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What is ArcadeCab?
ArcadeCab is a long-running hobbyist site that publishes free, step-by-step plans for building arcade cabinets, with a focus on MAME (emulated arcade games running on a PC). It has documented builds since 2003, and its plans come with measurements, construction photos and printable PDFs. The site covers full-size cabinets, control panels, tabletop machines and other arcade projects, plus a gallery of cabinets that visitors have built from or adapted the plans.
What you'll find there
- Original Cabinet Plans — a full-size MAME cabinet designed around the X-Arcade controller, documented build by build so a first-timer can follow along.
- Cabinet Plans 2 — a second full-size build with more construction detail and lessons carried over from the first; the section and its printable PDF were refreshed in 2026.
- BarCade — a compact tabletop cabinet built from spare PC hardware and leftover materials. The original hardware is dated now, but it's a useful example of designing around parts you already own.
- Ultra-Trackball / Single-Player Plans — a smaller one-player control setup for people who don't need a full two-player panel.
- Other projects — custom control panels, trackballs, coin doors, cabinet modifications and front-end software, some of it kept as historical reference.
Who it suits
The site is aimed at DIY builders who want to work from real dimensions and photos rather than a kit. If you're planning a first cabinet, start with the Original Cabinet Plans: they're pitched at beginners and show the whole sequence. If you already have a PC and spare materials and limited space, the BarCade and single-player plans are the more practical starting points, even though the BarCade's original hardware is out of date.
The trade-off is age. Some software and hardware references are historical, so check current part availability before committing to a design. For broader community builds and inspiration, ArcadeControls is a well-known hobbyist forum.
Which ArcadeCab plan should I choose for my first full-size MAME cabinet build?
Start with Original Cabinet Plans. They are the most step-by-step set on ArcadeCab, written for a first-time builder and documented with measurements and construction photos from a complete full-size MAME cabinet build. The design was originally made around an X-Arcade controller, so it suits you if you want a straightforward two-player-style cabinet and are happy to use that controller or adapt the panel.
Choose Cabinet Plans 2 instead if you are comfortable reading plans and want the more developed version: it adds construction detail and incorporates lessons from the first build, and the section was refreshed with a rebuilt high-resolution printable PDF. It is the better second reference, but the extra detail can be more than a first build needs.
A practical way to decide
- First build, limited tools, want to follow along: Original Cabinet Plans.
- Some woodworking experience, want a refined design: Cabinet Plans 2.
- Short on space or using spare PC parts: BarCade, the compact tabletop project, though its original hardware is dated.
- Only need a one-player panel or trackball setup: the Ultra-Trackball / Single-Player Plans.
As a next step, download the PDF for your chosen plan and read it end to end before buying material. Check the cut list against the sheet goods and tools you can actually handle, and look through the visitor gallery to see how others widened or shortened the same designs. If the full-size cabinet feels ambitious after that read-through, build the BarCade or single-player panel first as a smaller trial run.
How do I download and print the ArcadeCab PDF plans for a cabinet or control panel?
Open the specific build page you want—Cabinet Plans 1, Cabinet Plans 2, BarCade, or the Ultra-Trackball/Single-Player plans—and use the Download PDF link on that page. ArcadeCab keeps each plan set with its own build write-up, so the PDF you get matches the cabinet or panel you selected rather than a single combined file. The site notes that Cabinet Plans 2 was refreshed in 2026 with a rebuilt high-resolution printable PDF.
Printing tips
- Check the page size first. Full-size cabinet plans are easiest to use at large format; if you print on Letter or A4, use the "fit to page" preview to confirm dimensions are still readable.
- Print the measurement pages separately. Keep the cutting and assembly sheets at the bench and the overview pages clean.
- Compare PDF dimensions with the web measurements. The site documents measurements alongside construction photos, so you can cross-check before cutting.
- For control panels, print at 100%. Scaling a panel template can throw off button spacing and mounting holes.
Which plan to start with
- First full-size build: Original Cabinet Plans, written step by step for a first-time builder.
- More construction detail: Cabinet Plans 2, with lessons from the first build.
- Small space or spare parts: BarCade, a tabletop project built around leftover hardware and materials.
- One-player setup: Ultra-Trackball / Single-Player Plans for a compact panel instead of a two-player layout.
As a next step, download the PDF for your chosen build and skim its measurement pages before buying lumber—then check the visitor gallery at ArcadeCab to see how others adapted the same dimensions.
Can I build a smaller one-player or tabletop arcade using ArcadeCab's BarCade and Ultra-Trackball plans?
