Got an arcade cabinet...tips for converting to MAME?

[Unleaded Logic]

So I got ahold of a crap load of stuff from a co-worker and one of the freebies he gave me was an old Aero Fighters arcade cab. It needs work, but I'd like to make a MAME cab out of it, since I'm able to get ahold of a older PC that will work quite nicely for running just MAME and already have a CRT monitor I could use for it.




Apart from that though, I'm not quite sure where to start. Has anyone worked on a MAME Cab project before? I guess I need to know how one goes about wiring up the sticks, replacing buttons and other stuff.

Any newbie guides to MAME setup anywhere? I found a few video's but they skip alot of stuff it seems.

[SpaceBooger]

Last summer I made a Mame cabinet from scratch. The only thing that I did not do is wire up real controllers - I used some cheap ps2 joysticks and a usb adapter.
check it out: http://www.racketboy.com/forum/viewtopi ... =28&t=5708
As for suggestions it should not be hard just hook up a pc like normal, and modify the cabinet to fit the parts and wires.
Also I would get a frontend like Maximus Arcade, thats what I used, so when you boot up the machine straight to the games - http://www.maximusarcade.com/
Lastly since you have buttons I would purchase some more and a I-Pac. The I-Pac works as a splitter that allows the buttons to work as a keystroke along with your keyboard. http://www.ultimarc.com/ipac1.html

Like I said I made one last year, and am working on the controls for mine so just pm if you need anything.

[nova1313]

The Ultimarc is the way to go. I have an iPac-4 in my machine. Works great! If you have any questions PM me. I built a 4 player + trackball machine from scratch last year.

Oh definitely make sure you have spare space on your iPac to wire in the coin doors. It's wicked cool when they actually work.

[BIZ]

The Ultimarc is the way to go. I have an iPac-4 in my machine. Works great! If you have any questions PM me. I built a 4 player + trackball machine from scratch last year.

Oh definitely make sure you have spare space on your iPac to wire in the coin doors. It's wicked cool when they actually work.

I also have an iPac encoder and it works very well. Ultimarc also gives good support. If you order from them, make sure to factor in shipping from UK I believe.

[fast]

Ultimarc is in the Uk - but shipping is usually really fair.

I would suggest for tips to browse Build Your Own Arcade Controls (BYOAC http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php ). There is a wealth of knowledge on the site and the webmaster even wrote the book on the subject:
http://www.amazon.com/Project-Arcade-Bu ... 970&sr=8-1
I cannont link you to the main page - it is blocked here at work.

I suggest buying your parts from Ponyboy/Rollie
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=36770.0
He is a quality merchant and a good guy.

[DCsegaDH]

I'm making a MAME cabinet from scratch,I used Arcadecontrols.com at the examples page to find what other people have done to get some ideas.I wanted to buy an empty arcade,but the only one I found was a MK 1 arcade,he wanted $200 for it.