Arcade Backpack Blueprints

18 Pages·2014·7.55 MB·English

UCLA GAME LAB
ARCADE
BACKPACK
FABRICATION GUIDE
Arcade Backpack Overview
The Arcade Backpack was created to infiltrate public
space. Ironically, the backpack’s debut at the 2nd
Annual UCLA Game Art Festival was so successful in
infiltrating our own event that it stole the show and
has become the most popular above ground Game
Lab project.

The cabinet frame is constructed of lasercut plywood
and assembled to house a laptop, arcade style controls,
and an LED marquee. The entire cabinet is attached
onto a military grade frame and can be adjusted to fit
comfortably on any unsuspecting Game Lab resident. To
see it in action, click here.
Chapters
I. About this Guide
II. Where to Download the Template Files
III. Materials List
IV. Panel + Frame Preparation
V. Arcade Controller Panel Construction
VI. LED Marquee Assembly
VII. Final Assembly
VIII. Use
I. About this Guide
This open-source fabrication guide is designed to
streamline the contruction of an arcade backpack
similar to the UCLA Game Lab’s, housing a Lenovo
ThinkPad W520. Our arcade backpack is very much
an alpha build, so basic modifications to the original
model were made to ease construction. Building this
model requires access to a lasercutter with a table
size of 32”x18” and table saw, but the design may
be modified for construction with more basic tools.
Ultimately we plan on designing an almost fully la-
sercut arcade backpack to further ease construction
and shave off weight.
Feedback on this guide and any comments/sugges-
tions to the design are greatly appreciated! You can
contact us here.
II. Where to Download the
Template Files
This guide with the referenced lasercutter sheet files
and to-scale frame cutsheet files are available through
Github here.
Download the Fab Package directly here.
III. Materials List

Wood + Hardware + Finishing
Computer + Control Panel Electronics
4 32” x 18” x 1/4” plywood sheets Laptop that can open up flat, isn’t too heavy, and Superglue for mounting the joystick to the Control
has a long battery life Panel OR flat head machine screws and bolts that
~20’ x 3/4” x 3/4” lumber/square dowel
*We’re using the Lenovo ThinkPad W520 fit the joystick’s mounting plate plus a lasercut
Wood glue 6 arcade-style momentary push buttons with opaque plaxiglass panel to cover the top of the
Latex primer microswitches *Our control panel template is designed for Control Panel
buttons with a 1 1/8” mounting hole such as this one. Different
Your preferred colors of latex paint button sizes may require a different layout *For more info on USB microcontroller * We’re using the Teensy 2.0 because
it’s small and inexpensive. however it requires the extra step
button/joystick layout see here.
Polyurethane clearcoat of loading software onto the Teensy that converts it into a USB
18 female quick disconnects such as these for the keyboard. Another option is to use a PCB designed specifically
~80 3/4” wood screws
button terminals for a custom controller, such as the I-PAC, which includes built in
~4 1 1/2” wood screws terminal strips and pre-loaded software.
2 10-24 x 1-3/4 hanger bolt
Wire for the buttons and joystick.
2 10-24 wing nuts USB cable to connect the microcontroller to the
The quick disconnects above take
laptop * The Teensy 2.0 takes a USB Mini-B plug
16-14 AWG
Screw-in wire routing clip to keep the USB cable
Tools Terminal strip from pulling out of the controller
Arcade joystick such as this one.
Adhesive backed felt tape or pads to protect the
Lasercutter (highly recommend- *One of the highest quality and most popular joysticks is
laptop from the Computer Support Panels
ed) OR track saw OR circular the Sanwa JLF, but it’s pricier. Joysticks by Seimitsu are
also a good choice. If you’re planning on building a two Bluetooth keyboard with touchpad to load games
saw with angle guide
player control panel, purchase joysticks that are as com-
while the backpack is assembled (optional) * Alter-
Table saw pact as possible because the panel is a bit narrow.
natively, a USB extenstion cable can be left plugged into the
Miter saw laptop with the free end secured to the exterior of the arcade
backpack
Drill with bits, counter sink, and
drivers (including 10-24 hanger
bolt driver)
Backpack Marquee
Flat head screwdriver
Sandpaper of various grades MOLLE II frame with straps Adhesive backed analog type RGB LED strip
for backlight ~1m long
Chisel 2 1” wide by ~10” long nylon webbing straps
Rechargeable 12V battery or 8 x AA batteries
Soldering iron with sewn on stap adjustors or cam buckles
and holder to power the LEDs
Wire stripper 3 1” wide by ~18” long nylon webbing straps * We used a 12V drill battery then replaced it with two
with sewn on stap adjustors or cam buckles RC car batteries, connected in series, to save weight
Wire cutter
Tabloid size transparency film and printer.
