Scratch Build – In Progress FINISHED Picade Project - Table top arcade machine

Hi guys


Idea
I was bored at work one day, and got to thinking of a Raspberry Pi i had once, which I had built into a media center, and wondered if I could find any other "small" projects I could do with a Pi. I started googling around and found a few builds on arcade machines with games from my childhood and that's when it hit me! I want one of my own and instead of just buying one, I will of course make my own, so here goes nothing

Inspiration
http://www.instructables.com/id/2-Player-Bartop-Arcade-Machine-Powered-by-Pi/

Hardware
- Raspberry Pi 2 Model B (900 Mhz QC CPU, 1 Gb RAM) I know it's overkill, but what the hell
- Sandisk 8 Gb UC10 Micro SD card.
- Samsung Syncmaster 203B monitor
- Buttons and Joysticks

Materials
- MDF
- T-molding
- High gloss paint

Let's get to it shall we.

The plan is to make a table/bar arcade machine that is somewhat portable and easy to move. I will be using 12mm and 16mm MDF for the cabinet and will be aiming for a Piano black finish, along with some yellow T-molding for the edges.

MDF cut at work on a panel saw for precise measurements:



Measuring up for the cut of one of the side panels:



Here we go:

http://forums.bit-tech.net/album.php?albumid=2740&pictureid=42400

Side roughly cut out:



Sanding:



Both sides cut and some more sanding:



To put the marquee together, I'm using something called no more nails, from Pattex. I've been using this while renovating our house, which we bought last year, and I must say I've been positively surprised of the glues capabilities and strength.





For the monitor, I'm going to be using an old Samsung Syncmaster 203B, which I've had lying around. I've removed it's foot, since it won't really be needed anymore



Front ready to be cut:



Sun finally came out now to embrace the outdoor!



Front cut out and it looks like it's a match!





Mounting the screen, here I've used common metal straps for the mounting. I later discovered that the screen wouldn't stay levelled, so I've added some angle brackets to support the monitor. These are not shown here.



Front, marquee and side assembly





For the moment, everything is held in place with small angle brackets. I will add acrylic sealant to all the corners and edges for a nice tight and closed fit, before I add the paint





Here I've added the brackets monitor support and levelling:



Slowly coming together



A rough test assembly to see if everything fits.



Starting to look like something



More to come later. I'm currently waiting for the delivery of my Pi, as well as the Joysticks and buttons I've ordered for the machine More to come later.

Thanks for looking!

 

SUBBED!!! I love the idea!!! I'm old enough to remember spending actual QUARTERS in actual ARCADES.

 

Thanks guys appreciate it.

 

Update 1 - 12. April 2015

Hi Guys

Time for a small update

I keep getting a 500 internal error when trying to upload to Bit-tech's img hosting, so I'll be using another host, just hope the bandwidth doesn't exceed its limits before I can change it though

The mail lady came today, bearing gifts



My new, soon to be RetroPie The Raspberry Pi 2 Model B + accessories:



Fitted nicely in its protective new home:





USB ports, which are going to be connected to the Pi and to the exterior of the case. This way I can easily attach a keyboard for quick maintenance etc. if need be



Preping the power sockets:



Power and Pi mounted in the case:





Brass piano hinge ready to be cut to size and test mounted on the back lid of the case:



Temporarily mounted (needs to come off when I apply the paint):



Mounting the lower front, to the bottom of the case:



NO MORE NAILS





That's it for now

Thanks for looking!

 

Excellent Smithers!!!

 

Cool peoject!
Looking forward to see some color on the exterior.
Are you going to use paint only, or will you apply some texture to make it look more like an arcade machine?

Looking forward to the next update

 

This looks really neat!

What joysticks will you use (and what did you use for the test shown abvove)?

 

Cool.

 

Thanks

Thanks mate, I haven't decided 100% yet what to add, but I've found some stickers and other retro arcade stuff I'm thinking of plastering all over the place More to come when I've decided.

I'll be using these joysticks and buttons, bought from Arcade World Uk In the test pictures I just had a keyboard attached. The games were actually playable once I figured out the right keys

 

Update 2 - 14. April 2015

Update time

Looks like Bit-techs pic uploader is working again, so I've edited all the previous images to the site, so no missing image messages should occur

Now on with it

Acrylic sealer added to all the nooks and crannies:



Everything washed down to remove excess dust, before applying the paint.



Ready to go:



Jotuns Supreme Finish satin paint, BLACK!

First coat added. The paint roller (originally intended for lacquer) I'm using is pure ****, so I've decided to wait with the second and maybe third coat until I've bought a better one, that doesn't leave texture behind in the paint surface. That's also why not all of the case is painted yet.



Bottom front.



Screen removed, ready to go!



Almost there...



And voila!



Preparing for the piano hinge:



All holes drilled.



Shiny gold



Magnets for the back lid:





Knob for the lid:



MOAR GOLD:





DHL came knocking on the door



Joysticks and buttons Unfortunately, I screwed up when ordering the T-molding. Instead of choosing meters in the order, I wrongfully clicked feet, so I only got 4 feet which isn't even enough for one of the sides Well, new order placed.



Preparing the controller panel for some drilling



LASER!!!



Seems about right



Like a glove:



Next up, more painting and WIRING!!!




As always, thanks for looking guys

 

Update 3 - 20. April 2015

Update time

Case sanded, ready for second coating:



Second coat added:



Inlet socket arrived



All wired up!



One and two player buttons added:



Controler board painted and ready to go:





All wired up:



After setting up the Pie for testing, I quickly discovered that I needed to add an extra button in order to use "select" in games, so after some more drilling, I was ready to go:





I went out and bought some rubber ribbon, originaly intended for glass in Windows. I'll be using this to reduce the case from slipping on the surfaces it will be placed on:



There we go:



Controllers ready to be fixed to the case:



Mounted:



Preparing to make a cut for the inlet socket:



Mounted:



Added passiv cooling for the Pie, overclocking to 1000 MHz, YEAH BABY





Getting there:





Some milling for the T-molding:



Stating to take form




Now I need to wait for the rest of the T-molding to arrive, as well as the powersupply for the Pie, before I can continue. Hopefully it won't be long.


Thanks for looking Guys

 

Excellent built, you should win MOTM!

 

Awesome build. Love the desktop form factor instead of free standing. I'm definitely going to think of doing something like this when I go to do a build.

 

This is so cool!

 

Thanks a lot guys glad it could be of some inspiration.

 

Really well done. Looks like something I would drop a quarter into.

 

Thanks mate glad you like it.

Hopefully I'll have it done by the end of next week, when the T-molding and stickers arrive.

 

Small update - 11. May 2015

Hi guys

Sorry for the hold-up, but things have been quite busy around here lately, so I haven't really had the time to work

The rest of the T-molding has arrived, as well as fuses for the inlet socket and the power supply for the Pi.





Some more molding added to the case:



If all goes well, I will hopefully finish with the molding this week. I've also ordered stickers for the case to give it more life. Looking forward to receiving these and seeing how they look

I'm currently trying to figure out which speakers to add to the case, and whether or not they should be visible or hidden

That's it for now.

Thanks for looking

 

Last update - 25. May 2015

Heyya guys

Time for a FINAL update!!!

More milling



Finished with the T-molding:



Stickers ready:



Final stage PICADE !





First sticker done:



Side stickers:





All done:



Front M.A.M.E stickers:







Finished!



Final pictures!!!





















As always, thanks for watching guys. I really hope you've enjoyed it, I know I have

 

when do you start mass producing these things?
i sure as heck would like one!
Great finish