Mame on a stick

[filuren33]

I love this! 

Building an arcade machine using a welder and anglegrinder.... Just great.
I Will follow this with great intrest. 

[kop]

I love this! 

Building an arcade machine using a welder and anglegrinder.... Just great.
I Will follow this with great intrest. 

Thanks mate. 

________________________________________________________________

Update:

Finished up the speaker/marquee box.

Fully sealed the speaker enclosures.  Hopefully this will help to get some sort of bass response out of a pair of 5 1/4" speakers.




Also made room for a 120mm x 38mm exhaust fan that I plan to use to suck out all the hot air from the CPU & monitor through the metal frame..

[oldgamesrbetter]

This project has the badass factor written all over it with all the metal. Love it!

_____________________________________________
ARCADE VORTEX http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=99724.0

[kop]

This project has the badass factor written all over it with all the metal. Love it!

Thanks. 

__________________________________________________

Update:

Drilled out the holes for my CP.  It includes;

3" Trackball

P1 & P2 x6 buttons

P3 & P4 x3 buttons

P1, P2, P3 & P4 each have a start & coin button as well.

I will have a shift button hidden and map some of the CP buttons for MAME functions such as pause & exit.





& just a quick question for anyone reading. 

Because it's a pretty small CP and I want to keep it as neat as I can, I'm thinking of using only 5 start/coin buttons.  P1-P4 start and only 1 coin button mapped to all 4 players coin buttons in MAME.  Has anyone had any experience with this sort of setup? Do you recommend it? Are there any potential pitfalls I might encounter?

Thanks in advance. 

[emphatic]

How about holding down P3 fire1 and pressing coin adds coins to that "slot", holding fire1 for P4 and pressing coin adds to that one etc. Should be pretty easy to setup in MAME's configuration. Just make an instruction strip and place it on your cabinet. Most 4 player games uses dedicated coin slots I guess, I only play 1player games myself.

[eclipso]

Is it intentional to have the buttons not layed out the same spacing / angle on the right side of the trackball?

[kop]

How about holding down P3 fire1 and pressing coin adds coins to that "slot", holding fire1 for P4 and pressing coin adds to that one etc. Should be pretty easy to setup in MAME's configuration. Just make an instruction strip and place it on your cabinet. Most 4 player games uses dedicated coin slots I guess, I only play 1player games myself.

Great idea.    That should work perfectly.  I've done a little more research and found most games I play are fine with 1 coin button.  For the others, I'll use that method. 

Only wish I'd thought using 5 buttons instead of 8 BEFORE drilling into my CP.

Is it intentional to have the buttons not layed out the same spacing / angle on the right side of the trackball?

It is. 

P1 & P2 have the exact same button layout and spacing but are both slightly angled into the centre of the screen at the same angle.  This way just felt better when I mocked up a cardboard CP.

[Havok]

Is it intentional to have the buttons not layed out the same spacing / angle on the right side of the trackball?

Yeah, at first I was thinking the same. However it makes sense if you picture the joystick location and where your hands have to go in relation to Player 2's position.

[eclipso]

Is it intentional to have the buttons not layed out the same spacing / angle on the right side of the trackball?

Yeah, at first I was thinking the same. However it makes sense if you picture the joystick location and where your hands have to go in relation to Player 2's position.

Yeah I see that now; I was thinking of it being symmetrical which wouldn't be practical with the trackball placement.

[kop]

Update:

Just done a couple of little things.

Cut 2 80mm holes underneath my CP for some intake fans.




Put a little edge around where the metal frame will sit.




You can also see in the above pictures I've rounded all the square edges.  I used a 6mm rounding router bit.

That's about all the woodworking done.  I hope to get it all fitted together within the next day or 2 for a final check on everything before I paint.  I will post pics when I do.

Cheers.

[kop]

Update:

Fitted everything together so I (and you all) can see what it's gonna look like when it's done.

[eclipso]

I think its going to look fantastic once you get it all done, cant wait.

[drventure]

Ok. I guess I can live with you covering up that cool metal base plate with the MDF 

But, hmmm, not trying to be picky or be negative, cause I really do like this whole build.

