I convert my old Ion iCade into a Bartop Raspberry Pi Powered Arcade Machine! 'How to' guide inside. IT'S FINISHED!

Anything to do with games at all.
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Green Gecko
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PostRe: I convert my old Ion iCade into a Bartop Raspberry Pi Powered Arcade Machine! 'How to' guide inside. UPDATED 24/8/16
by Green Gecko » Wed Aug 31, 2016 11:46 am

Yeah best be certain. Out of phase music is the same but basically inside out, it's very hard to judge and will just sound odd.

"It should be common sense to just accept the message Nintendo are sending out through their actions."
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Rex Kramer
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PostRe: I convert my old Ion iCade into a Bartop Raspberry Pi Powered Arcade Machine! 'How to' guide inside. UPDATED 24/8/16
by Rex Kramer » Thu Sep 01, 2016 7:20 am

Casually mentioned my plans to the missus last night and I didn't get the response I was expecting so it's a green light :mrgreen: Pretty much nailed down the list of games I'm going with initially and started testing a few out. Some initial teething problems as some roms seem to have files missing so I probably need to download some kind of parent roms for them. Also, up and down didn't seem to work within MAME though it does on the Emulationstation menus.

Regarding the build. I've seen several flat pack kits on ebay so will probably go for one of those as I really don't trust my ability to cut my own wood. In the long run I could see it costing me more in MDF than it would to just buy it pre-cut. At this point I think I need to consider power distribution, whether I need to dismantle my speakers to fit them in, routing USB outside the cabinet so I can plug in memory sticks, keyboard and mice for future expansion, lighting for the marque (Ikea kitchen cabinet lights look best) and then graphics.

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Victor Mildew
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PostRe: I convert my old Ion iCade into a Bartop Raspberry Pi Powered Arcade Machine! 'How to' guide inside. UPDATED 24/8/16
by Victor Mildew » Thu Sep 01, 2016 8:38 am

I'd just buy a flat pack for your first build, you don't want to be unhappy with the finished thing on your first one.

Hexx wrote:Ad7 is older and balder than I thought.
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Victor Mildew
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PostRe: I convert my old Ion iCade into a Bartop Raspberry Pi Powered Arcade Machine! 'How to' guide inside. UPDATED 24/8/16
by Victor Mildew » Mon Sep 05, 2016 9:57 am

Speakers are here, as long as they work of course they're going to be absolutely perfect for this build, great size and plug and play.

Hexx wrote:Ad7 is older and balder than I thought.
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Rex Kramer
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PostRe: I convert my old Ion iCade into a Bartop Raspberry Pi Powered Arcade Machine! 'How to' guide inside. UPDATED 24/8/16
by Rex Kramer » Mon Sep 05, 2016 10:03 am

Ad7 wrote:Speakers are here, as long as they work of course they're going to be absolutely perfect for this build, great size and plug and play.

Linky? Just in case mine are too big for the cabinet.

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Victor Mildew
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PostRe: I convert my old Ion iCade into a Bartop Raspberry Pi Powered Arcade Machine! 'How to' guide inside. UPDATED 24/8/16
by Victor Mildew » Mon Sep 05, 2016 1:29 pm

Rex Kramer wrote:
Ad7 wrote:Speakers are here, as long as they work of course they're going to be absolutely perfect for this build, great size and plug and play.

Linky? Just in case mine are too big for the cabinet.


These ones:
https://www.adafruit.com/product/1669

Remember they're sealed and plug straight in to my VGA board so may not be suitable for what you're doing.

Hexx wrote:Ad7 is older and balder than I thought.
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Victor Mildew
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PostRe: I convert my old Ion iCade into a Bartop Raspberry Pi Powered Arcade Machine! 'How to' guide inside. UPDATED 24/8/16
by Victor Mildew » Mon Sep 05, 2016 2:00 pm

MAde some rough as cad for the cabinet to test out some artwork im working on. Just one idea at the moment, and i think it might be a bit blue line overkill, but i want something a bit classier than splattering generic arcade characters all over it:
Image

Top bit would be backlit, the rest would be stick on vinyl.

Hexx wrote:Ad7 is older and balder than I thought.
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PostRe: I convert my old Ion iCade into a Bartop Raspberry Pi Powered Arcade Machine! 'How to' guide inside. UPDATED 24/8/16
by Poser » Mon Sep 05, 2016 2:24 pm

I like that a lot. I think the grid gives it a retro (Tron) feel without being too garish.

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Rex Kramer
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PostRe: I convert my old Ion iCade into a Bartop Raspberry Pi Powered Arcade Machine! 'How to' guide inside. UPDATED 24/8/16
by Rex Kramer » Mon Sep 05, 2016 2:25 pm

Might be tricky wrapping vinyl around the corners though.

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Victor Mildew
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PostRe: I convert my old Ion iCade into a Bartop Raspberry Pi Powered Arcade Machine! 'How to' guide inside. UPDATED 24/8/16
by Victor Mildew » Mon Sep 05, 2016 3:42 pm

It'll be separate panels, I've got a template for each piece.

Hexx wrote:Ad7 is older and balder than I thought.
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Victor Mildew
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PostRe: I convert my old Ion iCade into a Bartop Raspberry Pi Powered Arcade Machine! 'How to' guide inside. UPDATED 24/8/16
by Victor Mildew » Mon Sep 05, 2016 8:40 pm

New speakers work a treat, plus that board actually takes the audio over hdmi, removing the need for a 3.5mm cable that I thought I was going to need. :toot:

They just plug straight in (the red black black Red connection)
Image

Nice and dinky with mounting holes already in.
Image

Will fit up the top no problem with room for lighting.
Image

Bonus: coin slot changing colour when the unit goes from standby to powered on :datass:
Image
Image

Hexx wrote:Ad7 is older and balder than I thought.
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Green Gecko
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PostRe: I convert my old Ion iCade into a Bartop Raspberry Pi Powered Arcade Machine! 'How to' guide inside. UPDATED 5/9/16
by Green Gecko » Mon Sep 05, 2016 9:42 pm

Can't print on vinyl buddy so a solvent printed jobby will cost elsewhere. They will only print black onto white that way so it will appear like cmyk dithering unless you go with spot colours ie pantone or equivalent which would be a bit better for the solid black but again expensive for a single run.

