Scratch Build REDELUX (18/1 Final pictures and video)

[quizz_kid]

Hi guys. This is REDELUX, the all-in-one version of my arcade machine "R-Kaid-6".
I´m making this for a German friend. For those who´ve missed out on the original machine, here´s a link

Ok, so the original was nice... Buuuuuut not enough.

Here´s the REDELUX:

Integrated beamer
Integrated sound system
Two wireless joysticks and trackball
A new and improved custom made MAME frontend
New frontpanel

The machine will have the same shape and measurements as its predecessor.

I´ll focus the log on the new stufz and try not to bore you with the same-same seen before.

Hope you´ll enjoy it, I know I will / Quizz


Edit: This is one of the final pictures, more can be found on page 6 of this thread.



And here´s a video, if you´re interested in how it actually works:

[quizz_kid]

And here´s the hardware:

A very small 120w PSU


A very ugly Dell Optiplex gx260, stuck(!) in its metal housing. With a 512GB it´ll do just fine


An old 120GB disk and the sound system


This is the Dell M110, a small LED projector. This little fella is surprisingly good, with 300 ANSI and very low heat generation. Since it will be integrated within the console, I´ll only use the remote. But the IR-sensor sits on the back, so to get it up front I had to come up with something. I decided to try a fiber cable for extension of the sensor and it worked! Glad I didn´t had to solder in there.

[Idioteque]

Subbed. I like the cut of your jib.

[bulldogjeff]

Oh yeah, i'm all eyes

[Waynio]

Awesome new quizz project.

[quizz_kid]

Thanks guys!

For starters, this is my idea of the wireless trackball. Since there are no of such kind on the market I had to go all DIY on this. I bought a cheap long range wireless mouse and took it apart. The trackball housing I had laying around from an older project of mine.


And THIS is the beautiful 51mm Tiger Eye chatoyant. It will suit the walnut very well IMO.


And then I did some wood working

Six sides, cut and milled




I don´t know if it´s bad gluing or bad veneer, but it cracked at a few spots. I will try to fix it... or hide it somehow.


Hexagon under pressure


This is the feet of the foot stand. Because of the choice of output selection, monitor or beamer, this console will have to be moved around in the room. So I added some small brass wheels. I had to cut off the fittings because they were to big, but it was hard to find a replacement. The holes are 6.7mm and there´s no (standard)pegs in that size. I used a silicone tube over a M6, and it worked.





The front:


The hole to the right is for the beamer which will be vertically adjustable from underneath. More about that later.


Here are a nice brass fitting for the beamer and the startbutton.


I needed a thin piece of walnut for the back of the brass fitting and glued four veneer pieces together.



The biggest crack was on the front, and when I tried fixing it it just went worse...


This is one way of hiding it. What do you guys think about it? Too much bling maybe?



Well, so long!

[Waynio]

I was pretty tempted to buy 1 of those tiger eye rock marbles will make for a very awesome trackball & like you said will go with the walnut nicely, I really look forward to feeling confident enough to make my own custom peripherals like that, sweet modding quiz.

Maybe a simple brass plaque engraved would look better to cover the imperfection but I bet you could make that fit in place, it does look quite nice with the walnut, or a nice little simple pattern made from a different tone of veneer laid on top of the walnut. Just quick thoughts, not suggestions.

[kelmannen]

good to see you on another projekt quizz, good luck!

[quizz_kid]

Originally Posted by Waynio

I was pretty tempted to buy 1 of those tiger eye rock marbles will make for a very awesome trackball & like you said will go with the walnut nicely, I really look forward to feeling confident enough to make my own custom peripherals like that, sweet modding quiz.

Maybe a simple brass plaque engraved would look better to cover the imperfection but I bet you could make that fit in place, it does look quite nice with the walnut, or a nice little simple pattern made from a different tone of veneer laid on top of the walnut. Just quick thoughts, not suggestions.

The tiger eye is mighty fine!! And yeah, maybe brass is too much there. I like your thoughts... Veneer patterns. I´ll look into it!

