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    Custom Arcade Cabinet Build

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Projects and Themes
    retropiearcade cabinetarcadediybuild
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    • jwshulerJ
      jwshuler
      last edited by

      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.

      ClydeC 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • herb_fargusH
        herb_fargus administrators
        last edited by

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

        If you read the documentation it will answer 99% of your questions: https://retropie.org.uk/docs/

        Also if you want a solution to your problems read this first: https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/3/read-this-first

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • HurricaneFanH
          HurricaneFan
          last edited by

          Love seeing the flyer for this cabinet.

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

          jwshulerJ 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
          • jwshulerJ
            jwshuler @HurricaneFan
            last edited by

            @hurricanefan Thank you so much for finding this!

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • jwshulerJ
              jwshuler
              last edited by

              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!

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • ClydeC
                Clyde @jwshuler
                last edited by

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

                jwshulerJ 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                • jwshulerJ
                  jwshuler @Clyde
                  last edited by jwshuler

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

                  ClydeC 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • ClydeC
                    Clyde @jwshuler
                    last edited by

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

                    M 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • M
                      MattyL42 @Clyde
                      last edited by

                      @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

                      ClydeC jwshulerJ 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • ClydeC
                        Clyde @MattyL42
                        last edited by

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

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • jwshulerJ
                          jwshuler @MattyL42
                          last edited by

                          @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

                          caver01C 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • caver01C
                            caver01 @jwshuler
                            last edited by 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.

                            My 4-player cocktail style cabinet built as a custom "roadcase"

                            jwshulerJ 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • M
                              MattyL42
                              last edited by

                              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.

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • caver01C
                                caver01
                                last edited by

                                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.

                                My 4-player cocktail style cabinet built as a custom "roadcase"

                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • fletch33F
                                  fletch33
                                  last edited by

                                  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

                                  alt text

                                  I believe Louisiana is the pelican state

                                  ClydeC 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • ClydeC
                                    Clyde @fletch33
                                    last edited by

                                    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.

                                    fletch33F 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • ClydeC
                                      Clyde @jwshuler
                                      last edited by

                                      @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

                                      jwshulerJ 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • retroprogrammerR
                                        retroprogrammer
                                        last edited by retroprogrammer

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

                                        Here is me converting the original Xbox for a case:
                                        https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/15232/converting-original-xbox-into-case-for-raspberrypi/15
                                        Check out my GitHub: https://github.com/retro-programmer

                                        ClydeC 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • ClydeC
                                          Clyde @retroprogrammer
                                          last edited by

                                          @retroprogrammer I'll answer that over there.

                                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                          • jwshulerJ
                                            jwshuler @caver01
                                            last edited by

                                            @caver01 Great; thank you for your insight!

                                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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