Making an Arcade!
This past winter I build a table top Arcade machine (with help from Tristyn and Allison). While I would love a full stand up model, space and opposition from my wife steered me towards a tabletop version.
This blog goes through the building process - from start to finish - but is not meant to be a step by step guide. There are plenty of those on the internet.
Inspiration
These two web sites acted as a rough inspiration, though I didnt follow them specifically. I adapted as I built
Materials
- Internals
- Raspberry PI 3B+
- I prefer the 3B+ as it has built in wifi.
- Raspberry Pi 4 is out, but there isnt an official RetroPie image.
- Amazon Link
- 2 Player Button Set and Controller with zero delay USB board
- LED Strip Light
- USB Flush Mount Adapter
- Powered USB Hub
- Powered is important as the Raspberry Pi dosent supply enough power for the LED strip lights, etc.
- 5 Watt Audio Amplifier Board
- 2 Inch 3 Watt speakers
- Power Socket Switch - 110 Volts
- HDMI to VGA Adapter
- Raspberry Pi has HDMI out, 4:3 Monitor is VGA
- Amazon Link
- Used Dell 17 Inch 4:3 LCD
- Found on Kijiji for $10
- Frame
- 3/4 Inch Plywood
- 5/8 Inch Plywood
- 1/8 Inch Plexiglass
- Scrap Wood
- Wood Screws
- Angle Brackets
- Artwork and Polish
- Vinyl Printing
- Static Cling Print for Plexiglass Bezel
- Backlit Film for Marquee
- T-Moulding
- 3/4 and 5/8 Inch
- T-Moulding
Assembly
The frame was built of of 3/4 Inch paint grade birch, and cut on my Table Saw
