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Arcade PCB cases

msamiullah

msamiullah

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Hello everyone,

I recently got into collecting arcade PCBs and started looking if there is any open source project with-respect to cases for arcade PCBs , I could not find anything.

My idea would be to have a case like CPS2 B board where PCB sits and probably have a fan on top as opposed to side just keep it Slim. These cases would be tailored to each PCB dimensions.

If these design CAD files are open source then who ever wants can get it 3D printed or get these made from china or something.

Any ideas ?
 
There's maybe a small handful of open source designs that I know of, due to the effort required to create the designs. most 3d printers would be too small for a pcb enclosure anyway, you'd have to print a lot of runs and assemble something somehow. Custom designs are out there, but most designers retain their IP but do sell what they make in completed form.

Metal or Acrylic are popular e.g.:

Escarioth's Aluminum Cases
TR Fight Stick by Hursit (several metal cases in that section)
https://www.highflow.nl/arcade/game-pcbs-and-accessories/?sl=en (acrylic)
https://jasenscustoms.com/collections/arcade-pcb-enclosures
https://lions3.com/product-category/arcade-related/

If you wanted to create an open source repo, folks could laser cut their own acrylic or metal though, that would be cool. They're usually buried in threads like this: PGM single game PCB assembly and troubleshooting
 
ekorz said:
There's maybe a small handful of open source designs that I know of, due to the effort required to create the designs. most 3d printers would be too small for a pcb enclosure anyway, you'd have to print a lot of runs and assemble something somehow. Custom designs are out there, but most designers retain their IP but do sell what they make in completed form.

Metal or Acrylic are popular e.g.:

Escarioth's Aluminum Cases
TR Fight Stick by Hursit (several metal cases in that section)
https://www.highflow.nl/arcade/game-pcbs-and-accessories/?sl=en (acrylic)
https://jasenscustoms.com/collections/arcade-pcb-enclosures
https://lions3.com/product-category/arcade-related/

If you wanted to create an open source repo, folks could laser cut their own acrylic or metal though, that would be cool. They're usually buried in threads like this: PGM single game PCB assembly and troubleshooting
Click to expand...
Thank you for sharing this. Such a shame there is no open source project as it would be really simple for someone with CAD knowledge to design something like this. All these current products are crazy expensive. I paid less for some of the PCBs i have :).
 
ekorz said:
There's maybe a small handful of open source designs that I know of, due to the effort required to create the designs. most 3d printers would be too small for a pcb enclosure anyway, you'd have to print a lot of runs and assemble something somehow. Custom designs are out there, but most designers retain their IP but do sell what they make in completed form.

Metal or Acrylic are popular e.g.:

Escarioth's Aluminum Cases
TR Fight Stick by Hursit (several metal cases in that section)
https://www.highflow.nl/arcade/game-pcbs-and-accessories/?sl=en (acrylic)
https://jasenscustoms.com/collections/arcade-pcb-enclosures
https://lions3.com/product-category/arcade-related/

If you wanted to create an open source repo, folks could laser cut their own acrylic or metal though, that would be cool. They're usually buried in threads like this: PGM single game PCB assembly and troubleshooting
Click to expand...
Fuuuuck Highflow has a Haunted Castle one now. I had been holding off on buying from them, but that's the straw right there.

Though I think I'm going to have them engrave the Haunted Castle logo rather than (or maybe in addition to) Castlevania...
 
For which pcbs?
msamiullah said:
hire someonone to do this
Click to expand...
which pcbs are you looking to enclose? I think a major reason nobody has done this work for free is there is no universal design. So folks who do one-offs will give it away, but it’s buried in a thread like I posted before. No central gathering point. Most pcbs are very unique, so anyone willing to do many are going to get a return on that effort. Mounting holes, access to volume pots / test buttons, heat syncs, air flow, etc. will be different from pcb to pcb. but open source files for certain pcb “families” like cps2, namco says 11, pgm, mvs, etc. would be a nice donation to the community for sure.