Crimping tool
* Alternatively you can use professional backlit sign
Misc
Hot glue gun printing services
C-clamps 14” x 7” x 1/8” Frosted plexiglass
Solder
Measuring Tape 28” x 1/2” x 1/16” Double sided foam tape
Hot glue
Screw-in wire routing clip and small machine
screws + nuts
IV. Panel + Frame Preparation
Prepare panels
The easiest way to cut out the plywood panels is
with a lasercutter. The attached Illustrator cutsheet
is for a laser cutter that can fit 32” x 18” sheets of
material. The red lines represent cuts, and the blue
lines represent etched lines. The etched lines on the
Hood Sides and Screen Panel are for aligning glued
frame pieces. The dashed line on the Screen Panel
is for aligning the Computer Support Bottom Frame
which may be screwed on.
Locate the panel_cutsheet.ai in the Fab Package zip
file for complete set of panels, downloadable here.
Mitering the panels
IMPORTANT: The dimensions listed on the cutsheet
are of the panels’ longest measurements, so mitering
should not affect these measurements.
Here’s the breakdown of how the panels are
mitered. Positive angles represent a cut with the outer
(world facing) surface of the piece facing up
on the table, negative angles represent the inner sur-
face of the piece facing up on the table. Check out the
green panel side views on the panel cutsheet if this
gets confusing.
TIP: The etched names of the panels are always on
the inner surface of the piece.
a. Base Front Panel - the bottom is mitered at
a -23° angle, the top at 23°, making it parallel
to the first cut.
b. Control Panel - the back is mitered at 30°
c. Base Bottom - the back is mitered at -10°
d. Base Back - the bottom is mitered at -10°
e. Marquee Panel - the bottom is mitered at
-8°, the top at 16°
f. Hood Back - the top is mitered at -16°
1. Chisel out shallow slots for the nylon webbing
on the OUTSIDES of both of the Base Side Panels.
These areas are etched on the insides of the panels
with diagonal lines.
Hood Frame
Hood Frame
2 13/16”→
2 13/16”→ Hood Top Frame
Hood Top Frame
16° -16°
16° -16°
2 5/8”→
2 5/8”→ Hood Bottom Frame
Hood Frame
Hood Bottom Frame
2 183°/16”→ -8°
8° -8° Hood Top Frame
Screen Frame
Sc16r°een-16 °Frame
16 1/2”→ Center Groove
21 65 /18/”2→”→ Screen Top Frame Center Groove
Hood Bottom Frame
Screen Top Frame 20°
15”→
20°
15”→ Screen Bottom Frame
8° -8° Screen Bottom Frame
30°
14 3/8”→
30°
14 3/8”→ Screen Right Frame
Screen Frame
Hood Frame Screen Right Frame
30° 45°
16 13/02°”→ 45° Center Groove
2 13/16”→
ComputerH oSodu Tpopp Froamret FrScaremen Teop Frame
Computer Support Frame 20°
15”→
15”→
Screen Bottom Frame
15”1→6° -16° Computer Support Bottom Frame
Hood Frame 1214 5 53”/→/88””→→ Computer Support Bottom Frame 1360°°
2 13/16”→ 15”→ Hood BottoCmom FrpauSmtcerere eSnu pRpigohrtt TForapm Ferame 16°
30° Computer Support Top Frame 45°
Hood Top Frame 16 1/2”→
16 81°/2”→ -8° Computer Support Middle Frame
Computer Support Frame
Computer Support Middle Frame
16° -16°
2”→
2 5/8”→ 12S5”→”c→reen FCormapmutere Support Middle Attachment Frame
Computer Support Bottom Frame
