Author Topic: Project Arcade has commenced!!! (Read 5663 times)

mdcoblentz · « **on:** November 21, 2009, 18:33:48 »

well with jd posting about his arcade and having an arcade seminar.... I've been inspired and am determined to build my own arcade. Here is what I've gotten done. I'll probably continue to post in this forum as my build unravels and gets more complicated. First off I made a replica of what I wanted to build in google sketchup which I had to learn myself but its not too complicated. here it is.

I figured one of the most difficult tasks to build would be the control panel. so I wanted it sloped a bit and was getting frustrated with the angles and degrees I needed to get everything to sit right and google sketchup really helped with all that. plus I already have all the lengths of everything using google sketchup. I first started with the frame of my control panel.

That was time consuming and very hard to keep square. I then made a base for the frame.

and ttached it to my frame.

I then used the belt sander so I didn't have any unwanted edges or ledges so it will look uniform when painted.

after I did that I went ahead and built the control panel top and attached it with the piano hinge.

finished product...

I hope to continue this build in the weeks ahead. I'm pretty excited about it.

jd · « **Reply #1 on:** November 22, 2009, 10:08:18 »

Looking great mdcoblentz!

Be prepared to spend the next week thinking about where you want your controls.

I stood in front of my finished but unpopulated control panel for a month trying to figure out where I wanted everything!

Can't wait to see this come along!

HUNGER · « **Reply #2 on:** November 22, 2009, 12:17:15 »

looken great

hamiltro · « **Reply #3 on:** November 26, 2009, 00:58:06 »

great job

Rayman · « **Reply #4 on:** November 26, 2009, 07:53:55 »

nice craftsmanship i can not wait to see more.

mdcoblentz · « **Reply #5 on:** December 14, 2009, 22:38:11 »

Ok. so I've been busy on this project. Hooked up with "JD" for an evening to check out his arcade and to ask some questions I've been pondering about! Thank you so much for your time Josh! You've been a super source of Info! After getting the control panel box made it was time to organize it using some paper buttons and a paper track ball that was to scale so I could start sawing out the buttons.

I got a hole saw to saw out the buttons. 1 1/8 inch thick. There was smoke flyin everywhere! That hole saw was definately get hot and makin some friction!!!

you can see the black on the sides of the holes from burning.

Anyways, finally got all the holes drilled out. I have yet to get the track ball but it is ordered. I got my buttons in the mail this past week as well as a spinner and my Ipac 4 which controls all the buttons.

I've also went and got a 25 foot cat6 cable and some regular black 18 gauge wire to do all the wiring with. I went with the cat6 because the wires are a bit bigger that cat5 but they are still color coded to make the wiring easier.

jd · « **Reply #6 on:** December 14, 2009, 22:47:45 »

I've been glad to help out Micah. Your CP is looking awesome! I think you'll be happy you picked up a spinner also, can't have to many controls!

mdcoblentz · « **Reply #7 on:** December 14, 2009, 22:53:20 »

So tonight I got motivated to work on it and took it to my fathers shop which has every tool imaginable. The first thing I did was place the joystick harness on the board and drilled the holes to mount it on the top. Once those holes were made, I could flip over the top and tell where the joystick harness should go. I then traced around it so that I could tell where it was supposed to be mounted. I wanted my joystick handles to be a bit higher so I routered out where the joystick harness would go to give it some extra height when mounted. Here's a picture or two describing what I mean...

and here is the harness fitted into the routered section. as you can see its flush. Ended up being around a quarter of an inch so that still left a 1/2 inch for sturdiness which I thought was adequate.

Now I have ordered the graphic that I'm going to sit on top of the control panel so I knew I couldn't have any screws or anything sitting on top. I needed everything to be flush. So I got some t-nuts and drove them into the top of the control panel. I had to router a little bit around each hole so they would stay flush with the top.

after I had each hole routered around I had to pound in the t-nuts!

This takes me to where I am currently with t-nuts installed and the control panel is ready to get painted and be ready for the new artwork to be placed on top. if your curious as to what I decided to go with for the artwork I went with this !

mdcoblentz · « **Reply #8 on:** December 27, 2009, 22:22:41 »

Ok. time for an update! well, my artwork and my lexan plexiglass came in the mail. was very excited and satisfied with the artwork.

So I got started with painting my arcade control panel. 1 coat of white primer and 2 coats of all surface enamel glossy black!

