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| Mame Radio | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Oct 27 2011, 02:51 PM (404 Views) | |
| Benevolance | Oct 27 2011, 02:51 PM Post #1 |
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Ancient Wyrm
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Alright, I think it is time to start working on the Mame Radio. After all, I've got a child to look after and a course that is too rapidly approaching its final exam, I need something to keep me busy! Here is the unit that we're modding. I've bought a 15" ELO touch screen monitor to install. I've already got the sound system, receiver and HTPC to put inside. If there is space, I will also mount the Xbox into the unit. But that might get a little bit tight. Still, it would make it much, much easier to play Rock Band. Early on, I'd agonized over ways to use the center glass bubble on the unit. It looks very cool. But sadly, I could figure out no way to incorporate the bubble into the design. I'm going to cut that entire section out so that I can mount the touch-screen monitor on an angle. My vision for the finished cabinet is similar to the Star Trek engineering junction boxes, but in a wood-and-metal steampunk aesthetic to match our great room. The function will be just as important as the design style. You know the style, where there is the monitor panel on the front and center, but below are pull-away panels to reveal the engineering components and relays. Our HTPC is about the height and thickness of a paperback novel, so squeezing that into the build isn't going to be difficult. The Xbox is larger. I figure that I can lower the floor of the radio a bit to accomodate all the pieces. If worse comes to worse, I can leave the Xbox out of the build. The biggest challenge going to be refinishing the outside. It's a veneer over top of particle board. And it's pretty badly damaged in a few places. So my first step is going to be refinishing the unit, cutting away some of the wood so that I can install components on the outside. I can perhaps use some of the better veneer from the scraps I cut away to replace damaged portions on the existing frame. The sumo kick off is November 12th. I've got to have this up and running before then, or else we'll have no TV! |
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| lgm | Oct 27 2011, 07:00 PM Post #2 |
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Demogorgon
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You mean the basic layout of slanted monitor 'counter top' and space below? Image related: Posted Image That would be a good fit for walking up and interacting with the unit. The veneer is something you have to be very careful with. It is only 1/32" thick. You can refinish but you have to be careful and sand it with only a couple passes with 120 grit. Do not use a sander. You will have to do it by hand or you'll ruin the whole unit. Removing the veneer without damage would require someone who specializes in restoring antique furniture. I've heard it can take weeks but that may have been referring to using stripping chemicals available at the store; not the professional stuff not readily available to the public. They have the heavy machine presses to do it right. Instead of typing out a bunch of directions, I found a good method in restoring it yourself with a nice stain: eHow refurbishing veneer :link: Edited by lgm, Oct 27 2011, 07:02 PM.
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| Benevolance | Oct 27 2011, 07:36 PM Post #3 |
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Ancient Wyrm
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Thanks, linkie Link! That is a good resource. That doesn't seem much more difficult that when we refinished the oak gaming table. As for the look - not quite the whole command console look. But in the show, they have smaller consoles. I think they're located at junctions in the jeffries tubes or something, that is more the size of our radio. But generally, yeah. If the angled keyboard area of that image was the monitor, instead of the wall above it, it would look somewhat similar in concept. But with more wood and brass and dirigibles. |
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| Benevolance | Oct 29 2011, 05:27 PM Post #4 |
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Ancient Wyrm
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I moved the radio downstairs into my workspace and disassmbled what I could. Re-gluing the veneer shouldn't be difficult. The only places it is pulling up are the back side edges. Very easy to glue and clamp. The Circa 1850 varnish remover is the stuff I used to strip the old table down. It looks like it will work well here. There are two varieties - one that is like a gel, and can be used on vertical surfaces, and one that is guaranteed not to dissolve glue or interfere with veneer, but can only be used on horizontal surfaces. I might have to strip the cabinet in stages. On the bright side, the product is supposed to work within minutes - it required hours on our game table. Anyway, I managed to (gently) break apart a few of the components of the radio so that cutting would be easier, and then began sawing the center panel. I managed to cut bottom and sides free. I also managed to de-case the touch screen monitor, so that it's footprint is smaller. I'll build a custom frame for support. This leaves more room inside the top of the radio for installing the electronics components I want. So far, so good! Tonight I'll finish sawing the top and then I'll have a spot to mount the monitor. After that, I'll glue and clamp the veneer where it's pulled away. And tomorrow I can begin the stripping process. |
