Welcome to my web site dedicated to the construction of my first MAME cabinet.

NEWS! - A new trackball controller is available on ArcadeCab.com.  This could be exactly what you are looking for if you are tired of waiting for X-arcade to finally release their product.

NEWS! 2/8/04- I have moved to a new site, www.ArcadeCab.com.  All the information has been moved and, hopefully, will be easier to find now.  Please update your links accordingly.  And, as of 3/15/04, I reduced this site to free which accounts for the ads.  I wanted to keep a placeholder on the web.  Thank you.  Now back to the original programming...

Allow me to introduce myself.  My name is Mike Trello.  I am a 36 year old, senior programmer/analyst by trade.  Although having known of MAME for several years, I really am new to the scene.  The cabinet building bug bit me hard and from initial thought to actual construction was under two months, most of which was spent researching.  My wood working background was minimal prior to this project.  Luckily I had a more experienced friend to run ideas past.  And to borrow tools from.

I had been out of the arcades for a decade, so I used a pre-built controller (X-arcade) with the thought that I might build my own in the future after having a better handle on what my requirements would actually be.

This site was constructed as a service to individuals interested in learning how I built my first MAME cabinet.  Locally, there has been a fair amount of interest in it, after its birth in December 2002.  The arcade cabinet has since logged hundreds of hours between myself, friends, and family.   The following pages should be of some value to anyone interested in the design and construction of a MAME cabinet.  I have attempted to explain how each section was created, being sure to identify mistakes, so the reader can hopefully learn from them.  I tried to include as many helpful pictures as were warranted.

Since this site has been up, I have had the pleasure of corresponding with quite a number of curious visitors and cabinet-building enthusiasts from all over the world. That has been a welcome surprise and I look forward to these emails and seeing the excellent work these individuals are doing with this design.

If you have any questions or comments, I can be contacted at mtrello@yahoo.com.  Please put MAME somewhere in the subject line so it is not confused with spam.  I'll be happy to assist in whatever way I can.

 

The Progression...
Planning...		Layout...		First Side Cut...		Standing  upright...		Being   painted...		Complete!!!

Revised: April 24, 2004   Questions concerning the site can be sent to mtrello@yahoo.com