Retropie console case prototype

[meat]

Hi Guys,

Thought i’d share the case I knocked together over the last couple weekends.
Obviously it’s not perfect but I’m happy with it for now. I will look to spend a little more time designing another in the near future and have it laser cut from perspex. (also use the right glue; Weld on and not cheap toy repair glue.)

Note: majority of it was made from recycled slot machine parts, the perspex artwork, USB a/b type connectors, cabling, fans, LED’s.

[IMG]http://i58.tinypic.com/2ni67bd.jpg[/IMG]

Front panel: 2x USB, Power on/off
Back panel: Power in, hmdi, LAN
Top Panel: fan out, 4 hex bolts
bottom panel: rubber feet
side panels: left side fan in

been a lot of fun making this, glad it over for now haha..
any input is welcome, cheers
Meat

[meat]

[IMG]http://i61.tinypic.com/2yy9gud.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i57.tinypic.com/ayt7c8.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i57.tinypic.com/2qtzqtg.jpg[/IMG]

[meat]

Hi Guys,

Few updates:

removed my Pi2 case I had hacked up and attached a fan to.

[IMG]http://i59.tinypic.com/jsccb9.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i62.tinypic.com/55hyr6.jpg[/IMG]

Since I’m pushing the over clock more now, added heat sinks to CPU, USB/LAN & RAM. Temperatures 29°C.

[IMG]http://i61.tinypic.com/1zwho9k.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i59.tinypic.com/148hv85.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i58.tinypic.com/2gwxuad.jpg[/IMG]

Also rigged up an old 18.5″ slot machine LCD with chassis/bezel.

[IMG]http://i59.tinypic.com/eg8i9w.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i58.tinypic.com/5wxe1.jpg[/IMG]

Don’t know if I will actually use it but good little test bench screen.

Let me know what you guys think!

Chur
Meat

[meat]

Found some spare joysticks buttons/micro switches inside my CPS2 xmen vs street fighter cabinet. Just waiting for my control block to make it’s way to new zealand! =)

[IMG]http://i58.tinypic.com/29f5mko.jpg[/IMG]

Might need more buttons….

Meat

[meat]

on going issues with n64 sound while using compiled retropie v2.3.

fresh start with retropie v2.6 image, sound working great with pi2 overclock.

Issues with fan noise. Reduced fan voltage from 12v to 5v. (removed from 12v stepup circuit) will test for awhile if still too loud may look at reducing voltage to 3.3v.

Anyone else had this issue?

Chur
meat

[meat]

Alright.

Few updates:

Using Retropie 2.6 every things working with almost all emulators, only real issue is psx games like tekken 3/bloody roar 2 lagging.. if anyone knows how to sort that out let me know.

also changed to all logitech wireless controllers + keyboard/mouse.

[IMG]http://i62.tinypic.com/11qsh8m.jpg[/IMG]

added audio out connector on the back for when using hdmi->vga.

[IMG]http://i60.tinypic.com/zo9tfp.jpg[/IMG]

Its a little foggy next to that connector because i got drunk and dropped the case from like 1.5m. It took it like a boss and only 1 panel became slightly loose. went a bit overboard with the glue. lol

Meat

[meat]

Starting work on an arcade cabinet:

For starters I had a piece of unused shelving in my garage, going to use this to setup every thing first.

[IMG]http://i57.tinypic.com/29blmr.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i58.tinypic.com/5nn97o.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i59.tinypic.com/zkgwlk.jpg[/IMG]

I ordered an micro sd card extender, I’d like to able to change sd quickly if possible.

Like this – http://preview.tinyurl.com/mdfocox

I would like for the console to drop into arcade cabinet and be able to change sd card that is setup for the control block, shrink the games from 1tb to a 16gb sd card with more selective game library. theme etc…

WIP

Meat

[meat]

Ok.
Starting playing FF8 + Crash Bash and progress halted. (mainly FF8 on disk 3 currently)

Did some more work on the arcade panel.

made up some harnesses for p1, p2 and menu buttons.

recycled some old slot machine buttons and microswitches.

