PiCade customisation questions

Picade
1

I’m planning to purchase a PiCade (if I can find a kit!).

I have a few questions about customisation…

  1. Has anybody here applied artwork to the side panels of the unit? If so, how did you go about it and can I see some examples?

  2. How easy is it to retro fit a bigger screen and if possible, where to source one here in the U.K.?

  3. Lights in marquee. Anyone done this? Any tips? PS. I’m not very savvy at electronics. At all!

That’s it for now. Thanks for reading.

2

For #3 we just used Mote for the simplest possible setup, but there are a bunch of ways you can go about this at a whole range of costs depending on what kind of lighting fidelity and control you want.

For #2 there’s a thread on these forums about sourcing and installing 12" displays: 12.1 Inch Display Question

And some useful discussion around powering some of the alternate screens and the Pi in a tidy way: 12.1" Screen / Pi power

3

Thanks. Mote looks good. Is it easy to apply to a cabinet and what is the best way to apply them for best effect? i.e. To light up marquee artwork, below stick. Can they be used to light up buttons?

Thanks

4

I think backlighting the stock buttons might not look so great, but there’s a plethora of mod information in the picade forums, see:

http://forums.pimoroni.com/t/5-part-picade-mods-series/1624
http://forums.pimoroni.com/t/picade-illuminated-buttons-advice-needed/3252
http://forums.pimoroni.com/t/servostik-led-lighting-display-replacement-too-many-questions/2297

And some mods from our very own @sandyjmacdonald - https://sandyjmacdonald.github.io/2015/12/02/picade-errata/

Plus a video special showing his hacks in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7W8505rPRXA

5

The Seimitsu 5V illuminated buttons work great with Picade!!

More details here -> http://sandyjmacdonald.github.io/2015/09/08/picade/

6

IWow. Sandy your build is mint. I saw you say on Bilge Tank that the lights didn’t shine well through the artwork hence why you went with the transparent look. How ineffective is the lighting behind artwork. Really bad or passable? I really want artwork in the marquee.

Also, can a nooboid with no soldering skills make this happen? :)

Thanks for the help guys