i-PAC mounting question

[sapro]

I'm just about to the wiring phase on my project. For the present I'm fixing the CP top to the box via velcro rather than hinges as others have done. While I hope I never have to access the wiring, realistically I will probably need to at some point.

I've been thinking about mounting my i-pac underneath the CP top panel. This way I can simply unplug the USB cable and take all of my wiring with me should I need to get into it.

Since this is my first build, is there any negative I should consider to this approach? I haven't seen this method in any of the builds I've seen on here and want to make sure there's not a good reason for that.

[elkameleon]

What you are explaining here, if i'm reading it correctly, is basically how everybody mounts thier control boards... That's how I plan to mount mine, but I have a metal cp (should be a blast ).

[JcProAm]

I've seen people use pcb standoff feet.  I have seen them at arcade paradise and groovy game gear i think.  or i saw someone say they used a bic pen gutted and then cut into equal lengths.

[TopJimmyCooks]

Yes, mount it to the underside of the CP top.  It's generally the best way.  I wasn't able to do that on my cp, but it makes everything simple when you can.  for standoffs, use small diameter pipe, pen barrels, whatever you have.  there's nothing magic about those PCB feet. 

[elkameleon]

That bic pen idea is damn genius! I'm gonna do that!

[LeedsFan]

For the standoffs I've used black rubber wiring grommets. Cheap and they are all the same size. Saves cutting up a pen holder.

[alfonzotan]

I spent a few cents at the hardware story on plastic spacers, but the "cut up a pen" method is perfectly workable. 

[MonMotha]

I have some 1/4" OD aluminum tubing I cut up for spacers when I want something sturdy.  If I want something non-conductive, polyethylene or PVC tubing works pretty well.  I'd recommend a small tubing cutter if you're going to do more than a few.  In the end, it's not much cheaper than buying spacers, but you get the length you need when you want it without having to stock/order a bunch of different sizes, and the tubing/tubing cutter is useful for other purposes.

[sapro]

Thanks guys. After looking more closely I see that a lot of builds do exactly what I was talking about.

We're got a surplus store near my office that sells rubber spacers for .03 so I'll go grab a few of those.

[scream1973]

i used a hot glue stick cut into small chunks with a hole drilled in the middle.