Co cktail Arcade Project [Archive]

dstone

03-01-2005, 10:30 PM

Well, I've finally decided to post one of my ongoing projects on the forums. What I've taken on is a custom built co cktail (had to edit it so the profanity filter doesn't mistake it) arcade machine, running MAME with several games. I have roughly 30 days to complete the project so I can enter it in a competition my schools Tech Club goes to (hosted by Texas TSA). I chose the co cktail version because it's a lot smaller than an upright (which I had already built 4 years ago, sold it to a family friend, I kept the computer, he wanted the shell to put the computer for a CNC router (powertool, not network router) in). I ordered all the parts about 2 weeks ago, and the IPAC board from London suprised me by arriving in 3 days, while the stuff from Happs Controls arrived 3 days ago. Anyways, I went to Home Depot yesterday and picked up some MDF, and kicked off the project when I got home from school today. Anyways, here's what I've got done so far (all pieces are upside down on the saw horses):

http://www.vectorcade.net/arcade/top1.JPG
I cut out the top of the machine (I'll be getting some plexiglass from my shop teacher later on).

dstone

03-01-2005, 10:31 PM

http://www.vectorcade.net/arcade/testfit1.JPGhttp://www.vectorcade.net/arcade/testfit2.JPG
Test-fitted the monitor to make sure the hole was the right size.

dstone

03-01-2005, 10:32 PM

http://www.vectorcade.net/arcade/sides1.JPG
Added some of the side sections of the lid.

Edit: You can see the frame of the old computer I'm using for the machine in the background. Next trip I take to the metal recycling center, I'll get my 32 cents out of it. :cool:

dstone

03-01-2005, 10:32 PM

http://www.vectorcade.net/arcade/sides2.JPG
Finished up with most of the lid for the night (I still have to sand everything down, the monitor hole is still a bit wavy from the jigsaw).

dstone

03-01-2005, 10:33 PM

http://www.vectorcade.net/arcade/sides3.JPG
Standing where the controls will go.

The entire machine will be painted black. I have some aluminum square tubing that I'm going to use as legs, I'll have one of the welding guys at school weld the legs into a T shape which will be bolted on to the sides. I'm going to print up some nice graphics that say Co cktail MAME with a martini glass on some 11x17 paper to put under the glass. If there's enough room, I would also like to add a coin door, although at the moment it doesn't look like it's going to happen.

That's all I got done for today, it got dark way too fast. I was having too much fun. :D

nate007

03-01-2005, 11:38 PM

lookin' good dstone

SLAY3R

03-01-2005, 11:45 PM

Cool I need to make another cabinet.

Megatron1977

03-02-2005, 07:07 AM

Good job man, keep it up.

Southerntracker

03-02-2005, 07:29 AM

Looks great so far. Can't wait to see the finished project!

kisa

03-02-2005, 08:10 AM

It looks good so far. I love the look of those co cktail tables. very smooth

soul-assassin

03-02-2005, 12:46 PM

Looks sweet. *fills with co cktail table envy*
Will the table be completely enclosed? And if so, how do you plan on venting for that big old school monitor?

dstone

03-02-2005, 09:11 PM

I got a little bit more done today, not as much as I hoped, but still a lot. Ran in to a few problems (a few mis-cuts, nothing a belt sander can't fix) and it rained, so I had to clear some space in the garage, which ended up being very cramped.

http://www.vectorcade.net/arcade/base.JPG
Getting the base put together.

http://www.vectorcade.net/arcade/full.JPG
With the top sitting on the completed base. I decided in the middle of building it that instead of a hinged top, the top would be able to lift completely off, and would just sit on the base section containing all of the electronics. I still have a few more cuts to make on the base so that the top will fit better, and I will build the control panels over spring break, starting this Saturday (I won't be able to post during that time unless I manage to get to a Net connection, I'll be moving some stuff in to our new house). I had my shop teacher order the plexiglass top, and I need to go pick up some T-molding.

