Arcade cabinet with rotative CRT monitor and real amiga inside project

[CFou!]

hi guys,

Since 2 months, i am working on new project : an arcade cabinet with rotative CRT monitor.

- 2D/3D schematics are finished (using VariCAD tool)
- MDF structure are finished, built and painted.
- rotative monitor system is done (motorized now 06-2017)

I have to finish the wiring and find a motor powerful enough for the rotation.

The goal is to get a pixel perfect render for arcade games and a real amiga.

If people are interested, I will released the 3D technical schemes on this thread.

Done:
- Dédicated Win7+ATi GPU+Groovy mame for pixel perfect display
- Cabinet 2D/3D schematics
- Cabinet built and painted
- monitor rotation system (rim + roller whells...) using CRT PHILIPS 21PT5408 tube and PCB
- front glass painted
- front panel with switches and wiring built
- CRT rotation motorized with limit switches calibred (06-29-2017)
- retro lighting for marquee (with switch on front panel between monitor and x arcade) added
- marquee designed and installed (x10)
- X-arcade , Trusmaster steering wheels support
- amiga inside with common monitor/keyboard (mouse possible but not connected because i use mouse/joy automatic switch)

To do:
- add twice light guns support (working but not installed)
- to make a X-arcade tank/DB9 adaptator

Finalisation: june 2017

Remarks:
- I use an mini ATX PC with Groovymame and ATI GPU for perfect pixel render for arcade/Megadrive/(SNES), etc
- I want use an real amiga for amiga games of course (but x arcade adaptor to do=>using currently joy/mouse hidden in hidden drawer under X Arcade)
- it's designed for Trusmaster steering wheels support (replacing X arcade)
=>both computers can be placed inside cabinet.

best regards.

[ross]

Hi CFOU!

Originally Posted by CFOU!

Since 2 months, i am working on project of arcade cabinet with rotative CRT monitor

GREAT!

I have to finish the wiring and find a motor powerful enough for the rotation.

If not found there is always a solution: your arms

If people are interested, I will released the 3D technical schemes on this thread.

I think that there surely people interested

Cheers,
ross

[DamienD]

Cool stuff CFOU! and I see you have an X-Arcade there also

[Predseda]

I would use a motor from a washing machine.

[CFou!]

Originally Posted by ross

Hi CFOU!

If not found there is always a solution: your arms

yes

it's already working with my arms !!

But the best solution is to use a motor with a 3 position switch on the front to choose between the horizontal and vertical position

[CFou!]

Originally Posted by Predseda

I would use a motor from a washing machine.

I will look for that but I'm afraid the size is too big.

i already try:
- 5RPM 12V DC motor with engine couple of 106 ft lbs (15kg.cm)
=>without success

i'll try soon
- both 5RPM 12V DC motor with engine couple of 212 ft lbs (30kg.cm)
- one 5RPM 220V AC motor with engine couple of 184 ft lbs (26kg.cm)

i hope it will be enought power

I used VariCAD for 2D/3D schematics (see linked PNG)

I use a hidden mouse/keyboard for maintenance (in a hidden drawer under X arcade Tank)

[dlfrsilver]

Hi good to see you again ! Arcade machines are very cool too !!!

[Predseda]

Originally Posted by CFOU!

I will look for that but I'm afraid the size is too big.

Do you know how heavy is a drum full of your wet socks?

[spiff]

Probably a good idea to have a degauss button easily reachable, if you're going to rotate often.. or get a separate coil, hair dryer works in a pinch.

"Broke" my last CRT about 3 years ago, masking came loose and it never recovered. I've been looking for a good 4k 27 inch since then.

[demolition]

A window viper motor from a car might be suitable? Or a starter motor from a motorcycle/scooter. Should be small and powerful.

Why do you need the screen to rotate btw? To match different games where some was designed with a landscape mode display and others in portrait mode?

[DamienD]

Originally Posted by demolition

Why do you need the screen to rotate btw? To match different games where some was designed with a landscape mode display and others in portrait mode?

Exactly

...most arcade games are landscape but virtually all shooters e.g. Raiden / Twin Cobra are portrait.

The screen will rotate to portrait in MAME but the screen is small when the monitor is landscape. If you change the orientation of the monitor to portrait you will get a larger / fuller image.

[demolition]

Seems excessive to rotate something as big and heavy as a CRT, but can understand the desire to have the feature. :-) Besides the degaussing required after every rotation, could it also not give convergence problems in general? I mean the tube is adjusted for one orientation and when rotated, it won't be optimal any longer. Perhaps the errors are small enough to not be severe though.

For games in portrait mode, do they use the same tubes as regular landscape mode CRTs, i.e. with vertical scanlines or do some have horizontal scanlines in portrait-oriented tubes?

[CFou!]

Originally Posted by spiff

Probably a good idea to have a degauss button easily reachable, if you're going to rotate often.. or get a separate coil, hair dryer works in a pinch.

"Broke" my last CRT about 3 years ago, masking came loose and it never recovered. I've been looking for a good 4k 27 inch since then.

yes, is good idea, i will modify design to add degauss button in front panel between monitor and X arcade Tank

[CFou!]

Originally Posted by demolition

Seems excessive to rotate something as big and heavy as a CRT, but can understand the desire to have the feature. :-) Besides the degaussing required after every rotation, could it also not give convergence problems in general? I mean the tube is adjusted for one orientation and when rotated, it won't be optimal any longer. Perhaps the errors are small enough to not be severe though.

For games in portrait mode, do they use the same tubes as regular landscape mode CRTs, i.e. with vertical scanlines or do some have horizontal scanlines in portrait-oriented tubes?

yes, it may seem excessive but i will add painted glass (bezel) to hide rotation system.

So to turn the screen, I should each time remove the glass...

So if possible turn button (3 positions switches) with automatic degauss is better way.

all my motor are not enougth powerfull
window viper motor is a good idea i will investigate to test it

[idrougge]

Why not just install a lever? It removes a lot of margin for error.

[paul773car]

if you use a level you could power that internally with a car window power regulator, with the lever you wouldnt need so much power and you can set the up and down stops on the regulator???

[CFou!]

Originally Posted by paul773car

if you use a level you could power that internally with a car window power regulator, with the lever you wouldnt need so much power and you can set the up and down stops on the regulator???

hi

i have already tested power regulateur.

The disadvantage is that it increases the inertia of the motor at the time of stopping.

i use following moteur without success :
https://www.amazon.fr/gp/product/B01...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.fr/gp/product/B01...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[CFou!]

Originally Posted by idrougge

Why not just install a lever? It removes a lot of margin for error.

What type of lever? I do not see how to use a lever to do a quarter turn of the wheel.

[robinsonb5]

Originally Posted by CFOU!

all my motor are not enougth powerfull

Can you gear them down?

[idrougge]

Originally Posted by CFOU!

What type of lever? I do not see how to use a lever to do a quarter turn of the wheel.

One that extends out of the cabinet. Nothing fancy, just a stick attached to the monitor's axis.