ProtoMAME #5
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After a run of mini-upright cabinets, I decided to once
again try out a cocktail (or sit-down) style cabinet.
Based on the flat-panel iMac, this machine too is LCD-based. For space concerns, that is fortunate. I think, like Apple, I'm done with large, heavy CRT's. As with previous machines, this one too began life as a cardboard prototype. As you can see, no attempt was made this time to keep the top surface of the cabinet flat (so, no, in fact I will not be placing cocktails on it). The final machine would be taller than it is here. |
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It is a joy to see the final cabinet begin to take shape, so clean and sturdy, after staring
at the sloppy cardboard prototype for so long. Here of course the main "box" has begun to
take shape. The holes for forward mounted speakers (and tweeters as well) are cut. Four
holes for the usual "UI buttons" are drilled out.
In the back, you can see the cardboard prototype still sitting around. |
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Legs have been attached, the bezel is constructed. The bottom of the cabinet and control panel
are the last bits of woodwork that are still absent.
I have, again, opted for a control panel that is 18 inches across and 7 inches deep. The first time I did this was for Mac MAME machine number 2. I have since used the same size for machine 3 (and now number 5 bringing the total to three). At first I chose this size because it seemed like a good size (for, say, two joysticks). My intent later was to standardize on the size so that I might make the control panels interchangeable. I might therefore have a layout (control panel) with a track ball, or one that is specifically laid out for Stargate. That in fact is still the plan (although for various reasons, the control panels are in fact not interchangeable between the various cabinets). |
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With the woodwork all done, time for a final fitting. Conveniently, a keyboard just neatly rests where the control panel is to go. In a rather crude manner, I can in fact play MAME at this point. With everything looking good, it is time to strip it back down to the wood and begin the tedious process of sanding and painting. The speakers, again, came out of a dumpster. The "woofers" were nice and beefy with large magnets. This pair came too with tweeters (in the photo they are dangling in front, not mounted yet). In this case though (as opposed to earlier MAME cabinets) the speakers are not Apple-branded but some sort of third-party powered computer speakers. The iMac has onboard electronics capable of driving a pair of speakers. For this reason, no additional amplifier was needed. That was a nice little plus. |
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Well, I always seem to rush these web pages up before I have all the fit and finish on the
machines and this is probably no exception. It looks more or less to be done, but I am not
happy with the glass (Lexan) cover over the display and may rework that. As well, the fan
gaurds are getting a little bit tired as a design element (looking particularly conspicuous
when the speakers are as large as these ones are here).
And how do I like the cabinet? It sounds decent (although when running iTunes on it there is a range of frequencies to which the cabinet resonates making some music sound "mushy" in spots). I had it playing Christmas music this year and it was more than adequate for that. I've also been playing a lot of Robotron on it. I can't say I'm very good at Robotron (I've only broken 200,000 twice) but you do need to hit 100,000 to even get on my high score board. It is a very good Robotron machine. Project Home |
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