68 replies to this topic

[Brer Frog]

Finally made a little progress. Here are some backbox speaker photos. As previously mentioned, wish I didn't cut down the box height as it would have been perfect for 2" speakers. Consequently I now had to position the speakers just behind the monitor.

 

 Spkrs_rear.jpg   111.66KB   17 downloads     Spkrs_frt_1.jpg   73.51KB   16 downloads     Spkrs_frt_2.jpg   78.73KB   17 downloads

[Brer Frog]

It's getting there. Here's a couple new photos. The one with acrylic plastic playfield "glass" still has the protective film on it. Some details still have to be done such as some sort of lockdown bar & of course the front panel buttons, which I have. I was going to use a Launch button but now am considering a plunger, so I haven't drilled the holes yet.

 

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[rickh]

Looking good!!!

It's getting there. Here's a couple new photos. The one with acrylic plastic playfield "glass" still has the protective film on it. Some details still have to be done such as some sort of lockdown bar & of course the front panel buttons, which I have. I was going to use a Launch button but now am considering a plunger, so I haven't drilled the holes yet.

 

IMG_2941CB.jpg    IMG_2946CB.jpg

Mike,  If you do consider a small plunger- https://www.amazon.c...e?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Brer Frog]

It's Alive !!

 

Did a temporary assembly to see how things look & sound and everything is OK. I only have the flipper buttons connected & still have to drill holes for the front panel buttons. And add a lockdown bar, etc. Photos are without the acrylic playfield "glass" installed.

 

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Edited by Brer Frog, 16 October 2017 - 03:49 PM.

[rickh]

It's Alive !!

 

Did a temporary assembly to see how things look & sound and everything is OK. I only have the flipper buttons connected & still have to drill holes for the front panel buttons. And add a lockdown bar, etc. Photos are without the acrylic playfield "glass" installed.

 

IMG_2970C.jpg    IMG_2961C.jpg    IMG_2964C.jpg

Awesome.  Let us know when you plan to add that plunger.

[Brer Frog]

I’ve been waiting for some decent weather to work in the garage. In the meantime the main cabinet with legs has been sitting in the living room for a couple weeks. Got tired of dragging it from basement to garage so I let it sit in the living room. My wife didn’t like it sitting in the living room for some reason.

It was a nice day yesterday so I dragged the cabinet out to the garage & drilled holes for the front panel buttons & second set of side buttons for Magna Save buttons.

Still need to make a speaker grille & lockdown bar. And fill in screw holes, paint, etc. The garage is my workshop & don’t know how far I’ll get before the snow starts coming down. But it’s getting there.

 

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[RustyCardores]

How'd you end up going with the PMD?  If you need any info, we now have a Facebook group and mostly use it instead of the old aussie arcade thread that you mentioned.

 

See https://www.facebook...ps/PoorMansDOF/

[Brer Frog]

There is no PMD yet.

 

I have a 2.1 amp for the backbox speakers & subwoofer (I still have to get the sub). I was temporarily trying a small bookshelf spkr for the woofer because it has more bass than the backbox spkrs. I figured maybe a 6" woofer mounted in the bottom of the cab & facing down would be OK.

 

Also have a 2 channel amp to power a couple of exciters, which still need to be purchased.

 

My goal was to see how cheap I could make a budget build. I was going to just use a $25 pair of PC desktop spkrs. But somewhere along the way I read about your Poor Man’s DOF and it intrigued me. Between your PMD postings and the "Audio and Tactile Amplifiers" thread started by RickH  I've upped the ante for sound & feedback.

 

I was looking at these exciters because they appear to screw on which means they can be easily moved if needed. What do you think?

https://www.parts-ex...-8-ohm--295-210

 

Mike

[RustyCardores]

There is no PMD yet.

 

I have a 2.1 amp for the backbox speakers & subwoofer (I still have to get the sub). I was temporarily trying a small bookshelf spkr for the woofer because it has more bass than the backbox spkrs. I figured maybe a 6" woofer mounted in the bottom of the cab & facing down would be OK.

 

Also have a 2 channel amp to power a couple of exciters, which still need to be purchased.

 

My goal was to see how cheap I could make a budget build. I was going to just use a $25 pair of PC desktop spkrs. But somewhere along the way I read about your Poor Man’s DOF and it intrigued me. Between your PMD postings and the "Audio and Tactile Amplifiers" thread started by RickH  I've upped the ante for sound & feedback.

 

I was looking at these exciters because they appear to screw on which means they can be easily moved if needed. What do you think?

https://www.parts-ex...-8-ohm--295-210

 

Mike

 

A number of members in the group have successfully used those.  These ones are also popular https://www.jaycar.c...peaker/p/AS3039 (I have these myself) as well as the Monacor AR-30 (Monacor's web site is currently down for maintenance, so no link sorry)

 

Budget wise you can still use PC 2.1 speakers for the backglass if you like, provided you don't go too small. They will happily live along side your 2.0 amp/exciters and using VPX's new surround sound features along with a 7.1 sound card (or motherboard) and Equaliser APO software, you will be able to share bass to both the BG sub and exciters.

 

Plus when the budget allows, you can always add rear amp/exciters to complete the surround sound feedback.  Poor Man's DOF is very flexible and you can really make it as poor or as rich as you want. 

[Brer Frog]

RustyCardores -

 

I do remember you mentioning the Jaycar flat panel exciters which is why I thought the Dayton ones might be a reasonable substitute & a lot easier for me to get. The Jaycar ones say available in store only. I've been to Australia & wish I had immediate plans to visit again however that's not the case.

