Bartop Arcade Machine

A more portable mini Defender-oriented arcade machine based on Raspberry Pi with separate interchangeable control panels.

Status: getting there

<TODO photo gallery>

<TODO summary and jump menu>

• Raspberry Pi
  • PiPlay AdvanceMAME install
  • initially using a Raspberry Pi Model B+ I got from Phenoptix (for £26.99 using a 10% discount code for EMFCAMP 2014)
  • upgraded to a Raspberry Pi 2 Model B to improve performance (£33.94 from CPC with 8Gb NOOBS SD card)
• Dell e172fpb LCD 17-in monitor with broken controls
  • thanks to Rob Miles for the donation
  • fault: main menu flashes up - removed panel controls for now, which solves it until I need to make adjustments
  • BENQ internals
  • removed plastic housing and built a thin laser-cut boxing to hold it in place
  • 360 x 296 However, there are tabs and screws on the sides that stick out slightly
  • had a go at fixing the panel controls - buzzed out all the connections and one of the pushbuttons is slightly dodgy but nothing major
    • refitted panel buttons and they all seem to bring up a padlock icon!
    • OSD locked seems to be a common issue with these monitors http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/peripherals/f/3529/t/19281532
    • other crazyness! http://www.paulstravelpictures.com/Dell-LCD-Monitor-Flashing-Padlock-Icon/index.htm
• HDMI-VGA adapter & gender changer
  • from DealExtreme - they have many versions at different prices
  • worked fine with the Pi Model B+ but when I tried to use it on the Pi 2 B it would not work. I spent a few evenings going through many Pi config settings and eventually I came out with a magic combination that worked - I'd better write that down!
• 2x HP PC speakers from scrap - 16ohm, nice shape
  • Audio TDA7053AT 2x1W Audio Power Amplifier SO16W http://www.nxp.com/documents/data_sheet/TDA7053A.pdf
  • Alternate amp: PAM8403 - 99p with 50k pot
• cabinet
  • 19mm plywood sides
    • annoyingly the plywood is not even flat! both sides bend off square to one side!
  • Chipboard base
  • Knock-Down joints for assembly -- http://www.screwfix.com/p/white-kd-joints-pack-of-10/87601
  • T-Molding
  • slot cutter - from China for huge discount - 1/4" shaft required use of big router table which isn't flat!
  • living hinge plywood bends with laser polypropylene sheet veneer surface
  • adhesive to use for polypropylene to plywood?
    • 3M‎ Scotch-Weld‎ Hi-Strength 90 Spray Adhesive
  • backlit marquee panel
• Control panel: Defender layout
  • original dimensions metricated!
  • laminated laser cut ply and MDF
  • gold leaf switch buttons
  • Sanwa bat joystick
    • with modified mounting plate: a diagonal cut-away that is essential to get the reverse button close enough to the joystick
    • plate 95mm x 78mm
    • square plastic housing is 65mm square. Use 66mm to be safe