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2P folding bartop (Still nameless... liking a Transformers theme though)

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Martijn:
you can just place the old panel on the new one and route out all the holes where you want them  :applaud:

syph007:

--- Quote from: leapinlew on August 17, 2011, 09:14:21 am ---If the controls are higher, will the unit still close?

--- End quote ---

Ya I went out and checked... it would be tighter for sure, which is probably why i moved them as low as was comfortable.  I ended up just unbolting the panel and sliding it up and down to see where it feels right, and after all that I decided it felt fine in the place I had it.. lol.  I tried bending a test piece of laminate on a hotplate last night and it worked really well, that part isn't going to be as tough as I thought.   Another hobby of mine is kydex knife sheath making, and I use a hotplate for that.  It's easier than a heat gun and you get uniform simultaneous heating.


--- Quote from: Martijn on August 17, 2011, 09:19:32 am ---you can just place the old panel on the new one and route out all the holes where you want them  :applaud:

--- End quote ---

Absolutely.  I use a template whenever I can.  I actually made router templates for the joystick pocket, and the button holes already, since I KNEW I'd never ONLY be cutting 1 panel.  I've already cut 6 or 7 I think.

syph007:
Well I'm still chugging along here.  Small update since I got a few hours with no baby yelling... :D

I got my laminated corner beam attached to the cp now.  Lots of bondo was used to smooth out the bottom and front so that I could get a nice crisp corner.





I countersunk and bondoed in the joystick mounting bolts.  Before I bondoed I filed the tops of the screws so they were more square than round.  I didn't want to take a chance on them turning on me.





I got to bend some laminate, and that's about all I had time for.  But it's getting there.  I'm in no rush really and I'm enjoying the build.

syph007:
I actually got some more time to work, so I'm posting more pix.

The problem with this type of build is that I really can't finish any part of it until the 2 halves are rigid and my method of hinging is decided and prototyped.  There isn't much room for error so I decided to just suck it up and finish the mockup all the way and get the hinge attached, THEN go back and disassemble and laminate.

To get the clearance just right I was going to put spacers in to be the same thickness as t-molding.. then I got the einsteinian idea to just put some t-molding on!  :banghead:  Since... you know.. it's just the right spacing....





It was impossible to finish the mockup without the top part in a usable state.  Now I couldn't decide quickly how I'd have the final pieces, so I just temporarily screwed some pieces on the back and top, just to set the side pieces at the proper spacing and make them parallel.  I hope this will be good enough for me to get the hinge sections ironed out.



I got motivated when I opened it up and had a few pretend games.  It's a big boy, but I LOVE it.  I don't think I will have to worry about it moving around much... or my wrists crushing my wrist rest beam!

Since this type of build has a deeper than normal CP, it will have a bit of extra space at the top.  I'm toying with the idea of putting actual coin slots in.  No room for full mechs, but I could mock something up to get the sound just right.



Here is how I ultimately want the pieces to sit.  I need to design the hinge support parts next and hopefully get it just right, so it folds smoothly and everything lines up nice.



Transformed... into folded mode!  Maybe I can motorize the opening... maybe :D  I couldn't be happier with how it's turning out!  I have a large industrial metal recessed handle that will be installed on top.





Well it's getting there!  Slowly... but I'm resisting the urge to rush and mess it up. 

All for now, cheers!

Yvan256:
For the coin mechs, maybe you could just do a slot with a switch? So it wouldn't be a real official coin mech but it would still work. Even a home-made universal coin mech is better than a simple "credit" button, IMHO.

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