Hey everyone,
Just finished my latest arcade frame, made from laser cut white melamine veneer on MDF. First step was creating the assembly in CAD (onshape.com is the free software I use):
Once everything looked like it would work the parts are laser cut from one large sheet of material:
http://i.imgur.com/rNxbJtC.jpg
The first step in assembly was creating these corner pieces. The structure of the frame is held together with four corner pieces with brass threaded inserts embedded on 4 sides of each corner. To accomplish this, the laser cut pieces are glued together and interlocked together to form 1/2-inch MDF walls that the threaded inserts can grab onto. It’s difficult to convey how hefty each of these corners are.
http://i.imgur.com/z0MBbqx.jpg
Once the corners are done, it’s just a matter of fastening all the screws to the corners. Almost done assembling:
http://i.imgur.com/mgzUW5e.jpg
Ready for parts! Four thumbscrews offer tool-less access to internals
http://i.imgur.com/iYDG7uH.png
Digitally designing and making the frames can have a lot of benefits, but I do it mostly because I know how to over more traditional wood working processes. Thanks for looking, happy to help out or answer questions if you’d like to learn more.
