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Non Gaming Discussions => Off-Topic => Topic started by: §ôµÏG®ïñD on May 09, 2024, 05:22:40 AM

Title: Building a 4 Player Arcade Machine.
Post by: §ôµÏG®ïñD on May 09, 2024, 05:22:40 AM
So i got bored and started to build a 4 Player arcade machine.

So far i've had the cabinet routed and bought most of the stuff for it.  I'm using a old pc for its internals, 32 Inch LG monitor for screen. 

I'm using a small amp, power supply and car speakers for sound.

Will be six buttons per player, center track ball and down the track i'll add light guns.

I'll update with pics as i build it.  If i don't forget that is.
Title: Re: Building a 4 Player Arcade Machine.
Post by: §ôµÏG®ïñD on May 09, 2024, 05:44:29 AM
So this is a pick of the routed bits for the arcade..  It all goes together like a meccano set. 

Excuse the mess, i had a party on weekend and had to move half the garage around to make room for it.

Next i'll be sanding, priming all the external bits for vinyl wrapping.

I have to wait for bearings for my T-Mold bit before i can vinyl wrap the top, bottom of the control panel and Side Panels.

Rest i'll wrap on the weekend if the weather is good.
Title: Re: Building a 4 Player Arcade Machine.
Post by: Titan on May 09, 2024, 04:37:05 PM
That's pretty awesome dude. Definitely keep posting pics!
Title: Re: Building a 4 Player Arcade Machine.
Post by: §ôµÏG®ïñD on June 08, 2024, 11:19:41 PM
Took some time to get a T-Mold Router bit but i've done all the routing for the t-mold and started painting the undercoat. It's winter here so it takes time for it to dry between sandings, coats etc.

Once that is done, i'll start vinyl wrapping the bits i can and assemble the unit.
Title: Re: Building a 4 Player Arcade Machine.
Post by: §ôµÏG®ïñD on June 08, 2024, 11:21:19 PM
First Painted panel
Title: Re: Building a 4 Player Arcade Machine.
Post by: Paul2 on June 09, 2024, 12:33:00 AM
nice. B)
Title: Re: Building a 4 Player Arcade Machine.
Post by: §ôµÏG®ïñD on June 17, 2024, 12:29:51 AM
More pics, Nearly Finished painting, ran out of white primer.. So i bought what i could get my hands on which is gray. Then managed to get white as well. So i'll do my final coats for the interior white. External doesn't matter since it'll be wrapped in vinyl.



Title: Re: Building a 4 Player Arcade Machine.
Post by: Titan on June 17, 2024, 01:58:30 PM
Looking good!
Title: Re: Building a 4 Player Arcade Machine.
Post by: §ôµÏG®ïñD on July 14, 2024, 08:27:55 PM
Quick update, Still painting and Vinyl Wrapping it.  I've done a lot more then whats in these pics.. Just haven't taken pics yet.

Title: Re: Building a 4 Player Arcade Machine.
Post by: Titan on July 21, 2024, 06:33:37 AM
Nice! How many hours do you think you've put in the project so far?
Title: Re: Building a 4 Player Arcade Machine.
Post by: §ôµÏG®ïñD on July 22, 2024, 03:49:49 AM
All up probably 10-15 hrs of labor.  Its just slow because its winter here and its cold, sits around 41f - 5c most days atm. 

I've pretty much done all the prep work. So hopefully tomorrow i'll put the main part of it together.

I have to drill a few holes in the middle shelf and file out a notch for the RGB lighting that'll be inside it.

I've attached few more pics on the latest thing I've done. Which is to vinyl wrap the inside front where the glass slides into.  (where the black meets the white is a channel)

You won't see past the glass channel, so the front section needed to be black to match the rest of the arcade.

I've also shown the T-Molding channel.  These the are 2 sides of the arcade. (internal sides showing) 
Title: Re: Building a 4 Player Arcade Machine.
Post by: Titan on July 28, 2024, 07:57:22 AM
Nice work! Certainly seems like it's coming along!
Title: Re: Building a 4 Player Arcade Machine.
Post by: §ôµÏG®ïñD on July 29, 2024, 07:43:55 PM
Another update..

Here it's on its side, main part of it is together.  Adding Holes for Fans.

Then i'll wrap the sides, insert the T molding.  Then i'll start working on the control panel.
Title: Re: Building a 4 Player Arcade Machine.
Post by: Paul2 on July 29, 2024, 08:12:21 PM
looking really good. its looking like its coming together. B)
Title: Re: Building a 4 Player Arcade Machine.
Post by: §ôµÏG®ïñD on August 07, 2024, 04:53:26 PM
Quick update. Added casters. Will be moving it into music room tonight. I'll wrap the sides, add t-molding and fans / filters grills.
Then I'll be starting to add internal stuff.   Getting good now.
Title: Re: Building a 4 Player Arcade Machine.
Post by: §ôµÏG®ïñD on August 08, 2024, 04:46:57 AM
Moved into music room. Will start wrap process tomorrow. I'm sick atm with cold or flu.. so it may take  a few days.
Title: Re: Building a 4 Player Arcade Machine.
Post by: Paul2 on August 09, 2024, 08:58:25 AM
suck that you got a cold.  get well gracefully.
Title: Re: Building a 4 Player Arcade Machine.
Post by: §ôµÏG®ïñD on August 24, 2024, 04:36:31 AM
Update,

Got pretty sick, was out of action for a good 1.5 weeks.