First, because the base plate comes out to right at the edge of the CP, it sure +looks+like that base is either
1) going to be one hell of a toe stubber
or
2) whatever paint you do put on there is gonna get rubbed off by shoes very quickly
But whatever, that's really pretty minor.


Second. The proportions of everything look spot on, except for the CP. It seems too thick, or something, in relation to the rest of the cabinet. I can't quite put my finger on it, though. And it could be just the angle of the photos is making it look odd. God knows I've taken photos and looked at em later thinking "WTF?". And I believe you're needing to stuff the PC, HD, etc in that CP, so that may be where some of it is coming from.


Seriously though. This +is+ a cool build. I love how it looks like just this slim "monitor arm" with no obvious PC to power it.

[emphatic]

+1 on the controller box thickness. Overall very awesome. 

[ccmathome]

thats going to look really good when done, cant wait to see it finished

[Silas (son of Silas)]

I think the CP thickness looks very fitting for the overall effect. I wouldn't change it at all.

[pj14701]

been folowing this build for a while and decided to stop lurking and start posting some. cant wait to see it all painted up and in use

[HaRuMaN]

Cp box too big...  other than that, awesome!   

[gryhnd]

I think the apparent CP "thickness" could be easily mitigated by making a slight alteration to the base. For example, build up the back of the base by a few inches & have that height (platform) extend forward to a couple inches in front of the central column.  Then, taper that down to the original base but make it terminate 5 or 6 inches before the front edge.  This will help the CP to better blend visually by beefing up the base, but not ruin the "stick" look.

Or something along those lines that fits the base size and your own vision.

In addition, the "toe stub" factor could be helped, and would fit the look, with a little diamond plate threshold that bridged the MDF down to the floor. If you're going to powder coat everything, powder coat the diamond plate too.

[wilno45]

I think the CP size is about right - could go bigger if need be. Maybe even semi circular?

Ps. My wife is always leaving her weights and gym stuff  lying around too, keep tripping up on the darn things. 

Looking real nice mate.

[kop]

Thanks everyone for all the nice comments 

I do agree 100% with everyone about the thickness of the CP.  It's something I did my head in over for a while when planning.

It would have looked heaps better with the CP the same thickness as the rest, but it just became a situation of function over form.  I couldn't fit all the stuff I needed to run the machine into anything thinner.

[JazBrown]

Regarding the base and the toe stubbing/paint wearing issues.

It might be cool if you routed out a 45[ish] degree angle as deep as you can on that front edge and dropped in a piece of diamond plate as a sort of foot rest\toe kick.

[MaximRecoil]

What's with the "toe stub" comments? The base only extends out roughly as far as the control panel does, which is how it was done on countless classic arcade cabinets. Unless the player has arms that are half the length of normal arms (or feet twice the size of normal feet), "toe stub" shouldn't be a problem.

[versapak]

What's with the "toe stub" comments? The base only extends out roughly as far as the control panel does, which is how it was done on countless classic arcade cabinets. Unless the player has arms that are half the length of normal arms (or feet twice the size of normal feet), "toe stub" shouldn't be a problem.

Well...

On most arcade cabs the control panels were not even with the base. They extend out a bit, and you'd be far more likely to stub a toe on a little raised platform like his rather than a big panel that you would see on most cabs.

That being said, I doubt that stubbing toes will really be much of an issue. It might be a little bit uncomfortable if part of your foot wants to naturally rest on the platform though. Of course, being that I am not standing in front of it, I obviously couldn't really say, but again...

I doubt that will be much of an issue. Overall this cab is looking pretty darn nice.

[MaximRecoil]

Well...

On most arcade cabs the control panels were not even with the base. They extend out a bit, and you'd be far more likely to stub a toe on a little raised platform like his rather than a big panel that you would see on most cabs.

It looks to me that his control panel does extend out a bit (look at the picture I attached). Even if it doesn't, there were games where the base was dead even with the control panel (particularly common with cabarets). Even on the ones that extended past the base, it was only usually by ~a couple of inches. When I stand normally at my Missile Command, my feet are 9" away from the base. In this case, the control panel extends 2.5", so it would be 6.5" if the base was even with the control panel.  

