Do we have any metal workers or skilled wood workers here?

[Dazz]

I've been trying to make a panel for all my retro ports for original controllers to fit into. I have the electronics skills to do all the electronics and soldering, but I lack the skills to make the panel for all the ports to fit into.

This is what I need a a panel that that has sections cut for all the below controller ports. I'm thinking out of 1/4" thick MDF or

2 x SNES (needs to be a short distance from the NES ports since they share the same USB chip)
2 x NES (needs to be a short distance from the SNES ports since they share the same USB chip)
2 x DB9 (Sega Genesis/SMS/Atari)
2 x Playstation
2 x Nintendo 64 - 3/4" round hole
2 x Dreamcast
2 x Sega Saturn
2 x USB - 1" round hole

I don't need any controllers or any of the ports as I have everything already.

Anyone willing to shoot me a quote for such a panel?

[drventure]

The round holes would be easy, just a drill.

The others. The way I did mine was to use a 1/2 drill bit (or so), drill  out most of the hole, then use a rasp, chisel, and or scrollsaw to get rid of most of the rest.

Follow that with a mototool to finish it out, then glue the connector plug into the hole. It can be time consuming, but it works.

[heemid]

Just curious what chip you are using for SNES/NES, Ive been looking for something.

[Dazz]

Just curious what chip you are using for SNES/NES, Ive been looking for something.

The 4NES4SNES chip from Raphnet.net.  I'd like to get it wired up, but I think I sortta need the panel first.

[bkenobi]

If you use thin enough metal, you can use a nibbler to remove chunks of material.  I personally have used a nibbler, dremel, drills, and files to do all of my metal work in the past.  Now, I won't say that all of the mods have turned out perfect as there is a bit of a learning curve.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2289712

[kronic24601]

I have the same chip, and the same problem. I plan on cheating however, as I'm working on getting a small CNC router together (who knows when that will be done). But it will allow me to computer controlled cut out what I need out of some small wood or (currently thinking) aluminum. If I get this up and running anytime soon (and it has a good result) I'll let you know. (but ... this could be awhile, def NOT on my current priority list)

[bkenobi]

Just another thought for you to kick around.  If you can sketch what you want on the material you want to use, you could find a local machine shop and see if they could cut it out for you.  If you don't have the material, you could find the shop first and see if they also have scrap material (I'm assuming this will be a relatively small panel).  I would imagine that they could do the few cuts for fairly cheap since they should have all the necessary tools already set up with people who know how to operate them.

[Dazz]

Just another thought for you to kick around.  If you can sketch what you want on the material you want to use, you could find a local machine shop and see if they could cut it out for you.  If you don't have the material, you could find the shop first and see if they also have scrap material (I'm assuming this will be a relatively small panel).  I would imagine that they could do the few cuts for fairly cheap since they should have all the necessary tools already set up with people who know how to operate them.

Well, that's my problem...  I don't know how to draw what I need in scale with correct sizing.  Attached is a simple paint drawing of what I'd like.  It's not to scale and of course the layout isn't final.  The NES and SNES ports need to stay close to each other since they will be attached to the same chip.