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bArcade - updated panel build

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tony.silveira:
had a couple fo days off and decided to start my new panel.  size and even the controls layout are exactly the same as my current panel but there a few things i am adding.  i already have the top panel cut/drilled/routed and will post pictures tomorrow.  i decided on 5/8 mdf with a 1/8 mdf topper to hide the surface mounts.

here are some of the additions i am making:

1.  front lip of panel (edge by the monitor) will be keyed for add ons (DONE).  current add on: star wars yoke (DONE).  future add on: motorcycle handlebar (TBD)

2.  just below that, is a flush mounted vga connector (DONE) wired to two sidewinder hacks under the panel (TO DO).  each add on will hot plug into this.

3.  each of the 4 omnistick 2's will be surrounded by 8 flat top surface mounted LED's which will light up based on the game (2 way / 4 way / 8 way)

4.  each stick will auto rotate to either 4/8 way

5.  each stick will have the magnetic trigger stick hack (2 player vindicators 2!)

6.  flip over player 1 and 2, 12 key keypad for consoles that had them (atari 5200/jag, intellivision, coecovision, etc.) - my first proof of concept is DONE, it's there, it flips over, just need to do the finishing work around it to make it as invisible as possible but that will be towards the end of the build

7.  spinner that manual pulls out from the front of my current panel (turns into a steering wheel) will be automated (hopefully).  if this ends up how i'm picturing it, then i will add a second spiner/wheel for player 2

pics will be uploaded starting tomorrow to whenever i finish this.  realy not looking forward to all the wires :)

tony.silveira:
here are the first pics to my new panel.

this first pick is of the whole panel, holes drilled, routing done, one joystick installed.  just to the left of that joystick you can see the flip over keypad which is flipped down in this pic.  to the right of the stick, you can see the small routed hole to accommodate the vga connector.  above the vga connector you can see a small sliver on the edge has been trimmed, this is the spot my attachments will key into



second and third pics are close ups of the keypad flip over.  the pivot points are hollow tubes that the wiring will feed thru





and here is the panel with the 1/8 mdf sheet sitting on top.  the vga connector barely sticks out a little but i'll be routing just a bit more so that if you wipe your hand over it, you won't feel that small lip



here are a couple of close ups of the vga connector, bottom board then the finishing board on top





that's it for now

DaveMMR:
Well now I'm curious to see how this goes.  I dig that flip-around keypad. You may be the first person I've seen to take Intellivision/Colecovision emulation into consideration (screw the 5200 and Jaguar.  ;D)  One question: will the buttons be uncomfortable to use in relation to the joystick since they're at largely different heights?

tony.silveira:

--- Quote from: DaveMMR on July 03, 2012, 06:43:41 am ---Well now I'm curious to see how this goes.  I dig that flip-around keypad. You may be the first person I've seen to take Intellivision/Colecovision emulation into consideration (screw the 5200 and Jaguar.  ;D)  One question: will the buttons be uncomfortable to use in relation to the joystick since they're at largely different heights?

--- End quote ---

hey now, montezuma's revenge on the 5200 is great!  :)

i'm assuming you mean player 2 joystick button difference?  i've never noticed anyone play and complain.  the difference in height in the pic does look striking but in actual use, it really isn't that big of a deal and have never had a complaint

tony.silveira:
here are some updates:

this pic shows the well for the keypad.  along the top you can see a small recess.  that is the stopper for the keypad



these next two shots show the keypad in place with the 1/8 mdf cover.  i tried to get those lines as straight as i could.  i think once i put my artwork on, those lines should hide pretty well





and here is one showing the keypad flipped over.  you can see the 1/8 mdf lip along the top of the keypad.  when flipped down, this lip stops the keypad from rotating a full 360 degrees.  when it's open, this lip also stops the keypad from spinning 360 the other way and it stops the keypad at a nice angle for the user



and here are the 8 holes drilled out around a joystick and you can see one led mounted in the NE position.  the circle drawn around the shaft is the dust washer resting position (inner circle) and the extended position if the stick is pushed (outer circle)



that's it for now

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