And yes, one is more likely to stub their toe on a short raised platform than on a vertical wall, but that only matters if it is in one's walking path or foot placement area in the first place.

[kop]

The base only extends out roughly as far as the control panel does, which is how it was done on countless classic arcade cabinets.

The above comment is on the money.  The edge of the CP extends over the base around 80mm or 3"  Looking again at the pic I attached I can see why the toe stub comments exist.  It looks like the base extends past the CP for some reason.

Wearing out of the base might be an issue though because poeple will be more inclined to lean their feet on the little ledge.  It'll be something I'll address if/when it becomes a problem.  I'm just hanging out to get the thing working and playable ATM.

[JazBrown]

I actually don't think toe stubbing will be an issue. paint wear might be though.

I just thought a piece of diamond plate would look cool 

[gryhnd]

I actually don't think toe stubbing will be an issue. paint wear might be though.

I just thought a piece of diamond plate would look cool 

As did I in post #98...powder coated to match the rest of the metal would be great...

[arno]

Nice 'heavy' project! When do you post the new update?

Greetz,
Arno

[dynasty_trs]

Amazing...  amazing!

I really want that setup...  Is it okay to copy designs???  Do you mind?

It would most likely be all MDF.

Thanks!!

[kop]

I actually don't think toe stubbing will be an issue. paint wear might be though.

I just thought a piece of diamond plate would look cool 

As did I in post #98...powder coated to match the rest of the metal would be great...

Ah.  Gotta say this idea is growing on me the more I think about it.  will break up the colour on the base as well and provide a nice contrast.

Nice 'heavy' project! When do you post the new update?

Greetz,
Arno

Unfortunately this project has come to a grinding halt.  All I've done is send the metal off to the powder coaters.  Full time uni & part time work don't leave time for much else   I get a month off in July so should get the rest done then.

Amazing...  amazing!

I really want that setup...  Is it okay to copy designs???  Do you mind?

It would most likely be all MDF.

Thanks!!

Copy away!    Don't mind at all.

[Elerium-115]

Unfortunately this project has come to a grinding halt.  All I've done is send the metal off to the powder coaters.  Full time uni & part time work don't leave time for much else   I get a month off in July so should get the rest done then.

Its been months    Any new progress with the cabinet? We miss you!

[Flip The Switch]

Awesome, cant wait to see some paint on it :0D

[sstralkowski]

I just found this thread and have been salivating over it.  Sadly, it looks like the project died.  Come back Kop!  I need to see this finished!

[SNAAKE]

awesome and weird..I liike

[mgb]

When I saw the starting pics, I was like, whaaat 
But its really kinda cool.
A design like that would really go well with a rotatable monitor.

[Rick]

Is it bad to bump such an awesome project?  Kop - where are you?

[kop]

Appreciate all the nice comments above!

Thought I'd post an update on what's been painfully slow progress on my cab.  Life somehow always manages to get in the way.

Now it's in the middle of being primed.  I've sprayed on a couple of layers of automotive primer/filler, then sanded flat after each layer.  Now I'm at the point of using some putty (the red blobs) to cover some imperfections then I'll sand, and spray some primer again.



I also got my metal frame back from the powder coaters.





I've cut out a recessed hole underneath the CP to mount a shift button for my IPAC.



I didn't really like the way I designed my speaker mounts with the speakers being visible, so I redesigned this bit.  I couldn't take pics when I did this bit, but it basically involved using carefully cut out pieces of MDF offcuts, wood glue, HEAPS of bondo, then a heap of sanding.

Here's the old setup with what would have been visible speakers.





Here's how it is now with a recessed speaker and square speaker enclosure.  I think the square enclosures fit in better with the design of the rest of the cabinet.




With speakers fitted





I've also made a start on some speaker grilles.  Just pieces of MDF cut to shape.


& I'll be using these little speaker grille plugs to hold the grille in.

[emphatic]

Awesome!  Welcome back! 

[Rick]

I love how clean this cab is.  I am praying that I can get my woodwoork and sanding to look as nice!  (...and I hope you'll forgive me, but I am totally stealing your speaker mounting idea.)