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    Custom Atari 2600 RetroPie with Laser Cut Panels

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Projects and Themes
    atari 2600consolecustomlaser cut
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    • space cadetS
      space cadet
      last edited by

      Cool beans man!

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
      • BuZzB
        BuZz administrators
        last edited by

        Lovely! :)

        ps. I moved your post.

        To help us help you - please make sure you read the sticky topics before posting - https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/3/read-this-first

        CapemanC 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • CapemanC
          Capeman @BuZz
          last edited by

          @BuZz Thanks very much!

          Vector Artist, Designer and Maker of Stuff: Laser Cut Atari / Pixel Theme Bartop

          CapemanC 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • CapemanC
            Capeman @Capeman
            last edited by Capeman

            This is my first attempt at a console build, i put alot of research into every part and how to best do everything.

            I am working on version 2 now, differences include:

            1. Starting with an atari 6 switcher case instead of a 4 switcher, so i dont have all those holes across the top back (i had to cover them with a solid sheet of black acrylic from the inside, they arent too unsightly, just weird and useless), also no plastic words across the top (hardware button lables)... this will make it cleaner to start.

            2. Moving save and load state buttons to the front and using all yellow buttons instead of red and white, pause and reset will remain black. Putting the disc changer buttons on the back since only about 10 games out of a few thousand actually use them, ff7 and metal gear on psx, etc.

            3. using thinner acrylic, i used slightly thicker on my first build and it makes the light up logo hard to view at angles.

            4. Using a round black toggle switch instead of a silver switch, for a more consistent look.

            5. back panel will use buttons on the ends with holes drilled tight so their screws can hold on the panel so i wont need to use screws... but if i have to, ill use black screws instead.

            6. im going to use rainbow ribbon cable to wire the buttons on the next build instead mass amounts of white cable, this will make the inside easier to look at

            7. going to mount the Raspberry pi sideways so i can access the memory card without removing it... oops on that one.

            8. Not sure if im keeping pacman and the pi logo or not, i may switch that out.

            I'll post more when i start that project, but right now im just sourcing parts and waiting til the pi 4 comes out to start, haha.

            Vector Artist, Designer and Maker of Stuff: Laser Cut Atari / Pixel Theme Bartop

            spruce_m00seS 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • obsidianspiderO
              obsidianspider
              last edited by

              This is fantastic. I LOVE the Pacman Pi light up part.

              📷 @obsidianspider

              CapemanC 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • CapemanC
                Capeman @obsidianspider
                last edited by

                @obsidianspider haha, maybe I'll keep it on my next version

                Vector Artist, Designer and Maker of Stuff: Laser Cut Atari / Pixel Theme Bartop

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • space cadetS
                  space cadet
                  last edited by

                  I agree. Incorporating the pi logo with pacman is a great tribute!

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • CapemanC
                    Capeman
                    last edited by Capeman

                    Update:

                    So I'll probably be assembling my next Pi Atari soon (pending life)... But i thought i would share what my panel would look like on my next version. Moved around some buttons, i never used the psx disc switching so im going to move that to the back, also put save and load on the front since i actually use those alot more often than i thought i would. Using yellow / red and black buttons to make it kind of look like those little nes-mini style atari's they've been selling for a while. I think this will look neat!

                    Im still up in the air about including a coin button, but i didnt have any other functions to fill the space, i might just take it off. I moved the power switch to the back, but i might put it back on the front if i can find a switch style i like (sourcing electronic components can get quite difficult when you want them to look good).

                    (bottom is what it will look like in color / top is laser cut template - blue lines cut / black areas etch).
                    0_1486675798051_piTari.png

                    Vector Artist, Designer and Maker of Stuff: Laser Cut Atari / Pixel Theme Bartop

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • CapemanC
                      Capeman
                      last edited by

                      The great thing about prepping for laser cutting is that prototyping is as simple as using a laser printer and an exacto knife, haha. I'm working my my Atari version 2, but i still cant find a power button switch that i'm in love with.

                      0_1490128916963_FullSizeRender.jpg

                      Vector Artist, Designer and Maker of Stuff: Laser Cut Atari / Pixel Theme Bartop

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • chubstaC
                        chubsta
                        last edited by

                        Looks fantastic - the VCS was always my favourite console and i still find myself playing more demon Attack and H.E.R.O than any other games on my Pi. I only have a bog-standard pi in a case but love the idea of a set up like yours, great to see such ingenuity and imagination in this community! By the way, if you ever feel like making another to sell....

