure to provide more than its fair share of toe bashings in its finished state though.  I'm staying away on cold mornings.

[kop]

Update:

Trimmed the top with a router.



Can you tell it's the first time I've used a router?





I've used some builders bog to cover it up that should dry by morning.

[wilno45]

Great project you got there,

Just a thought - are you going to powder coat the underside of the base? It's going to leave a slight impression
in your carpet anyway  don't want any rust marks too!

Cheers

[kop]

Great project you got there,

Just a thought - are you going to powder coat the underside of the base? It's going to leave a slight impression
in your carpet anyway  don't want any rust marks too!

Cheers

Thanks. 

I'm going to cut up some 8mm rubber sheets and place them underneath the base around the edges.  This should make the cab more stable and lift the base off the carpet. 

and I've already been sternly warned about my project leaving rust marks on the carpet 

[kop]

Update:

Gotta love builder's bog    It's like the accidents never happened.





Base cover finished.

[kop]

Update:

Here's the CP box that will house the CPU and other electronics as well.

Nothing groundbreaking here.  It's just a rectangular box with a lid.





Routed a recess for the metal braket to sit in.












Lid on.

[kop]

Update:

Finished up the CP.

Drilled holes for the bracket to be fixed to the wood.


Some of the bolts in.




Filed in the gaps with filler to (hopefully) provide more strength and rigidity.


And finally, I made some sort of a brace out of hardwood that sits on the lip of the metal bracket and is screwed into the MDF.  This should help when angry people playing my cab put a little too much downward force onto the top of the CP.  I felt the screws alone wouldn't be enough.

[DashRendar]

Looks good.

I see what you guys are saying about wanting to keep the metal look- something industrial, etc. 

I'd say that would be perfect if this was going to be in the garage or basement.

Since it's going to be in the house though, gotta keep the appearance clean.   

Due to it being all metal, are you going to run a ground wire from it Kop?   

[kop]

Looks good.

I see what you guys are saying about wanting to keep the metal look- something industrial, etc. 

I'd say that would be perfect if this was going to be in the garage or basement.

Since it's going to be in the house though, gotta keep the appearance clean.   

Due to it being all metal, are you going to run a ground wire from it Kop?   

Thanks mate.

The metal will be definitely all grounded.  Gotta avoid potential hair frizzing mishaps.

[kop]

Update:

Got the enclosure that will house the monitor done.



A little recess for the frame to sit into.




Wooden blocks in each corner for the LCD to sit on.

[kop]

Update:

Pretty much finished the box that will house my speakers and marquee.

Cut the pieces out and am using a metal bracket similar to the way i made my CP.


Routed out a 8mm lip for the clear plastic cover of my marquee to sit into.




Bolted on.




Filled the gaps.


All together with speaker holes cut.