Basic Guide to Building a Cabinet

2006-07-12T02:19:27Z

Gbeeker: /* Things to consider first */ punctuation - rm apostrophy

So you want to build yourself a cabinet? Here is a basicguide to get you on the road. Some things mentioned might be daunting at first, but take a look at the things mentioned on this page and it might notify you on something you otherwise had overlooked.
If you have questions, never be afraid to ask in the Build Your Own Arcade Controls [http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/ forums].

=Things to consider first=
You don't want to rush out and just buy yourself a few pieces of [[Wood_products|wood]], fire up your [[Power Tools|power tools]] and start cutting! First things first:
* '''What kind of cabinet do you want?'''
:Cabinets come in all shapes and sizes ([[Arcade_Cabinet_101|see Arcade Cabinet 101]]). There are sample plans available ([http://arcadecontrols.com/arcade_cabinet_plans.shtml see here]) on the BYOAC site. There are also [[Vendors]] who sell full cabinet kits.
:If you want to design your own cabinet, take a look [http://arcadecontrols.com/arcade_cabinet_plans.shtml#dimensions here]. Some things to keep in mind when figuring out your dimensions are:
::#How tall you are. You don't want to end up with a control panel you can't reach conmortably or look at a screen that is too low for your comfort.
::#The size of the monitor. If you want to put in a 36" screen, make sure it fits.
::#The size of your control panel. If you want to have a gazillion controls on it, but you made it only 10" wide you are probably going to run out of space.
:Instead of building your own cabinet, you may also choose to restore or convert an existing cabinet. See also [[notes on converting a cabinet]].
:Whatever you decide, one very important thing to consider before ANYTHING is done, is ''how wide are your doorways?'' If you can't get it to the location you have planned, all your work will be for naught!

*'''What do I use to run the software?'''
:Do you plan to use a PC and run [[Emulators]]? If so, does the PC fit in the cabinet you designed? Do you plan to wire a [[JAMMA]] board? Are you planning on using console games?

*'''What controls are you going to want on your cabinet?'''
:What kind of games do you want to play? Take note of what controls those games use. How many players? The [[control panel]] needs more space if you want a 4 player cabinet. Generally, if you want to play fighter games, you will need 6 buttons per player. If you want a 4 player cabinet, keep in mind that there aren't any non-console games that support more than 4 buttons for player 3 and 4. Take a look at [[Contents#Arcade_Control_Hardware|Arcade Control hardware]] section for more info on [[joysticks]], [[trackballs]], [[spinners]], etc. It is also possible to buy ready made control panels. See the [[vendors]] page on where to get these items.
:It is also a wise idea when it comes to control panel design to 'test fit' your controls using a piece of cardboard, cheap wood, or a piece of ridgid insulation. Your layout might look good on paper (or in your [[Technical_design_software|design software]]), but nothing beats testing to make sure everything is to your satisfaction prior to making your final model.

*'''How to interface the controls?'''
:Once you have decided what controls you want, how do those controls connect to the PC? See the [[Contents#Interfacing_Controls_With_Your_PC|interfacing controls with your PC]] section for various options. Things to keep in mind when selecting an interface board, are the number of available connections and the amount of controls you plan to use.

*'''What type of display device do you want to use?'''
:There are various options, ranging from [[Televisions]], [[PC Monitors]] and even real [[Arcade Monitors]]. Keep in mind that these have different connections and might need a special [[Video Cards|videocard]]. Also an arcade monitor is mounted diffently in a cabinet than a television (which might sit on a shelf in your cab).

*'''What about artwork?'''
:[[Contents#Arcade_Art|Artwork]] can make your cabinet stand out and look authentic or personalized. What art are you going to use and what size do the images need to be? Do you want art on your [[Control panel]]?

*'''Any extras?'''
:How do you want to control your emulator software? Do you want special administration buttons on your control panel (or hidden elsewhere on your cabinet?). Do you want to add a drawer to have access to your PC's keyboard? Perhaps add a [[Coin Doors|coin door]] or have 'insert coin' buttons? Do you want speakers with volume control? Any special lighting such as lighted buttons or a marquee?

=Building the cabinet=
Once you settled on your cabinet's design, it is time to start the hard dirty work. Your arcade experience is basically two parts. The cabinet itself and the computer that runs it.

The [[Contents#Building_Materials|building materials]] and [[Contents#Tools|tools]] sections might give you hints on what to use. Always keep in mind the golden rule of woodworking: measure twice, cut once!

=Building the guts=
Once the cabinet is built, you can install the controls and wire everything up.

=Setting up the computer=
It is probably a good idea to get your emulators up and running before you move your PC into the cabinet. While a cabinet is great for playing arcade games, it is not a very confortable working spot to fix your software's settings.
If you have more computers in your home, you might want to consider hooking the arcade cabinet computer into a home network. This allows you to update files from another PC or even control the computer using a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terminal_Services remote desktop client tool].