To answer your question, soul-assassin, there will be a couple fans on the bottom pulling air in, and there will be some openings at the top (around the edges of the table top) for hot air to escape. I'll start with that, and then upgrade if needed. Oh, and yes, it will be a completely enclosed cabinet.

dstone

03-02-2005, 09:11 PM

http://www.vectorcade.net/arcade/play.JPG
Can't wait to play it. I still need to paint the face of the monitor black. I'll most likely end up taping off the screen and the vents, and painting it that way so I don't have to open it up (if you asked any of my friends, they would tell you that I am a magnet for high voltage).

http://www.vectorcade.net/arcade/pencil.JPG
I didn't have a universal size-comparison unit (soda can), but I did have a pencil. The overall machine is rather small, yet still large enough to hold a comfortably-spaced control panel. I'm using a 15" CRT monitor in it because that was the only one that wasn't too deep to fit in the cabinet. Rats, I had a 17" set aside, with the posibility of a 19" inch for it (I guess that means I'll have to make an upright one of these days). Oh, and I also picked up some shielded arcade machine speakers from Happs Controls, to prevent interference with the monitor.

Tomorrow I'll probably patch the holes and start sanding away on it, as well as get the diminsions and cut the aluminum tubing for the legs.

dstone

03-02-2005, 09:49 PM

Just finished up a prototype logo:

http://www.vectorcade.net/arcade/logo.jpg

Let me know what you guys think.

spoeden

03-02-2005, 09:52 PM

Thumbs up all the way around.

kevrwag

03-03-2005, 06:38 AM

looks great. Keep up the good work, and good luct to ya at the competition. I went to that same competition when I was in high school, but it was for drafting and computer aided drafting. Had a great time, and won some awards. Good luck to ya and I wish you the best.

dstone

03-03-2005, 09:31 PM

Today I patched up the holes from the staples (I put it together with an air stapler and 1" staples) and filled a few cracks left because a few boards didn't fit flush. After 30 minutes of searching, I finally found the belt sander and got everything sanded down. Sorry, no pictures, although not much has changed since yesterday. I also ordered the plexiglass, jeez that stuff is expensive compared to everything else I've purchased for this. Now it's on to the control panels, which I'll work on over spring break.

Thanks for all the support you guys have been giving me, it's great motivation when things just aren't going right with the project. I can't wait until this thing is finished.

SLAY3R

03-03-2005, 10:28 PM

I can't wait either.

J-Hood

03-03-2005, 10:57 PM

very nice, keep it up, what kind of finish are you planning on for the outside?

J-Hood

03-05-2005, 09:43 AM

Updates

dstone

03-05-2005, 09:00 PM

Sorry, I just managed to find a phone line. I'm currently on vacation, but have taken the stuff with me to work on the control panels. The outside will be painted black, and I will make some side art and some graphics to put under the top glass to spruce it up. I'll post some pics once I get some more done later on this week.

automaticDEATH

03-05-2005, 09:22 PM

i want to make a computer that mixes me ****tails... mmmmmmmmmmm
looks kewl dood!
________
Fj600 (http://www.cyclechaos.com/wiki/Yamaha_FJ600)

dstone

03-14-2005, 10:17 PM

Whoo! Just got back home, we made a quick trip up to Missouri, where our transmission went out, borrowed my grandfather's truck to get back to Oklahoma to close on our new house, I came down with some sort of variation of the flu when we started to move in, and then four days later (thankfully the sickness only lasted 3 days) it was back home to Houston. I made some more progress on the machine, the top now fits properly on the base and the aluminum legs are ready to be cut and welded together. I used the frame of the old computer to help in the height adjustment (the USPS boxes were too tall :D ).
http://www.vectorcade.net/arcade/tall2.JPG

Also test fitted the monitor, and am gearing up for the electronics installation. I'll end up having a little more room than what I thought I would originally have.

dstone

03-14-2005, 10:21 PM

http://www.vectorcade.net/arcade/monfit2.JPG
http://www.vectorcade.net/arcade/monfit1.JPG

I stacked boards at the bottom until the monitor was at the height I wanted. I got the boards cut and nailed together, then proceded to start marking the holes for speakers, fans, power cables, and control buttons.

