Storing arcade pcbs

CathalDublin

So after 4 of my boards decided to give up the ghost while in storage, moving, moved around the house, etc I decided I needed a better way to store them.
Anti static boxes were not an option due to limited space and the number of different size boards I have.

Click the thumbs to enlarge:p
2 cuts of perspex per board cost €6each cut


Brass standoff brackets replaced the plastic ones about 20cent each


Some stickers for show and to help identify any boots about €1-€2each



Can be stacked and stored without anything coming in contact with the pcb




Just cause its cool


Total cost less than €15/game
Total time was 20minutes/game and hours saved repairing the damned things

Myrddin

Very very nice, good job!

CathalDublin

Thanks, now I've just to do the rest of em:D

o1s1n

Wow, that looks really really good. Wouldn't mind doing that myself!

CathalDublin

Im happy with them.
Sliding them into the cabinet is easier, safer too and the screws stop the Perspex scratching if mounting horizontally or against the side wall

I bought the Perspex from gold star plastics in ballymount which were by far the cheapest place I found and the cut to size too which was great

Steve X2

Looks excellent dude, but is there not an issue with acrylic and static electricity?

CathalDublin

Perspex does hold a static charge if rubbed with a dry cloth, etc.
As the Perspex is not directly touching any components I'm not overly concerned about it.
I done some research first and people have been mounting arcade pcbs on acrylic for years over on neo-geo.com and other forums
Some other interesting ideas here

Andrew76

Very nice Cathal. Did you drill the holes for the standoffs yourself? And are you still able to access the dip switches?

CathalDublin

Yes drilled the holes myself, lined up one sheet then taped the 2 together and drilled by hand, it was surprisingly easy.
On those 2 boards the dips are near the edge so yes I can access them.
On some of my other boards I'm going to need to drill a hole with a hole saw I think.

Andrew76

Excellent work. Stickers look cool too.

TechnoFreek

Awesome job. So did you just measure each individual PCB and get two sheets of perspex to fit? What thickness?

Or just a one size fits all approach?

CathalDublin

Measured and got them cut to be about 10mm bigger all around.
It's 6mm Perspex so it's well strong

mickey mac

CathalDublin wrote: »

Measured and got them cut to be about 10mm bigger all around.
It's 6mm Perspex so it's well strong

Abit off topic, where did you get the perspex cut? I need some for a different purpose.

CathalDublin

mickey mac wrote: »

Abit off topic, where did you get the perspex cut? I need some for a different purpose.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=82077485&postcount=5

The Last Bandit

Nice job on the pcb covers, are they usable like that or do you need to take the covers off to Jamma them up ?

CathalDublin

Thanks
They are fully usable

safetyboy

Do this crowd drill holes as in Control panel layouts?

say like http://slagcoin.com/joystick/layout.html

CathalDublin

safetyboy wrote: »

Do this crowd drill holes as in Control panel layouts?

say like http://slagcoin.com/joystick/layout.html

I think they will drill perspex too if you give them the measurements or call into them.
Perspex drills easily enough without cracking though once you clamp it to a piece of wood

safetyboy

CathalDublin wrote: »

I think they will drill perspex too if you give them the measurements or call into them.
Perspex drills easily enough without cracking though once you clamp it to a piece of wood

Yeah but that means buying a 28mm drill bit and stuff, I'm just trying to make a control panel for an old convert poker machine I have and stick in the MVS 161. Something to keep me busy through January

as I already have one of these http://www.gremlinsolutions.co.uk/products/sanwaballtopjoysticks.htm

and a bunch of http://www.gremlinsolutions.co.uk/products/sspb2.htm

and a new Jamma harness.

CathalDublin

safetyboy wrote: »

Yeah but that means buying a 28mm drill bit and stuff, I'm just trying to make a control panel for an old convert poker machine I have and stick in the MVS 161. Something to keep me busy through January

as I already have one of these http://www.gremlinsolutions.co.uk/products/sanwaballtopjoysticks.htm

and a bunch of http://www.gremlinsolutions.co.uk/products/sspb2.htm

and a new Jamma harness.

Sweet

If you don't have the mvs161 yet I've a few multicarts coming my way, should work out a bit cheaper than eBay, will list on adverts when they land

safetyboy

Have the MVS but just doesn't work right through the JVS - Jamma converter so thought I'd soup up that cab that has been haunting me for years since I have a fair idea what I'm at now.

Hay safetyboy,
I might be able to help you out with the acrylic,
Drop me a pm if your interested.