Control Panel Help

[Scott84]

Im looking to start a mame project but i have to build the controls first to see if i can even do it. some questions.

1.What Joysticks should i get for street fighter?

2.With the button layout for streetfighter, what ipac should i get?

3.what kind of wood should be used? how thick?

4.should i put plexiglass over it so i dont get splinters?

5.if i paint over it and not use plexiglass, is it still good?

6. should i use a quick connect on the microswitch button to make it easier? if so, what size and what gauge wire?

7. how spaced out should the buttons be from eachother? from the joystick?

thanks for your time.

[Shieldwolf]

1. competiton
2. regular  concave buttons i think
3. I don't have an ipac so I can't answer, but if it's only a twoplayer cab you would be alright with one with a minimum of 22 inputs. Assuming 4 for each joystick 6 for each button and a start button for both players
4. No, but you should put lexan on for asthetics.
5. Sure
6. I wish I could tell you, I'm trying to figure out the same thing with DC. If anyone can help me let me know
7. That's personal taste. I know the site has the exact measurements. i think mine are set at 3 1/2 inches from center of joystick to center of 1st button

Hope this helps, but there are more qualified people here who should answer

[walls83]

have faith and take your time you can do it. Make cardboard templets to test out different control panel layouts to see what you like best..

[Totallyout2lunch]

RE: The Disconnects...

Answer: The microswitches on the joysticks and buttons are .187, so get the .187 quick disconnects and wire of the same gauge from happs when you order your bits and bobs.

HAPPS ORDER NUMBERS:

Competition Joysticks (BLACK):    50-6070-16
.187 Female Quick Disconnects:    43-0538-00
1 Player Button:                          58-9111-L1PLY
2 Player Button:                          58-9111-L2PLY
3 Player Button:                          58-9111-L3PLY
4 Player Button:                          58-9111-L4PLY

RED Buttons with Microswitch:      58-9100-L
BLUE Buttons with Microswitch:     58-9122-L
BLACK Buttons with Microswitch:  58-9168-L

Hope this helps, remember if your getting a Track Ball to get a mounting plate aswell...

[paigeoliver]

1.What Joysticks should i get for street fighter?

I have owned a few of these machines, and all of them had bat-top microswitch joysticks. I am not really a big fan of any of those sticks though.

2.With the button layout for streetfighter, what ipac should i get?

The I-Pac2 is all you need for a 2 player panel, I have the standard SF2 layout on one of my machine's panels, and that is the encoder I use (although I opted for long handled Wico leaf switch sticks).

3.what kind of wood should be used? how thick?

What kind of wood for the control panel, or for the entire machine? People here love to use particle board and MDF, but I say both are junk, and 3/4" plywood is the only way to go.

4.should i put plexiglass over it so i dont get splinters?

My Amazing Mame has a wooden panel with no plexiglass, it is just painted black, and no you don't get splinters. You can actually still find original Street Fighter 2 control panel overlays, so you could just get one of those.

5.if i paint over it and not use plexiglass, is it still good?

It is still fine. Some purists (myself included) will point out that plexiglass is a non-original item on most games anyway, hardly anything came from the factory with it.

6. should i use a quick connect on the microswitch button to make it easier? if so, what size and what gauge wire?

I used to just solder everything, then I started using quick connects, and it made a world of difference. I don't know what guage wire I use, I always just use whatever I have laying around.

7. how spaced out should the buttons be from each other? from the joystick?

The buttons should be almost touching. You can eyeball it, or do a bit of reading around on this board, and someplace you will see the exact distances. Distance from joystick does not matter, as it is impossible to get them "too close" to the stick, and getting them "too far" would require a pretty freaking wide panel.

Let me once again reccomend getting a Streetfighter 2 (or other 6 button fighting) control panel overlay, that will answer most of your questions for you.

[Tiger-Heli]

Had my reply "previewed" and forgot to hit send.  Retyping

>1.What Joysticks should i get for street fighter?

Happ Competitions.

>2.With the button layout for streetfighter, what ipac should i get?