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| Benevolance | Nov 1 2011, 06:53 PM Post #5 |
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Ancient Wyrm
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I snapped photos! But I forgot my camera at home, so I cannot upload them! I cut away the center console, sanded the edges smooth, and test-fit the monitor. Fits like a glove! Haven't got as far as gluing the veneer, because my son is too cute and constantly side-tracks me. But tonight I plan to get the gluing and clamping finished! The next part is tricky, because I need to figure out how the interior will be configured. I've got a receiver, xbox, subwoofer, and computer to install inside. The tricky part is that the receiver is also the DVD player, and it's got a fancy touch-screen top itself. I've considered flush-mounting the receiver so that the top is exposed, but making the DVD opening accessible might require mounting the dvd/receiver sideways. I'm not sure if that will cause problems long term? Additionally, the style of the receiver is sleek and modern, which doesn't exactly fit the vagabond swashbuckle that is steampunk. If only the top is exposed, it'd look like another screen, which would play off the touch-screen appearance, and that might be okay. But exposing more of the unit (like the front, where the DVD slit is) would undermine the look of the radio, I think. Nighthawk is coming over this week to help brainstorm suggestions. I'll try to get some photos online tonight and solicit everyone's feedback, as well. |
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| lgm | Nov 1 2011, 08:33 PM Post #6 |
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Demogorgon
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You'd be better off with the xbox 'sideways' as it can hold the disc as it retracts. Normal dvd players will let the disc fall. Still have to be a little careful with inserting discs into the xbox. |
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| Benevolance | Nov 1 2011, 08:45 PM Post #7 |
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Ancient Wyrm
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Our Xbox is currently in the 'sideways' book-end configuration. We bought the Resident Evil branded box, and the cd tray has a bit of a hook, so the disks are easier to load. The DVD player doesn't actually have a tray. It's like a car CD player, where it is just the slit. But you just made me think of another idea. The DVD player touch buttons are only at the front, I might be able to mount it...gah, it's difficult to explain. I'd mount in on the side of the radio, facing outwards, and I could put a thin veneer/facade in front of the player, and leave the top exposed. I'll go home and snap some pictures and try to explain it. But that may be the solution. |
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| lgm | Nov 1 2011, 09:29 PM Post #8 |
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Demogorgon
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I think I caught on. It's a smart move. I'm not sure how everything is fitting but it would save lots of room. I assume you have considered ventilation. It sounds like you're squeezing quite a bit together. The Xbox runs pretty hot like a higher end PC. I don't know how well it works but you could jettison the DVD player altogether and use the Xbox to run everything with the media center software. Edited by lgm, Nov 1 2011, 09:32 PM.
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| Andrul | Nov 3 2011, 10:40 AM Post #9 |
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Ancient Wyrm
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You're putting in the 360, not the old xbox, right? The 360 runs dvd videos fine, the old xb not so good. And yeah, that 360 will cook everything without ventilation. Consider ventilation slots in the cabinet with an intake fan. You can force the air in through the back over the equipment, then out through side vents or if you can create a dead space in the bottom have the hot air flow downwards then out the back. Angle the exhaust slots so the hot air will flow away from the area of the intake so you're not pulling in as much pre-heated air. Hopefully this rambling is helpful. |
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| Benevolance | Nov 3 2011, 04:21 PM Post #10 |
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Ancient Wyrm
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It seems unlikey that we can fit the Xbox into the arrangement, so that saves some problems. The radio simply isn't large enough to accomodate the outer physical dimensions of all these electronics, even though there is a lot of empty space in the radio. I cut some new shelves. Figured out rough placement of the receiver and the HDMI switch. The fit is going to be a little bit tight, between the receiver and the monitor, so I think rather than static-mounting the monitor onto the shell, I'm going to attach the monitor to a VESA arm inside the shell. Then the monitor can slide into place without. And, if necessary, we can pull the monitor out and away to reach cords up top, without having to move the radio. I'm a little concerned about how well the wifi signals are going to reach inside the cabinet. I guess I'll know once it's all built. :P |
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| Andrul | Nov 3 2011, 11:13 PM Post #11 |
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Ancient Wyrm
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Mostly wood construction? If the router isn't on the other side of your house it should be sufficient. |