Yes. ArcadeCab publishes both a tabletop project (BarCade) and a smaller one-player control-panel design (the Ultra-Trackball / single-player plans), so you can choose between a compact cabinet and a reduced control setup rather than committing to a full two-player build.
Which one fits your goal
| Your goal | Plan to start with | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| A small tabletop cabinet, built from spare PC hardware and leftover materials | BarCade | A complete compact cabinet project; the original hardware is dated, so treat it as a structure and adapt the internals |
| A one-player control panel, possibly for a desk or a cabinet you already have | Ultra-Trackball / single-player plans | A smaller control layout with trackball detail, instead of a full two-player panel |
| A first full build with step-by-step guidance | Original Cabinet Plans | Measurements and construction photos aimed at first-time builders |
The BarCade is best read as a design and materials exercise: the site itself notes its original hardware is now very dated, so the value is in the cabinet approach, not the parts list. The single-player and trackball plans suit someone who wants the controls finished first and the enclosure later.
Practical next step
Decide by workspace and wiring, not by ambition. If your bench is small and you want something you can move alone, start with the BarCade and swap in current hardware. If you already own a screen and just want a compact control surface, start with the single-player plans. Either way, the visitor gallery is worth a look before cutting wood — builders there widened, shortened and re-themed these designs, which shows which dimensions are safe to change. See ArcadeCab for the plans and printable PDFs.
How have other visitors modified ArcadeCab's plans for their own cabinets?
ArcadeCab's visitor gallery shows that people rarely build the plans exactly as drawn. According to the site's own description of the gallery, some builders followed the dimensions closely, while others widened, shortened or completely re-themed the cabinet. The site frames that variety as the point of the gallery, so the plans function as a starting point rather than a fixed kit.
What the modifications tend to involve
Based on the site's summary, visitor changes fall into three broad kinds:
| Type of change | What it means in practice | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensional tweaks | Widening or shortening the cabinet to fit a room, doorway or preferred play stance | Builders with tight space or a specific monitor/control layout in mind |
| Re-theming | New artwork, colors and cabinet identity while keeping the structure | People who want a cabinet matching a particular game or room decor |
| Mixed approaches | Following some dimensions closely and improvising elsewhere | First-time builders who want a proven frame but their own finish |
The site does not publish a single catalogue of every modification, so the gallery is best read as a set of examples to compare against your own constraints. If you are planning a build, decide first which dimension is fixed for you — room width, doorway clearance or control-panel depth — and look for a visitor cabinet that changed that same dimension. That gives you a realistic sense of what the change costs in structure and finish before you commit to cutting material.
For the underlying plan options, see ArcadeCab.
Are ArcadeCab's older software and hardware projects still useful as reference material?
Yes, with a caveat: they are useful as reference material, not as build instructions. ArcadeCab states plainly that some of its software and hardware pages are "now historical" and that the BarCade's original hardware is "very dated," but the site keeps those pages up because they still have value as reference and as part of its history. So treat the older projects as a design archive rather than a current parts list.
What the older pages are still good for
- Dimensions and construction logic. Cabinet measurements, control-panel layouts and build photos don't expire. The site describes its plans as including measurements, construction photos and printable PDFs, which remain usable even if the electronics in the write-up are obsolete.
- Adaptation examples. The BarCade is presented as a compact tabletop build around spare PC hardware and leftover materials — a useful model for building from what you already have, as long as you substitute current components.
- Design lineage. The Ultra-Trackball and single-player panel plans show how a smaller one-player control setup differs from a full two-player panel, which is still a live decision for many builders.
- Avoiding known mistakes. Plans 2 is described as incorporating lessons from the first cabinet, so reading the older build alongside the newer one shows what changed and why.
Where to be careful
- Electronics and software. Front-end software, controller interfaces and PC hardware from older write-ups may no longer be available, supported or compatible with current displays and operating systems. Verify any specific component before buying.
- Cut lists tied to old parts. If a plan's dimensions were built around a particular controller or monitor, confirm the measurements still fit the hardware you intend to use.
- Photos over text for dated sections. Where a write-up references discontinued products, the construction photos are often the more reliable reference.
A practical next step
Pick the project closest to your goal, then split it into two lists: geometry (dimensions, panel angles, cut sizes) and electronics (controller, display, PC). Carry the geometry forward as-is and rebuild the electronics list from parts you can buy today. If you are choosing between a full two-player panel and a compact single-player setup, start with the Ultra-Trackball and single-player plans before committing to a full-size cabinet.
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