Hood Bottom Frame 16 1/2”→ Computer Support Middle Attachment Frame Center Groove
16°
Hood Frame 1B5”a→se Sides + Control SFcrerean Tmop eFrame
8° -8° B15a”→se Sides + CCoomnpturteor Slu pFporrat Tmop Ferame 20°
2 13/16”→ 19 15/16”→
16 1/2”→ Screen Bottom Frame
Hood Top Frame 19 15/16”→ Base Back Side Frame
PScrerepeanr eF rFarmamee Pieces 14 3/8”→ Computer Support MiBdadslee FBraacmk eSide Frame 30°
161 16/°2”→-16° Center Groove 2”→10° Screen Right Frame
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2 5/8”→ 7 11/16”→
t1h5”e→ longestH oforda Bmottoem pFriaemcee, measure and mark it’s 20° 7 11/16”→ Control Left Frame
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t1e48 °r3 /s8”a→w-,8 °cut the piece to length with the required miter 30° 111955 1””3→→50/°16”→ 23°
angle. You may be abSlcere etno R igmht eFraamseure and cut the next C1o5”n→trol Right FramCeom -p Cutothnerter So ulb pBpaacokrct FkBroaB mtaitssoeem B1 aFc0rakm °Seid, et Fhraem efront is 23°
Spcie3rc0e°ee, nm Farinatmaieng the mitered end you just crea4t5e°d, 1105 ”5→/8”→ Control Back Frame 163°0°
30°
1b6e 1c/2a”→use some pieces share miter angle ends. Center Groove 1H01 50o/°8o”→d FramCoentrol RiCgohmt Fpruatmere Support Top Frame
1Ia1CM55r””o→e→Pm OofRp tTuhAteNe fTrr :a STmuhpee ppdoiiemrctee Fnsr’s Saitcoromenetnas eTl o lplie sFrtnaemgdet ho,n s oth me ictuetrsinhge etht e 20° C7o21 11 6n1110 310/°t//°1r126o6””→→”l→ BaCocnktroC HFloo Lnoretdarf toT mlF orRpaiegm CFhore tam- mF prteauhmteeer Sluoppnogrt -Msididdlee F rba2ma23e3°c°k is 30°
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1 145 ”3→/8”→ 1360°° 1155”1→”→6° -16°Computer Support CMoindtdrloel ABtatcakc hFmraemnet Frame
Here’s a list of thCeo mmpuitteer Sru paponrtg Tloep sFr armeequired. Negative 15”→ Base Back Bottom Frame
a16n 13g/02°l”e→s represent a cuSctr epena Rrigahlt lFeralm teo the first cut. 45° B1H1B20a3 5o5a s7//8e/8so1””→→ e6dS”→ iSdFierdase mBsCHooa eno+ctdr okB lo C RtFtigoormhatn FFmBrrtaaammsreeeoe B-al c tkFh Breotat obmmo Fteratmoem is 10° 11030°0°°
C12”.→o Cmhpisuetl eoru tS au pwpeCobombrpitunt eFgr Sr usaplpomortt eMinid dtleh Fera mceenter of the 211 3119 8370 1°//°511/661””→6→”→-8° Hood Top FraBmBaaessee S Sididee B Boottttoomm F FBrraaamsmee eBac2k3 S°ide Frame
1S5c”→reen ToCopm pFurtear mSupepo ort nMi dtdhlee A ttfarcehmsehntl yFr ammeitered front face, Ba10s°e Bottom Frame 23°
1 1/8” wide and C1o/m8pu”te rd Seupepoprt Bottom Frame S111c060°°r°ee-n16 °Frame 23°
15”→
1B5”a→se Sides + Control Frame 16° 271 5 61/ 118//”→126”→”→ Base Back Bottom Frame Center Groove
Computer Support Top Frame ConHtroool dL eBfot tFtroamm eFrame Screen Top Frame
19 15/16”→ 1H3 7o/1o6”d→ Frame 10°
1H6 o1H/o2od”→ oLdef tF/rRaimghet Top Frame - tBhaese Bfarcok nSidte iFsra m1e6°, the back is -16° 15”→30° Base Side B2o3t°tom Frame 20°
Computer Support Middle Frame S12c85 1r°”3→e/1e6n”→ -R8°ight Frame - Stchreeen bBoottotmto Fmram eis 30°, the top is 45°
2”→10H2° 1o3/o16d”→ FramHooed Top Frame S114c0 3r°/e8”e→n FraHmoode Top FramCeontrol Back Frame 23° 3300°°
7 11/16”→ Computer Support Middle Attachment Frame 10 5/8”→ Screen Right Frame