 

Right now I'm having issues with the keyboard encoder for the buttons. It's free so it fits my goal. Problem is the copper pads on the circuit board are very small & fragile. I moved some wires around & thought a solder joint came loose. Turns out the soldering pads on the board are not just coming loose they're breaking off because they're quite delicate. Now I had to solder to the even smaller copper trace to repair things. This just happened yesterday so I'm considering my options to forge ahead or use a different interface.

[RustyCardores]

RustyCardores -
 
I do remember you mentioning the Jaycar flat panel exciters which is why I thought the Dayton ones might be a reasonable substitute & a lot easier for me to get. The Jaycar ones say available in store only. I've been to Australia & wish I had immediate plans to visit again however that's not the case.
 
Right now I'm having issues with the keyboard encoder for the buttons. It's free so it fits my goal. Problem is the copper pads on the circuit board are very small & fragile. I moved some wires around & thought a solder joint came loose. Turns out the soldering pads on the board are not just coming loose they're breaking off because they're quite delicate. Now I had to solder to the even smaller copper trace to repair things. This just happened yesterday so I'm considering my options to forge ahead or use a different interface.

Odd re the in store, as others have had them shipped to the US. But if you can get the others local then all the better.

In my mame cab I used a Zero Delay encoder that I’m sure I got off aliexpress. It was only about 10 bucks and will provide enough buttons for a basic cab (11 from memory). It might be worth a look as a cheap option if your keyboard doesn’t work out.


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[Brer Frog]

Here's what displays for me.

 

 Jaycar Exciter.jpg   47.08KB   19 downloads

[RustyCardores]

Here's what displays for me.
 
Jaycar Exciter.jpg

Ah ok, so they out of stock for online. So all stock is already at the stores and nothing is left in the warehouse. That should change when the get a new shipment.


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[gtxjoe]

If your encoder is toast, maybe consider the mjr pinscape setup. For $25 shipped you cane use the joystick encoder and nudge support. Just need to add a USB cable and connect wires

If cheap is the plan then I agree the zero delay encoder works also. $9

[Brer Frog]

The encoder works but I have now applied hot glue to act as a strain relief on the wires. However more wires need to be added & some of the glue will have to be carefully removed. If I had to do it over I would have soldered on all necessary connections using short 1" - 2" pieces of wire.That way there would be minimal stress on the copper traces. Then apply hot glue over the whole connection area to act as a giant strain relief.

 

Going cheap was just a matter of principle in doing a budget build. At this point may as well spend $25 and get an accelerometer. I’ll compare shipping from Mouser vs. Digi-Key and make a decision next week on what to do.

[Brer Frog]

Not much happening here with the holidays & cold weather. Did get the side rails made from angle aluminum & got brave & removed the protective film from the acrylic plastic that substitutes for the glass. I'm impressed how much it looks like glass - clear & flat. It's almost 1/4" thick (.22") so it doesn't sag. Hope it stays that way. Still need to make a lockdown bar & speaker grille but it's too cold to work in the garage.

 

I don't have a workshop & can't easily carry the cab to the basement, so it's been staying in the house where it's easy to move into the garage to work on. I'm amazed my wife is tolerating having this work in progress floating around the house. Here's a photo with the rails & acrylic plastic.installed.

 

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[rickh]

Not much happening here with the holidays & cold weather. Did get the side rails made from angle aluminum & got brave & removed the protective film from the acrylic plastic that substitutes for the glass. I'm impressed how much it looks like glass - clear & flat. It's almost 1/4" thick (.22") so it doesn't sag. Hope it stays that way. Still need to make a lockdown bar & speaker grille but it's too cold to work in the garage.

 

I don't have a workshop & can't easily carry the cab to the basement, so it's been staying in the house where it's easy to move into the garage to work on. I'm amazed my wife is tolerating having this work in progress floating around the house. Here's a photo with the rails & acrylic plastic.installed.

 

IMG_3063C.jpg

yeah, I understand.  I have my shop in my basement and it's crazy cold. Anyway, nice to see that you are making progress again.   

[Brer Frog]

I don't have a shop & don't have a table saw. Makes it difficult to cut small pieces of wood without a table saw. So I go to a friends house, but his stuff is in a cold garage. If it warms up a bit maybe I can cut a 1"x4" to size & fashion a lockdown bar, I have tools, but they're for working on cars. A torque wrench doesn't help much when building a wood cabinet.

Edited by Brer Frog, 05 January 2018 - 02:28 AM.

[whitewater31]

[...]

I'm amazed my wife is tolerating having this work in progress floating around the house.

[...]

 

 

 

Lucky guy... 

I had a real garage but over the years it finally became an "utility room" with heating, fridge, washing machine and recently a dressing for the unused clothes... 

An other reason to make a mini! A real can't stay in the small part i'm working on. 

 

Just a question on your project: why did you choose acrylic for the playfield? It's fragile and it's easily scratched. I made this choice for the backglass only (but it's not in place actually, i'll install it next week). Here there's no difference in terms of price (on the contrary, good acrylic is more expensive!).

 

Best regards

Edited by whitewater31, 05 January 2018 - 08:46 AM.

[Brer Frog]

whitewater31,

 

I used acrylic because it was cheap, about $20 US. I bought a 20"x24" piece & the store cut it down to about 15-1/2" x 24" for free. If I got the next larger size the price jumped up quite a bit. It's quite thick so I don't think it will crack, but I am concerned about scratching. If it doesn't hold up then I'll have to have a custom piece of tempered glass made.