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| Benevolance | Nov 4 2011, 12:52 PM Post #12 |
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Ancient Wyrm
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Yeah, it's mostly wood. Actually, I think it's hilarious. There is good, nice solid wood beneath the veneer. It's an old radio, so apparently the wood they used to build the radio wasn't 'nice enough'. But by today's standards, it's good wood. :D I finished glueing the veneer down last night. I am already to start routing. Oh, trials and tribulations! Decided I'd do the software setup at work. The touch screen lacked a serial to usb connector. I bought one. The male serial end had stupid knobs on it, like the female monitor stub has. Only it's a male connector, so they were butting parts. Removed the offending parts from the female side (because the serial to usb connector was impossible to remove)...now the female connector won't stay attached to the case. Opened up the monitor casing. Re-routed the wiring through a secondary port. Go to close the case, bump something that still has a charge with the metal frame. ZAP! WHIFF! Fuse is blown. At least, I hope it's the fuse: it's all exploded and burnt looking. Otherwise, I fried something important and will need to buy another monitor. Sad mephit. :'( Edited by Benevolance, Nov 4 2011, 07:55 PM.
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| lgm | Nov 4 2011, 08:57 PM Post #13 |
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Demogorgon
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That read like hardware porn with a horrific ending. My hard drive went floppy disk. |
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| Andrul | Nov 4 2011, 09:06 PM Post #14 |
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Ancient Wyrm
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"I'd buy that for a dollar!" |
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| Benevolance | Nov 5 2011, 05:18 PM Post #15 |
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Ancient Wyrm
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Switched the fuse. Coke! No good. Ordering another monitor. |
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| Andrul | Nov 5 2011, 08:33 PM Post #16 |
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Ancient Wyrm
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"..., it's the real thing." |
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| The Nighthawk | Nov 6 2011, 06:59 PM Post #17 |
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Bugbear
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Crap man, that sucks. In related news, my computer just died... Ordered a new laptop but I probably won't see it for two weeks. Also, sad mephit. :( |
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| Benevolance | Nov 6 2011, 07:11 PM Post #18 |
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Ancient Wyrm
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I said to Jenn yesterday that she needs to make Locutus a stuffed Happy Mephit/Sad Mephit Sock Puppet. Okay, so it would be for the game table. But we can at least pretend it's for the baby. On the bright side, the new monitor will arrive this week. It's got a sleeker profile, so should fit even better into the radio. |
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| lgm | Nov 7 2011, 06:10 PM Post #19 |
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Demogorgon
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You should try doing some soldering or try messing with the cord ends again. Just for fun. |
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| Benevolance | Nov 8 2011, 01:43 PM Post #20 |
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Ancient Wyrm
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Not bloody likely. I got a good shock and a small burn from brushing the wrong part of the monitor. I'd rather not repeat that mistake. :D The new monitor is USB connection - not serial to USB like the old one - so it will be much easier to hook up. I've got lots of extra USB cables of all stripes. |
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| Andrul | Nov 8 2011, 02:06 PM Post #21 |
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Ancient Wyrm
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So, did you take the first monitor back and say it didn't work or was it out of warranty? I had to re-read your description of what happened. It didn't connect that you were rummaging around inside the monitor casing. Bad Lance! Bad boy! You're lucky you didn't get a concussion from hitting your head on the wall behind you. |
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| Benevolance | Nov 8 2011, 02:49 PM Post #22 |
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Ancient Wyrm
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Yeah, I hear you on that! I bought the monitor used on Ebay, so no warranty. It wouldn't be covered even if there had been one, because what I was doing specifically voids warranties. :D Anyway, it's cost me a few extra bucks in the end. S'all good. |
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| Andrul | Nov 8 2011, 03:28 PM Post #23 |
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Ancient Wyrm
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13 years ago, Gateway started putting seal stickers on their desktop cases to show the customer that the unit hadn't been tampered with in shipping. Of course, what did we do whenever troubleshooting? Have them open the case of course! Made for very nervous customers 'cause they thought it voided the warranty. |
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