Barrelcade Build Process I wanted to play games like Tempest, Arkanoid, Break Out, Major Havoc, and other spinner based games. So I bought parts to build a spinner. This is a 300ppr hollow shaft rotary encoder. This encoder has two output phases, two state changes per step, and 300 pulses per revolution. With all those numbers the spinner will have 1200 state changes per turn. This is the same resolution as the SpinTrak sold by Ultimarc.
Barrelcade Build Process This is 8mm oil hardened steel rod that I ground down to 6mm to fit the spinner knob.
Barrelcade Build Process The spinner knob, connecting shaft, and allen wrench to connect the shaft to the knob.
Barrelcade Build Process The connecting shaft and spinner knob connected
Barrelcade Build Process Test control panel using an old PC power supply box
Barrelcade Build Process Another angle showing the spinner a little better.
Barrelcade Build Process This is the 2.1 channel amp that I used. The speakers were just mounted in cardboard boxes for testing.
Barrelcade Build Process Testing different RetroPie skins and build. In the end I just modified the default RetroPie Carbon skin to fit my needs.
Barrelcade Build Process Here you can see I am using the screen in vertical format. This requires a few RetroPie setting to be changed so the game will rotate and fill the screen. I was still playing around so the game has black boarders.
Barrelcade Build Process My glass top arrived so I did a quick test fit in the garage. The glass is 34" in diameter, 3/8" thick tempered glass, and rounded edge. It weighs about 40 pounds.
Barrelcade Build Process This is a 24 volt power supply and two voltage regulators. These are handy little regulators, as they have a built-in voltmeter.
Barrelcade Build Process Testing the full system with a 19" 10:16 format monitor
Barrelcade Build Process Nintendo's Punch Out, what a fun game.
Barrelcade Build Process Mr. Do! Another great game that brings back great memories for so many people.
Barrelcade Build Process I don't have a before image but the old wine barrel was stored outside and was a little dirty. I pressure washed it and weeks later removed the top. This was the start of the construction phase.
Barrelcade Build Process Because barrels are made to have liquids in them this barrel shrank and the staves were loose. Since i'm not a cooper I took a guess and removed the hoop nails, then hammered the hoops tight. It worked the staves were tight.
Barrelcade Build Process I flipped the barrel over, found the center of the bottom, and cut a hole for the subwoofer.
Barrelcade Build Process A quick test fit of the subwoofer. Fits like a glove.
Barrelcade Build Process I added 4 leggs and not seen in any of my pictures leg levelers. These legs with the wooden bezel, and glass top makes this Barrelcade bar height.
Barrelcade Build Process Checking that the legs will support the barrel's weight (about 110 pounds). So far so good.
Barrelcade Build Process Added another 210 pounds for good measure and still holding strong.
Barrelcade Build Process I used a black and white copy of the final bezel art like a template to cut the bezel from 3/4" cabinet grade plywood.
Barrelcade Build Process I installed the monitor and glass top to check if glare would be a problem or not. Looking good so far.
Barrelcade Build Process Another angle of the glare test. The best test will be with the monitor powered on. Close but not ready for power yet.
Barrelcade Build Process I started building the control panel and attached the bezel. I missed a few photos but you can clearly see where i'm going with this.
Barrelcade Build Process Another angle of the control insert. Really just trying to figure out how to mark and cut the barrel for a perfect fit.
Barrelcade Build Process I decided to move on before cutting the barrel and wire the controls up. Here is a bottom view of player one controls.
Barrelcade Build Process I used threaded inserts to hide all the mounting hardware on the bottom.
Barrelcade Build Process The rotary encoder and mounting tab that I made from heavy 1/8" thick aluminium plate. The aluminium plate was scrape that I had laying around.
Barrelcade Build Process I left a bit more clearence than needed just incase I wanted to put control panel art with a plexiglass protector.
Barrelcade Build Process Looking into the bottom at all the electronics. On the left side is all the power supplies. On the right side is the Raspberry Pi 3B+, amplifier, and ground loop isolator (small Altoids tin).
Barrelcade Build Process Powered up with Tempest loaded.
Barrelcade Build Process Another shot of Tempest start screen.
Barrelcade Build Process Here I am testing cocktail mode using Galaga 88. Player one has red controls and player two is blue controls.
Barrelcade Build Process Here you can see the screen flipped for player two just like cocktail mode should.
Barrelcade Build Process Testing cocktail mode with Mr. Do! Player one test SAT.
Barrelcade Build Process Flips to player two SAT.
Barrelcade Build Process I finally cut the barrel to allow the insert to fit. I don't have a picture of the cuts but it's a great fit.
Barrelcade Build Process Player one side of the insert test fit.
Barrelcade Build Process Player two side of the insert test fit.
Barrelcade Build Process Overall view of the test fit.
Barrelcade Build Process Wife's stamp of approval, she came down to get some pictures herself.
Barrelcade Build Process Speakers are now installed and sounds pretty great. Well just like I remembered these games sounding.
20190916_183421 Another angle of the speaker installed. There's another speaker on player two's side.
Barrelcade Build Process Trying to decide where to put the USB ports for a keyboard. I keyboard is not needed all the time but makes some maintenance easier.
Barrelcade Build Process I decided to put the USB ports next to the player on speaker. I also decided to remote mount the amplifier's volume knob for easy access.
Barrelcade Build Process Since this will be mounted in a barrel I decided to do a stress test. I put the completed insert on a box to close off the electronics. Max temperature was 57 degrees C. I did add a cooling fan but just recirculates the air inside the barrel and now never goes above 50 degrees C.
Barrelcade Build Process This is the actual bezel art that was made using GIMP and I think came out pretty nice. It is actually a 5:4 cut out not 4:3 as shown.
Barrelcade Build Process This is a bezel art printed on outdoor banner vinyl. It was printed by Build-A-Sign on premium banner vinyl. I could have printed on decal material too but i decided to use banner material.
Barrelcade Build Process Testing the system but really just checking the vinyl bezel art out in the dark.
Barrelcade Build Process Testing the system but really just checking the vinyl bezel art with the lights on and glass on.
Barrelcade Build Process Close up of the art with with glass on.
Barrelcade Build Process Took everything apart and painted. The top will be covered by the vinyl but I painted it so the spray adhesive would stick better.
Barrelcade Build Process Player two control panel painted.
Barrelcade Build Process Player one control panel painted.
Barrelcade Build Process After the top was painted I decided to install Neon RGB LED lighting.
Barrelcade Build Process Here you can see the Neon rope was used on the top ring and some under glow.
Barrelcade Build Process What i like about this Neon rope was there is very little spot lighting. LED ropes generally have a very noticable spot light effect. I wanted smooth even ring of light just like Neon lamps. This stuff did the trick.
Barrelcade Build Process Here's a better shot of the Neon (straight on) and no harsh spot light effect.
Barrelcade Build Process Player one's side of the finished Barrelcade.
Barrelcade Build Process Player two's side of the finished Barrelcade.
Barrelcade Build Process Another angle of player one's side of the finished Barrelcade.
Barrelcade Build Process The over all view of the finished Barrelcade. Now I just need to move this into the party room and find some people to play it.
Barrelcade Build Process Barrelcade moved into the party room, player one's side.
Barrelcade Build Process Barrelcade moved into the party room, player one's side playing Ms. Pacman.
Barrelcade Build Process The view from player two's side playing Ms. Pacman (still player one's turn).
