[BUILD] PiMame Arcade Cabinet

Martin3232

Here are some photos of a cabinet I've been putting together:

I've put it all together on a budget, which started with a cheap 7" monitor plugged in via composite which gives a great retro look and feel to the games. Here is a list of the items I've used:

7" low res lcd screen (12volts)
Arcade Joystick and button from Arcade World UK
USB controller interface and wiring loom from ultracabs on eBay
12volt to 5volt DC/DC convertor
12volt regulated power supply
Sound Amplifier
Cabinet built from MDF, sprayed black and decorated with stickers
Raspberry Pi

I hope to produce a schematic of how it all fits together along with some instructions on how to make the cabinet.

Any Questions Welcome.

mattyslim

That is a beauty! I have been thinking about a build for myself.
Roughly total how many hours and much money did it cost you?
I don't think I can get it that amazing but I think it may be worth my
time and loot to try.

SSilver2k2

That is pure awesome. Amazing job!

Martin3232

Thanks for you kind comments, the overall cost was around £130 which excludes the amp, wiring, power supply, pi, SD card and time. I must admit I've spent a hell of a lot of time, I guess around 40 hours but its been a bit of a hobby and labour of love. I'm still tinkering so I'm sure it will be an on going project.

johnnygal

nice!

johnnygal

Hi Martin3232,

I am planning to create a small arcade table/cocktail cabinet based on pimame. Can I ask how you handle powering off the pi? I was thinking of wiring a contact to a GPIO pin and running a shutdown script when pressed.

Martin3232

I just unplug it when finished, put your idea sounds a really good idea.

I also spotted this some time ago Micro usb on/off power switch.

johnnygal

Is there not a risk that file corruption will occur if just removing the power?

That device looks nifty, will take a closer look. As my arcade machine will be in use by teenagers (and younger!), I want to see if I can put something in place to avoid them just pulling the plug when they've finished.

Martin3232

I guess there must be a risk, but I've never had any corruption (not as I know), I do keep a image backup of the SD card, just in case things go wrong. I do occasionaly issue the shutdown command but very rearly.

johnnygal

Maybe that's the easiest solution - just keep an image to reload. You'll lose highscores if you have to reload but it is a quick procedure to re-image the card.

FortyRock

I've been brainstorming solutions for this too.

if th Pi has a wireless network, you can map the folder(s) to samba share or sync up somewhere using rsync or FTP. That way you wouldn't lose anything.

Another solution could be to mount the fs as read-only. You'd need to move something's around and put some files on another drive (eg USB stick).

For power, I was originally using a PS Vita portable charger as the power source for the pi. What could work is something similar between the pi and mains-a sort of UPS if you will. That would help against forced shutdowns at least.

But the risk is only when the card is being written to, so risk could be minimal.

FortyRock

Love the cab, BTW. Mine is only partially assembled and needs more work with the surface treatment and trim (hope to have it done in a few weeks).

bh1644

would love to see a link to higher res and more photos... and what is the 3rd pic, doesn't seem to be the same cabinet?

Martin3232

FortyRock, saw your cab in progress over on raspberrypi.org, its looks great. Setting a samba drive may be a good solution but as you say only the files that are been written are at risk of corruption e.g high scores and .rc files if config has been modified so may be its not worth worrying about, I hear the pi is very resilient against file corruption.

Bh1644, I'll try and add some hires links this evening, the last photo is the same cabinet before I added the finished decals. The screen rotates so games can be played in their original orientation, horizontal and vertical.

johnnygal

Here's a good post on adding a shutdown button...
http://www.3cc.org/blog/2013/01/raspberry-pi-shutdown-switch-safely-turning-off-the-pi/

Martin3232

More Photos (click for larger image)

Coin insert buttons photo WP_002253_zps4150fe27.jpg

Martin3232

A collection of photos when I was constructing the cabinet (including the prototype made from cardboard)

Bux

Very nice, I just finished putting my control panel together today.

Bux

If anyone is interested here is the design

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1968664/BUX CONTROL PANEL DRAWING.dwg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1968664/BUX CONTROL PANEL DRAWING.pdf

SSilver2k2

These rock!

thak

Hi!

i will be really interested in a step by step or a "how to" for your work with the power supply.
Because with just the picture i can't manage to see how everything is plug.

Thanks in advance!

Captain_Wag

So Rad! I love 'em! I'm dying to get mine constructed. Hope to have my control panel cut out this weekend...

Captain_Wag

Oh, and Bux! That's the cleanest, tightest wiring set up I've ever seen!

SSilver2k2

I agree with Wag, that wiring is perfect. What type/gauge of wire are you using?

Bux

Thanks, glad you like it. I just used the wiring out of a serial cable, I think it is 22 or 24 gauge. I do Industrial Controls design so I have to deal with a lot of custom wiring all the time. The control panel is setup on my desk at work, we have been playing MAME at lunch and breaks, I just have to finish the cabinet.

Martin3232

Very neat Bux, I'm now ashamed of my spaghetti wiring.

nicktones

Added post to the new 'Custom Builds' section.

ramasnami

Hi Martin3232,

I'm building my cabinet now and I have same screen as yours, but cannot get decent picture quality out of it. What settings did you use? Did you change config.txt?

Thanks in advance!

thak

Bux, did you connect your ipac directly to the pi or throught a powered USB port?
Thx in advance

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