As you can see I left my pencil marks uncolored because I needed to know where to place my trackball. I was still waiting for it to come in the mail.
Well it finally came in the mail and I worked on getting it installed. After looking at my artwork, I realized that to make it look right I would have to move my trackball down about an inch which wasn't any big deal. Had to cut the hole for the trackball to sit in and router out for the mounting plate so that it was flush.

mdcoblentz · « **Reply #9 on:** December 27, 2009, 22:30:37 »

So now that it was painted, and I had the mounting plate installed, I could go ahead and put on the artwork. This was somewhat difficult and took some major thinking on how to center everything up but I got it done! First to get it centered I wanted to peel the backing from the middle out! so I carefully took an exacto knife and cut the backing down the middle. Got it centered and as I pulled the backing off, I pushed down the huge sticker!

After it was on, I took a razor blade and trimmed the excess off the edges.

Finally got it all trimmed off, and it looked pretty good.

so I took the exacto knife and cut out the hole for the trackball and it looks great in my opinion!

Thats how far I've gotten so far. more updates to come

lazylivin · « **Reply #10 on:** December 27, 2009, 22:37:25 »

I love the way you positioned the trackball center of the lighting streaks. Looks like it is coming along nicely.

stickboy_107 · « **Reply #11 on:** December 27, 2009, 22:47:09 »

SWEEEET!

jd · « **Reply #12 on:** December 27, 2009, 22:53:08 »

You never fail to impress Micah! I can't wait to spend a few hours drinking beer and playing your machine.

ghurlag · « **Reply #13 on:** December 31, 2009, 18:30:36 »

This has awesome written all over it. Nice work! Makes my genuine vintage Tetris arcade look silly

jd · « **Reply #14 on:** December 31, 2009, 18:43:16 »

Quote from: ghurlag on December 31, 2009, 18:30:36

This has awesome written all over it. Nice work! Makes my genuine vintage Tetris arcade look silly

I (and I'm sure Micah) demand pictures!

aquatic mouse · « **Reply #15 on:** January 03, 2010, 21:29:01 »

That is so awesome!

HUNGER · « **Reply #16 on:** January 03, 2010, 21:45:40 »

Rayman · « **Reply #17 on:** January 03, 2010, 22:28:25 »

looking good and nice graphics on the control panel, how much is the cost for a diy arcade of this magnitude, and how many games will it play.

jeblin · « **Reply #18 on:** January 04, 2010, 05:43:39 »

I have a MAME system myself (no where near this quality) and I can say that it can play every "classic" (read OLD) arcade game there is. The problem is with the newer games. Some of the arcade games are programmed for specific hardware (i.e. specific graphic chipsets) and you will never be able to emulate that perfectly. MAME systems are basically a standard computer hooked up inside an arcade machine cabinet with arcade style controls (and most people leave a keyboard attached as well).

I bought an old Wrestling King (some name like that) arcade cabinet for $50. Gutted a PC I already had and put a TV out card in it. For the display, I bought an old 19" tv that fit the same brackets the cabinet had. Hooked up the PC to the tv using the tv out card and voila...mame system. All told, I probably have less then $300 in it and that includes the older PC I gutted.

HUNGER · « **Reply #19 on:** January 04, 2010, 08:28:52 »

nice thats perrty cheap

Rayman · « **Reply #20 on:** January 04, 2010, 16:14:55 »

thanks for the info, so it is a lot like salt water tanks, you have to have more than one lol.

mdcoblentz · « **Reply #21 on:** January 05, 2010, 10:10:32 »

Well, I figured I was only going to make this thing once so I got all the bells and whistles for this thing. I'm to the wiring part of my control panel and it literally looks like a porcupine of wires on the underside. I'm getting it all figured out with the help of JD and work on it about an hour each day. I'm ready to mount all the circuit boards on the bottom and start getting all the wires into place. I have everything grounded right now with about a 15 foot dixie chain. I'll get pictures up shortly. The computer I'm putting in this thing is from my college days that mostly doesn't get used anymore. And the tv I'm using for the monitor doesn't get used hardly either so I kind of feel like I'm recycling! hehe If I wouldn't had went with led's for each button, the cost would have went way down.

jd · « **Reply #22 on:** January 05, 2010, 12:48:40 »

The LEDs are going to be sweet, Micah! I can't wait to see them. Have you gotten one hooked up and tested yet?

<hijack>

I have some arcade buttons for sale is anyone is interested...

</hijack>

mdcoblentz · « **Reply #23 on:** January 07, 2010, 19:03:02 »

ok. time for an update and its gonna be big cuz I haven't for awhile. Last pic had me just starting to cut out holes in my artwork. so here goes.
Here is all the holes cut out.

after that I wanted to get the lexan on. I had to make a perfect circular hole for the trackball in the middle. we did this using this tool my father had which worked great!!!!

