Advice needed on Jamma cab

[Swainy]

Thanks to Bonehead (aka Steve) I’m now the proud owner of this Jamma cab.

The cab didn't come with a monitor but I managed to pick up this broken Megatouch which happens to have a working 19" CRT in it.

This is the first time that I've had to handle a a bare CRT monitor so I'm a it worried about getting a bad shock from it. Anyway I understand that the monitor needs a wooden frame to fit into which I don't have. Does anyone have a spare or know the measurements so that I can make one?

Also I would like a 6 button control panel, are these easy to come by? Cheers

Swainy2018-08-10 22:11:14

 

[ZedEx48K]

I think you will find the Maxx machine has a shielded monitor anyway, given that it's most likely just a VGA CRT inside it, not a 15k arcade tube.

Those panels are normally hacked with an awkward 6 button layout and P1&2 put on the front, you would be better off taking the panel to a metal fabricator to cut a new one with the panel design you like if no one comes forward with one.

 

[Swainy]

I've opened the back up and it's not shielded, plus the monitor has scanlines unlike a computer CRT. It is VGA though.

Thanks for the tip about the control panel, I'll try to find somewhere local.

Swainy2018-08-11 10:53:01

 

[ZedEx48K]

You will be fine if you use those provided hand points to move it.

 

[Swainy]

Cool, cheers!

 

[LewisGamer]

I have the same style cab. Mine is a 19" BAS. The monitor you want to put in it looks a little far back. Have you checked to see if it fits? I've recently had trouble fitting a 31khz 20" monitor in mine.

Also.. I say stick with 3 buttons. 4 at most. Unless you get another panel made up for it. You will find the latch inside the panel prevents you from adding buttons right up to the edge.

 

[Swainy]

Well I've measured the best I could but like I said I'm missing the wooden frame that the monitor needs to sit in so its a bit awkward. Steve says that he might have a spare.

 

[Spanky]

When I got my first cab, the wooden bezel was present but swollen due to water damage in the past.
I got a bit of wood the same thickness from somewhere. A bloke at work cut out the aperture in the middle with an electric jigsaw in less than a minute. Doesn't have to be a brilliant job - it's behind the glass after all. Two coats of matt black from a spray can and your done™

 

[Swainy]

I don’t suppose anyone has the measurements handy?

 

[virtvic]

If you want to use a vga monitor for playing jamma boards, you’ll need a converter.
As for the wooden frame, you need a square with the monitor shaped aperture cut into it. There are standard brackets on the monitor to mount to the wooden frame. You will probably need to measure a few things yourself to make it.

If I lived near you, I’d give you a hand...

 

[IanH]

Worked on a few of them jamma cabs in my time, ace to see one again!

 

[jengineer]

if I was doing it I would do everything below,

first of all remove the monitor from the Megatouch so you have it on some kind of work bench

then remove the touchscreen (very carefully) from the front of the screen, and also remove the touchscreen controller which is mounted on the piece of plywood, I would then somehow fix the monitor remote board to the inside of the metal monitor frame

I would then unbolt the monitor from the plywood so the monitor just sits on it's own in the metal case, now check the monitor will fit into the cab and it's not too wide (unless your having it horizontal?)

then I would make a monitor frame from some MDF, the only tricky thing you'll need to do is jigsaw out a hole so the monitor sits in it nicely like a proper arcade monitor, no one will be able to give you measurements unless they have done one before, but even if they have it will be nearly impossible to give you measurements for the front hole because of the curvature

or like you said above try and get hold of an original wooden monitor frame, you might have to tickle it about to fit your megatouch monitor in though, that might be easier then making one from scratch I suppose

I wouldn't de-case your megatouch monitor from it's metal frame though, it would be a nightmare to recase it into something else and also completely unnecessary

before you start this, make sure the megatouch monitor works perfectly, these have a tendency to break down a lot, typical fault with these is they start off quite dim and then after 10 minutes, 20 minutes end up really really bright, so at the start you adjust the brightness up and then after 30 minutes the screen is super bright and unplayable, I think this fault relates to a faulty lopt? anyway just make sure the monitor is working fine before you start the work, I wouldn't spend any money getting these repaired, there not worth it

I've posted some pictures below of proper arcade monitors for you just to look it

either that or source a working 19" monitor from someone local to you etc















jengineer2018-08-13 10:50:28

 

[Swainy]

Cool thanks for the tips. I’ve checked the monitor and it is working as I hooked it up to my laptop.Swainy2018-08-13 12:01:26

 

[bonehead]

Hi dean, I have the wooden surround for you it’s at my storage unit so the new monitor should just fit into it and go straight in the cab.
Will try and pick it up tomorrow and get it sent over to you.

This cab will be up and running before you know it.

 

[Swainy]

Ahh nice one Steve, much appreciated mate. Let me know how much postage is ect and I’ll sort you out.