So I recently got hold of an old Net City control panel. I originally had a panel cut out of plywood when I got the cabinet cut, which would sit on the cross beams, but tbt I didn't love the angle, it wasn't super comfy for my wrists. So when I got hold of this, I cut a lot of the back off, and cut it down so it fits nicely, and 3D printed an angled bracket to hold the mating pins and magnets. There's still a fair bit to do, but I'm quite happy with it.
The machine runs on a Raspberry Pi, and randomly turns itself on every hour through the day and boots a random game, and the marquee at the top also loads the correct marquee for the running game.
As an extension to that, I've decided that I'm going to do a similar thing for the instruction panel above the control panel, to display the correct instructions, or a default. I managed to find a display with the exact dimensions, but the resolution was pants (it was designed for shelving displays) plus it was about £150. Instead I'm going for 2 9.2" displays that cost me £30, and that I'll drive with a raspberry pi.
The other thing I want to do is have a quick release system to swap panels. I thought about quarter turn fasteners, but instead I think I'm going to go for magnets, and an electromagnet that can deactivate it with a button press. I can also use magnets and a mechanical guide system to connect the USB to save a bunch of hassle plugging stuff in.
Then I think I'll have the panels tastefully displayed on a sort of ladder display next to the cabinet eventually. I want a panel for Virtual On, a Flight Stick, and a trackball for Golden Tee, alongside the lightguns and Wheel I have right now, but those are all works in progress
