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Simple removable control panels
spystyle:
Hello from Maine :)
Well I haven't really been following arcade news, so if this has already been covered let me know.
I wanted to have removable control panels that were simple, so this is what I came up with :
1. Make a control panel that is slightly larger than the cabinet's outside diameter :
2. The overhang can be used to attach the "striker plate" part of the latch kit.
3. Each control panel has a keyboard encoder (and whatever other boards needed) attached to it. A USB keyboard encoder is ideal for removable control panels. USB can be unplugged while the computer is on, but PS2 must have the computer powered off to swap.
4. Blocks have to be in place so the control panel can't be pulled forward by the players :
And that's the basic concept I use to make simple removable control panels :
EDIT : Ultimately, I decided that the slot cut should be in the cabinet, rather than the control panel (as I did it). Cutting the slot in the control panel gives it a sort of 'finger' that can break off, LOL. It creates a fragile part.
If you need to add tension you can add a shim to each side. Here is one made from hardboard :
It's "wasteful" since each control panel uses it's own encoder board(s) - so there is an extra $25 fee per panel (at least). However, this results in a simpler swapping process.
EDIT : These days keyboard encoders can be bought for much less.
I order the latch kits here :
http://www.ebay.com/sch/m.html?_odkw=latch&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_armrs=1&_ssn=twistedquarter&_trksid=p2046732.m570.l1313&_nkw=latch+with+plate&_sacat=0
(I am not affiliated with the seller "TwistedQuarter" but he is a good seller, in my experience)
(alt) Here are some from Happ :
http://na.suzohapp.com/amusement/acesor/49005900.htm
I don't know if there is a Home Depot alternative for the "striker plate", since you only need 2 latches for the cabinet but every panel needs 2 striker plates.
Let me know what you think :)
Craig
p.s. I built this shelf to hold the control panels :
It's kind of hard to see the detail as the shelf and the two control panels are black, so I pushed the exposure. Anyway, it can be seen holding two control panels, the second one is not finished. The "striker plates" keep the control panels from moving horizontally in the shelf, and the wood keeps them from moving vertically. Right now it can hold three control panels, but holes are predrilled to add more horizontal pieces to hold up to six.
paigeoliver:
Nice, when I tried that I made them slide in, but I am digging your method too.
Ultimately you might want to consider enclosing the bottoms of the control panels in an enclosure so they don't get damaged from being moved around. That was what kept happening with my slide in panels.
spystyle:
That's a good idea :)
I'd like to see your panels too.
paigeoliver:
They are years gone at this point.
--- Quote from: spystyle on December 15, 2012, 06:58:43 pm ---That's a good idea :)
I'd like to see your panels too.
--- End quote ---
rCadeGaming:
Using a different encoder for every panel is wasteful, and there's no reason it would have to be any more complicated to keep the encoder on the cabinet side. All of the wires between the encoder and the sticks/buttons/whatever could easily routed through a single connector. A DB-25 or DB-37 would be great.
Also, how about holding the panel in magnetically for fast swapping? Not too big of a magnet near the screen though, haha.