Assembling Picade Max (4/4)

2025-02-27 | By Pimoroni

License: See Original Project Raspberry Pi SBC

Guide by Pimoroni

This tutorial will help you assemble Picade Max. This is a bit of a mammoth guide, so we'll ‎be splitting it into several parts.‎

Part 1‎

Part 2‎

Part 3‎

Part 4 <- you are here

Plugging in the cables

For this section you'll need:‎

‎2x 50cm USB A to C cables for connecting the Audio and Controller boards‎
‎30cm barrel jack to barrel jack cable for connecting the Power HAT to the display ‎driver board
‎30cm micro-HDMI to HDMI cable for connecting the Pi to the display driver board

cables_1

Plugging in the USB cables

Plug the USB-C ends of the USB A to C cables into the USB-C connectors on the Picade Max ‎USB Controller and USB Audio boards.‎

plugging_2

Then plug the USB-A ends into your Pi's USB ports.‎

ends_3

Plugging in the HDMI cable and display power cable

Plug the big end of the HDMI cable into the connector marked HDMI INPUT on the display ‎driver board. While you're here, you can also plug one end of the barrel jack cable into the ‎connector marked 12V IN.‎

hdmi_4

Then connect the small end of the HDMI cable to one of the micro-HDMI ports on your Pi ‎‎(we'd suggest using HDMI-0 as it's the default display in Raspberry Pi OS - that's the one ‎nearest the USB-C power input).‎

connect_5

Plug the other end of the barrel jack cable into 12V OUT on the Picade Max Power HAT.‎

plug_6

‎1UP or 2UP layout?‎

At this point of the build, you'll need to decide whether you want to use the 1 player or 2 ‎player layout. We'll be showing you the single player assembly steps first.‎

Console assembly (1 player)‎

Fitting the joysticks (1 player)‎

For this part you'll need:‎

Wooden panel M (one player)‎
‎1x joystick‎
‎1x 5 pin joystick cable from the wiring loom‎
‎2x M4 12mm screws‎
‎2x M4 nuts‎

parts_7

You'll also need the 1 player acrylic console panel and artwork.‎

panel_8

Flip over the wooden panel so that the label side is facing you. There are some markings to ‎show you where to position the joystick. If you're looking at the panel with the letter M the ‎correct way up, the 5-pin connector should be pointing out of the left hand side of the ‎joysticks.‎

Use the M4 screws and nuts to secure the joystick to the panel. Note that we're only using ‎two of the four mounting holes.‎

secure_9

secure_10

Tear off a 5-pin strip from the joystick cable. Use the chunky beige connector to attach the ‎cables to the joysticks.‎

The 5 pin connectors on the joysticks are made of quite soft metal and can sometimes get ‎a little squashed during transit. You might need to bend the pins slightly to straighten them ‎out if you're having trouble plugging in the connector.‎

joysticks_11

Position the console panel in front of the cabinet and poke the joystick cable into the ‎cabinet from the front.‎

position_12

Feed the joystick cable up over the top of panel K and plug it into the player 1 connector on ‎top of the Picade Max USB Controller board. The connector on the joystick cable has a little ‎moulded arrow to show you where the ground wire is - match this up to the - marking on the ‎board. You can also check that the printed grey markings on the joystick cable is facing ‎towards you.‎

‎(If you find that only the 'up' direction is working on your joystick, you've probably got the ‎connector orientation wrong - try unplugging the connector at the Picade Max USB ‎Controller end, flipping it 180° and plugging it in again).‎

unplug_13

Now that the joystick is attached, flip the console assembly over and place it in its final ‎position on the front of the Picade. We're not fastening it down yet though; you might find it ‎useful to be able to flip it upside down whilst wiring up the buttons.

flip_14

Next, place your cardboard console artwork on top of the console assembly, art side up and ‎with the holes matching up.‎

artwork_15

Take your acrylic panel and identify the underside. Remove the protective coating from the ‎underside of the acrylic.‎

remove_16

remove_17

Then flip the acrylic piece over and place it on top of the console assembly, so that the ‎freshly peeled side is touching the art.‎

over_18

It's easiest to remove the protective layer from the top side of the acrylic now, though it is ‎possible to leave it on until later if you want to. If you leave it until after you've fitted the ‎buttons, you'll probably need to remove it in pieces.‎

pieces_19

Add the collar and screw on the joystick ball.‎

collar_20

Fitting the buttons (1 player)‎

For this section you'll need:‎

The 24 and 30mm arcade buttons
The DuPont pin to spade connectors cables (from the wiring loom)‎

