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Rotating control panels in the CNC age... why so rare still?

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PL1:


--- Quote from: DaveMMR on September 23, 2013, 06:09:22 pm ---(EDIT 2: Wonder how you'd get the monitor to lift up easily without adding ugly handles... See therein lies the issue with the rotating panels, so many challenges to overcome....)

--- End quote ---

Use a linear actuator like G-rock26 did for Project Morph.



Add a second one for the front panel and you are good to go.   :cheers:


Scott

DaveMMR:


--- Quote from: PL1 on September 23, 2013, 07:27:54 pm ---
--- Quote from: DaveMMR on September 23, 2013, 06:09:22 pm ---(EDIT 2: Wonder how you'd get the monitor to lift up easily without adding ugly handles... See therein lies the issue with the rotating panels, so many challenges to overcome....)

--- End quote ---

Use a linear actuator like G-rock26 did for Project Morph.

Add a second one for the front panel and you are good to go.   :cheers:

Scott

--- End quote ---

I love that project, though the linear actuator pushes it into that "two dedicated cabinets cheaper than one" theory I tried selling earlier. It would up the 'cool factor' significantly - yet not entirely a strict requirement (see Edit 3).

The more I think about it, the more I think if such a thing were to work, that the Slim Defender style cabinet design (see my currently abandoned project or, better yet, successfully completed ones) may be best suited for it. The real deal naturally had a panel with a slight overhang, the front part with the coin area is extra roomy to, hopefully, accommodate the panels' controls not currently in use and I feel like you can drop down that 'front-belly' a bit easier (and hide a release-latch or key underneath the bottom of it.) I may need to break out my Sketch-Up files and see what actually is possible while keeping the lines as close to original (minus the whole 'slim-line' modification, obviously) as possible.

The goal here is to not lose too much real estate having to account for the backs of adjacent panels and other areas deemed 'unusable'. If a panel were 10" deep, you'd have maybe 5-6 inches of usable space (rough worst-case scenario guess.) That's a fairly big obstacle. The other one is being able to easily remove the panels from the rotating mechanism for maintenance while making whatever holds it down strong enough to support a board full of hardware hanging upside down*.

(*Which may be why a TRIANGLE with three panels - along with better space management - may actually be better now that I think about it.)

Xiaou2:

A mechanical auto-lift would be pretty easy.

  Basically, you can attach a roller wheel set to the bottom of the lcd mount panel.  Then attach some side panels to the rotating control panels, which are shaped in such a way, that as the panel is rotated.. it will cause the roller to rise and lower.  Basically, like a rollercoaster track.

 You would want to put a wood or metal slide-braces on both the front and rear sides of the lcd panel.. forming a channel.   The external sides braces would have screws, so can be removable.. which is typical in arcade bezel holders.  If sliding was a little rough, you could also put a few bearing rollers on the rear side of the monitor panel as well.

 Not sure a 4 sided panel will work well though, because the angle may be steep in order to attain the space needed to clear the front on the cabinet.   One of the reasons for a rotating cp, is for things like tall trigger stick, or even steering wheels..  both of which are externally tall, and also, internally deep.



DaveMMR:


--- Quote from: Xiaou2 on September 23, 2013, 11:04:52 pm --- Not sure a 4 sided panel will work well though, because the angle may be steep in order to attain the space needed to clear the front on the cabinet.   One of the reasons for a rotating cp, is for things like tall trigger stick, or even steering wheels..  both of which are externally tall, and also, internally deep.

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Yes, have to agree. The design in my head would likely accommodate nothing taller than a standard joystick and even that may be tight. Kick it down to a triangle and see where that takes you.

You have much more wiggle room if you can forgo the fancier controllers (or make them a modular add-on like PacMamea has) and stick to joysticks, spinners and trackballs. Me? I'd do the rotation just to have a couple of seperate layouts (1 player, 2 player fighter, trackball/spinner, Defender.) Seems a waste, I know.

PL1:


--- Quote from: DaveMMR on September 23, 2013, 10:34:08 pm ---I love that project, though the linear actuator pushes it into that "two dedicated cabinets cheaper than one" theory I tried selling earlier. It would up the 'cool factor' significantly - yet not entirely a strict requirement (see Edit 3).

--- End quote ---

I mentioned linear actuators for the no handles and coolness factors.  8)

If expense is a concern, go with a lever arm on the monitor board and a pulley system tied to the front panel.   ;D


Scott

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