ElCheapo DIY Arcade Cabinet (w/12 mm particle board)

You can certainly play games on your computer or phone, but an arcade cabinet form factor brings an immediate joy to the players. Being standing up, clicky controls, local multiplayer, etc makes it part of the experience.

This is an arcade cabinet designed to fit on 12 mm thick particle board/ MDF sheets which you can usually get for free in the hardware store because it is used as protection for other materials.

Everything was designed to be accessible and cheap. The T-trim is replaced by a cheap edging tape, and the 3d printed parts reduce a lot the cost.The total cost of the materials in this current design is around 100 USD.

Kim Olsen and Ståle Jensen were part of discussions about the design, assembly and general work on this build.

Materials

• 3 or 4 sheets of 12 mm particle board (at least 1.8 mt x 0.61 mt)

• 3 mm polycarbonate sheet

• 22" computer LCD screen

• Any old computer

• Computer speakers https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/\_dVLIew7

• Arcade Joystick and buttons kit https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/\_BfhljhYb

• 6 meters of 23 x 46 mm wood beams

• Led strip for upper banner https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/\_dVhstox

• Edging tape (the one that you glue with clothes iron)

• Wood glue

• 29-34 mm screws

• 9-11 mm screws

• 2 hard drive magnets

• Double sided tape for holding the LCD

• Steel wire to hold the LCD back (optional but recommended: washers and spring)

• Paint

  Cutting

  Cut all the pieces marked as MDF, plywood and polycarbonate.

  There are few special ones:

• 12mm_MDF_buttons_7.stl and 12mm_MDF_speakers_10.stl have a chamfer

• 12mm_MDF_side_1.stl and 12mm_MDF_side_MIR_11.stl are quite long

• 3x 12mm_MDF_back_top_2.stl

  Printing

  Besides all the included pieces, also print:

• 4x TPU feet https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4582671

• 2x speaker grills https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4582676

• 4x holders https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4582667 Extra details:

• PLA_joystick_holder_clamp.stl and PLA_joystick_holder_clamp_down.stl are just a friction clamp for the joystick top - front. Print 2 or 3 pairs. The idea is that the sides of 12mm_MDF_buttons_7.stl are held by 2x PLA_magnet_holder.stl and the front by the friction clamps

• 2x PLA_magnet_holder.stl

  Assembly

• Glue and screw pieces of the 23x46 wood beam to the two sides of the arcade. Follow the alignment marks on these pieces

• Assemble all the other parts leaving out:

+  12mm\_MDF\_banner\_top\_4.stl


 +  12mm\_MDF\_buttons\_7.stl


 +  3mm\_PLYWOOD\_screen\_9.stl


 + 12mm\_MDF\_speakers\_10.stl

After this step you can paint the cabinet and the extra pieces.

Screen mount

First place the 3mm plywood bezel on the slots. Use double sided tape for mounting the screen to the bezel. Around the screen add wood beams and use the steel wire to secure the monitor as shown in one of the photos of the back of the screen.

Controller plate

Buttons and the sticks go on the plate as expected. Check the photo on how to mount the joystick. Using the 3d printed holder requires a PC case screw (one of those for the fans), to join this part with the metal plate of the controller.

Place the plate in position and then attach the joystick holders. The piece PLA_joystick_holder_clamp_down.stl goes against the piece numbered 8 in the diagram. On top of that piece, place the other clamp that goes against piece number 7 (controller plate). PLA_magnet_holder.stl should be attached to the sides 1 and 11.

Finish

Close the top part using 2 screws. Do not glue 12mm_MDF_banner_top_4.stl (piece 4). It is a maintenance hatch for the future. To replace the banner, check the speakers, etc.

Software

The cabinet is running https://www.arcadepunks.com/coinops-arcade-front-end-for-pc/

Print Settings

Printer Brand:

Creality

Printer:

Ender 3 Pro

Rafts:

No

Supports:

Yes

Resolution:

0.16

Infill:

25%

Filament: Polymaker Polyflex TPU Black