dstone

03-14-2005, 10:23 PM

http://www.vectorcade.net/arcade/monstack.JPG

Here are the holes drilled for game control (escape, coin 1 and coin 2)

http://www.vectorcade.net/arcade/function.JPG

dstone

03-14-2005, 10:28 PM

And last, but not least, getting the holes in the bottom drilled for the 4 speakers, 2 fans, power cable and off/on switch.

http://www.vectorcade.net/arcade/holes.JPG

I went out and bought a slot cutting bit for my router, and was going to pick up some T-molding for the top, but for some odd reason Home Depot didn't carry T-molding. This might be a hard one to track down... I'm pretty much ready to paint. Oh, the white stuff you see on there is drywall crack filler, I was out of wood putty. Works just the same, and no one will really be able to tell after I get everything primed and painted black. I've got the boards cut for the control panel, and tomorrow I will drill the holes and test fit the controls. I had an interesting idea that I connect all the control panel wires to a 25 pin connector on each side, so I can easily disconnect them and swap them for another if I were to every make another control panel. We'll see how much time I have.

spoeden

03-14-2005, 10:46 PM

Here's an online source for your t-molding.......

www.t-molding.com (http://www.t-molding.com/cart/customer/home.php)

dstone

03-15-2005, 10:22 PM

Thanks for the link, Spoeden! I just ordered the (correct) slot cutter, the t-molding, and a bunch of samples. I picked up paint today, along with the cooling fans. Got the legs cut to size, going to have a friend weld them together tomorrow (I suck at arc welding, don't even want to touch aluminum welding). Everything has started to come together rather quickly now. I've scrapped the computer I was originally going to use, instead I dismantled the media PC I never used, going to use the HDD to repair the family computer, the rest in the arcade machine, and a 60 gig HDD out of a machine my uncle gave to me while I was in Missouri over spring break. Dang, so much to do, and I still have to write my English paper.

Edit: Oh, and I found my dremel finally, so I sanded all the holes I cut yesterday and am working on making a bezel-like-thing for the monitor (although that will need the belt sander).

spoeden

03-16-2005, 12:09 AM

Glad you found it useful.

dstone

03-16-2005, 09:55 PM

It's coming together, slowly but surely. I had a friend weld the aluminum tubing today to make the legs, I'm going to use the school's drill press tomorrow to drill the holes for the bolts so they come out nice and straight. I've got the plexiglass top sitting next to me, t-molding on the way, and tomorrow the machine will be sanded down and completely primed. Control panels are on, the holes drilled, and they're begging for some buttons and a joystick.

http://www.vectorcade.net/arcade/cpanel.JPG

Only 16 more days to go. I'll be glad to be finished, my teachers figured it would be a good time to start giving homework. I still have that English paper to do, a robot to build for Robotics (also for the competition), house plans to prepare for the competition, German homework, a video for English due at the end of April, and I still have to be packing up the house to move into the new one. So little time there is!

dstone

03-22-2005, 06:49 PM

Got some more done, second coat of primer is on, slot is cut for the t-molding. A family friend offered to use his automotive painting equipment to paint the machine for me, unfortunately he is in Oklahoma and I could not get the machine back in time for the contest. He is currently doing the control panels, which I will be getting back this weekend, then after the contest (regionals) I will have him paint the rest of the machine (gloss black, for those who are wondering). I started sanding the legs to paint them silver, to get rid of some of the burn marks from the welding, and I liked the brushed effect it gave it, so it stayed. Here is the machine set up, test fitting the legs:

http://www.vectorcade.net/arcade/all1.JPG

dstone

03-22-2005, 06:49 PM

Another angle:

http://www.vectorcade.net/arcade/all2.JPG

And up close of the legs:

http://www.vectorcade.net/arcade/legs.JPG

dstone

03-23-2005, 09:10 PM

Finished the top today. Painted it, installed the T-molding, got the temporary graphics printed (black is a little light, but the printer can print on 13X19, so I can't complain, I'll take the graphics to a pro printing shop later on) and screwed on the plexi top. The monitor is now painted as well, and the base just needs a little touch-up. I now need to make a quick-connect for the 3 switches on the top so I can easily remove it (probably going to use a phone jack, just enough wires). I'm itching to play it so bad!

http://www.vectorcade.net/arcade/fintop1.JPG

dstone

03-23-2005, 09:14 PM

http://www.vectorcade.net/arcade/fintop2.JPG
You can see a box full of wires for my various projects.

http://www.vectorcade.net/arcade/topconbut.JPG
A close-up of two of the buttons, the T-molding, and edge of the plexi.

