5 Foot Tall - Scaled Down MAME Arcade
Start off with a 24"(W) x 48"(H) piece of MDF
Draw your template - overdraw the lines so you can see with your circular saw
With a Circular saw - start cutting the easiest lines first
Uh oh, tough corner to cut
First, use a jigsaw to cut on a curve as follows - get the jigsaw to the line on the left
and cut long enough to be able to fit your circularsaw to cut back up to square the edge
NOTE: All squared edges are squared off using a jigsaw
then fit your circular saw and but back up along the line ... never use the circular saw
to cut to a perpendicular line .. come close and finish the cut with a jigsaw (jigsaw is very accurate)
now you have a clean cut, notice the lines towards the top - it looks like I didn't cut according to my layout
- this is because I changed the dimensions and after seeing it layed out on the blank sheet
if I followed my original layout I feel it would have looked bad (see it visually)
End of Day 1 - after going to Home Depot and getting all tools together the 1st day was about 3 hours total
Voila - finish the rest of the cuts and hopefully it looks something like an arcade
Second sheet for the other side
Clamp down the finished side to a new sheet
Trace the outline
With a ruler - go back over the lines to straighten them out and extend them further
2 sides cut out
Build the base (dimensions to come)
Line up base to one of the sides - center it so you can put a front and back on flush
Screw in base, this can be awkard but easier if someone helps you
Closer look
This is the bottom of the side with part of the base showing behind it
-make sure the base extends below the side, I actually made it an inch more
after taking this picture, MDF is thick cardboard and is easily damaged, make
sure the base is the only thing touching the ground (hint: you have to tip the arcade to move it)
The piece in my hand is a blank, used to see how the front panel fits
- align the base so the front panel is flush with the side
MDF is soft and shreds easily, drill all holes first
Then use a large drill bit for counter sinking, then screws can go in
notice how far my base comes down, you shold also notice how the side
protrudes the base - this is so the front and back go on flush
boxing out the sides using 2x4's, notice that the 2x4's do not go to the edge
-again, this is so the front and back can go on flush
that piece that is clamped on next to the 2x4 simulates the front panel
Here you go .. the first look at the arcade put together .. OOOOPS... why does it look unproportional???
-this was using a 30" (W) base... it sounded good in my head
-I also forgot about getting it in my door
-I came this far and wanted to do it right, I've decided to take everything apart and cut
off 6 inches from the 2 2x4's and the base
ugh.. that took about another hour or so .. back to building
this is the next picture with everything resized to 24" (W)
*it looks much better now, it will be lighter and easier to get thru doors
clamp on smaller 2x4's for the top .. notice the 2x4's already installed for to hold the joystick panel
I used 5 screws for the joystick panel 2x4's for heavy duty play
Heres a closer look at the screws, all screws should be countersinked
Closer look
Here's a better look, notice the hand truck - makes it very easy to maneuver the arcade
Add 2x4's anywhere you need to screw a board too, these 2 new 2x4's will wupport the back
-notice everything approximately 1" from the edge to allow for flushness
Added another 2x4 in the center of the cabinet and 2 pieces of wood to the back for support
Another view of the inside
-the 2 big 2x4's will support the monitor, the one on the left will also support the back panel
-the small 2x4 on the right will support the joystick panel
-the 2x4 on the bottom right will support the front panel
Notice the plywood shelf to support the monitor, the pc goes below on the base
Slighly different view, closer up
Side view ... notice all the screws - all counter sinked
End of Day 2 - total of 9 hours, lots of time wasted figuring out how to do things
To Come:
-put on wheels before this thing gets too heavy
-finish rear and front panels along with top
-putty screw holes
-paint (Donkey Kong orange side and front, Grey back + insides + top)
-White T-Molding
-electronics: joystick panel, pc (mame configuration + emulator, monitor, electrical strip
Cost
Need to break everything out by receipts
-less than $150
*includes wood, paint, screws, hinges, power strip, wheels, T-molding
-4x8 MDF - $26
-40' White T-molding - $20
-paint, hinges, power strip, wheels, back panel, more 2x4's - $93
*does not include joystick/electronics/plexiglass
estimate ($40 Keyboard converter, $60 for joystick/buttons)
*does not include price of my used PC/monitor
estimate ($100 for pc, $75 for monitor)
Totals(1): Less than $500, 3 days (estimate first time around)
Totals(2): Less than $450, 1 day (build 2 at a time, 2 days total)
Sell: $1,500?