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Any examples of external storage of controllers on frankencabs?
JustAskJack:
I've been planning to have a couple sets of original controllers attached to my cab, (set of atari 2600, nes, snes and pc).
I've been scouring the site and reading suggestions, and trying to find what is going to end up being the best solution.
I haven't found any pictures of anyone who has done any external storage... maybe nobody has been able to pull it off cleanly?
I am bouncing back and forth between adding a small gutter under the drawer that they can sit in while unused.... or was also trying to look into getting some of those arms that you see on gaming kiosks in stores... but I don't know the correct term for that part so been having alot of difficulty finding examples of them online.
I have seen suggestions to store them inside the cabinet, but I am trying to stay casual with the design so there's no fishing stuff out from inside... more along the ideal of being able to pick it up, play, put it down...
So somewhere easily accessible from the front is going to be the way I go...
For reference, here's a bad mockup of the 2 options I was thinking...
Thanks in advance
zanna5910:
i have extra room on my slideout keyboard tray and I just leave them on that. Your idea could be taken to the next level with 45* pivot drawer and technically speaking, should work great and give a clean, hidden look. You may want to consider separate cubby holes for your controllers, or it could be a side access as well if you had a coin door or something. You could also mount some type of hooks/holders. Alot of people seem to just put a basket next to the arcade and store them there.
jasonbar:
As I finish the housing for my final rarely-used-but-I-still-want-it control that clamps onto my panel to accommodate a handful of games, I was considering storing them in the back of the cab, where there much available volume. The're contained, safe, free from meddlers, & don't get dusty. They'll need some sort of internal hook/caddy system keep tidy so they don't end up in a pile on the floor like my son's toybox. I do have quite a few: 1 steering wheel & pedals, 2: Sega Saturn Twin Virtua On stick rewired & mounted for my cab ( http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,133751.msg1378477.html ), 3: a second trackball (a little X-Arcade...blush...at least I swapped its T-Molding to match the rest of my machine...), 4: Star Wars Yoke--still working on fabbing a clampy mount--my sheet metal design is too ambitious even for shops w/ fancy laser cutters & CNC Press Brakes... :\
I am however, tempted to try to instead hinge much/most of my kick panel & coin door front face to hide & reveal the bonus rare controls. Here's an obsolete pic that showed how I hung the extra trackball & steering wheel off the side of the cab w/ garage storage hooks. I've since abandoned that scheme, painted my cab, & have sideart & kick panel art (and bezel) art on the way. Still, this pic shows the layout. http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff97/infernolab/Arcade%20Game/01fullcabinet.jpg
Some piano hinge, some magnet detents, hooks, repainting or capping cut surfaces. Will do the trick. I do have a fair mount of wiring behind the kick panel that would need to be addresses...
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On a related note, what are the consequences of plugging & unplugging controls, either then the PC is running or not. I fear unfortunate reassignments of device IDs when unplugging & replugging. As such, I have available a dedicated unique USB port for each of my temporary controllers, so I need not unplug or replug anything if I am able to be adequately clever with storage & accessibility of the bonus controllers.
Thanks,
-Jason
jasonbar:
--- Quote from: jasonbar on October 08, 2013, 03:39:59 am ---On a related note, what are the consequences of plugging & unplugging controls, either then the PC is running or not. I fear unfortunate reassignments of device IDs when unplugging & replugging. As such, I have available a dedicated unique USB port for each of my temporary controllers, so I need not unplug or replug anything if I am able to be adequately clever with storage & accessibility of the bonus controllers.
--- End quote ---
Found a swell answer to my question: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,108767.0/all.html
-Jason
JustAskJack:
Just a quick update on this... I decided to go with a front controller storage cabinet to house the controllers.
This is how it turned out (need a bit of refinement, but does the job)
I used these wall clips to mount the controllers:
http://www.laboratory424.com/project/wall-clip
Worked pretty great...
Full build gallery here:
http://imgur.com/a/hcqGO