[IMG]http://i60.tinypic.com/21n130w.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i61.tinypic.com/25tb8fd.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i59.tinypic.com/35k7v2c.jpg[/IMG]

currently setting up another sd card and testing configs.
Will transfer over to the cabinet when its built.

[meat]

wired up gpio harness from pi to control block. (will look to cut later and use db15 connectors to join so its case mounted)
Added power toggle switch with led.
[IMG]http://i57.tinypic.com/2iaelw6.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i59.tinypic.com/2vacqk4.jpg[/IMG]
I was having problems with fan noise with the old cpu fans, mate (Shout out to Peter) hooked it up with an old laptop cooler (which i destroyed and reused the fans) its dead silent now and has sweet blue leds.
[IMG]http://i61.tinypic.com/2n5zwk.jpg[/IMG]
Also added micro sd card extender which is great, the way the pi pcb was mounted it was really difficult to access.
[IMG]http://i60.tinypic.com/53a9au.jpg[/IMG]
Quick pic of it in action in the dark.
[IMG]http://i57.tinypic.com/23vb1jd.jpg[/IMG]

Purchased all the tools for the cabinet making..
trying to buy old beer fridge to install at the bottom of cab, once i find one i will know dimensions of cab and can finally start!

[meat]

after spending the last few weeks looking for screen/fridge on various auction sites.. I gave up since it seems i can send 10% more for warranty’s and peace of mind.

FRIDGE! – 470mm(W) x 500mm(D) x 870mm(H) – its a little higher than i wanted but it can hold a lot of beer so.. OK

DISPLAY – LG 24MB35 24″ 16:9 568.96mm(W) x 63.5mm(D) x 342.9mm(H) – Decent screen.. they actually gave me the wrong one ordered LG 24MB65 16:10 version which seems much larger and ideal for the 4:3 games. ( see how this plays out )

DOT MATRIX – 760mm(W) -Salvaged this little guy from the scrap heap. Might find a use for this?

SPEAKERS – 5.1 Creative speakers – Pulled these out of my Garage. 5.1 or 2.1 modes – has a handy wired controller with volume/bass dials power on/off and aux in which if a cellphone or mp3 is connected it will play that input rather then the emulator sound which is connected directly to sub i/o panel.

[IMG]http://i58.tinypic.com/2nqfdi8.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i57.tinypic.com/wqrh53.jpg[/IMG]

[meat]

Long story short.

Retailer had a sale.. mislabelled a screen $300 cheaper than it should have been. 40 mins of negotiations later I walked out with said screen without paying the difference. THANKS.

Anyway a few pics of it: LG 24MB65 16:10 1920×1200

[IMG]http://i62.tinypic.com/qyydc3.jpg[/IMG]
Put a chair in there to show size, its much larger than my other 24″ lcd
[IMG]http://i60.tinypic.com/dfyejp.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i62.tinypic.com/2vinqk4.jpg[/IMG]
I haven’t adjusted anything thing yet this is just plug and play.

Photos don’t really do it justice..

[meat]

Playing around with sketch up, seems like a useful program.

Here’s what I’ve come up with so far.. It’s not great but the measurements are mostly accurate, Ignore the button panel it’s a bit of a mess atm.

[IMG]http://i61.tinypic.com/13yid1v.jpg[/IMG]

[illcoolz]

Very cool stuff man! Good luck.

I am looking forward to seeing your final product.

[meat]

added Kodi Helix. Sports on the go or in the cabinet with some beers!!

[IMG]http://i61.tinypic.com/316xeuo.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i59.tinypic.com/2ezohah.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i59.tinypic.com/11uwbhi.jpg[/IMG]

[meat]

OK I’m back!

Been on Holiday.. then Rom collecting/Bug Fixing.

900Gb of roms + new hard drive as the other decided to die.

Fixed lag with some 3D intensive PSX games like Tekken 3/EX plus alpha 2, Was power related~ The 12v step up must have been lowering voltage to the Pi slightly? fixed now anyways.
Also Street Fighter 3 now runs lag free after moving to sd card from external.

added two more 4 port usb hubs as well.

Final tweaks of design before i start the cabinet side.

updates soon!

Meat

[MRKane]

Seriously impressive work! Also: hello to another Kiwi! :D

[Author]

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