MAME Arcade
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Summary:

Complete from scratch project using 25" Sony TV, I-pac4 encoder, 2 player positions plus spinner, trackball, and 4-way stick. Taller than most (almost 7') to make room for Paradigm speakers above monitor (will also be used as mp3 jukebox). Subwoofer will be mounted in the base.


Mostly pictures for now...


All the wood was cut from 3/4" MDF which resulted in a very heavy machine! Instead of using the T-molding I routered the edges.


My biggest fear after dismantling the TV was that I'd break the neck off the back, so I used some of the postal services free supplies to protect it.


I decided to spend some extra time and actually make the control box actually fit the top panel. It took some extra work, but ended up nice. I sanded and filled all the angles and corners so it looks like a solid front.

   
I used some piano hinge to make the panel pivot up for maintenance. It's very solid when down, so I don't have to secure it in any way. I put 2 pinball buttons on each side, one for flipper and another for bump.


Almost there!

 
I had to try it out even though it's not quite done. All the controls work great!


I had Home Depot cut the Lexan to my specs for the monitor bezel and marquee since I don't think I could make a straight cut. For the monitor bezel I traced out where the monitor opening and instruction cards would be on the protective paper covering the back, then scored the paper with a utility knife. I removed the paper around those areas then sprayed it with gloss black spraypaint. After 2 coats it looked great from the front.


Control panel and interface wiring.


Under cabinet lighting used for the marquee.

[#Beginning of Shooting Data Section]\nNikon D70s\nFocal Length: 18mm\nOptimize Image: Normal\nColor Mode: Mode Ia (sRGB)\nLong Exposure NR: Off\n2006/03/17 09:34:36.1\nExposure Mode: Aperture Priority\nWhite Balance: Auto\nTone Comp.: Auto\nCompressed RAW (12-bit)\nMetering Mode: Multi-Pattern\nAF Mode: AF-S\nHue Adjustment: 0°\nImage Size: Large (3008 x 2000)\n1/50 sec - F/4\nFlash Sync Mode: Not Attached\nSaturation: Normal\nExposure Comp.: 0 EV\nSharpening: Auto\nLens: 18-70mm F/3.5-4.5 G\nSensitivity: ISO 1600\nAuto Flash Comp: 0 EV\nImage Comment: \n[#End of Shooting Data Section] [#Beginning of Shooting Data Section]\nNikon D70s\nFocal Length: 38mm\nOptimize Image: Normal\nColor Mode: Mode Ia (sRGB)\nLong Exposure NR: Off\n2005/03/17 09:37:53.9\nExposure Mode: Aperture Priority\nWhite Balance: Auto\nTone Comp.: Auto\nCompressed RAW (12-bit)\nMetering Mode: Multi-Pattern\nAF Mode: AF-S\nHue Adjustment: 0°\nImage Size: Large (3008 x 2000)\n1/40 sec - F/4.2\nFlash Sync Mode: Not Attached\nSaturation: Normal\nExposure Comp.: 0 EV\nSharpening: Auto\nLens: 18-70mm F/3.5-4.5 G\nSensitivity: ISO 1600\nAuto Flash Comp: 0 EV\nImage Comment: \n[#End of Shooting Data Section] [#Beginning of Shooting Data Section]\nNikon D70s\nFocal Length: 27mm\nOptimize Image: \nColor Mode: Mode Ia (sRGB)\nLong Exposure NR: Off\n2005/03/17 09:41:47\nDigital Vari-Program: Auto\nWhite Balance: Auto\nTone Comp.: Auto\nCompressed RAW (12-bit)\nMetering Mode: Multi-Pattern\nAF Mode: AF-S\nHue Adjustment: 0°\nImage Size: Large (3008 x 2000)\n1/100 sec - F/5\nFlash Sync Mode: Front Curtain\nSaturation: Normal\nExposure Comp.: 0 EV\nAuto Flash Mode: Built-in TTL\nSharpening: Auto\nLens: 18-70mm F/3.5-4.5 G\nSensitivity: ISO 1600\nAuto Flash Comp: 0 EV\nImage Comment: \n[#End of Shooting Data Section] [#Beginning of Shooting Data Section]\nNikon D70s\nFocal Length: 48mm\nOptimize Image: Normal\nColor Mode: Mode Ia (sRGB)\nLong Exposure NR: Off\n2005/03/17 09:42:35.1\nExposure Mode: Aperture Priority\nWhite Balance: Auto\nTone Comp.: Auto\nCompressed RAW (12-bit)\nMetering Mode: Multi-Pattern\nAF Mode: AF-S\nHue Adjustment: 0°\nImage Size: Large (3008 x 2000)\n1/40 sec - F/4.5\nFlash Sync Mode: Not Attached\nSaturation: Normal\nExposure Comp.: 0 EV\nSharpening: Auto\nLens: 18-70mm F/3.5-4.5 G\nSensitivity: ISO 1600\nAuto Flash Comp: 0 EV\nImage Comment: \n[#End of Shooting Data Section] [#Beginning of Shooting Data Section]\nNikon D70s\nFocal Length: 18mm\nOptimize Image: Normal\nColor Mode: Mode Ia (sRGB)\nLong Exposure NR: Off\n2005/03/17 09:43:37\nExposure Mode: Aperture Priority\nWhite Balance: Auto\nTone Comp.: Auto\nCompressed RAW (12-bit)\nMetering Mode: Multi-Pattern\nAF Mode: AF-S\nHue Adjustment: 0°\nImage Size: Large (3008 x 2000)\n1/80 sec - F/4\nFlash Sync Mode: Not Attached\nSaturation: Normal\nExposure Comp.: 0 EV\nSharpening: Auto\nLens: 18-70mm F/3.5-4.5 G\nSensitivity: ISO 1600\nAuto Flash Comp: 0 EV\nImage Comment: \n[#End of Shooting Data Section] [#Beginning of Shooting Data Section]\nNikon D70s\nFocal Length: 46mm\nOptimize Image: \nColor Mode: Mode Ia (sRGB)\nLong Exposure NR: Off\n2005/03/17 09:44:27.1\nDigital Vari-Program: Auto\nWhite Balance: Auto\nTone Comp.: Auto\nCompressed RAW (12-bit)\nMetering Mode: Multi-Pattern\nAF Mode: AF-S\nHue Adjustment: 0°\nImage Size: Large (3008 x 2000)\n1/60 sec - F/5\nFlash Sync Mode: Front Curtain\nSaturation: Normal\nExposure Comp.: 0 EV\nAuto Flash Mode: Built-in TTL\nSharpening: Auto\nLens: 18-70mm F/3.5-4.5 G\nSensitivity: ISO 1600\nAuto Flash Comp: 0 EV\nImage Comment: \n[#End of Shooting Data Section]
Finally, a (somewhat) finished product. Used a pair of Paradigm Atom speakers above the screen with a game subwoofer below.

