Control panel layout. Feedback please.

[monkey puzzle]

I'm building a control panel for my cab, it's the first cp I've built, so I would appereciate any feedback. I've built a mock-up control panel on a peice of scrap wood, so I can get an idea of what it will turn out like. It's quite a narrow cp, so two players will be standing shoulder to shoulder a little close, but I want to try and make the best with the space I've got. The two buttons at the back are pause and exit, but I'm considering moving these buttons to the coin door, or just using a shift button. I couldn't decide where to place the P1/P2 start buttons, so I tried a different place for each one. The round knob in the middle is where I'm considering to put a spinner.

Rough dimensions are as follows:

Width = 660mm / 26"
depth = 230mm / 9"
distance from P1 joystck to edge of panel = 80mm / 3 1/8"
distance from P2 buttons to edge of panel = 80mm / 3 1/8"

[Louis Tully]

.

[D_Harris]

I'm building a control panel for my cab, it's the first cp I've built, so I would appereciate any feedback. I've built a mock-up control panel on a peice of scrap wood, so I can get an idea of what it will turn out like. It's quite a narrow cp, so two players will be standing shoulder to shoulder a little close, but I want to try and make the best with the space I've got. The two buttons at the back are pause and exit, but I'm considering moving these buttons to the coin door, or just using a shift button. I couldn't decide where to place the P1/P2 start buttons, so I tried a different place for each one. The round knob in the middle is where I'm considering to put a spinner.

Rough dimensions are as follows:

Width = 660mm / 26"
depth = 230mm / 9"
distance from P1 joystck to edge of panel = 80mm / 3 1/8"
distance from P2 buttons to edge of panel = 80mm / 3 1/8"

I personally wouldn't put the controls that high on the panel, but I don't know what kind of cabinet you have and it's limitations in that area.

I would however keep enough room along the back edge(near the monitor glass) for a row of admin buttons (along with the player start buttons) if any are to be put on top of the CP itself.

On a couple of control panels I made the player start buttons are blue and all the admin buttons are black, so there is no confusion.

How many inches from the front edge are the joysticks?

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.

[monkey puzzle]

Thanks for the input guys. There is 6" between the front of the cp and the joysticks. Do you think this is about right?

One of the most difficult desicions so far has been wether or not to use admin buttons on the cp. Some people think they clutter the cp, but other people think that shift functions is too confusing for other players. My latest idea was to have pause and exit buttons on coin door (but also have them available by using shift keys on the cp). Credit button would also be on the coin door. The only admin buttons on the cp would be P1/P2 start, which can also be used as shift keys when used with other buttons. What do you think of that idea?

[mgb]

Like D_Harris, I'm also personally not a fan of the controls being so far toward the monitor.

why not have them more in the middle (speaking from front toward monitor). the side to side looks fine to me.

[monkey puzzle]

Like D_Harris, I'm also personally not a fan of the controls being so far toward the monitor.

why not have them more in the middle (speaking from front toward monitor). the side to side looks fine to me.

I wanted to leave enough space for my palms to rest on the cp. But I think I've left more than enough space so maybe I'll move the controls forward a little to improve the look of the cp.

[lordnacho]

Yeah once you do that, you have more room to center the p1/p2 buttons

[monkey puzzle]

Yeah once you do that, you have more room to center the p1/p2 buttons

Yes, agreed.

[monkey puzzle]

Ok, I've drilled my actual control panel now. I moved the controls forward a bit, and player 2 to the right 18mm. I've removed the admin buttons, I'd rather have them on the coin door. My only problem now is where to have the player 1/2 start buttons.