Originally Posted by kelmannen

good to see you on another projekt quizz, good luck!

Thanks Kelmannen!


Ok, a small update:

Started on the controllers. This is the idea: The 1st player left part (where the joystick is) will be detachable from the rest of the pad, and the trackball can be docked right into it. More about that later.







And this is what I did to cover the cracks on the side panels. 4mm walnut frames

[sixfootsideburns]

excellent solution man, the frames add a bit of depth to the face while also fixing the problem! And that marble is gorgeous as others have said!

I'm excited to see what you come up with for the track ball. I've had a similar idea myself for the past few years but I never took the time to actually try and make it. Hopefully you have some success!

[quizz_kid]

Originally Posted by sixfootsideburns

excellent solution man, the frames add a bit of depth to the face while also fixing the problem! And that marble is gorgeous as others have said!

I'm excited to see what you come up with for the track ball. I've had a similar idea myself for the past few years but I never took the time to actually try and make it. Hopefully you have some success!

Thank you! The frames do add a bit of depth. I'm also excited bout the trackball... Cant wait testing it.

[quizz_kid]

Todays work:

There was some minor cracks on the backside, so I made a fan grill to hide 'em. It´s a hexagon!! Will use brass pegs later



Also made the fan grill for the frontpanel.



Some more work on the controllers.


... and the top piece is almost done



Will take some days off now... Be back next week!

YAY!!

[quizz_kid]

While waiting for some hardware I thought I´d maybe share another R-Kaid-6 product. It´s not as complex as the REDELUX, but it has some smart solutions to it. It´s a 4-player version, with wing doors hiding some of the electronics. I´ve changed the coiled cables for cotton sleeved ones. But what I´m most proud of is my locking mechanism. Hope you´ll like it! / Quizz

Doors closed, controllers on top


Doors opening


Expose of the inner panel


With the four controllers


3 m Cotton sleeved cables.


Close up


Linked cables



Backside/table top decoration


This is the locking device. It´s a small walnut knob hidden under the chassis. It locks/keeps the doors in place by turning the knob in one direction. When turning it the opposite direction, it gives the door a slight push to get them wide open. I´m very proud about it

[Darkwisdom]

Oh man, it's another one of your beautiful wooden consoles. It reminds me of a pong console;
It's got sound built in, doesn't use cartridges and it's all wooden =p

But seriously this is ace work as usual.

[quizz_kid]

Originally Posted by Darkwisdom

Oh man, it's another one of your beautiful wooden consoles. It reminds me of a pong console;
It's got sound built in, doesn't use cartridges and it's all wooden =p

But seriously this is ace work as usual.

Thank you friend! I actually got a chance to play the original Pong cabinet this summer, it´s such a beauty...

[Waynio]

Nice solution with the frames.

And wowzers you've been busy creating when did you do the new 4 player one with nifty lock, very nice & tidy.

[Mosquito]

Looking great! Can I ask how you cut the holes in the walnut frame that had the chipping? I was just curious if a spiral router bit with the correct direction (up or down, depending on which way you had it) would work better

[quizz_kid]

Originally Posted by Waynio

Nice solution with the frames.

And wowzers you've been busy creating when did you do the new 4 player one with nifty lock, very nice & tidy.

Thanks Waynio! I´ve been quite busy lately yes. I made it during summer vaccation

Originally Posted by Mosquito

Looking great! Can I ask how you cut the holes in the walnut frame that had the chipping? I was just curious if a spiral router bit with the correct direction (up or down, depending on which way you had it) would work better

Thanx! If yore referring to the holes on the hexagon I used straight bits... I have no spiral ones, but I might buy one and try it out. But I think it was a combination of dry veneer and bad gluing this time.

[Mosquito]

yeah, the holes in the hexagon, I'm a little behind Just a thought for something to try. I have a few down and up cut spiral bits, depending on whether I'm using them in my router table, or hand held, and which surface I have the router against. They seem to cut a little smoother, and leave a little cleaner edge for me.

[Pranja]

Awesome woodworking. Looks really nice.