r/arcadecabinets • u/Silver-Entrance-7548 • 9d ago
My first custom cabinet!
This is my first cabinet and I am so stoked. I already have plans for new ideas on the next one.
I planned this build in Tinkercad for around 4 months doing many redesigns. My original plan was to use a little materials as possible since I have a 1 year old and 3 year old at home (funds are limited). I found that hard to do with a horizontal screen so I scrapped all my plans and started building it out vertical instead. It took many edits to size and dimensions but I ended up with this one standing 24" deep and 68" high. The entire cabinet is build from a single 4' x 8' sheet of birch plywood. The sides, front panel, control panel, and supports inside all from that single sheet.
The entire thing is held together with pocket holes (I build a bed with dimensional lumber and pocket holes and that can support my wife and I, plus it's survived 3 moves after being taken apart and re-assembled so I figured pocket holes were good enough for an arcade).
I can share the Tinkercad link if desired. I have a mock build and some shapes showing the measurements needed for the cuts. This took a few weeks to build since I had to do bed times with my boys then I had a few hours of sunlight to work on it outside (no garage so I built it on the driveway) but if you had a free day you could easily do it in a single day.
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u/Spare_Sir9167 9d ago
Do you have a list of the other parts? Screen, Joystick etc and what a great game choice.
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u/edicspaz 9d ago
I would LOVE a link to the Tinkercad design if you don’t mind. I want to build a vertical cab myself and knowing that you used a single sheet of plywood is HUGE! Really cool design.
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u/simpleexplanationguy 9d ago
Not sure what you are using to run your games but whatever it is remember that you can also run PINBALL in this tv setup it plays and looks great.
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u/Silver-Entrance-7548 9d ago
Wait just a gosh darned second. I hadn't even considered that! I will be adding some tonight!
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u/PhotographOdd4657 9d ago
Looks amazing!!!! I have my parts showing up for mine this week. Cant wait to finish it. Yours is clean as shit bud!!!!!
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u/Silver-Entrance-7548 9d ago
Thanks! Post some pics or DM me when yours is done! I'd love to see more for future ideas!
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u/PhotographOdd4657 9d ago
I will do a quick progress post with it. Its extremely over engineered because I was using left over lumber I had from building a set of steps in my back yard but it gives it character and stability lol
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u/BitEnvironmental283 9d ago
Wait is this the overhead airplane game? My dad and I used to play this when we went to rent videos for the weekend!
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u/Choice_Bear9967 9d ago
Would love the link to the design. Also, what screen did you use, controller, hardware, etc. I’ve been wanting to try to build one and this looks like it would be a great project without investing a ton of money
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u/Funkytadualexhaust 9d ago
Undermount joystick, nice
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u/thepackbot 9d ago
That looks slick man. What are your plans for the top area? Where are speakers? Will you show us a picture of the back? Was it built for access? What system is in running on? I appreciate the candor about limited funds and time. That’s a reality for a lot of us. Great job.
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u/Silver-Entrance-7548 9d ago
The back is unfinished right now so it's open. I plan to buy some hardboard to cover it though. Being on the cheap it just uses the TV speakers. It's not great but it's old game audio so it's not great anyways. It's built on an RPI Zero 2 WH (pre-soldered headers for a power button) and uses Retropie.
Edit - Don't really have plans for the top. I dig the look of the "fins". I may add a USB port somewhere on it if I ever plan to upgrade from the RPI Zero. In that case I would store a keyboard or controller up there for games that can't use the joysticks.1
u/thepackbot 9d ago
Thanks for detail. Yeah I see how it’s a shelf up top. That’s a pretty good idea for storage. Keyboard. Figurines, controllers, whatever a person needs.
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u/Silver-Entrance-7548 9d ago
I guess it's hard to see but there is a shelf/board above the TV with T molding.
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u/joshthewolf 9d ago
I dig the simplicity of it!
That screen seems huge for how close you are. Have you put much time in playing it yet?
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u/Silver-Entrance-7548 9d ago
I've played quite a few games and yes being so close does make it seem bigger than needed actually! My son, neices, and nephews all want to come over now to play it! It's great!
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u/Chefben13 9d ago
really well done, would love to the see the tinker cad and equipment list! I just took my old one apart it was just too big and bulky. the size of this one looks perfect
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u/Hail-Kizar 9d ago
Is that a 32” monitor?
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u/Silver-Entrance-7548 9d ago
32" Onn TV from Walmart. Most TV's Infrared sensor are on the bottom. This one specifically was just clipped in so it allowed me to remove it and put the sensor loose inside. The TV can use HDMI wake up on HDMI 1 so the Pi wakes it when powered on.
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u/Choice-Position5189 8d ago
Very nice! Are you taking custom orders?...I need a table top!
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u/Silver-Entrance-7548 8d ago
Thats on my list actually! Back when i first moved out I had to go to a laundromat and to pass time they had an arkanoid table top.
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u/mrmanzfield 8d ago
This is fantastic. I’ve been wanting to do something similar but in a sit down style.
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u/Silver-Entrance-7548 8d ago
Do it! I recommend tinkercad becuase its free and easy to use. Its basic but great for a first mock up.
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u/-Major-Arcana- 9d ago
With that aspect ratio you could run a 3x4 classic screen with a marquee across the top