2 13/16”→Control Left Frame 16 11/632°0”°→ -16° Control Right Frame 45° Center Groove
Ba23s 051e°/68° ”→Sid-1e6°s +Ho oCd Toopn Frtarmoel 2F3°rame SC2c 51ro/0e8°m”e→np BuottetroH omSodu FBportatpommo Ferrat m- e FthrScaere melno Tenogp F-sraimdee2 3b° ack is cut at a 30° angle20°
1H195 o”1→5o/1d166° ”L→ef-t1/6°RigHhootd BBoottotmtCo oFnrmatrmo leF Barcak mFraem e- the front is 8°, the back is -8° 1B5”a→se Bottom FramScreeen Bottom Frame
Base Back Side Frame 15”→
10 52/ 858”/°→8”→ -8° Hood Bottom Frame 30° 1145 83”°→/8”→ -8° Computer Support Bottom Frame 30°
Control Right Frame BSacsree Benac Rki gBhott tFormam Ferame 16°
10° SS1c5cr”→ereene nTo Fpr Farmamee - the long-side front is 20°
10S°creen Frame 23° 13 370/°16”→ Computer Support Top Frame 45° 10°
7 11/186°”→ -8° 16 1/2”→ Base Side Bottom Frame Center Groove
Ba1s6 e1/ 2B”→oCtonttorolm Lef t FFrramaeme Center Groove C16o 1m/2”→puter Support FraScmreene Top Frame
B11a55””s→→1S13e650c ”°1 →Sr/2ei”d→een B Fortatomme FraCBmoasneSter cBora el2 -ceB3 knat° cBhBSkooc terFttetrooae mmbmn eTFaFroracapmm kFeer aimse 10°, the front is 23° C2e0n°ter Groove 1215”5”1→→”0→° Computer SupCpCooomrmtp pMuSuctiedtreerd reSl enSu u pABppotptotaotrcotrh mtB mMo Fetirtdnaodtmm lFee r FaFrmraamemee 23° 20°
1103 5711//4581 ””3→6→/”→8”→ Control RightB Farsaem Seide BotStocrmee Fnr aTmope Frame 103°0°30° 20° 1B154”a→ 3/s8e”→ Sides + CCoomnputtrSecro rSeulep npF Roirrgtah Tt omFpr aFmeraeme 163°0°
ScSrecreene nBo Rtitgohmt FFrraammee 30° 45°
11001°°4 33/08°”→ 23° 23° 45° 30° 1169 1 1/52/”→16”→ Computer Support Middle Frame
Screen Right Frame Computer Support FrameBase Back Side Frame
BBaasCseoe B mBaopcktut tBoeomrt t SoFumrpa Fmproaemrte F -r tahme elong-side back is 10° 2”→
30° 45°
15”→ Computer Support Middle Attachment Frame
15”→ 10°
15”→ Computer Support Bottom Frame
Base Back Bottom Frame
Computer SuppCoomrputt eFr Sruappmort eBottom Frame 7 11/16”→ 16°
13 7/16”→ 10°16° B15a”→se SidCeonstro l+ Le ftC Froamnetrol Frame
1155””→→ Computer Support Top Frame
BCCaoosmme Sppiuudtteee rrB oSSuuttppoppmoo rrFttr aBTmootpet oFmra mFreame 19 153/01°6”→ 23°
1156” 1→/2”→ Base Back Side Frame
1011°56” 1→/2”→ 23° 16° CompCuotnertr Soul pBpacokrt FMraidmdele Frame
CCoommppuutteerr SSuuppppoorrtt TMoidpd Flera Fmraeme
1201”→ 05°/8”→ 30°
21”6→ 1/2”→ CompCuotnetrr oSlu Rpipgohrtt FMraidmdele Attachment Frame
Computer SuppCoormt pMuidtedrl eS uAptptaocrht mMeidndt lFer aFmraeme 7 11/16”→
10° Control Left Frame 23°
2”→ Ba30s°e Sides + Control2 3F°rame
Base SidCeomsp u+ter SCuppoornt Mtirddolel A Fttarchammente Frame Base Bottom Frame
1159”→ 15/16”→
19 15/16”→ Control Back FramBaese Back Side Frame
15”→
Base Sides + Control FramBasee Back Side Frame 10 5/8”→ Base Back Bottom Frame 30°
19 15/16”→ 131 70/°16”→ Control Right Frame 10°
10° Base Back Side Frame 71 101°/16”→ Base Side Bottom Frame 23°
7 11/16”→ Control Left Frame
10° Control Left Frame Ba10s3°0e° Bottom Frame 23° 23°
30° 23°
7 11/16”→ 1155”→”→
15”→ Control Left Frame BCaosen tBraocl kB aBcokt tFormam Ferame
Control Back Frame
30° 23° 30° 1130 7 5//186””→→ 10°30°
