I made a PINK arcade cabinet! Best Dad ever? Yup.

Javery

Javery

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Finished (for the most part)!

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZCzulbwcDU[/media]

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I'm getting closer... I took a break because of my new kid but I'm back and all that's left is a little configuration on the computer and wiring up the coin door. It's super sweet!

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Yeah, I'm bored right now.
 
[quote name='MarkMan']Are those Wicos?[/quote]

The balltop is a Wico but the actual joystick is an Ultimarc 360.

The 3 pink buttons are the only "action" buttons. The black ones are admin.
 
Interesting... what type of games do you plan on playing on them? Classic/MAME type games?

I would have went with Sanwa buttons/Seimitsu stick... but that's just my personal flavor.
 
[quote name='MarkMan']Interesting... what type of games do you plan on playing on them? Classic/MAME type games?

I would have went with Sanwa buttons/Seimitsu stick... but that's just my personal flavor.[/quote]

Yeah, just MAME. Actually, it's for a vertical cabinet so I'll only be playing 3:4 games like Pac-man and Don Pachi. The Ultimarc 360 actually has a round restrictor plate and moves in all directions. You can load a "map" when you launch each game that will load 2-way controls, 4-way controls, 8-way controls, q-bert controls, etc.... anything you want. It's pretty sweet. You do miss the clicking of the microswitches and it takes a while to get used to but once you do it's a great all-in-one solution (better than having like 3 sticks on one panel).
 
how did u make that?? wood?? and u painted it???

I was actually about to go into my backyard and start sum wood cutting, but the table was too messy and I was too lazy to clear it off.

I need to learn me sum better cutting and painting coz I dont want my next stick to look as bad as my first:

 
It's made out of MDF and I made the angled cuts on my tablesaw and it's held together with just wood glue. All the joints are sanded smooth with 220 grit and then 600 grit for finishing. I also sanded the entire thing with 600 grit before applying the finish. I did not paint it though. I applied adhesive backed vinyl over the whole thing. It's like a giant sticker. Any imperfection on the surface shows through to the final product which is why I had to get everything so smooth before putting the vinyl on - it wasn't easy but I like the way it came out.

Yours looks pretty sweet to me. I was thinking about artwork and a plexi finish but in the end I wanted it to be plain.
 
yeay I heard cinder block, brick, and styrofoam before...

anyway do u use any kinda motor to sand??? I can only cut by hand and I feel like I wanna overcut like hell and sand down with 60 grit, so 220 or 600 sounds real weak sauce to me. Then again your cuts are probably way much more precise.

and where do u get MDF from?? That means medium density fiber, correct?? When I go to home depot, I can never find it. I feel as if maybe it's not labeled as MDF, but next time I should definately ask someone. I gotta get down with that adhesive vinyl too
 
I used plexi on my control panel but next time I'll probably use enamel spraypaint or plastic laminate. I cracked 3 sheets drilling holes before I got it right.

And that vinyl looks like it would be a pain in the ass to apply - without any airbubbles, that is. Yours looks great, very professional.
 
I did not use any kind of machine to sand it smooth - just a block sander and my hands. My cuts were pretty accurate though - definitely 1/16" was the most material I had to remove. MDF is like butter though - it is super easy to sand (but the dust is a bitch). Home Depot sells it in 4'x2' panels in both 1/2" and 3/4" thicknesses.

Applying the vinyl was a pain. Air bubbles were a big concern but if you take your time and start on one end and work to the other you can do a pretty good job.

More details of my cabinet can be found by clicking on the pink link in my sig. Here's a fairly recent shot of the thing without the updated control panel:



It's a mini cabinet but you can't tell the scale from the picture - it's only 50" tall and I'm building it for my daughter.

If you want "plans" on how to build your own check out HERE and start reading like crazy.
 
[quote name='bmulligan']The cocktail cabinet looks like it came out pretty spiffy as well.[/quote]

Thanks! It came out pretty nice but I still have a bunch of minor things to do to it before I call it 100% finsihed - most of it is software configuration but I do have to wire the coin door and lights as well as install some plexiglass and lights ove the two short control panels. I'm also waiting for the artwork to be finished for the top. I'll be going back to it once the mini is finished and before I start a third cabinet.
 
I like the cabinet, nice job it looks fun! Now that you've mentioned you're just playing the older games on it, the layout makes sense. fighters would be rough on there :D
 
[quote name='Metal Boss']I like the cabinet, nice job it looks fun! Now that you've mentioned you're just playing the older games on it, the layout makes sense. fighters would be rough on there :D[/quote]

Yeah, no fighters on this one. I may put some 4:3 games on there but they might be small on the screen - maybe only some essential puzzle games like Bust-A-Move or Super Puzzle Fighter II... When I start building cabinet #3 this summer it will definitely be a fighter cab...
 
[quote name='mrchainsaw']How much time and money has it taken you?[/quote]

I started back in November but I only get to work on the weekends and no more than 2-3 hours at any given time (usually it's for an hour or less). I did put in a few longer days in the beginning to cut and assemble the body though. I've got 1-1/2 weekends of work left to paint/finish the thing and I'll be done.

The total cost will come in around $700 but $220 of that is for the monitor. It adds up pretty fast - the coin door was $70 and the joystick was $100. I am using an old computer I had laying around or else it could have been even more. My goal was to keep it under $500 but the monitor killed me (I was going to use an old CRT but the small form factor for the cabinet wouldn't allow for it - plus with the LCD, 19" is a pretty nice size in such a small cab). There's a cost breakdown of everything on my webjournal/blog thingy.
 