Maybe we should open an acrylics or cad section here or something, as we do have a 3D section and have gotten some designs contributed there
 
ekorz said:
msamiullah said:
Thank you for sharing this. Such a shame there is no open source project as it would be really simple for someone with CAD knowledge to design something like this. All these current products are crazy expensive. I paid less for some of the PCBs i have :).
Click to expand...
oh forgot one. https://www.heartcade.com/product/cave-pcb-enclosure-cv1000-cavewich Cavewich, guaranteed cheaper than a cave pcb ;)
Click to expand...
I have access to a laser cutter and would love for someone to just make a design like this for me to cut, cause I dont feel like paying 60usd when I could just make them myself much cheaper...

I should just stop being lazy and cad something up.
 
These are great idea guys. I prefer an enclosed cased as opposed to acrylic ones as I said earlier something similar to CPS2 B boards as I beleive these would protect PCBs better than acrylic ones. The PCBs I currently have are:

1- Snow Bros
2- Namco System 12 (tekken 3 and Tag)
3- CPS1 (final fight, SF2)
4- US Championship V'Ball
5- Sega ST-V Titan
6- Sunset Riders
7- Wrestlefest
8- Raiden DX
9- Raiden 2 DX
10- Seibu SPI System (Raiden fighters)

I think if we can knock-off the big ones first that would be a great win. Big ones like System 12, ST-V, Seibu SPI System, CPS-1, Neo-geo etc
 
I'd really like to know what crazy things people are doing with their PCBs that they'd need protection!

Some of them look really neat, especially @Escarioth 's work, but I still don't see the point.
 
Case protection is indeed not necessary and in a good anti-static bag or a good shelf it probably do the trick.

Im just happy to make them stand out or move them around freely.

But yeah it does comes with a price and a lot of time to create and test. And sometime even with all time i put in them i have to restart from scratch :(
 
I'm not entirely sure about this but :

-inserts difers from one manufacturer to another so holes might have to be changed on a CAD to fit the inserts you'll be using. (my laser makes holes .002" bigger so i have to change the right values)

-Bendings might need more or less material lengh to be bend at the right dimensions. (depend on wich machine you'll use) so CAD might have to be ajusted for everyone using them

-For color, on my products i use electrostatic process wich is quite safe and prevent any contact with the pcb (but takes hours to do)
...i don't know if any type of spray paint you buy at local store could help get the same protection...maybe someone could tell us.

-What is the minimum type of lines your laser machine can do before it crash the whole process ? if i go under .020" the schedule crash completely while cutting
and can result in a quite heavy loss of money/time/material :S For exemple the double Dragon logo and dragons took me days to make on CAD... its a true hell of lines.

-If you have some kind of Syndic at work prepare yourself for some lecturing on rules *sigh* (but hey, maybe syndic are not strict everywhere)

Probably more stuff im not thinking about right now. I could go for hours with all problems i hit my face on.
IMO You'll sadly have to make your own product , check with your job what are the infos needed for the process to go on.
Making an enclosed case (or 12 o_O) takes lots of love and time, and if you rush....you might have to pay for going too fast
 
Escarioth said:
I'm not entirely sure about this but :

-inserts difers from one manufacturer to another so holes might have to be changed on a CAD to fit the inserts you'll be using. (my laser makes holes .002" bigger so i have to change the right values)

-Bendings might need more or less material lengh to be bend at the right dimensions. (depend on wich machine you'll use) so CAD might have to be ajusted for everyone using them

-For color, on my products i use electrostatic process wich is quite safe and prevent any contact with the pcb (but takes hours to do)
...i don't know if any type of spray paint you buy at local store could help get the same protection...maybe someone could tell us.

-What is the minimum type of lines your laser machine can do before it crash the whole process ? if i go under .020" the schedule crash completely while cutting
and can result in a quite heavy loss of money/time/material :S For exemple the double Dragon logo and dragons took me days to make on CAD... its a true hell of lines.

-If you have some kind of Syndic at work prepare yourself for some lecturing on rules *sigh* (but hey, maybe syndic are not strict everywhere)

Probably more stuff im not thinking about right now. I could go for hours with all problems i hit my face on.
IMO You'll sadly have to make your own product , check with your job what are the infos needed for the process to go on.
Making an enclosed case (or 12 o_O) takes lots of love and time, and if you rush....you might have to pay for going too fast
Click to expand...
I totally agree. Its unfortunate that we dnt have enclosures designed ( Considering how strong arcade PCB collecting is). I am gona get started on one PCB and go from where. Two peice enclosure with mounting feet, one fan and cut-out for Jamma connection. On paper does not sound very complex.
 
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