Which Arcade Cabinet Plans Are Available on ArcadeCab?

Updated

ArcadeCab offers four main plan sets: the Original Cabinet Plans (a full-size MAME cabinet designed around the X-Arcade controller), Cabinet Plans 2 (a second full-size build with more construction detail and a rebuilt printable PDF), BarCade (a compact tabletop cabinet built from spare PC hardware and leftover materials), and the Ultra-Trackball / Single-Player Plans (a smaller one-player control setup). All are documented with measurements, construction photos, and printable PDFs, and the site has published free plans since 2003. The right choice depends on whether you want a full-size two-player cabinet, a small tabletop build, or just a control panel.

The four plan sets at a glance

Plan set What it is Best suited for
Original Cabinet Plans First full-size MAME cabinet, originally designed around the X-Arcade controller; step-by-step measurements and construction photos First-time builders who want a complete full-size cabinet and a build log to follow
Cabinet Plans 2 Second full-size cabinet build with more construction detail and lessons learned from the first; section refreshed in 2026 with a newly rebuilt high-resolution printable PDF Builders who want the most detailed full-size documentation available on the site
BarCade Compact tabletop arcade project built around spare PC hardware and leftover materials Small spaces, low-cost builds, or using hardware you already have
Ultra-Trackball / Single-Player Plans Detailed plans for the Ultra-Trackball design and the single-player panel that grew from it A smaller one-player control setup instead of a full two-player panel

How to choose

If you want a full-size cabinet and have never built one

Start with the Original Cabinet Plans. The build was documented step by step with measurements and plenty of construction photos, explicitly so that even a first-time cabinet builder could follow along. Note that the design was originally built around the X-Arcade controller, so if you plan to use different controls, expect to adapt the panel rather than follow it exactly.

If you want the most complete full-size documentation

Use Cabinet Plans 2. It adds more construction detail and incorporates lessons learned from the first cabinet. The entire section was refreshed in 2026, including a newly rebuilt high-resolution printable PDF, so this is the most current full-size plan set on the site.

If space or budget is tight

Choose BarCade. It is a compact tabletop project built around spare PC hardware and leftover materials. The site is upfront that the original hardware is now very dated; the value here is the example of adapting a cabinet build to what you already have available, not a current hardware shopping list.

If you only need a one-player control panel

Use the Ultra-Trackball / Single-Player Plans. These cover the Ultra-Trackball design and the single-player panel that grew from it, and are aimed at anyone who wants a smaller one-player control setup rather than a full two-player panel.

What else is on the site

Beyond the four headline builds, ArcadeCab documents custom control panels, trackballs, coin doors, cabinet modifications, front-end software, and other projects accumulated over the years. Some of that software and hardware is now historical; the site keeps those pages available as reference material. There is also a gallery of cabinets built by visitors using or adapting the plans—some followed the dimensions closely, while others widened, shortened, or completely re-themed the cabinet.

Practical notes before you start

  • Download the PDFs first. Each of the four plan sets has a printable PDF linked from its section; the Cabinet Plans 2 PDF was rebuilt at high resolution in 2026.
  • Check the hardware assumptions. The Original plans assume an X-Arcade controller, and BarCade assumes spare PC hardware. If your parts differ, plan to adjust dimensions or mounting.
  • Use the visitor gallery for adaptation ideas. It is the clearest evidence of how much the plans can be stretched—widened, shortened, or re-themed—before you commit to cuts.
  • Expect older reference material. The site has been online since 2003 and is being modernized gradually while preserving original projects and write-ups, so some linked software and hardware pages describe dated components.