=Relevant links=
* [http://spystyle.arcadecontrols.com/index1.htm SpyStyle's DIY Arcade walkthrough] A step-by-step guide for building a cabinet.
* [http://users.adelphia.net/~seanhat/arcade/ LuSiD's Arcade Flashback] Many DIY cabinets have been based on this guide.
* [http://minimame.com/downloads.asp MiniMame PDF plans] An excellent printable guide. The document describes a scaled down version of an arcade cabinet, the used techniques are usable in full scale projects as well.

Project Arcade

2006-07-12T02:15:44Z

Gbeeker: /* About the book */ wikify web site

<center>[[Image:Project_arcade.jpg]]

[http://www.projectarcade.com Project Arcade - The Book!]</center>

== Project Arcade - the book! ==

While not a tool per se, this book is considered an arcade cabinet builder's "bible". Many of the things you'll read about within this Wiki have been culled from the book, as well as graphical representations of some of the things found here. A small investment, considering the wealth of knowledge found there, as well as many valuable resources that are found on the included CD. This is an item you'll find yourself often turning to.

==About the book==
Project Arcade is the book written by John St.Clair, owner of the [http://arcadecontrols.com/arcade.htm Build Your Own Arcade Controls web site.]

==Table of contents==
* '''Chapter 01''' - [http://www.projectarcade.com/sample.html Picking your path to game playing Nirvana] (sample chapter online)
** Where to Start? Finding Your Muse
** Choosing Your Goal
** Plan, Plan, and Then Plan Some More

* '''Chapter 02''' - Building Your Arcade Cabinet
** Anatomy of a Cabinet
** Determining the Things You Need
** Getting Ready to Build Project Arcade
** Beginning Construction

* '''Chapter 03''' - Pushing Your Buttons and the Joy of Joysticks
** Buttons, Buttons, Everywhere!
** Joysticks

* '''Chapter 04''' - Taking Your Game Out For a Spin -- Spinners and Trackballs
** What Do Spinners and Trackballs Do?
** Spinner Choices
** Trackball Choices

* '''Chapter 05''' - Arcade Controls for Power Gamers
** Steering Wheels and Pedals
** Flight Yokes
** Light Guns
** Dance Pads

* '''Chapter 06''' - Building the Control Panel
** Laying Out Your Design
** Installing the Controls
** Mounting the Control Panel
** Multiple Control Panels
** Project Arcade Control Panel Design

* '''Chapter 07''' - How it Works -- Turning a Computer into the Brains of an Arcade Machine
** Digital and Analog
** Arcade Cabinet Wiring 101
** How It All Works

* '''Chapter 08''' - Using the Keyboard Connector for Arcade Controls
** Hacking a Real Keyboard
** Multiple Keyboard Connections
** Customized Keyboard Encoders

* '''Chapter 09''' - Arcade Controls Using the Mouse Connector
** How Mice Work
** Hacking a Mouse
** Purchasing Optical Encoders
** Multiple Mice

* '''Chapter 10''' - Miscellaneous Bits of Arcade Trickery
** Gaming with the Gameport
** Using the USB Port
** Other Miscellaneous Tricks

* '''Chapter 11''' - Audio -- Silence Isn’t Golden
** Speaking of Speakers
** Arcade Jukeboxes

* '''Chapter 12''' - A Picture is Worth a Thousand . . . Tokens?
** Electrical Warning
** A Basic Understanding of Monitors
** Monitor Types
** Mounting Monitors

* '''Chapter 13''' - Installing The Computer
** Configuring Your Computer for Total Arcade Immersion
** Installing the Computer into the Cabinet

* '''Chapter 14''' - Choosing and Loading Software
** All About Emulators
** Commercial Arcade Software
** Shareware and Other Great Games

* '''Chapter 15''' - Buttoning Up the Odds and Ends
** Decorating the Cabinet
** Lighting Effects
** Protecting the Cabinet
** Other Odds 'n' Ends

* '''Chapter 16''' - Stuck? Frustrated? Out of Quarters?
** Troubleshooting Tips
** Getting Help
** Giving Back

* '''Chapter 17''' - Buying Your Way to Gaming Nirvana
** Kits
** Arcade Controllers and Cabinets
** Game Console Controller Adapters

* '''Chapter 18''' - Online Places to Go
** Inspirational Projects to See
** Great Places to Get More Information
** The Project Arcade Finale

* '''Appendix A''' - Where to Find Arcade Parts for your Project

* '''Appendix B''' - The Great Debate -- Preserving Versus MAME’ing the Past

* '''Appendix C''' - [http://www.projectarcade.com/cdrom.html What's On the CD-ROM]

==Buy the book==

[[Image:Project_Arcade_cover.jpg|left]] You can buy the book from:

[http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0764556169/buildyourowna-20 Amazon.com]

BYOAC OLD Wiki - User contributions [en]

Basic Guide to Building a Cabinet

Project Arcade