3D Print and Wire Your Own Functioning Mini-Arcade

If you need more time to procrastinate and have fun at your desk, here’s a great new gadget idea for you: the 3D printed mini-arcade, by Instructables user diygizmo. With the easy steps involved in putting together your mini-arcade, you can really benefit from the months of development and refining of eight prototypes completed by diygizmo.

“It may look simple from the outside but a lot of engineering went into building it,” says diygizmo.

Micro in size but big in terms of fun and creativity, this is a great gadget for the 3D printing enthusiast or as a gift for your favorite gamer.

You can download the design from diygizmo’s Instructable for 3D printing the parts, or you can order the 3D printed parts from Shapeways and do the rest of the assembling yourself. The mini arcade is connected to a Raspberry Pi, model B or B+, with which you will need to connect the audioboard and speakers from an MP3 player. Once all the electronics are put together, you will need your 3D printed parts either 3D printed from the Instructable download, or purchased from Shapeways.

The 3D printed cabinet parts are available in a variety of colors from Shapeways, but if you are 3D printing your own, you can paint it whatever color you like — or order the white model for custom painting from Shapeways, and then all you have to do is wash it off to get rid of excess powder, and dry it with a hairdryer. To put the parts together, it is as simple as clipping on the audio amp and attaching the panel with the Raspberry Pi by pressing the six clips from the back. Attach the top panel, and then you are ready to proceed to the fun part of giving your mini arcade some character by painting it, finishing it, and adorning it with decals.

The 3D printed parts are made of nylon. Because they are constructed with such a durable material and not susceptible to alcohol or acetone, the parts can be decorated however you choose — with Sharpies or a variety of different markers, spray paint, acrylics, car paint, etc. Diygizmo recommends wet sanding the 3D printed parts before painting, and also applying a clear varnish after painting. With the appropriate sanding and painting, you have the perfect surface for printing out and applying your decals.

After readying the light-up marquee by inserting the LED, you can slide in the artwork there for the cool arcade sign. Buttons need to be assembled and glued, and then the wiring needs to be finished. Once you have wired the controls, installed the TFT screen and power switch, you are ready to do the final assembly of connecting the simple panels and cables. Games away!

Discuss this latest 3D printed gadget in the Micro Raspberry Pi Arcade Cabinet forum at 3DPB.com. Check out some more photos of the production process:

Audio board and speakers out of MP3 player

Audio board and speakers out of MP3 player

Painting and finishing

Final assembly