If you will never expand into a 4-player layout, the I-PAC/2 is fine, or consider the KeyWiz from www.groovygamegear.com

>3.what kind of wood should be used? how thick?

Consensus is 3/4 MDF.  If you can't recess the joysticks, I recommend 3/8" plywood.

>4.should i put plexiglass over it so i dont get splinters?

Plexi is just for looks, feel.  But if you want it, Lexan or Crystallite is much easier to work with (no cracking, etc.).

>5.if i paint over it and not use plexiglass, is it still good?

Yes, would use a flat paint, as gloss paint can "stick" if your hands sweat.  There's also this http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&St=1599&St2=77786352&St3=-43130352&DS_ID=3&Product_ID=120419&DID=7 that OSCAR really liked in a previous thread.

>6. should i use a quick connect on the microswitch button to make it easier? if so, what size and what gauge wire?

Yes, 0.187 (3/8") Quick Connect, I like 22-gauge stranded wire, but it's not critical.

>7. how spaced out should the buttons be from eachother? from the joystick?

I like 1.5 inch centers on the buttons, which is fairly tight.  I used 3 inches from center of joy to center of Button 1, but it's not critical.  See also: http://www.fraggersxtreme.com/arcadepanels/faq.htm#What is the minimum button spacing that I can use?

[Scott84]

I want to thank all of you for your answers.

Now, i was talking over it with my brother (im still 19 and living with my parents) and he said if he were to play it too, he would play games like double dragon, ninja turtles etc. So would i still be best with competition joysticks?

Also. I was thinking maybe of doing a 4 player control panel.

|----P3------------------------------p4|
 |------------P1-----------P2---------|
   |-------------------------------------|

That sorta idea for a 4 player. Have 1 and 2 in the middle with street fighter style controls, then thr p3 and p4 would have a joystick and maybe 4 buttons for the majority of the 4 player games. Does anybody of a control panel templete or an example page of anyone that has done that?

Im sorry for asking so many questions. I just want to make sure i understand everything before i go out and spend my paycheques  

[hyiu]

I personally find Happs Competition a good all around joystick.... (except for old 4 way games....)

for 4 way games.... you'll need a dedeciated 4 way stick...

[Scott84]

When i cut the holes for the joysticks and such, and for the buttons. i just use a 1 1/8 and cut the hole... and then just put the button in? its that easy? i dont have to do any other drilling or anything? i just use a drill and make the hole? same for the joystick?

[hyiu]

yes... its just that easy....

just drill a hole and put the button in...
 

[Scott84]

The thing i have heard people doing something to the joystick like half cutting into the wood to make it higher ot something but not completely makeing a hole, im not sure on the technical term. i dunno what it is called or if im explaining it right.

should i do that?

[hyiu]

I think its called routing...

if you have a router.... and if you actually have the bit, rout a little out will help make the stick longer....

but I think they're playable... (although not the best...)

I would say... get a piece of wood, and try it out.... then you'll see by yourself... everyone plays differently....

[Tiger-Heli]

The thing i have heard people doing something to the joystick like half cutting into the wood to make it higher ot something but not completely makeing a hole, im not sure on the technical term. i dunno what it is called or if im explaining it right.

should i do that?

Covering your previous questions - lots of 4 player panels around, and yes, you shouldn't need more than 3 buttons for players 3 and 4.

Comp is a good joystick for DD and TMNT as well.  I have heard Supers are better for circular moves like in Time Pilot.  There a good comparison here:  http://www.oscarcontrols.com/joycompare/joyreview1.shtml but I think it's more an individual preference than trying to see what someone else writes about it.

Half cutting a hole is what I mentioned in my initial reply on wood.  If you use 3/4 inch wood, you probably want to recess about 3/8 of an inch out or the joystick shafts will be fairly short.  This is done with a rounter.  If you don't have a router, you can take the lazy approach like me and use 3/8" wood for the top panel.

[Scott84]

is 3/8 wood strpong enough though?

[tmasman]

If you use plywood it would be strong enough, but it may flex a little.
Depending on the size of your CP, you may want to put supports around the inside of it.
Like a few wood blocks that go from bottom to top to keep the top from sagging when it is being leaned on.

