Custom Arcade Cabinet Build

jwshuler

I am finally in the process of building my own arcade cabinet using my RetroPie to power the whole thing. I have decided to document the process from gutting an old cabinet & fixing it up, then installing all the components. I thought I would keep updating this thread as I complete certain stages, but most importantly reach out for insight and help when needed.

Check out the details and pictures of the build HERE. I figured I would document everything in a blog. I will post again when I start to disassemble.

Here's the cabinet: alt text
Thanks for the interest and hope you follow to see the progress.

herb_fargus

that cab has seen better days. looking forward to seeing the finished build

HurricaneFan

Love seeing the flyer for this cabinet.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/400411965523?item=400411965523&rmvSB=true

jwshuler

@hurricanefan Thank you so much for finding this!

jwshuler

Update Part 2: Disassemble

I started to take apart the machine and all the stuff out of it- very cool! Check out the progress and the photos here.

The one thing I could use some help with is the counter I found in the unit. I would assume that it counted each coin deposited. So I want to try to figure out how I can re-use it. Do you think there is a way to wire this counter to the power switch so that when it is turned on, it is counted once? Does anyone have any suggestions? Here is the counter: alt text

Thanks all!

Clyde

@jwshuler Being in the last stages of my own custom upright cabinet DIY kit, I wish you success with your project. o/

jwshuler

@clyde Thanks! Have a link or photos for yours?

Clyde

@jwshuler Not yet, but I plan to make a thread about it when it's finished.

MattyL42

@clyde hi mate...was there any wiring to the counter and where did it go? Did it go to the old mpu board?

There are types of meter that require only a small pulse (electro magnet in the coin mech) not powered on as such. You could possibly get one of these working but it would only count the number of coins not the value... if your mech only takes one value of coin this will be accurate.

To get booking keeping and metering exactly with a pi...you would need a coin mech that's capable of passing software information directly to a meter. So its saying this coin is 50p and this one is £1. I'm not sure about if you can do this...especialy with an old meter.

Probably not the best help but hopefully might start you off

Clyde

@mattyl42 I think you mistook me for @jwshuler . :)

jwshuler

@mattyl42 Matt, I appreciate the response. The counter I think went to the board; I'm not exactly sure where b/c the cabinet did not come with a board. However, the counter was mounted on the coin box. I wasn't planning on using the coin machine to connect to the pi; I was planning just to use it as a bank.

Do you think there is a script I could write for the pi to just send 1 tick to the counter every-time it is turned on? It could simply count how many times I turn the power on? I also have the pi auto booting to the emulation station; I guess I could have the script run before it boots ES, right? I am a newbie when it comes to the coding. Thanks for the conversation and ideas @MattyL42 MattyL42

caver01

@jwshuler I can think of a bunch of ways to approach this via coin drop, boot, emulator launch, etc..

For example, depending on how you are planning to implement the coin drop, you could wire a switch to GPIO pins and have a script running that watches for the switch to get tripped. You might need to dig into Python for instance, but I would think it could be fairly straightforward to read the existing count from a file, increment it, save it, every time the coin is triggered.

You could use the same script logic to simply run at boot. Or run it each time an emulator is launched using runcommand-onstart.

Another idea would be to take a date/time stamp and append this to a text file (a log). You could include the date/time, the emulator, the game title, etc. Come to think of it, maybe that log already exists? This would let you count the triggers outside of the script over the network instead of programming it to do math, and you could do that even while the system is running.

You could even use TOUCH to create new, empty files in some directory every time and just add these up and clear them out occasionally like collecting coins.

I think you have a bunch of options and if you were so inclined, it could lead to a usage dashboard.

MattyL42

Hi Buddy- I'm a noob with writing script but you have some great options supplied by Caver so plenty to try.
I might try this out myself to. Im just going away for a week but I will have a look when I get back.

I restore a few retro fruit machines and there's a type called an SEC meter available (lcd and convetional style) which I will look at that works on low voltages ( no power in as such). I will try one of these i have in line with my button switch/keyboard incoder. I'm not sure on the low voltages but there maybe a way to wire this to your 'coin in button' it may even just pick up wrapped around the wire and to ground. I will try this as it won't take me long and i have a few but will it will be about a week mate...coin counter is a cool feature to retain.

caver01

Something to keep in mind with the coin counter is the fact that if you are planning to load anything other than arcade games, the COIN input is usually the same as <SELECT> on the console emulators. So, if you are playing NES for example, you might not want to count coin drops when all you are doing is pressing SELECT.

fletch33

i have a fully mobile setup with the pie located under the controls in an enclosed box. i wanted to update the Hyperspin setup i had in a cabinet as it was flaky at best. i decided to alter the cabinet to allow the mobile box to sit and look like its part of the arcade cabinet but i can also take it out for travel if needed.
alt text

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Clyde

Hi @fletch33, do you have a thread or other demonstration of your build? A friend of mine is toying with the idea of such a dynamic setup, and it may give him some insights beforehand.

Clyde

@jwshuler said in Custom Arcade Cabinet Build:

@clyde Thanks! Have a link or photos for yours?

I do now. :)

https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/17268/my-asteroids-themed-diy-upright-cabinet

retroprogrammer

how did you setup the coin button and all the extra buttons?

Clyde

@retroprogrammer I'll answer that over there.

jwshuler

@caver01 Great; thank you for your insight!