Finally - an update! I've been sort of slacking on finishing this up but I made a lot of progress this past weekend. I applied an automotive finish to the whole thing and that took FOREVER but it is wicked smooth/shinny and definitely fit for a princess!

The first shot shows the cabinet with rubbing compound applied to the bottom 1/2 - note the reflection of the rag and the difference in appearence from the top 1/2. The finish came out really great.



This one just shows the cab with some of the t-molding installed as well as the front panel and coin door. I'll be finishing it up over the next week or so now that the hard part is over.

 
Thanks yukine! Here are the latest pictures. All I have left is to cut the bezel for the monitor and install/configure the computer (and do some other miscellaneous stuff). I can't wait to finish!



 
[quote name='EXStrike']Wow, the cabinet looks really good! You have one lucky daughter.

Is the coin door solely to restrict play? ;)[/quote]

Thanks but I'm definitely the lucky one to have a daughter like her! :D

The coin door is to restrict play and hopefully force her to get good at the games so she can stretch the $5 or whatever I give her for a play session. No daughter of mine will suck at the classics - not in my house! I'm actually going to be wiring the coin reject button as the "free play" button so I don't have to keep putting money in if I'm the one playing. I'll install a toggle on the inside to turn the switch on and off.
 
[quote name='javeryh']Thanks yukine! Here are the latest pictures. All I have left is to cut the bezel for the monitor and install/configure the computer (and do some other miscellaneous stuff). I can't wait to finish!



[/quote]
Awesome work Javeryh :applause:

What has been your daughters reaction to it?
 
[quote name='LinkinPrime']Awesome work Javeryh :applause:

What has been your daughters reaction to it?[/quote]

Thanks! My daughter is completely oblivious to it. She's only 2.5 years old and really has no interest in anything other than reading books (she flips the pages and recites the story - it's scary because she can't actually read but she remembers everything from when I read to her). I'm hoping in 6 months to a year she will start to take an interest in video games but right now she's just too young.
 
I'm getting closer... I took a break because of my new kid but I'm back and all that's left is a little configuration on the compuer and wiring up the coin door. It's super sweet!

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P1010462.JPG
 
[quote name='javeryh']Thanks but I'm definitely the lucky one to have a daughter like her! :D

The coin door is to restrict play and hopefully force her to get good at the games so she can stretch the $5 or whatever I give her for a play session. No daughter of mine will suck at the classics - not in my house! I'm actually going to be wiring the coin reject button as the "free play" button so I don't have to keep putting money in if I'm the one playing. I'll install a toggle on the inside to turn the switch on and off.[/quote]

That just sounds like a sneaky way to reclaim her weekly allowance. :p
 
OK, long time coming but I finally finished and made a little video of it in action:

[MEDIA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZCzulbwcDU[/MEDIA]

It's pretty sweet!
 
That is insanely awesome. Although, because I think I have you so associated with your avatar, I was a bit dissappointed that you didn't sound like Lionel Hutz.
 
Wow...I thought you just customized the cabinets and used Mame...didn't know you went all out and created your own GUI. Very nice work :applause:, you're daughter should be proud.
 
That's some amazing work.

It's funny, it was such a big deal back in the day when someone in my group of friends had an NES. Now you've raised the ante for all of her friends to having a full-blown, custom arcade cabinet with a hundred games.
 
[quote name='javeryh']Thanks! My daughter is completely oblivious to it. She's only 2.5 years old and really has no interest in anything other than reading books (she flips the pages and recites the story - it's scary because she can't actually read but she remembers everything from when I read to her). I'm hoping in 6 months to a year she will start to take an interest in video games but right now she's just too young.[/QUOTE]

Javery I think it's great you the dad are trying to make sure she's a gamer girl or giving her a chance to be one. Don't let her mom fill her with the claptrap that they're "Boys Toys" or only for kids or both. If grown men can get away with wearing Cheeseheads and cheering like a bunch of idiots with facepaint on and that's accepted why shouldn't it be ok for adults to be gamers?
I would ask you if she's a fan of pink though.
Does anyone have a link on how to homemake Pump or DDR pads or both? I'm talking about sensors et al, none of the PS controller bullshit with wires hanging out rather professional arcade quality.
I'd also like some links on where to buy quality motion sensors for games. I want to make a home cab up to the QUALITY of D-Tech. My only concern is balance issues unless someone can find new CRT RP HDTV's or DLP one's as well. If one can find a way to work a Plasma or LCD I'll take that instead. I'd prefer a big quality CRT tube but I don't think that's possible, like a good 40" or bigger. The weight would make it almost untransportable when I want to move and take it with me as well.
 
That's incredible. I really should learn how to do things like this. I play a fair amount of videogames but I never really create anything with them, building an arcade cab would solve that problem.
 
Thanks for all the kind words everyone! I had almost as much fun building it we do playing it together. My daughter loves it - and she LOVES pink. Her room is pink, she likes to wear pink and she's always telling me it's her favorite color.

LinkinPrime: I didn't create the GUI - just the skin. I am using a front-end called MaLa which can be configured to launch any emulator (I'm going to install NES and 2600 games too) and it is completely customizable/skinnable. I still have a few tweaks to make like getting rid of the windows welcome screen to completely hide the fact that there is a PC inside. I also have to play with the list of games and categorize/group them. There are literally thousands and it is a little tough right now to navigate through the crap. I'm almost there though. If you click on the link in my sig I go into excruciating detail on the build process.
 
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