If you're installing the 1 player console, you'll need:‎

‎3x 30mm black button‎
‎4x 30mm blue button‎
‎3x 24mm black button‎
‎1x 24mm blue button‎
‎2x 24mm white button‎
‎14x DuPont pin to spade connectors cables (from the wiring loom)‎
A 24mm button of your choice for the side cabinet button

buttons_21

Separate the cables from the wiring loom into 14 pairs of wires - each pair should have two ‎DuPont pin connectors on one end and two spade connectors on the other. Push the spade ‎connectors onto the terminals on each button.‎

buttons_22

Here's a diagram of the button layout we're using. It has the A, B, X and Y buttons within ‎easy reach, but also maps the L and R 1-3 buttons so you can play both retro and newer ‎games. We're going to be using the button next to 'Start' as our hotkey button and the button ‎on the side of the cabinet for '2P Start', but you could wire up these buttons the other way ‎round if you prefer.

diagram_23

First, we're adding the Start, A, B, X and Y buttons - poke the buttons (and the wires) through ‎the holes in the console:‎

adding_24

Thread the wires over the top of panel K and plug them into the appropriate connectors on ‎the USB Controller board. We used cable ties as we went along to secure the cables to ‎panel K in groups of 10.‎

thread_25

Next, we added the Hotkey, Select, and L and R buttons:‎

hotkey_26

hotkey_27

Next, we'll wire up the side cabinet button.‎

Thread the wires and the button through the hole in panel D, from the outside.‎

wires_28

wires_29

Then plug the DuPont pins on the other end of the wire into the 2 player START terminal on ‎the Picade Max USB Controller board.‎

pins_30

Here's what it looks like with all the buttons plugged in, and with everything tidied up with ‎cable ties.‎

cableties_31

cableties_32

Console assembly (2 player)‎

Fitting the joysticks (2 player)‎

For this part you'll need:‎

Wooden panel L (two player)‎
‎2x joysticks‎
‎2x 5 pin joystick cables from the wiring loom‎
‎4x M4 12mm screws‎
‎4x M4 nuts‎

console_33

You'll also need the 2-player acrylic console panel and artwork:

player_34

Flip over the wooden panel so that the label side is facing you. There are some markings to ‎show you where to position the joysticks. If you're looking at the panel with the letter L the ‎correct way up, the 5 pin connectors should be pointing out of the left-hand side of the ‎joysticks.‎

Use the M4 screws and nuts to secure the joysticks to the panel. Note that we're only using ‎two of the four mounting holes for each joystick.‎

screws_35

screws_36

Split the joystick cable into two separate cables.‎

Use the chunky beige connectors to attach the cables to both joysticks.‎

bend_37

Position the console panel in front of the cabinet and poke the joystick cables into the ‎cabinet from the front.‎

‎ cabinet_38

Feed the joystick cables up over the top of panel K and plug them into the connectors on top ‎of the Picade Max USB Controller board. The connectors on the joystick cable have a little ‎moulded arrow to show you where the ground wire is - match this up to the - marking on the ‎board. You can also check that the printed grey markings on the joystick cables are facing ‎towards you.‎

direction_39

Now that the joysticks are attached, flip the console assembly over and place it in its final ‎position on the front of the Picade. We're not fastening it down yet though; you might find it ‎useful to be able to flip it upside down whilst wiring up the buttons.‎

upside_40

Next, place your cardboard console artwork on top of the console assembly, art side up and ‎with the holes matching up.

matching_41

Take your acrylic panel and identify the underside (the underside of the two player one looks ‎like this):‎

identify_42

Remove the protective coating from the underside of the acrylic.‎

coating_43

coating_44

Then flip the acrylic piece over and place it on top of the console assembly, so that the ‎freshly peeled side is touching the art.

flip_45

pieces_46

Add the collars and screw on the joystick balls.‎

balls_47

Fitting the buttons (2 player)‎

For this section you'll need:‎

The 24 and 30mm arcade buttons
The DuPont pin to spade connectors cables (from the wiring loom)‎