Once we had the hole cut out we clamped it into place and took a router on the outside edges of my control panel to make it a perfect fit!

I then used the same hole saw I used for the buttons to cut out the button holes in the lexan.

After we got that done we were able to bolt it down into place and we got out the router to make the groove for the T-molding to go around the outside. Which really set it off. I tried to make the edge of the T-molding the same height as the lexan so that it looked factory.

and here was the final result!

slandis3 · « **Reply #24 on:** January 07, 2010, 19:05:51 »

Looking good. The lexan was a real nice touch.

ghurlag · « **Reply #25 on:** January 07, 2010, 19:07:15 »

I agree. Really solid work. Very high quality.

mdcoblentz · « **Reply #26 on:** January 07, 2010, 19:10:33 »

Now that the control panel and the lexan was completely done, I could start installing my buttons and joysticks!

Now it was time for the wiring to commence. I started by running a ground to all the buttons. but before I could do that I had to install all the little LED's into the buttons.

So after I got the ground to every button and joystick I mounted the LED-Wiz's and am going to start wiring all the led's up. which I haven't finished yet. I did however try it out with one led.

had some trouble figuring out the program but finally got it understood. here is my first light on in my control panel.

here's a link to watch it in action!!!

Thats all I got for now.

mdcoblentz · « **Reply #27 on:** January 07, 2010, 19:13:52 »

thanks for the kind words guys. This is probably one of the biggest projects I've ever taken on next to my saltwater tank so I'm pretty excited it's coming out so nice!
The wiring makes this thing look like a porcupine!!!!

ghurlag · « **Reply #28 on:** January 07, 2010, 19:25:03 »

You have just increased the "Awesome" threshold 10 fold. It's simply amazing. Kudos on your follow through.

hamiltro · « **Reply #29 on:** January 07, 2010, 20:10:54 »

that is the coolest thing ever.

is that the saltwater tank light i see in the backgroud on the ground of the video

mdcoblentz · « **Reply #30 on:** January 07, 2010, 22:15:00 »

hehe yeah. I actually have a frag tank just to the left of my control panel and I have my 72 gallon bowfront on the other side of the door way.

Learning_The_Hard_Way · « **Reply #31 on:** January 07, 2010, 22:39:09 »

you have a pic of the bowfront? I also have a 72 bowfront and I am on the lookout on how to stack rock and place corals, powerheads for flow, ect.... BTW, I have a disk of many many many Mame games a freind gave me a while back if your interested. Its been fun watching your build.

jd · « **Reply #32 on:** January 08, 2010, 00:37:02 »

Micah, those buttons look even better than I though they would. Your panel is turning out great! I only wish I built my control panel with the button style you have. Not LED ones, but ones with horizontal mirco-switches. I have vertical ones, which replicate old style leaf switches better, but their return is slow and makes rapid presses difficult. I plan on ordering a whole new set of buttons and redoing my control panel. LCD TV upgrade may be in my future soon also

mdcoblentz · « **Reply #33 on:** January 08, 2010, 16:28:32 »

That would be sweet Josh! If you do, you'll have to post your upgrades!!!

Learning the Hard Way, Here is a pic of my bowfront and my frag tank. My leather is out of control in my bowfront. it's a true monster!!!

Learning_The_Hard_Way · « **Reply #34 on:** January 10, 2010, 09:44:59 »

Thanks!

HUNGER · « **Reply #35 on:** January 10, 2010, 19:56:21 »

looks good tho

ghurlag · « **Reply #36 on:** January 10, 2010, 20:20:46 »

Frag tank reminds me of a level of Donkey Kong

HUNGER · « **Reply #37 on:** January 10, 2010, 20:27:26 »

wow it does didnt see that lol

UDflyer00 · « **Reply #38 on:** February 17, 2010, 18:59:44 »

It's been over a month since there's been any updates to this thread, so I thought I'd revive to see how the arcade system is coming!! Just curious if you've done anymore...

Let us curious minds know!!

Later,
Mark

ghurlag · « **Reply #39 on:** February 19, 2010, 17:26:05 »

For real, man! Don't leave us hangin'!

mdcoblentz · « **Reply #40 on:** February 26, 2010, 21:26:19 »

Alright... Sorry for keeping everyone waiting. been busy with some other stuff and actually hooking up my control panel to my tv and playing games on it so it's coming along nicely. Got everything wired up correctly, buttons and trackball lit up and it looks stellar and plays great. Here's a small clip of my light show!

Had it playing to music but my earphones were plugged in so you couldn't hear anything. So today we didn't have school cuz of the weather and I got froggy and started the cabinet. First I made the frame for the bottom.

