34 replies to this topic

[Lyanheart]

I'm using this thread to compile photos and as much information as I can about my pinball cabinet build, which I designed from the ground up to be convertible between a pinball cabinet and a gaming PC using a flip-up playfield monitor.

System Specs:

Intel duel-core i3-550 CPU 3.2 ghz (default, can easily be overclocked)
Gigabyte micro-ATX motherboard
nVidia GTS-450 1-gig graphics card (Gigabyte brand)
8 gigs DDR3-1333 RAM (2x4gb)
Windows 7 Pro
Dell 17" UltraSharp backglass monitor with attached speaker bar
Samsung 22" LED-LCD main playfield monitor

So far I have been able to run all software with excellent FPS without any issue, including some of the latest PC games. The CPU and graphics card can always be upgraded in the future should the need arise. The compact speaker bar is great when in standalone pinball mode, but I can also plug into any auxilery audio system for bigger sound.


Started by cutting out all the pieces with my Dremel Trio rotary cutter, which worked GREAT


Put it all together with carpentry glue and brad nails


Side supports for the backbox display, and holes cut/drilled for buttons and cooling fans. Front hole is where the power supply will be, and the rear hole is for an exhaust fan near the CPU


The other side has the cutout for the drive bay, which has the DVD combo drive and the USB & audio panel


Test-fitting the playfield screen


Here's the trick


22" widescreen in "PC Mode"


More to come

Edited by Lyanheart, 18 January 2011 - 10:00 PM.

[Rawd]

Nice work so far!

[snarly]

Great work!

I am suprized you were able to get such clean cut lines with the dremel.

Cool how you mounted the monitor to fold in and out.

I will be following your progress as I really want to do something similiar.

The more details you can post will be greatly appreciated!

What brand is the monitor?
What computer or parts will you be using?

Do you have any idea when you want to finish this project?

Thanks!
Chris

[mameman23]

looking good, are you not going to have glass over it? how are you planning on addressing that or the trim to complete the top of the pinball yet still allow for easy transformation to pc viewing?

[Lyanheart]

I am suprized you were able to get such clean cut lines with the dremel.
The more details you can post will be greatly appreciated!
What brand is the monitor?
What computer or parts will you be using?
Do you have any idea when you want to finish this project?

The Trio worked great for this- the secret to a clean cut is to have a guide piece clamped on to follow.

The monitor is a Samsung LED-backlit 22" model # EX2220X. Got a refurbished one for $150. Works great, looks gorgeous. The guts of the PC is a Gigabyte MB with an Intel i3-550, 8 gigs of RAM, nVidia GTS450 graphics card. Runs everything very well, including new PC games, which is the other purpose for this build. I'm working on getting all the PC components in the case for final testing and setup before taking it apart again to paint and finish the cabinet.

looking good, are you not going to have glass over it? how are you planning on addressing that or the trim to complete the top of the pinball yet still allow for easy transformation to pc viewing?

No glass. The authentic pinball look had to be sacrificed for easy function of the flip-up monitor. I will be putting trim along the sides to fill the gap between the cabinet and the monitor with shallow cutouts at the center to grab the screen through to lift and set it back. There will also be a mock "lockdown bar" for the bottom trim. I will be trimming around the backglass monitor in the same manner, though it will be stationary.

[J3SteR]

Nice work!

[Blitz17]

Very nice! Keep the photos coming.

[spacemanaust]

That is a pretty cool way to make a PC to pull double duty as a general purpose PC and a pincab!

It will be EASY to use it in PC mode to setup the tables directly.
On my pincab I remote desktop into it to set it all up, or else I get a sore neck and back...

Edited by spacemanaust, 04 January 2011 - 10:11 AM.

[Lyanheart]

Just a small update. I've been out of town for the past few days. If I'm lucky I will have everything wired up and functional for testing tomorrow. Waiting on some SATA and PSU cable extensions before I can mount the internals in their permanent locations.

This shows the trim around the playfield. I need to shave off a bit more around the center hand cutouts- I can just barely get my fingers in far enough to get ahold of the screen to lift and adjust it. There will be similar trim around the backglass monitor, as well as a cover for the speaker.

Edited by Lyanheart, 18 January 2011 - 05:21 PM.

[Blitz17]

That is excellent. If you have time post some closer in shots so we can see how you did different things like mounting the backglass monitor, ect. It is looking great!

[Lyanheart]

Mounting the backglass monitor really gave me a headache... I did not want it to be permanently sealed inside the box, so I had to make the mounting location on the back removable by attaching it with screws and L-brackets, and attached the removable mounting plate of the monitor to this board. It's not the best looking solution, but it works, and will look better when everything gets painted. I cut slots in the brackets so the screws do not have to be pulled all the way out of the sides to hang and remove the screen, so it may be possible to completely hide/cover the brackets with trim pieces.

[Blitz17]

Oh yeah, that will work out nice. Great work. Those photos will be helpful for others who want to emulate your work.

[maceman]

That looks fantastic! Great work so far!

[Lyanheart]

Good news everybody! I have most of the PC hardware installed in the cabinet and everything is working so far!



Just testing it out... this mess will get straightened up.

Edited by Lyanheart, 19 January 2011 - 10:17 PM.

[Blitz17]

Awesome!

[StevOz]

Very nice build Lyanheart, I like it, thinking outside of the circle. The 22 inch/17 inch also looks to be a good match, did you already have these monitors, just that I was thinking a 24/19 inch maybe also a good combination, thanks for the pics. I'm also wondering if you ever considered trying to mount the second monitor on a flexible arm. Now all I need is a win on the races today.

Edited by StevOz, 19 January 2011 - 11:45 PM.

[Lyanheart]

Very nice build Lyanheart, I like it, thinking outside of the circle. The 22 inch/17 inch also looks to be a good match, did you already have these monitors, just that I was thinking a 24/19 inch maybe also a good combination, thanks for the pics. I'm also wondering if you ever considered trying to mount the second monitor on a flexible arm. Now all I need is a win on the races today.

I did not have the monitors, but the 17" was used and the 22" was a refurbished model, so I got them both for a great price. It was not worth it to me to pay top dollar for a backglass monitor and I wanted to get the best playfield screen I could and still save some money. This Samsung LED screen is amazing. Ebay was very good to me...

I chose the sizes based on the overall size I wanted for the cabinet- no more than 26" deep in order to fit on a tabletop. A 22-inch widescreen monitor really seems to be the most you can fit in that amount of space and still have a comfortable "lockdown bar" area. Everything else just fell in line with those specifications. Plus, I wanted to make the playfield rise up to be used as a normal PC and gaming rig. I'm very happy with the screen sizes. A 24/19 cabinet would be nice porportions as well, but a few inches longer and wider overall than mine.

I originally considered mounting the backglass screen on an arm to take advantage of the second display in "PC mode" but changed my mind. I want to put trim around the frame of the backbox to give it a nicer look, and this would prevent the monitor from swinging out through the front. Swinging open to the rear would be possible, but then the screen would be on the left of the main display when VP and Hyperpin requires it to be set as the right.

I'm glad everyone likes what I've done so far. I had a lot of strict requirements for this build, and I think I've met them all. Right now I'm waiting on some extention cables for the PC components so I can get them mounted in their permanant locations and get the IPAC set up.

[Rawd]

Neat idea, and looking great man!

[Lyanheart]

Progress!

Got all the PC hardware installed in its "permanent" position. It's all going to have to come back out when I paint and do all the finishing touches...


Some shots of it running in "pinball mode"




The images make the screen look washed out in places, but it actually looks very nice and bright in person.

[Blitz17]

That is great. Nice work on your cab!