Personally, I would
just try to get a scrap piece of 3/4" wood & see if you like the joystick mounted on it...
Then go from there.  Just go to Home Depot & see if they could give you some of the scraps (or if you can get them real cheap)...

[Tiger-Heli]

is 3/8 wood strpong enough though?

debatable.  I'm older and don't plan to pound on the panels once it's built.  And I'm building modular 12x12" desktop panels, so it should be fine.  For a larger panel, you might want to re-inforce it, but you could do that as well. . .

[Tiger-Heli]

If you use plywood it would be strong enough, but it may flex a little.
Depending on the size of your CP, you may want to put supports around the inside of it.
Like a few wood blocks that go from bottom to top to keep the top from sagging when it is being leaned on.

Personally, I would
just try to get a scrap piece of 3/4" wood & see if you like the joystick mounted on it...
Then go from there.  Just go to Home Depot & see if they could give you some of the scraps (or if you can get them real cheap)...

If they don't have scraps, a 1x4x2' is 3/4-inch thick, under $2 and will give you the feel of 3/4" MDF (for thickness)

[Scott84]

Thanks Guys,

Well im gonna go to radio shack to buy a few components that i dont want to purcahse from Happs....

i will buy .187 Female Quick Disconnects, 22 gauge wire (diffrent colors ranging 4 meters for the ground and 2 meters for the other colours. Iwill also buy a 'grounder' or whatever it is called. Anything else im missing (dont count the joysticks and buttons and actual power tools)

[Scott84]

Also,

When purchasing from Happs for the push buttons, do i buy the ultimate microswitch buttons or the regular? I want the buttons that were used in games like streetfighter and mortal kombat thank you.

[hyiu]

Thanks Guys,

Well im gonna go to radio shack to buy a few components that i dont want to purcahse from Happs....

i will buy .187 Female Quick Disconnects, 22 gauge wire (diffrent colors ranging 4 meters for the ground and 2 meters for the other colours. Iwill also buy a 'grounder' or whatever it is called. Anything else im missing (dont count the joysticks and buttons and actual power tools)

HD sells it cheaper than RS....

[Tiger-Heli]

>Well im gonna go to radio shack to buy a few components that i >dont want to purcahse from Happs....
>i will buy .187 Female Quick Disconnects, 22 gauge wire (diffrent >colors ranging 4 meters for the ground and 2 meters for the other >colours.

http://www.allelectronics.com
www.digikey.com
www.newark.com and www.mouser.com are good sources for this.

> Iwill also buy a 'grounder' or whatever it is called. Anything else im >missing (dont count the joysticks and buttons and actual power >tools)

Router

Other stuff - black carriage bolts for the joysticks, maybe.  LED's if you want them.  Possibly terminal blocks.  Should about do it.

[Tiger-Heli]

Also,

When purchasing from Happs for the push buttons, do i buy the ultimate microswitch buttons or the regular? I want the buttons that were used in games like streetfighter and mortal kombat thank you.

Avoid the ultimate buttons.  You want the pushbuttons with horizontal microswitch which are concave (dished in).  The competitions are convex (dished out).

Also www.therealbobroberts.com is usually cheaper than Happ for Happ stuff.

[zero-one]

Hey Scott,

You're in Mississauga right? Go to Starburst Coin Machines http://www.starburstcoin.com (on Kipling Ave. just 1 or 2 blocks north of QEW) for your joysticks and buttons. The prices were good. I've heard that there's also an electronics store across the street where you can get the wire and quick disconnects.

Cheers.

[paigeoliver]

Comp is a good joystick for DD and TMNT as well.  I have heard Supers are better for circular moves like in Time Pilot.  

I actually had Supers installed in my Time Pilot cocktail for a while, and I had to pull them out. They performed "OK", but didn't have a smooth enough circular action. I finally ended up getting some Wico leaf switch sticks for it (which I eventually end up doing for EVERYTHING I own that has joysticks, I should just start buying those in the first place, and stop messing around with cheapo microswitch sticks).