Parts used:

From Happ Controls

Item Description Inv # #

Price
50-6070-12 COMPETITION J/S 8W M/S BLUE 730405

2

$ 12.50

50-7604-10 ULTIMATE J/S,4 WAY,MS,RED 730405

1

$ 12.50

55-1101-00 3" TRACKBALL MOUNTING KIT 730405

1

$ 10.29

56-0100-10T TRACKBALL 3" RED TRANS STD 730706

1

$ 91.92

58-9100-L LONG HORZ PB RED W/.187 MS & 730405

3

$ 1.72

58-9111-L LONG HORZ PB WHITE W/.187 MS & 730405

6

$ 1.72

58-9111-L1PLY HORZ PB WT WITH MS & NUT 1 730405

1

$ 1.81

58-9111-L2PLY HORZ PB WT W/MS & NUT 2 PLYR 730405

1

$ 1.81

58-9122-L LONG HORZ PB BLUE W/.187 MS & 730405

12

$ 1.72

58-9166-L LONG HORZ PB BLACK W/.187 MS & 730405

4

$ 1.72

 

From Oscar Controls


Item Name: OSCAR PRO W/O KNOB
Option 1: Control Panel Thickness: No Plate - 3/4 wood
Item Number: PRO
Item Amount: $61.00
Quantity: 1
Total: $61.00

Item Name: MACHINED ALUMINUM KNOB
Item Number: MACH_KNOB
Item Amount: $13.00
Quantity: 1
Total: $13.00

From  Ultimarc

Product                                                Quantity   Price
I-PAC/4 with PS/2 cable                   1               65.00
Opti-PAC with serial/power cable   1               39.00