MAME/Console Bartop Cabinet with 17" horizontal monitor

07-11-2007
Decided to build another bartop cabinet, this time with a horizontal monitor and loaded with all the old school console emulators (and MAME, of course). I wanted a system with a frontend that had a nice layout for each of the different emulators. MameWah looked like the ideal choice. Since MameWah had a Linux port (Wah!Cade), I decided to make things more interesting (challenging) and go Micro$oft free by installing Ubuntu as the OS, using xmame and xmess for the emulation and use Wah!Cade as the frontend. It actually was not that difficult to setup, the biggest problem was getting the Nvidia card to work properly.

It can run MAME, Atari 2600 (a2600), Nintendo (nes), SuperNintendo (snes), Nintendo 64 (n64), Nintendo Gameboy Color (gbcolor), Sega Master System (sms), Sega Genesis (gen_usa), Colecovision (coleco) and with a little more work, hopefully Commodore 64 (c64), Odyssey2 (odyssey2) and Intellivision (intv).

I am still working on hiding the OS as it boots up and also on getting the OS to exit gracefully when powered down. I'll add that as I get it figured out.

UPDATE: I added a trackball to the system. I built a small box and used the same vinyl for the overlay. See pictures below.

Specs:
17" horizontal monitor
Dell Optiplex GX110
1 GHz PIII
256 MB RAM
20Gb and 120 Gb HD
16 Mb Nvidia Video card
Soundblaster Live SB16 Sound card

Plans:
I got the idea from Arcade Cab, I downloaded the plans from there and mostly followed them. The actual cabinet dimensions I got from Menace's Cabinet. To fit the 17" monitor I added 2-3" where appropriate (see picture of the plans below).

Vinyl Overlay:
Purchased cheap ($4-5.00/yd) vinyl overlay in black and tan, 5 yds tan, 2 yds black and one can of 3M Spray adhesive.

For the top back and control panel overlay:

I cut the viny to rough size, allowing 1" extra on each side
Using spray adhesive, sprayed liberally on the board and on the backside of the vinyl.
Fastened the vinyl to the backside of the board and "stretched" it over the remaining board, fastening on the underside of the board with staples
Allow to dry overnight, trim the edges with a knife

For the main cabinet:

I stapled the vinyl to the inside of the back of the cabinet and then applied it to one side at a time, stretching the vinyl as I went around the cabinet.
I attached the left hand side, then sprayed the adhesive on the front board and vinyl, attached the front vinyl, sprayed adhesive to the remaining side and vinyl and stretched it to the end, fastening with staples at the back of the cabinet.
Trimmed the bottom flush to the board with a utility knife.
For the other edges of the cabinet, I cut the vinyl in the middle of the T-molding slot. This way the T-molding will hold the vinyl in place at the edges. Where the control panel will be, I stapled the vinyl to the edge.

Software:
Ubuntu 6.10
Wah!Cade 0.19

A full description of the software install can be found here.

A keymap of the keys used by different emulators and for WahCade can be found here. The KeyWiz/Wahcade keymap I used is here, along with a list of each buttons function.

Supplies:
A list of supplies can be found here (with prices).

Credits:
Used the instructions here to put in a relay so the computer would turn on the monitor and speakers.

The Project Arcade book was very helpful.

Notes:

I used kreg fasteners to assemble the cabinet. Very, very nice way of putting it together. There are no screw holes to fill and the cabinet is very sturdy. The Kreg kit was a bit expensive ($150) but well worth it. I can use it for other things as well (I am a handyman/contractor on the weekends).
Kept monitor in case (no death by electrocution for me)
Added extra length to accomodate the PCI riser card motherboard (it was still very cramped). I should have opened the case on the computer before purchasing. Having the riser card made everything a bit more difficult to fit in. Really look into the computer you are going to use before building the cabinet, I have had trouble on all three cabinets with getting the computer installed.
I put the on/off button in the back. On the other two cabinets I built, it was in the front and would get hit alot while other people were playing it.
I disabled the "Esc" button in the frontend so that it would not be possible to exit Wah!Cade while playing games.

Pictures:

DSC01379.JPG cut parts, kreg holes are clearly visible	DSC01380.JPG plans based on Menace's cab	DSC01381.JPG cp, front and brace
DSC01382.JPG assembled	DSC01383.JPG assembled	DSC01484.JPG vinyl overlay using spray adhesive
DSC01485.JPG vinyl overlay using spray adhesive	DSC01486.JPG fans: one thermal controlled, black vinyl overlay	DSC01487.JPG vinyl overlay with buttons installed --red in back: on/off --black on side: Esc --blue on front: sound control --green on front: light tube pattern
DSC01912.JPG front complete	DSC01913.JPG side complete	DSC01920.JPG control panel closeup
DSC01923.JPG tight fit again	DSC01924.JPG motherboard	DSC01925.JPG uff-da
DSC01926.JPG thermal control fan and always on fan	DSC01927.JPG side view showing on/off button waaay in the back
Trackball0.JPG Trackball added.	Trackball1.JPG Trackball added.