1105 ”5→/8”→ Control RighBta Fsrea Smidee Bottom Frame
Control Right FCraomnterol Back Frame 10° 23°
10° 23° 30°
10 5/8”→ 10° 23°
Control Right Frame Base Bottom Frame
Base Bottom Frame
10° 23°
15”→
15”→ Base Back Bottom Frame
Base Bottom FramBaese Back Bottom Frame
10°
13 7/16”→
10°
1135 ”7→/16”→ Base Side Bottom Frame
BaBsaes Sei dBea cBko Bttootmto mFr aFmraeme
13 7/16”→ 10° 10° 23°
10° Base Side Bottom Frame 23°
10° 23°
Mount Frame Pieces to Individual Panels
On the Sketchup model, the lavender sides of the
frame pieces represent the sides that get glued to the
lavendar spaces on panels. These spaces are etched
onto the panels with solid lines. Following the etched
guides, proceed to glue using wood glue and clamps:
a. Control Back Frame (with 30° miter at back and
narrow side facing down) onto the Control Panel
b. Screen Right Frame (with long side touching pan-
el and 45° miter at top) onto the Screen Panel
c. Screen Top Frame (with 20° miter touching panel
and narrow side facing the top) onto the Screen
Panel
d. Hood Bottom Frame and Hood Top Frame onto the
inside of Hood Left Panel
e. Hood Bottom Frame and Hood Top Frame onto
the inside of Hood Right Panel
On the Sketchup model, the red spaces on panels represent the
sides that get screwed onto the red sides of frame pieces. These
spaces are etched onto the panels with dashed lines. Pieces to be
screwed together should be clamped and have pilot holes drilled
and countersunk from the panel side.
a. Base Side Bottom Frame pieces (aligned to back edge with
short side touching panel and 10° miter at back) to the inside of
the Base Bottom Panel
b. Base Back Bottom Frame (aligned to back edge with narrow
side touching panel and 10° miter at back) to the inside of the
Base Bottom Panel
c. Control Left Frame (long side aligned with Control Panel edge
and 23° miter aligned to front edge) to Base Left Panel
d. Base Back Side Frame (aligned to dashed lines) to Base Left
Panel
e. Control Right Frame (long side aligned with Control Panel edge
and 23° miter aligned to front edge) to Base Right Panel
f. Base Back Side Frame (aligned to dashed lines) to Base Right
Panel
g. Computer Support Bottom Frame (mitered side facing away
from panel and narrow side facing bottom) to Screen Panel
h. Screen Bottom Frame (mitered side touching panel and narrow
side facing top) to Screen Panel
Paint and Clearcoat the Panels
1. Sand any sharp edges or rough countersunk holes
on the panels and wipe off any dust/grime.
2. Prime the outside faces and edges of the panels.
The inside faces of the Hood Right Panel and Hood
Left Panel should be primed as well. Also, to improve
light reflection, prime the inside face of the Hood
Back Panel.
3. Paint the outside faces and edges of the panels
with a wacky color scheme, or groovy original art-
work. Both sides of the Hood Right Panel and Hood
Left Panel should be painted. Our arcade backpack
required 2 to 3 coats of laxtex paint for full coverage.
4. Protect the outside faces and edges of the panels
with multiple layers of a hard-drying polyurethane
clear coat.