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February
20, 2004
Today I installed two 12V fans into the
cabinet as well as the marquee light. Did this after work... |
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I wanted to make sure the heat in the cabinet was
being properly disbursed . In this sequence, I am adding 12V Fans to the
cabinet. These fans are used to cool off the CAB using a 9V power supply I
picked up for cheap at Radio Shack. I will hook all devices to the 9V
adapter that cannot exceed 800 mA,!
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| Fan installed over cut hole... |
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Close-up of the fan installed... |
| Installed a simple fan grill over the two fans.
I might paint them black later on... |
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A back-shot picture of the cooling system. Both
fans are powered off a 9V power supply providing 850mA of Power. I will be
able to hook up three additional lights to this power supply for the
Trackball and Coin Door lights. |
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Picture with the Marquee light installed.
Plugged into a Power Bar. Also include a 1/4" piece of acrylic for the
monitor bezel and 2 x 1/8 " acrylic for the sandwich for the marquee (pieces
in blue). What a difference a little light makes!! |
| A picture with the coin door panel open.....
I added a Sony Amplifier to the mix as an experiment to power the
speakers. I will use the receiver to power the Speakers as well as my
Juke Box (It can even be tuned to local Rock Station "The Bear" and "Chez
106". .I'll try this out for now and see how it goes. |
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February
24, 2004
I made a big push today to finish some of the the major
components of the MAME cabinet. In this episode, I fill all exposed screw
holes on cabinet with wood filler, I finish and install the monitor bezel; I
build and install the monitor base (to raise to center of screen); I cut the
T-Molding slot (the biggest dust maker in the project!!!); Cut and install
acrylic top for mobile control panel; Re-Install and Re-Wire Joysticks and
Horizontal push buttons. I have the following tasks to complete
the cabinet...Design/Install Marquee;
Prime Cabinet and coat with three thin coats of black Melamine; Install T-Molding; Install/Hook
up 12V Cabinet Wiring to the Coin Door lights, thermostat and fans; Install Marquee
framework
Eventually, when I build the final control panel, this will include the
light for the trackball as well... |
| Install
Monitor Bezel
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| I used 1x2 strapping to form the lip for the
monitor bezel. I glued and screwed all pieces into place... |
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| Here is a customized Monitor Bezel Holder. I
took a 26" wide piece of MDF and strapping and married the two to create a
1/4" ledge as seen in this picture. I used the table saw to cut back the 1x2
strapping to the 1/4" ledge you see here after I screwed (and then glued)
the 1x2 piece to the MDF)... The acrylic sheet sits on top of this ledge. |
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Here is a picture from reverse of the customized monitor Bezel in action! |
| Install
Monitor Base
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Cutting Monitor Base Pieces... decided the use a lap join here instead |
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Monitor Base Installed
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| Cut
T-Molding Slots
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| This for me was my favorite challenge of this
project so far...figuring out the best way to cut a T-Molding slot.
Once I decided on investing
in the 1/16" Freud Slot Cutting But from Home Depot (you
will most likely need to special order the 1/16" slot cutter if you go this
route), everything went
exactly as planned...
Here is a picture of the 1/16" bit slot cutter and arbor. If
you do not have the arbor (i.e., the shaft with the screws and washers), it will cost you an additional $6.50. Here it
is as I used it on the cabinet.
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Here is a picture of the slot cutting bit installed int the router. I needed
to raise the bit up a little to get me centered in the 5/8" MDF edge...
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I tested the router setting of the bit on a SCRAP piece of MDF to get the
hang of it and to set the depth correctly. After a few passes and
adjustments, I had the level set just right!
Take time making sure the bit is lined up exactly in the middle of a
scrap piece of MDF. You only get one shot at this step.
In the picture, I am just showing you how the router sits on the side of
the MDF with the slot curt in the
middle of the MDF and how the spine of the T-Molding sits inside the 1/16" MDF slot...
Note: Picture for illustrative purposes only!
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Another view of the T-Molding slot. Note that I turned the MAME cabinet on
its side to do this step. |
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Another T-Molding slot-cutting shot...
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WARNING: T-Molding Slot Cutting generates A LOT OF DUST!!! All that dust was
from just from one side!!!!", Make sure you have a face mask while
you are following this procedure...I was.
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| Progress
so far... |
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It was a long day but well worth it.
Here is the latest picture of the cbinet. Everything is pretty much ready for
priming and painting, Cab just needs a damp cloth before the prime coat.
CP is completely wired up now and working quite well... |
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