For the 2-player layout, we're using:‎

‎6x 30mm black button‎
‎4x 30mm blue button‎
‎4x 30mm red button‎
‎4x 24mm black button‎
‎1x 24mm blue button‎
‎1x 24mm red button‎
‎4x 24mm white button‎
‎24x DuPont pin to spade connectors cables (from the wiring loom)‎

fitting_48

Separate the cables from the wiring loom into pairs of wires - each pair should have two ‎DuPont pin connectors on one end and two spade connectors on the other. Push the spade ‎connectors onto the terminals on each button.‎

push_49

push_50

Here's a diagram of the button layout we're using. It has the A, B, X and Y buttons within ‎easy reach, but also maps the L and R 1-3 buttons so you can play both retro and newer ‎games. With the two-player layout, we're using the button on the side of the cabinet as the ‎hotkey button.‎

layout_51

First, we're adding player one's Start, A, B, X and Y buttons - poke the buttons (and the ‎wires) through the holes in the console:‎

start_52

thread_53

Next, we added the Select, and L and R buttons:‎

select_54

select_55

And player 2's buttons:‎

player2_56

player2_57

player2_58

player2_59

Next, we'll add the side button to the cabinet. For this step you'll need:‎

‎1x 24mm arcade button (small)‎
‎1x DuPont pin to spade connectors cable (from the wiring loom)‎

We've included a couple of extra small buttons, so you can choose what colour you like for ‎the side button.‎

extra_60

Attach the wires to the button as before.‎

wirebuttons_61

Thread the wires and the button through the hole in panel D, from the outside.‎

panelD_62

panelD_63

Then plug the DuPont pins on the other end of the wire into the HOT terminal on the Picade ‎Max USB Controller board.‎

plug_64

plug_65

Here's what it looks like with all the buttons plugged in, and with everything tidied up with ‎cable ties.‎

tidied_66

tidied_67

Adding the backplate

Next, we'll be adding the backplate. There are two versions included (panels I and J) - as ‎we're using a Raspberry Pi, we'll be using panel J which has a round cutout for your Picade's ‎power cable to pass through. It also has a cutout to make it possible to insert/remove the ‎SD card.‎

Panel I is for if you are going down the mini-PC route and want to install a big old PC power ‎supply in the cabinet.‎

Assuming you're using a Raspberry Pi, you'll need:‎

Wooden panel J
‎4x M3 12mm screws‎
‎4x M3 nuts

parts_68

Insert the tab on panel B into the slot on panel J:

insert_69 ‎

Then attach it in place through the brackets using the M3 12mm screws and nuts.‎

brackets_70

Final cabinet assembly

For this section you'll need:‎

Wooden panel N (the big back piece)‎
‎2x black plastic brackets‎
‎2x long M3 18mm screws‎
‎4x short M3 12mm screws‎
‎6x M3 nuts‎

cabinet_71

Remove the console from the cabinet temporarily.‎

temporarily_72

temporarily_73

Attach the side brackets to the cabinet, using 12mm screws.‎

screws_74

screws_75

screws_76

Fix the console assembly in place using the long M3 18mm screws and the side brackets.‎

fix_77

fix_78

Slot the tabs in the back panel into the slots on the base and back. The wooden tabs at the ‎top should hold it in place securely.‎

slot_79

Time to unpeel any remaining protective coating from the acrylic screen and marquee ‎pieces (savour this moment!)‎

unpeel_80

unpeel_81

unpeel_82

unpeel_83

We are done with the assembly! Take a moment to step back and admire your work. Then ‎connect the PSU to the cabinet and see if it works!‎

done_84

done_85

Software Guide

You can find our guide showing you how to set up the software side of Picade Max below:‎

Learn: Setting up Picade Max

Feedback

We hope you enjoyed building your Picade! We'd love to know if you encountered any issues ‎during the build and if you have any suggestions for how we can improve the kit and this ‎guide - you can drop us an email at picademaxbeta@pimoroni.com. We'd also really like to ‎hear about it if you make any cool modifications to your Picade Max. You can discuss all ‎things Picade Max on our forums or our Discord!‎

That's all folks!