We've seen some truly fantastic arcade cabinet designs in the past, such as this Mortal Kombat II cabinet, but they all share one common need: working with wood. So what can we do if we don't get along with that material? Buying a ready-made cabinet is a simple shortcut, but if you have access to a 3D printer, you can always build one entirely out of plastic. That's exactly what the simplyRetro D8 project proposes: create a mini bartop arcade from scratch with a Raspberry Pi that doesn't need to be cutting-edge, and a case that's very easy to reproduce on (almost) any 3D printer.
Starting a new DIY project is ideal for these times of quarantine and social distancing. We usually recommend taking advantage of the weekend, but now that staying home is the priority... what are we waiting for? Like many other ideas, this tabletop mini arcade starts with a Raspberry Pi. It doesn't necessarily have to be cutting-edge: version 2 or 3 should be more than enough, although it all depends on the kind of systems you decide to emulate.
Now, the question is: Can you work with wood? Personally, the answer is a resounding no. Despite having studied at a school with industrial instruction (and carpentry as a compulsory subject), the truth is I never stopped having difficulties. The good news is that we can completely replace wood with the help of a 3D printer. Even if you don't have one at home, there's always a friend you can hire for the task, or a printing service with reasonable prices. That's where the simplyRetro D8 project points, published by Gerrit Gazic.
Features and Assembly Details
The design includes everything you'd expect from an arcade cabinet, but the bartop format combined with some adjustments to its final dimensions helps save a lot of space. The arcade features an 8-inch screen (edit the STL files if you prefer a larger or smaller screen), twelve buttons, stereo speakers, and volume control. The audio system is based on a PAM8403 amplifier module with a built-in potentiometer, but Gerrit warns that it suffers from interference when the volume is too high. If you can implement a better solution, don't hesitate.
Beyond the initial appearance, the arcade will start running out of internal space quickly. The Raspberry Pi has a dedicated spot, but you'll need to anchor-glue-install the rest of the controller boards as you see fit. There are also special instructions for installing the joystick and buttons in case you use a custom design (if you prefer to stick with the original 24-millimeter buttons, you can skip an entire section of the tutorial).
Build Tips and Software
Gerrit's last suggestion is to use a wrench instead of a traditional screwdriver. Some screws will be very hard to reach, and closing the case could be more complicated than usual.
As for software, the base is none other than RetroPie (we've already explained how to set it up), with simplyRetro on top. All the files, from the case STL to the RetroPie theme, are available on the GitHub profile.
Access the project: Click here