Done the wraps on the sides, T-Molded one side but didn't have quite enough for other side.  Got more T-mold on order which should come monday.

A few pics of the wraps done.   Once i can do the t-molding, the real fun starts!!!!
Title: Re: Building a 4 Player Arcade Machine.
Post by: Titan on August 25, 2024, 05:21:25 PM
Lookin' good!
Title: Re: Building a 4 Player Arcade Machine.
Post by: §ôµÏG®ïñD on October 22, 2024, 10:21:09 PM
Yo yo yo, update time..  So i've finished the main cab vinyl wrapping, fans, grills, mounting power supplies, channels for RGB leds,

PC is mounted on rails too, so i can pull it out to do maintenance.  I also 3D printed out a lot of stuff, placards, mounts for power supplies etc.

I've just finished 3D printing out a mount for the monitor. Which i'll install tomorrow.  I've also got a Perspex top for the control panel routed and ready to go.

Things i've got left to do.

Then after i've mounted all this i have to mount the power supply for all the buttons (leds), trackball, Joysticks, 2x ultimate I/O interfaces for the controls.
Finally install a Tempered Glass sheet for the front of the arcade and mark out the vinyl to cover the areas around the monitor on it.
Title: Re: Building a 4 Player Arcade Machine.
Post by: §ôµÏG®ïñD on October 23, 2024, 05:23:39 AM
more pics.

Also, theres one pic the site just won't let me upload. No matter what i do, change size, format etc. I keep getting this error.


"Your attachment has failed security checks and cannot be uploaded. Please consult the forum administrator."
Title: Re: Building a 4 Player Arcade Machine.
Post by: Paul2 on October 23, 2024, 09:25:23 AM
cool!  wow, it looks more complicated than i thought.  you are so smart to build the arcade by yourself.  awesome. B)
Title: Re: Building a 4 Player Arcade Machine.
Post by: Titan on November 02, 2024, 08:04:45 AM
Quote from: §ôµÏG®ïñD on October 23, 2024, 05:23:39 AM
"Your attachment has failed security checks and cannot be uploaded. Please consult the forum administrator."

Well stop trying to upload dick pics!

The attachment system with this forum software is hit or miss. I've gotten that error too myself. And I'm the administrator! I should do what I want lol. I just wait and try again and it'll let me pass usually. I think one time I just changed the name.

The arcade is coming along nicely! How much research did you do to figure all this out?

EDIT: Just checked the settings for attachments. I have the attachment security settings not really set. Just size limits. It's probably just a glitch.
Title: Re: Building a 4 Player Arcade Machine.
Post by: §ôµÏG®ïñD on November 02, 2024, 08:21:38 PM
Not much research at all. Only research has been on the Ultimate I/O controller, buttons, sticks etc. 

Finding places to precut things has been hard. Getting the perspex top for the control panel was a pain. Took 4 places before I found one that would do it.

Plans for the arcade woodwork I came across by accident. I heavily modified it to suit my needs.

The rest is just knowledge built up over years of experience. Building electrical switch boards for 10 years, electronics experience etc. Growing up with PCs.


Monitor has been mounted.
Title: Re: Building a 4 Player Arcade Machine.
Post by: §ôµÏG®ïñD on November 11, 2024, 11:08:59 PM
Latest update,

Mounted Control Box and am working on Control Panel now.

Will hopefully have it mounted tomorrow or day after.

Had to make a plug and move the hole for the Track ball, was to low and was hitting the joysticks and buttons.
Current List.

Title: Re: Building a 4 Player Arcade Machine.
Post by: §ôµÏG®ïñD on December 04, 2024, 11:29:38 PM
Little update, control panel top is done.

Waiting on some wires to do the wiring for it..  Will upload pics of that when its done.
Title: Re: Building a 4 Player Arcade Machine.
Post by: Titan on December 07, 2024, 09:22:17 AM
I'm loving seeing how this is coming together! Have you thought about making custom arcades as a side business or something?
Title: Re: Building a 4 Player Arcade Machine.
Post by: §ôµÏG®ïñD on December 10, 2024, 12:22:15 PM
Nar haven't thought about doing it as a business.. wouldn't be viable. The total cost would be up in the realms of 5k+ $AUD. That's not including time.

I'll do a breakdown of costs when I'm done but I'm pretty sure people won't be wanting to spend that much on a arcade.
Title: Re: Building a 4 Player Arcade Machine.
Post by: Titan on December 14, 2024, 07:43:03 AM
Ah. Didn't realize it was that much. But definitely curious about the cost breakdown for sure.
Title: Re: Building a 4 Player Arcade Machine.
Post by: §ôµÏG®ïñD on May 16, 2025, 12:40:06 AM
Small Update, Booted arcade for first time.

Attached some images and a small youtube clip.