This is the last build update for SwitchCade before the wrap up and final pics. It's been quiet but work has ramped up here, I've got parts coming for the new pinball at the beginning of march and need to clear the bench, so to speak.
Volume control:
![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-3XvTBEEitkU/T0UC5hbkJ_I/AAAAAAAABGI/_MOokIRMvFA/s400/IMG_5017.JPG)
I tried some software only volume controls and didn't really get to where I needed to be. the 2.1 speaker set would have required a drastic decasing and speaker rebuilding effort, so I got the Rat Shack dual audio taper pot. Soldered on a plug and jack and put it between the pc and speakers. It works well for me-I adjust the volume during games sometimes. it's in the middle of the speaker panel which is a little weird but I like it.
Control Panel - Cat 5 interface
![](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-cQYz96oM6Gs/T0UC_FJkmfI/AAAAAAAABHE/IDHDVNiovr0/s400/IMG_5024.JPG)
SwitchCade had a single cat 5 jack in a baseboard box to interface the digital sticks and buttons on swap panels with the Ipac. I realized I also wanted to be able to connect to the Sidewinder wheel's pedals at the CP box. So I went modular. This is a 2 place keystone jack plate designed to be used with a decora style cover plate. I trimmed it down, drilled and countersunk for the four screws, and cut clearance out of the back wall of the cp for the plugs to project into. The cat 5 jack comes right back in the hole and goes to the ipac, the phone jack continues through the cab down to the bottom. I bought a combo cat5/phone crimper and I love it. Been terminating patch cables and rewiring the home network like a madman - everybody should have one of these.
Speaker mount and glass handles:
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qPvptACMx1k/T0UC5iObaZI/AAAAAAAABGU/ePRXS4emzUc/s400/IMG_5018.JPG)
This pic shows one of the problems with working with MDF- I chewed it up bigtime with my old speaker mounting system. I'll have to glue and clamp this
back into shape and touch up. You can see the remnants of the old drilled speaker grill. Those turned out great but I got some nice metal speaker grilles so I used those instead.
Also seen here is one of two wood handles glued to the back of the display glass. These allow me to reach into the back of the cab and raise the glass out of it's bottom slot, then I can grab it from the front and remove it without any tools.
previously I was using a suction cup from the workshop.
![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-kH6nZ0Ogqjc/TtvRyRGb3-I/AAAAAAAABCY/MgelklK0Mng/s400/2011-12-04_15-00-50_159.jpg)
Here's the second glass handle, and the quick-n-dirty speaker mount.
![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-PCF-CkOj3Jg/T0UC7C42BFI/AAAAAAAABGc/DGrDXwdhrYs/s400/IMG_5019.JPG)
I glued the wood blocks to the painted glass using liquid nails home projects adhesive in a small tube. I was a little worried about this connection but the stuff worked great. It is basically a high grade contact cement.
Strapping Everything Down
![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-X48gPf8AFfk/T0UC8CUnwQI/AAAAAAAABGk/zw4EWx5QSS8/s400/IMG_5020.JPG)
Since the cab has wheels, I wanted everything inside to be well secured. To keep the PC accessible and able to be opened while still in the cab, I mounted some wood blocks that cradle it. you can see two in this picture, the top and bottom front of the case.
the other half of the support system is on the door, so the capture is complete when the door is closed.
![](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-uY0fZlYa2zE/T0UC9lGSZOI/AAAAAAAABGs/ZEu9sGm-U4A/s400/IMG_5021.JPG)
This way minor moves can be done with everything in place and nothing bangs around. If I was going to move the machine far I would take everything I could out, because it's freaking HEAVY.
[Just had a little 1 second brownout- I love my APC ups, it's been a trooper for years. Unbelievable]
Kickplate
![](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-mMi4MtavmRA/T0UC98S1lrI/AAAAAAAABGw/oa8ngBQ6tXE/s400/IMG_5022.JPG)
Switchcade has a swappable steering panel with pedals. Since the pedals will be right against the cab, I incorporated this kickplate into the front lower door.
The plan is to get everything buttoned up, cleaned up, shot and have a wrap up build post/final product done this weekend. Thanks for all the support here.