I need to start working on the computer, I finally got the 60GB hdd for it. That should hold plenty of games.

J-Hood

03-23-2005, 10:15 PM

Hooray for you, this is great!

reeseslover531

03-25-2005, 05:46 AM

THat looks awesome. The Graphics on the top really make look professional.

dstone

03-31-2005, 07:00 PM

Whew! Time flies when you're having fun. I finished it up, I'll post the finished photos last (I'm sure many of you want to see leading up to the finished product).

http://www.vectorcade.net/arcade/nearcomplete.JPG
Bottom painted, legs attached, and looking good. Awaiting control panels to arive.

http://www.vectorcade.net/arcade/playtest.JPG
Couldn't wait any longer, just had to try it. I hooked up my laptop to the monitor to get a feel for what the machine would be like when finished.

dstone

03-31-2005, 07:02 PM

http://www.vectorcade.net/arcade/alltest2.JPG
Monitor view from Player 1 position.

http://www.vectorcade.net/arcade/alltest.JPG
Finished top on the rest of the machine.

dstone

03-31-2005, 07:04 PM

http://www.vectorcade.net/arcade/inside.JPG
Speakers and fans installed along with switch and power connector, although nothing is wired yet.

http://www.vectorcade.net/arcade/bottom.JPG
Bottom of the cabinet with the grilles installed.

dstone

03-31-2005, 07:08 PM

http://www.vectorcade.net/arcade/botclose.JPG
Close-up of the grilles and power management.

http://www.vectorcade.net/arcade/joysticks.JPG
Joysticks arrived! Oooo, shiny. The white edge you see is the flash reflecting.
I've started wiring everything together, Cat5 is so useful. Works great for wiring everything into the IPAC2, the keyboard encoder (for those of you who don't know, it allows me to use the arcade joysticks and pushbuttons with a regular computer, input through the keyboard interface, available www.ultimarc.com).

dstone

03-31-2005, 07:11 PM

http://www.vectorcade.net/arcade/frontend.JPG
I tried to use ArcadeOS for my MAME frontend, but I never could get it to work properly. I ended up finding a new one, called AtomicFE, which in my opinion turned out to be a lot nicer. It allows for custom skins, I might try to make one one of these days (although I really like the one that's on there now). When you select a game from the list to the right, a preview appears on the arcade screen, the marquee appears in the appropriate area, and the game name is displayed on the front of the control panel box. Very cool.

It's FINISHED! Yay!

http://www.vectorcade.net/arcade/side1.JPG
Machine as seen from Player 1 side.

dstone

03-31-2005, 07:13 PM

http://www.vectorcade.net/arcade/side2.JPG
Machine as seen from Player 2 side.

http://www.vectorcade.net/arcade/complete.JPG
Full machine.

dstone

03-31-2005, 07:14 PM

http://www.vectorcade.net/arcade/complete2.JPG

http://www.vectorcade.net/arcade/complete3.JPG
Ready for a game.

dstone

03-31-2005, 07:22 PM

http://www.vectorcade.net/arcade/tetris.JPG
Now, onward to an epic battle of two player Tetris co cktail edition!