                        Raspberry Pi 400 - overclocked to 2.3GHz
                        Theme - Comic book
                        Emulators: All of them...
                        Roms: Pretty much all of them...
                        Favourite games: Circus Charlie, Gorf, Gauntlet Legends
                        Controllers: Mayflash F101

                        mediamogulM CapemanC 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 1
                        • mediamogulM
                          mediamogul Global Moderator @chubsta
                          last edited by

                          @chubsta

                          i still find myself playing more demon Attack and H.E.R.O than any other games on my Pi.

                          Those are the same two games I always go to when nothing else will do. I could play either for hours.

                          RetroPie v4.5 • RPi3 Model B • 5.1V 2.5A PSU • 16GB SanDisk microSD • 512GB External Drive

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                          • CapemanC
                            Capeman @chubsta
                            last edited by

                            @chubsta said in Custom Atari 2600 RetroPie with Laser Cut Panels:

                            By the way, if you ever feel like making another to sell....

                            Making these things is a pretty heavy effort, but i was thinking about making a very detailed how-to video with my next build and offer precut/painted laser cut pieces on etsy for anyone who likes to get their hands dirty. If i make it to that point, i'll post it to the forums, haha.

                            Vector Artist, Designer and Maker of Stuff: Laser Cut Atari / Pixel Theme Bartop

                            CapemanC chubstaC 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 2
                            • CapemanC
                              Capeman @Capeman
                              last edited by

                              @chubsta @mediamogul As for Atari Games, me and my buddies like to get beer and challenge each other in Freeway. Its simple, but on game 6-8 with difficulty A, it can get competitive as hell!

                              Vector Artist, Designer and Maker of Stuff: Laser Cut Atari / Pixel Theme Bartop

                              mediamogulM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                              • mediamogulM
                                mediamogul Global Moderator @Capeman
                                last edited by mediamogul

                                @Capeman

                                'Freeway' is a top notch David Crane title. All too often it's unfairly relegated to being a simple 'Frogger' clone, but it has a whole other level of manic energy to it that can be even more infectious. I also love that it riffs off the timeless chicken crossing the road scenario. Definitely a classic in my book.

                                RetroPie v4.5 • RPi3 Model B • 5.1V 2.5A PSU • 16GB SanDisk microSD • 512GB External Drive

                                CapemanC 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                • CapemanC
                                  Capeman @mediamogul
                                  last edited by

                                  @mediamogul I could not have said it better! It's an underrated gem.

                                  Vector Artist, Designer and Maker of Stuff: Laser Cut Atari / Pixel Theme Bartop

                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • chubstaC
                                    chubsta @Capeman
                                    last edited by

                                    @Capeman said in Custom Atari 2600 RetroPie with Laser Cut Panels:

                                    @chubsta said in Custom Atari 2600 RetroPie with Laser Cut Panels:

                                    By the way, if you ever feel like making another to sell....

                                    Making these things is a pretty heavy effort, but i was thinking about making a very detailed how-to video with my next build and offer precut/painted laser cut pieces on etsy for anyone who likes to get their hands dirty. If i make it to that point, i'll post it to the forums, haha.

                                    That would be great, even if it may be beyond my skills i would love to see the process, so many creative people out there!

                                    Raspberry Pi 400 - overclocked to 2.3GHz
                                    Theme - Comic book
                                    Emulators: All of them...
                                    Roms: Pretty much all of them...
                                    Favourite games: Circus Charlie, Gorf, Gauntlet Legends
                                    Controllers: Mayflash F101

                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • spruce_m00seS
                                      spruce_m00se @Capeman
                                      last edited by

                                      @Capeman how do you set up buttons to switch tapes? I have some 6 tape long c64 games and I cant work out how to switch......

                                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • CapemanC
                                        Capeman
                                        last edited by

                                        @spruce_m00se said in Custom Atari 2600 RetroPie with Laser Cut Panels:

                                        o switch....

                                        I'm not sure if tapes in c-64 work the same as multi disk games on CD based systems, but i set it up using these functions in the retroarch.cfg...

                                        input_disk_eject_toggle =
                                        input_disk_next =
                                        input_disk_prev =

                                        On cd based games, you hit the eject button to open the virtual tray first, then the next or prev button to switch disk, then the eject button again to close the virtual tray.

                                        You would need to have your game setup as a .m3u playlist (or your file as a .pbp for playstation) so retroarch will know that it is a multidisk game. This may work for c-64 multi tape games, assuming that c-64 is a libretro based emulator.

                                        Here is an explanation of .m3u setup
                                        https://github.com/libretro/RetroArch/issues/1182

                                        Of course, i really don't have any experience with c-64, so take all of this as speculation.

                                        Vector Artist, Designer and Maker of Stuff: Laser Cut Atari / Pixel Theme Bartop

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