Blake's Mame Cabinet

There's not much new to report today - since almost all of the construction is finished on the cabinet, save for aesthetic appeal, it's hard to say what else I can do for a while. I'm still recovering from yesterday's horrific attacks and if you want to help, please donate either blood or money.

Although there wasn't any construction today on the cabinet, I did place an order with Happ Controls (now that their website is working once again after pages got reshuffled). I ordered quite a few extra buttons just to insure that I'll have what I need for the layout I want and I'll also have replacement buttons. Also, due to monetary constraints, I haven't ordered the trackball, but when I do order it, if I'm in need of some more buttons, I can order them then (due to the $25 minimum order requirement).

Below is the e-mail receipt I received from Happ. Also, I've added picture on the side of the parts I ordered - the top picture is the Horizontal Microswitch Pushbutton (LONG HORZ PB in receipt). The 2nd picture is of the 1-4 player buttons that are used (I'm only using players 1 and 2 (HORZ PB 1 & 2). The third and final is the Happ Super Joystick which I chose because of advice found on Build Your Own Arcade Control's joystick page.

Once the order arrives, I'll be able to put together a rudimentary control panel (I'll have to acquire some sort of material to use). I'll have the joysticks and all the buttons, so I'll be able to start on the wiring and using a mouse until the trackball arrives, everything should be testable.

Order Lines:


  Line #  Item #        
Description                     

Qty        Price        
Extended


  1      
58-9111-L1PLY  HORZ PB WT WITH MS & NUT 1       

1         $1.75           
$1.75


                        
PLAYER  W/LONG WHITE BEZEL   



  2      
58-9111-L2PLY  HORZ PB WT W/MS & NUT 2 PLYR     
1         $1.75           

$1.75


                                                      


  3      

58-9111-L      LONG HORZ PB WHITE W/.187 MS
&    4        
$0.95           
$3.80



                        
NUT                          


  4      
58-9122-L      LONG HORZ PB BLUE W/.187 MS
&     4        

$1.65           
$6.60


                        
NUT



  5      
58-9133-L      LONG HORZ PB GREEN W/.187 MS
&    2        
$1.65           
$3.30



                        
NUT


  6      

58-9155-L      LONG HORZ PB YELLOW W/.187
MS     2        
$1.65           
$3.30



                        
& NUT                        


  7      
58-9166-L      LONG HORZ PB BLACK W/.187 MS
&    5        

$1.65           
$8.25


                        
NUT



  8      
58-9177-L      LONG HORZ PB ORANGE W/.187
MS     2        
$1.65           
$3.30



                        
& NUT                        


  9      

58-9100-L      LONG HORZ PB RED W/.187 MS
&      4        
$0.95           
$3.80



                        
NUT


 10      
50-6084-00     SUPER JOYSTICK,4&8 WAY
BRACKET    2       

$13.20          
$26.40


                        
,HUB,SUB ASSY BLACK SHAFT    



 11      
58-9144-L      LONG HORZ PB PURPLE W/.187
MS     2        
$1.65           
$3.30



                        
& NUT                        


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Order Total:                                                                        
$65.55

Also, I might be able to acquire a 25" TV for the project at no cost which will be greatly appreciated. The only thing I need the TV to be able to do is accept S-Video input. After I have the control panel and TV in place, I'll just have to work on the computer and get it up and running.

8:30am - I was rudely awakened by some road work happening just a few houses down and across the street, but since I was up, I decided to make the most of the day. I headed off to Home Depot where I wanted to pick up some slides for a drawer and some sort of latch. I ended up buying 2 sets of 12" European Drawer Slides at a cost of $4.98 each. For some reason I thought that each set would have slides for just one side rather than both (yes, a stupid mistake). I'll probably be taking one set back later tonight. I also picked up a magnet catch for $0.96 that mounted nicely and would hold the drawer close. I'll probably pick up another magnet when I return the drawer slides. Total cost: $11.74

9:00am - I came back and started to work on the keyboard drawer. I took the front coin door/panel and took about 2 1/2" out of it from which the front of the keyboard drawer would be made. It took a lot of trial and error and ultimately was probably harder to put in than it was worth, but I do now have a drawer in my cabinet directly underneath the control panel. As stated above, the drawer is held closed by one magnet, but I plan on adding another on the other side later today (see picture for magnet close-up). Here are a couple pictures of the drawer.

After installing the drawer to my satisfaction, I attached the base to one side of the cabinet along with one panel. I then stood it up and attached the other side of the cabinet to the base and the panel. I then took a little stepladder and added the top panel to strengthen the cabinet sides as I added all the other panels.

The cabinet is now almost fully completed and is quite sturdy and stable. The only thing that hasn't been put in is the monitor shelf (although I did add the two 2x2's that will hold the monitor shelf. I also reinforced these 2x2's with the L brackets that I bought on the 29th. See pictures below:

Obviously the control panel is not in place, nor is the control panel box as they will not be installed until all the controls are wired. Speaking of which, today my KE-72 arrived along with the IOX-36 and some cables that were ordered from Hagstrom Electronics. The box was quite heavily battered, which was not Hagstrom's fault, but rather UPS (although a FRAGILE sticker might have helped).

And finally, here are some pictures of the cabinet with all the panels in place and the drawer fully functional. Payday is Wednesday and controls should be ordered from Happ Controls then. Once those arrive, I can get them working with the KE-72 and my computer and then the final step will be to get the computer and TV for the cabinet. Of course the cabinet needs quite a few finishing touches still.

3:00pm - I just added the two pictures to the right - I made up a crude holder for the Speaker Panel (above the monitor panel). I also added two cross-supports for the monitor panel to prevent any possible sagging that could occur from the 25" TV that will be added later. In the pictures you can see the completed cabinet with the monitor shelf added along with the speaker panel as well as the control panel box and panel in place (although they are removable). Also, the two pictures show the drawer in use - it doesn't come out too far, but it's far enough to access the keyboard that will be placed there. I just have to find an acceptable knob or handle to pull the drawer out.