Oh, some of you may have noticed that the martini glass was changed out for a Pacman ghost. My teacher said that it was endorsing alcohol, and that I would be disqualified at the contest if I didn't remove it. So, I taped the ghosts over the glasses, which will come off once I get the machine back home. I personally like the glasses better, it flows with the logo. But anyways, finished it a whole week in advance (got my dates mixed up, so I was hurrying along for nothing, well I say that, I still have to write a research paper on it, come up with working drawings and a bill of materials). It's been a blast making it. It makes it that much more fun when playing the games knowing you built the machine they're in. It has a nifty blue glow around the bottom because of the lighted blue fans (bought 'em because they were several bucks cheaper) which worked out quite nicely. I'll try to get a picture of that once I dig out my tripod and good camera. My uncle wants me to build him one, so that will give me a chance to try out some new modifications I've come up with. As for my next project: a full blown upright with light guns (for Area 51 and a few others). Although that's probably a year down the road. Still can't wait!

Edit: Almost forgot the specs of the machine.

AMD Athlon XP 1800+
256mb PC2700 RAM
60GB Maxtor hard drive
PowerColor Radeon 9200SE with TV out (I think it's 128MB vid mem)
802.11b PCI wifi adapter
15" CRT display
80 watt amp driving the arcade speakers on the bottom (way overkill, I have it turned down all the way and it's still loud)
IPAC2 Keyboard encoder
Windows XP SP1 (new boot screen and hidden icons and all that)
FastMAME .70
AtomicFE frontend

I'll probably downscale the machine later on, and put the guts into the upright, where more power will be needed for the 3D games like Area 51.

doorman444

03-31-2005, 08:27 PM

Nice job
Looks great

spoeden

03-31-2005, 11:39 PM

http://jebenton.home.att.net/35.gifhttp://jebenton.home.att.net/35.gif

Great job dstone.

-gony-

04-01-2005, 12:05 AM

where do u put the quarters in lol
it looks awsome

dstone

04-01-2005, 10:06 PM

I didn't put in a coin door because I thought there would be less room than what there actually was (that, and I didn't think the door would come in on time, but because of the date mixup....) There are two black buttons on the top section on the Player 1 side, those are Coin 1 and Coin 2. The other single black button to the left of Player 1 (also on the top section) is the exit button, allowing you to exit the current game or shut down the arcade machine. Thanks for the support everyone.

dstone

04-10-2005, 10:25 AM

Just came back from the regional contest, got first place on the co ckatil arcade and on my house plans. At the little ceremony thing at the end of the event, they would call out the names of the people who had the top 10 projects at the event, and both of mine made it! Got sixth place in robotics though (out of 9), but I'm still going to state (everyone's bot that moved is going). I've got some new ideas that should help a little there. So, now the arcade machine is coming back apart, and is going on up to Oklahoma for a slick new paint job.

Lockblade

04-10-2005, 12:27 PM

Whoa. Great job! I think I might have to do something like that. What games do you have on it?

dstone

04-10-2005, 01:34 PM

I currently have Ms. Pac-Man, Galaga, Omega Race, Space Invaders, Space Invaders II Co cktail, and Tetris Co cktail (and a few others I can't really think of right now). I'm currently trying to track down rom chips for the games, so I can play them legally. (I currently have Omega Race, but I'll have to get rid of the others for right now until I can get them legally). Had the others on there for demonstration purposes.

Limp_Trizkit

04-10-2005, 03:16 PM

Bah, nobody'll know. Just leave 'em all. ;)

That is one cool project. My dad is thinking of getting a whole arcade set up down in the basement after he finishes it - I had a few ideas of my own, and I think I'm gonna have to talk to him about something like this...Uber-sweet!

I approve 350%. :cool:

dstone

05-10-2005, 04:26 PM

Well, I got back from state competition on Saturday, did pretty well. In robotics, my little motor-to-wheel adapter stripped out, so the motor spun and the wheel didn't (got second to last on that), first place on my house plans, and first place and a Best In State award for the arcade machine. So here's some photos with it up and running, the awards, and a new paint job (the entire machine is glossy black now, and I had the main logo professionally printed, although I think the company did a crappy job at it).

http://www.vectorcade.net/arcade/home1.jpg
Full machine set up at home (temporary, the movers are coming Monday)

http://www.vectorcade.net/arcade/pacmanawards.jpg
Playing Ms. Pacman