I already presented this arcade in my introduction.
It all started a few years ago when I was in an electronics store with my son. There was one of these relatively cheap 1Up arcades standing around. Of course, we were both hooked and I had already pulled out my wallet, but then thought that we could build one ourselves. In June of this year, I asked my son what I should mill next on the CNC. We remembered the Arcade. So it was decided. There were a few requirements.
1. the arcade should be made of several parts. On the one hand to be able to transport it more easily, but also to be able to use it either as a bar top or a full size cabinet. The best feature is that you can also use just the console. So you don't need the cabinet. Simply connect it to a TV via HDMI and you're good to go.
The second problem was the audio connection. I didn't want to unplug the cables from the speakers every time I remove the console. So I had to find some kind of quick connection method. I did this with D-Sub plugs. A D-Sub socket in the cabinet and a D-Sub plug in the console. Works like a charm.
3. the next question was how to connect all the parts securely together, but only need seconds to separate all three parts. I came up with the idea of using bicycle quick-release fasteners. Also works great.
4. which design? Even if an arcade is typically colorful and covered with lots of graphics, I'm not that into it. I wanted something more elegant. Looking at my Marshall amp, I thought that would be a nice gag: A Marshall arcade. An amp is usually covered in Tolex and of course the arcade also had to be covered in Tolex.
Needless to say, the lid of the control board had to be covered with a picture of Hendrix.
I decided against using T-molding for the edges. Instead, I used gold-colored edge banding coated with brushed aluminum on the top. This was quite difficult to iron on.
Of course, the Marshall logo had to go on the Marquee. I milled it out of the MDF and then printed it with transparent PETG and inserted it. The Marshall logo is also on the covering of the lower box. This was also printed and painted gold. The logo is held in place by magnets (see first picture).
5. the electronics are kept rather simple. A subwoofer works in the box below, which is fired with the other two boxes by a 2.1 channel amplifier. The system is powered by a Raspberry 5, whose audio signal is picked up via an HDMI audio extractor and fed into the amplifier. A 27 inch monitor is installed. I decided against a spinner and trackball. On the one hand because I didn't have enough space underneath, but also to maintain the clean design.
It took around 250 hours to build and the whole thing ended up costing around 2400 Euro ($2700).
If you want, you can watch the entire build on YouTube. Unfortunately it's in German, but there are English subtitles.
It all started a few years ago when I was in an electronics store with my son. There was one of these relatively cheap 1Up arcades standing around. Of course, we were both hooked and I had already pulled out my wallet, but then thought that we could build one ourselves. In June of this year, I asked my son what I should mill next on the CNC. We remembered the Arcade. So it was decided. There were a few requirements.
1. the arcade should be made of several parts. On the one hand to be able to transport it more easily, but also to be able to use it either as a bar top or a full size cabinet. The best feature is that you can also use just the console. So you don't need the cabinet. Simply connect it to a TV via HDMI and you're good to go.
The second problem was the audio connection. I didn't want to unplug the cables from the speakers every time I remove the console. So I had to find some kind of quick connection method. I did this with D-Sub plugs. A D-Sub socket in the cabinet and a D-Sub plug in the console. Works like a charm.
3. the next question was how to connect all the parts securely together, but only need seconds to separate all three parts. I came up with the idea of using bicycle quick-release fasteners. Also works great.
4. which design? Even if an arcade is typically colorful and covered with lots of graphics, I'm not that into it. I wanted something more elegant. Looking at my Marshall amp, I thought that would be a nice gag: A Marshall arcade. An amp is usually covered in Tolex and of course the arcade also had to be covered in Tolex.
Needless to say, the lid of the control board had to be covered with a picture of Hendrix.
I decided against using T-molding for the edges. Instead, I used gold-colored edge banding coated with brushed aluminum on the top. This was quite difficult to iron on.
Of course, the Marshall logo had to go on the Marquee. I milled it out of the MDF and then printed it with transparent PETG and inserted it. The Marshall logo is also on the covering of the lower box. This was also printed and painted gold. The logo is held in place by magnets (see first picture).
5. the electronics are kept rather simple. A subwoofer works in the box below, which is fired with the other two boxes by a 2.1 channel amplifier. The system is powered by a Raspberry 5, whose audio signal is picked up via an HDMI audio extractor and fed into the amplifier. A 27 inch monitor is installed. I decided against a spinner and trackball. On the one hand because I didn't have enough space underneath, but also to maintain the clean design.
It took around 250 hours to build and the whole thing ended up costing around 2400 Euro ($2700).
If you want, you can watch the entire build on YouTube. Unfortunately it's in German, but there are English subtitles.
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