After that I made the legs that will be attached to the bottom base that will hold the TV up.

And thats all the farther i got tonight with it all. I'll start working more on the cabinet in the next couple of days and it will start coming together. the thing that sucks is that it will be too big to get in and out of doors so I'll have to build it, tear it all down and paint it, carry it all in pieces down to my basement, then reassemble it in my basement. Gonna be alot of work but well worth it in the end.

Lost Floridian · « **Reply #41 on:** February 26, 2010, 21:31:21 »

wow, truely impressive!

ghurlag · « **Reply #42 on:** February 26, 2010, 22:18:53 »

Quote from: Lost Floridian on February 26, 2010, 21:31:21

wow, truely impressive!

holy crap, Will! That was exactly what I was thinking!

hamiltro · « **Reply #43 on:** February 27, 2010, 00:03:20 »

the controls are SWEET i bet that took a good weekend with all the wiring and what not

HUNGER · « **Reply #44 on:** February 27, 2010, 11:48:13 »

very nice

mdcoblentz · « **Reply #45 on:** June 16, 2010, 09:53:27 »

Ok. with the end of the school year and coaching track takin up all my time, I really haven't had a whole lot of time to work on this but I took a week off before I started my summer job and it's been coming along nicely. Here is the picture of the table I built for the TV to set on.

After the table was done I started working on the sides.

mdcoblentz · « **Reply #46 on:** June 16, 2010, 09:58:14 »

Since the sides got done, My father and I measured out the back and top to create the box around the tv.

To finish the tv cabinet I had to make the Bezel to go around the TV. We also made a frame to screw into for the sides. This is one heavy beast let me tell ya!

And we finally cut out the right pattern for the sides and put the top on.

mdcoblentz · « **Reply #47 on:** June 16, 2010, 10:01:10 »

I went ahead and put my control panel on it to see how it looked. Getting down to the point of being done with the "Building Part" of the project.

Gonna keep on keepin on today and friday to get this thing ready to be painted. It's comin along!

bamaguy · « **Reply #48 on:** June 16, 2010, 10:31:01 »

nice work

jd · « **Reply #49 on:** June 16, 2010, 10:33:08 »

Wow, this is coming along great Micah!

HUNGER · « **Reply #50 on:** June 16, 2010, 16:49:59 »

looks great i love the key board

jd · « **Reply #51 on:** June 16, 2010, 17:05:16 »

Quote from: HUNGER on June 16, 2010, 16:49:59

looks great i love the ~~key board~~ control panel

FTFY

HUNGER · « **Reply #52 on:** June 16, 2010, 17:08:14 »

same differance

cyberwollf · « **Reply #53 on:** June 16, 2010, 19:31:31 »

Wow!! and I though My wife and Josh's GF complained about how big ours were.....Arcades that is LOLOLOL

UDflyer00 · « **Reply #54 on:** June 17, 2010, 09:41:58 »

I'd fallen behind on this thread and finally got a chance to catch up on it, and as a game I have to say that is the coolest thing I've ever seen! That control panel is cool as... well you know what! Can't wait to see the finished product, I only wish I was have as talented to put something like that together... It would look awesome in the basement next to my Nintendo Playchoice 10!! Great work!

mdcoblentz · « **Reply #55 on:** June 18, 2010, 23:14:03 »

Thanks for the kind words guys. I probably put in over 40 hours into it this week alone and I'm glad to say that the construction part of it is finally done. A few holes to cut out for speakers but nothing big. I was thinking painting it all black but would like to entertain some other ideas. I figured all black with some more lightning decals on the sides. I was also going to put a fan or two in the base and was thinking of going with a 256 color fan. if you haven't seen them check out this youtube video.

If you think I should contrast with another color somewhere in the color scheme let me know your ideas. I thought about some silver but don't know... I just want it to look awesome cuz I've put so much time into it so far. I'll have to put up a pic of the finished project sometime so you can see what it will look like.

ghurlag · « **Reply #56 on:** June 18, 2010, 23:19:27 »

I think your best bet is to go with the color scheme on the control board. That's slick. And the fan rocks my world

Kenn · « **Reply #57 on:** June 18, 2010, 23:23:41 »

Quote from: ghurlag on June 18, 2010, 23:19:27

I think your best bet is to go with the color scheme on the control board. That's slick. And the fan rocks my world

+1 !

HUNGER · « **Reply #58 on:** June 19, 2010, 01:26:45 »

thats sweet looken

2024 Ohio Reef Frag Swap

Author Topic: Project Arcade has commenced!!! (Read 5663 times)

slandis3

Lost Floridian