MameGamers - Mame Arcade Cabinet Making & More

Sorry it has been some time since I have updated this site, however it’s never too late to pick up from where we left off.

If you have just joined up I suggest you read the first part of this in depth tutorial on building your own arcade machine. You can read the first part here: Arcade Control Panel

Planning (cont…)

Last article we spoke about planning your arcade machine project ensuring you have all your parts, plans and everything is ready to go. The next thing you will need to think about is your arcade machines design. You can stick to a tradition Galaga replica or design a hybrid machine encorporating the best parts of your favourite machines. In our tutorial I have gone for a hybrid design based on free hand sketching and general arcade knowledge on measurements and scales.

Firstly we need to map out all the required pieces of MDF and other materials we will need for general construction. This is best done the old fashioned way with a pencil and some paper. I won’t give you the full measurements of the arcade we built because we winged it during construction, however the basis of our design was the 1980 arcade classic, Centipede.

Plans: http://jakobud.com/plan.php?id=5

After we had the measurements we needed to move onto figuring out how much MDF we needed. Just add up section which will then give you the final wood required. Contact your local provider to see what sheet sizes they can provide for you and simply map out the sections of the cabinet to ensure there is enough to play with. Think smart too, you don’t want to end up with half a sheet which cannot be used for anything.

Measuring & Cutting

After you have purchased your MDF simply map out the required section, you only have to do one side of the arcade, we will simply use the first one as a template for the second one.

As you can see on the right there was some slight modifications to the original centipede design instead working towards some round features on the cabinet. Under the control panel and on the top and bottom of the monitor. This rockets the arcade into the future, but still retaining the key features of the arcade.

If you choose to have a rounded look on your arcade machine you will need to router the sections to ensure you get a perfect semi circle. You can do this using a jig or if you don’t have one you can make one, this video will help you: http://www.ehow.com/video_4426187_make-circle-router.html

After you part has been completely cut out, you should end up with one side of your arcade. Stand it up and see how it is! Once you have had a little play, jumped around a bit and your excitement has worn down a bit, you can now move on to cutting out the other side. This is done by simply using the first side as a template.

You’ll need a very worthwhile router bit called a Down-Shear multi trimmer router bit, you can see it here: http://www.toolstoday.com/p-5888-down-shear-multi-trimmer-router-bit.aspx. You can do this without that bit, however I highly recommend using it as it will minimise imperfections by making the two side exactly the same.

Conclusion

Simply cut out of the remaining pieces of the arcade using a saw and have them ready for assembly. I normally work and cut as we go to ensure we get perfect measurements and no wasted materials.

Next part we will look over joining the arcade together using some cleaver joining methods, this will ensure your arcade is looking very professional and can handle being moved.

Thanks for reading and feel free to leave your comments below.