Custom Arcade Cabinet Build by Lotharian

[lotharian]

I will be building my first Mame cabinet in the next two weeks. I will post the pictures as it goes.

Materials I'll be using

3/4" Cabinet grade plywood - changed from MDF
3/4" Black T-Molding
36X24 Plexiglas
various scrap lumber 2X4 and 2X2

19" square LCD
old P4 3.2 GHZ Intel system I built about 9 years ago and just dusted off
1TB USB drive as the primary mame drive
X-Arcade Tank stick.

Total material cost thus far-
$435.00 (this is using the current cost of the computer equipment I have if purchased today)

I decided to use a prefab stick simply because it seemed to be the best way for me to see if I really wanted to go ahead with the project.... one I got the tank stick I drew up the first set of plans and spent the next few weeks cleaning and configuring the old system with several different emulators and front end programs. Ill post all the steps for anyone who might also want to do this, and it will be posted for free as very little is out there without a price tag attached to it or a site riddled with viruses and intrusive adware. The biggest step is the software and if you are reading this you have already found the best and safest place to get it.

I would love to see other peoples projects and get some input on "how to" tips that might save me (us) some time or make for a better end. I think everyone who ever wanted a arcade machine is entitled to one if they are willing to put in the time.

[Hot Trout]

I am glad to hear of another member undertaking a build like this. Our very own Stinow has already made an increadible cabinet from start to finish and I think you should start by reading through the many excellent pages of his topic.

After reading through this, you will have a good idea of what is involved, the pitfalls and all.

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1480&hilit=arcade+cabinet

Good luck and please keep posting your images as you go.

[lotharian]

I knew a post had to be out there.

First change - I decided to go with plywood vs MDF, first off if you have ever worked with MDF you know the dust is EVIL, heh, it is super fine and as toxic as it can get. Beings its starting to get chilly here in Las Vegas proper venting was going to get harder, also MDF is a bit harder to handle due to its weight. Beings this is a project with my father and he is going on 78 years old this will be much safer all the way around. The cons... plywood warps and fast, mold it and get it in place fast or keep it flat and pressed. Plywood is not as sturdy side to side but due to its grain stronger up and down, you need to have strong wood for side braces and a more firm internal frame. Plywood is more expensive, $10 more a sheet. The best thing is though... its going to weigh almost 100 lbs less.

Due to the last min change in materials I am redoing my plans, in some ways its going to be much easier and others its going to take more time to make it look like MDF at the end. I like the challenge, just bought my last tool, the 1/16 slot router bit on a 1/4 shaft at Harbor Freight... yeah I know, but no one else has it or has even heard of it. On the plus side... heh, it was cheap only $20 for a full 6 bit and one shaft set and they had a nice counter sink bit on sale for $1.

Almost done with the final drafting - I'll post some pics of the start materials tomorrow.

[Hot Trout]

To stop the warping just use marine plywood. Looking forward to your build.

[lotharian]

The tank stick -


The old computer in a brushed aluminum case -


The raw material -



Nothing to look at now... but soon, this coming Monday things will start to come to life!

[Hot Trout]

Here we go again

[lotharian]

Sorry for the delay, both my Father and I are Veterans, My father of Korea and Vietnam, and I of the first Gulf War, so being a day for us.... well we raised a brew for all those that were not able. To all those that are and were able to give all I salute you, it should be each day and not once a year we remember to whom we owe our freedom. Thank you, to all that serve and have served, knowing that we have done what was needed when we were called to do the impossible, we all have done our part. Freedom is not fee. Those of us that have paid have done so in blood and tears, forget our sacrifice not.

Again, no matter what service, I salute you, we shall all endure and upon our shoulders freedom stands.

Thank you for your service!

[lotharian]

So what you see here is a custom power switch and 2X 80mm dust covers.



This is the power button in the open position, once plugged in and powered up it will glow green around the rim. The switch protector is just made for a cool arm the system feel.



I picked up some 80mm fan filters for the speaker vents. These will make for optimum flow with a cool look and easy setup.

[lotharian]

So.... it has begun. Made the sides today, fixed a few things... remember "measure twice and cut once" I seemed to have forgotten this. Fixed the problem, but still, it could have been avoided. The fix is going to make for some interesting engineering in the next couple days. Its all good though.

So here we go, the final draft on the wood. I made a on the fly design change once I had the design full size. Thats when I made a critical and simple math error and added inches instead of subtracting them on the design. It put the joystick up 4 inches... thats quite a bit of a difference.




It was a simple fix of moving the shelf down but its going to make putting my pullout keyboard shelf in much more difficult. I added the extra inches to make more room in the first place and that was where the error happened I added the inches without moving the base down. In the end I just got the original design with a slightly smaller joystick shelf.



Both sides are finished now and sanded to be about 99.5% equal. The big cuts are done now its just making the internals and getting the goodies inside. Will post more tomorrow, hope its "going as planned" and not "patching and fixing" hehe.

[lotharian]

Had to get a few other things done, will resume work tomorrow, have measured everything twice and made the preparations to make tomorrows work faster, I should have something very much resembling a arcade machine tomorrow or firewood eh either way