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Franken-panels Vs. Multi-Swaps

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D_Harris:


--- Quote from: Nephasth on May 28, 2011, 01:49:13 pm ---
--- Quote from: TopJimmyCooks on May 28, 2011, 01:16:02 pm ---I am interested in the bronze pressure contacts - good way to swap.  Can you post any pictures of this?  Thanks.

--- End quote ---

+1 Would love to see this.

--- End quote ---

Well, as I mentioned it is still unfinished.

The contacts, which are the most complicated part of the project, have to be made from sheet stock because no one has them in the specific sizes I needed. I had to totally re-invent how to make and break the connections just for this project, which requires machining grooves into which the "L" shaped contacts fit and a thin rubber sheet across dimensionally stable plastic backings(Nylon) that has "V" shaped protrusions to make sure they mate perfectly every time the CP top is dropped into place.

Cutting out the 3/16" x 1" contact strips by hand is an extremely difficult and tedious process.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.

DeLuSioNal29:

I find it funny that no one here has considered what would happen with a swappable panel and guests.  I personally would not want anyone touching the insides of my arcade machine I worked so hard on.

Sure, most of the time you will be there to swap it for them, but if you're like me and have a BBQ, you'd probably want to be able to actually leave your guests to attend for themselves with the machine, while you entertain outside or wherever else in the house you are needed.  Even now without a swappable panel, I still find my guests finding me and asking me how to load a game and such, even though the menu on the front end is pretty easy to use.  Imagine a swappable panel!

Just my 2 cents. :-)

D

Vigo:

@DeLuSioNal: I agree that guests don't get that stuff. I just leave my panel on the 4 player setup and tell them to get used to only joystick games.   ;D



--- Quote from: D_Harris on May 29, 2011, 12:25:07 am ---The contacts, which are the most complicated part of the project, have to be made from sheet stock because no one has them in the specific sizes I needed. I had to totally re-invent how to make and break the connections just for this project, which requires machining grooves into which the "L" shaped contacts fit and a thin rubber sheet across dimensionally stable plastic backings(Nylon) that has "V" shaped protrusions to make sure they mate perfectly every time the CP top is dropped into place.

Cutting out the 3/16" x 1" contact strips by hand is an extremely difficult and tedious process.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.

--- End quote ---

I am interested in the your pressure contact method as well.  :cheers:

Question though. It sounds like you are putting a lot of work hand designing and machining a contact assembly. Why can't you simply use spring loaded pogo pins and a flat contact board, like a fingerboard? The guides to properly fit the connection can then be added onto the CP itself.

A card edge connector could work well too. They make edge connectors that are forgiving if swung in at a light angle. The CP would just pop in like an old video game cartridge.  :D

Gray_Area:

I have no problem with well-designed Fpanels, although a flight stick crosses the line for me. Two (or four sticks, dual-style), a trackball, a spinner. Perhaps a dedicated 4-way.

Unless you're really into analog flight stick arcade games, or rotary stick games, there's only one configuration that's missing. I'm working on that one (hint, hint).......

Paul Olson:


--- Quote from: DeLuSioNal29 on May 29, 2011, 02:20:50 am ---I find it funny that no one here has considered what would happen with a swappable panel and guests.  I personally would not want anyone touching the insides of my arcade machine I worked so hard on.

Sure, most of the time you will be there to swap it for them, but if you're like me and have a BBQ, you'd probably want to be able to actually leave your guests to attend for themselves with the machine, while you entertain outside or wherever else in the house you are needed.  Even now without a swappable panel, I still find my guests finding me and asking me how to load a game and such, even though the menu on the front end is pretty easy to use.  Imagine a swappable panel!

Just my 2 cents. :-)

D

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I don't even leave it as an option for most guests. Only one person has ever taken the time to learn how it all works, and he is the only one allowed to mess with it. The menu is set to match the CP layout (well it was, I haven't set that up since upgrading everything), so guests can play what is available. I really feel no obligation to give guests full access if they are not willing to at least learn how it works. I will usually leave a more generic layout when guests are over. If it is just me, I will get pretty specific - like swapping the 2 button panel out for the 1 button panel, or just leaving a stick and start buttons if playing Pacman or something. I tend to get a bit picky about the layouts. I have my Robotron layout now, and it is bugging me. I need to swap the middle start button panel for a blank, then add the side mount start buttons so it looks right. Unfortunately, I tend to get lazy, so that hasn't happened yet. :)

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