Arcade Cabinet DIY Kit: Build Your Own Retro Gaming Machine at Home

 Arcade Cabinet DIY assembling instructions

In this section you will find the original Instructions and blueprint for the Two Player Arcade Cabinet DIY Kit I put together about 25 years ago.

ASSEMBLING  INSTRUCTIONS:

     PLEASE READ THEM CAREFULLY BEFORE ASSEMBLING THE CABINET

 

1. Screw the plastic joints on L(left) and R(right) side (fig 1), into the small dot marks for TOP, BOTTOM and FRONT panels ONLY. All the plastic joints have to be orientated with the flat surface outside (fig 1 )

   1. Fit the ALUMINUM ANGLE (F) with two plastic joint on both L and R (fig 2)

   2. Now you are ready to assemble the Arcade Cabinet DIY. Fit the A,B and C panel ,one by one (fig.1a),and  screw all them on the L(left) side. After that complete with the  R(right) side.

   3. Screw four plastic joints into the small dot marks of the SPEAKERS  panel (G) panel(fig 3) and if you decide to fit the speakers here,now you can drill this panel to the shape and size of your speakers. Now assemble the SPEAKERS panel (G) to the cabinet.

   4. Fit the CONTROL PANEL with four 4X25mm flanged screws – Very important: DO NOT leave gaps between the CONTROL PANEL and the L(left) and R (right) side. Now tighten them gently.

   5. Fit the Control Panel Middle Support(fig.10)

   6. Take off the protection foil from the PROTECTION SCREEN, measure the visible size of your monitor screen, cover the middle with masking tape and paint the edge(fig 4). You can also use self adhesive vinyl or print your favorite game Bezel. Make sure the painted side of the Arcade Cabinet DIY is orientated to the inside of the cabinet, and  push it between the gaps from the ALUMINUM ANGLE, from the bottom of the cabinet(fig 5 )

Now tighten the 4 screw by pushing the plastic joint against the Protection screen ,to avoid the movement of this.

 

            7. Take off the protection foil from the two LEXAN 2mm, print your own or buy your desire MARQUEE, place it in between as show in (fig 6 ). If you decide to light the MARQUEE you can do it now ,by placing LED,s  or a Neon inside. Now use 6 short screws 4X13 and fit the bottom of the MARQUE on to the cabinet with the PVC lip. Then the top side(fig,6).

 

            8.  Both PVC edges have a double side tape attached. Peel the protection and fit the marquee (fig 6)

          9. Fit the monitor inside the cabinet. My advice is to ask somebody to help you at this point. Start with screwing four plastic joints into the MONITOR PANEL (B) (fig 7 ). There are many types of monitorsyou can use on your Arcade Cabinet DIY but most have four screws in the back. Sometimes the threads of the screws are hiding under a plastic cap. Use them to attached the MONITOR to the MONITOR PANEL , and be sure this is in the middle. Now lie down the cabinet on one side(L or R), push the monitor against the monitor PROTECTION SCREEN, center the monitor(up and down this time) and screw the MONITOR PANEL into both L and R side (fig 8)

11)    Gently peel the red protection foil of the Chrome Trim. Make sure the edges        from L and R are clean. Use a small amount of clear contact glue ,leave it for 15 minutes  

 than press gently by keeping all the time the CHROME Trim in the center. Leave the edge a little bit longer and cut it straight with a sharp cutter.

12) Fit the self adhesive foot on the edge of the L and R side.  

13) The last operation is to assemble the back panel ( fig 9) with six screws 4X13mm.You will notice as a result a much strengthened and strong cabinet.

 

NOTES AND TIPS:

 

***The joysticks and the buttons are not provided in this kit as there are so many types, shapes and prices you can chose from the market. Make sure you buy buttons for 28mm holes.

***This kit has a “open source” regarding the controllers. This means you can adjust the joysticks for 2, 4 or 8 way or to fit/change the buttons from underneath of the machine without open it. To fit the joysticks you will use the 8 screws 4x25mm that are included in the kit and drill the CONTROL PANEL with a 4mm drill. There is no set time when you have to fit the joysticks and buttons but  I recommended to do this step before the monitor is attached to the cabinet.

***You don’t need a Speakers Panel full of holes. Only the small treble speakers are indicated to be orientated towards you .The Bass speakers can be orientated towards the back panel.

 ***For extra strength of the Arcade Cabinet DIY it is acceptable to use a Glue gun hot glue on the edge before assembling the parts together.

 

NOW IT IS THE MOMENT TO FREE YOUR IMAGINATION

 

    Let’s put in….

– COMPUTERS WITH THE INCREDIBLE MAME EMULATOR,

– Raspberry-Pi with RETROPIE or RECALBOX

– JAMMA Pandora’s boxes

– NEW CONSOLE SYSTEMS LIKE PS3,XBOX 360 ,OR WII,

– OLD CONSOLE LIKE SEGA Megadrive /Genesis , NINTENDO 64,Super NINTENDO,NES…..

– JAMMA MULTY GAMES like the Arcade Classic 60 in 1 or the Blue Elf 2

 

THIS IS A CHALANGE , THIS IS FUN……GOOD LUCK and THANK YOU!