I've had a crummy POS testing CP for a while (so crappy it hasn't been used in a long time), I've also had a ZD encoder laying around. Two great reasons to make something new. Nearly all the parts used to build the ZD Invader were spares/scrap from other projects, or free from other sources. The only parts I spent money on for this project were the ZD encoder, angle brackets, spring nuts, t-nuts, and a few wood screws. I've got less than $25 into this. There's no need to go into a ton of detail on a little project like this, and I didn't bother taking a ton of pictures either. But I do have some build pics I'll share...
All of the cuts on this (with the exception of the holes) were made with a router. Here's the beginning of the box and CP top laid out next to the old testing CP. Glue's drying on the box seams. The 1/2" MDF was all scrap from the
doll house I built for my daughter for Christmas.
Rounded the corners of the CP with a 1/2" round over bit. Then flush trimmed the plexi. The plexi was scrap from replacing the plexi on my old
Star Explorer pin.
Busted out the slot cutter bit I've had for over a year and never used until now.
Was persuaded into adding art to the CP.
Drilled the CP and plexi together.
Glued to CP top to the box. Took a note from PL1 and used spring nuts and angle brackets to secure the bottom.
I took the joystick and buttons from the old crummy testing CP (the buttons were originally scraps from making the buttons on the Beast, and the Wico joystick was out of a free gutted cab I got two and half years ago), and the two small buttons were leftovers from the Troubleshooter Supergun. If any of you can recall my
MK TE Fightstick LED mod... I decided to go with LED buttons on the ZD Invader too. That required a little modification to the buttons, as well as blacking out the center with some spare vinyl I had.
Wait! LEDs?! Where to get the power from? The ZD, of course!
Used Forstner bits for the leveling feet and screw head recesses.
This all happened pretty fast. Painted it inside and out semi gloss black. Installed the CPO yotsuya printed for me (thanks dude!
). Installed the plexi and buttons. And installed some black t-molding I got from jmike that was originally intended for keithpuetz's CP (thanks jmike!
).
I decided to add leveling feet to this to enable whoever is playing it to adjust the angle of the CP. Got these puppies for free (samples) from Alliance Express.
Mounted the ZD and did a quick and dirty wiring job on the LEDs.
I wired up my own "12V LEDs", but they run on 5V and are still plenty bright. LEDs on with flash.
No flash, dim light.
Wired up the controls. This ZD was from the first batch and had the shorter wires. The joystick wires wouldn't quite reach the furthest switch terminals, so I threw a Molex connecter in the mix. This will make it quick and easy to swap out the joystick. I might throw a JLW with a balltop into this someday, not really a fan of bat tops.
And the bottom all closed up.
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Topic: ZD Invader (Read 6788 times)