Can do the Sega though. Can do 1 or 2 mm solid blue on black recommended with no vanishing point.

Basically you can get some custom stickers printed to size but I can't do that. You'll need somewhere that will do counter cutting to custom shape and dark inks. No idea what that costs.

Edit: maybe it's possible to print opaque colours on black vinyl using some process I don't know about similar to how stuff is printed directly to plastics.

"It should be common sense to just accept the message Nintendo are sending out through their actions."
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Victor Mildew
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PostRe: I convert my old Ion iCade into a Bartop Raspberry Pi Powered Arcade Machine! 'How to' guide inside. UPDATED 5/9/16
by Victor Mildew » Mon Sep 05, 2016 10:48 pm

Makes sense, guess I should have asked you what your able to produce first. I can get proper stuff made up through work contacts (paying for it still of course) but I would rather through you as is better to support a fellow 'cadian.

If I get the rest done elsewhere, would you be able to produce the marquee strip at least? It'll just be a printed graphic that'll be back-lit, so I'd imagine a sticker on the right material would work.

I may just do this all black you know, I don't think I'd be happy with any graphics no matey how good I make them (these were a rough first stab,I can do way better than that).

Hexx wrote:Ad7 is older and balder than I thought.
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Green Gecko
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PostRe: I convert my old Ion iCade into a Bartop Raspberry Pi Powered Arcade Machine! 'How to' guide inside. UPDATED 5/9/16
by Green Gecko » Mon Sep 05, 2016 10:57 pm

Basically what I had in mind that's suitable for the cut vinyl process similar to tolex on amps or really old school texture on arcade units was matt black or some texture effect eg carbon fibre (usually used to wrap cars) and then have separate coloured layers.

Exactly the same thing you see on signs/vans. If you look closely they are made up thin layers. The advantage of this is:

Waterproof
Scratch resistant
Uv resistance
Solid colour (no process pattern or pooling or dithering).
Rated 5 to 10 years depending on the grade.
No set up fees / cost associated with one off.

It's literally layers of really strong permanent adhesive Pvc, about 70 nanometers. I'll add pictures.

I can also do fluorescents, foils, reflective and glow in the dark. :cool:

"It should be common sense to just accept the message Nintendo are sending out through their actions."
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❤ btw GRcade costs money and depends on donations - please support one of the UK's oldest video gaming forums → HOW TO DONATE
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Victor Mildew
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PostRe: I convert my old Ion iCade into a Bartop Raspberry Pi Powered Arcade Machine! 'How to' guide inside. UPDATED 5/9/16
by Victor Mildew » Mon Sep 05, 2016 11:05 pm

That sounds cool, probably more of what I'm after really.

Hexx wrote:Ad7 is older and balder than I thought.
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Green Gecko
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PostRe: I convert my old Ion iCade into a Bartop Raspberry Pi Powered Arcade Machine! 'How to' guide inside. UPDATED 5/9/16
by Green Gecko » Mon Sep 05, 2016 11:06 pm

Nearest example to me on my PC

Image

Image

That's been on there for years now with no degradation even between car trips to LAN parties.

50+ 5 star reviews so far.

So yeah, think about the graphics and your options. Personally I dig the flat colours and physically sharp, solid colours, but that's my day to day work as a vector artist.

You could go mental with something like this and get laser cut opal acrylic and light it from behind with led strip, but I use a guy for that (2 actually, the acrylic and the led).

I really should be doing stuff like this myself. I really want to get laser cutter or 3d printer in next 3 to 5 years, is the plan anyway! :D I want to develop my own range of light boxes and cover up jobbies for console/controller mods.

"It should be common sense to just accept the message Nintendo are sending out through their actions."
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Floex
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PostRe: I convert my old Ion iCade into a Bartop Raspberry Pi Powered Arcade Machine! 'How to' guide inside. UPDATED 5/9/16
by Floex » Mon Sep 05, 2016 11:19 pm

Love that little coin operator touch :lol: :wub:

Looking fantastic

jawafour
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PostRe: I convert my old Ion iCade into a Bartop Raspberry Pi Powered Arcade Machine! 'How to' guide inside. UPDATED 5/9/16
by jawafour » Mon Sep 05, 2016 11:24 pm

Floex wrote:Love that little coin operator touch :lol: :wub:

Yep... that is really cool! Great work, Ad... I don't have a clue about this kind of construction and it looks terrific.

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Green Gecko
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PostRe: I convert my old Ion iCade into a Bartop Raspberry Pi Powered Arcade Machine! 'How to' guide inside. UPDATED 5/9/16
by Green Gecko » Mon Sep 05, 2016 11:25 pm

Here are some colour options for my best supply, I suggest gloss on matte so the colours pop, you're not in a high intensity light environment to produce glare right?

Might help get creative juices going. I find limiting pallete helps.

Image

"It should be common sense to just accept the message Nintendo are sending out through their actions."
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Dowbocop
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PostRe: I convert my old Ion iCade into a Bartop Raspberry Pi Powered Arcade Machine! 'How to' guide inside. UPDATED 5/9/16
by Dowbocop » Tue Sep 06, 2016 12:09 am

That art is based on the Mega Drive box isn't it? :datass:


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