The ARCtron-W 3D-Printable Wall-Mounted Arcade Cabinet Features a Quick-Swap Control Panel System
Powered by a Raspberry Pi or your choice of mini-PC, this free arcade cabinet design can be quickly customized for specific games.
Pseudonymous maker Artifextron has released 3D print files for a flexible wall-mounted arcade cabinet, designed to be powered by your choice of a Raspberry Pi or a mini-PC — and featuring magnetically-connected hot-swappable control panels that can be changed out in mere seconds.
"The ARCtron-W [is] a modular, wall-mounted arcade system that blends modern widescreen gaming with retro-inspired design," Artifextron explains of the design. "It's the next evolution of my previous arcade project, rebuilt from the ground up and packed with new features for gamers and makers alike. The ARCtron-W features an interchangeable 'lock-in-place' panel system, allowing you to swap layouts with ease — from a dual-stick arcade setup to a point-and-click configuration."
Like its predecessor, the ARCtron-W is designed to be wall-mounted rather than free-standing as with classic arcade cabinets — taking full advantage of the move away from bulky cathode-ray tubes to modern flatscreen displays. Beneath said display is a angled control panel, which in its default configuration features two control sticks and buttons for two players.
The standout feature of the ARCtron-W, though, is that this control panel isn't fixed in place: the magnetically-attached can be removed in seconds to swap it out with one of a number of other control panels, allowing the system to be tailored towards the needs of particular games. There's even a single-player panel design that includes a cup-holder for in-game refreshment — though this, unlike the remainder of the designs, is being kept as an exclusive for those supporting Artifextron on Patreon. Other designs include built-in keyboards, rests for console controllers, and even a full keyboard-and-mouse desk surface.
All publicly-available 3D print files have been released on Maker World under the Standard Digital File License, which allows for free download and printing but not commercial use, redistribution, or modification. A build video is available on YouTube.