Will this cp layout double as a "finger-meat" grinder?!

[BGoulette]

Hi all,

New to this whole diy-arcade thing, but I've been lurking the boards for a little while now, and before I continue down a certain road, I'd be interested to hear from those who've been there before if the following layout is a recipe for smashed fingers when playing trackball games:


(click for bigger!)

The light gray areas represent 3/4" panels; the darker gray is void.

I printed out the relevant section (unscaled), and it seems like it would actually be all right, but I've never done this before. There's actually 4 5/16" distance (center to center) between the spinner and trackball, about 1.82" physical distance (edge to edge). That's with a 44mm spinner knob; it's be a whopping 5mm greater if I went with a 34mm knob.

I'm pretty sure no one will die if there's no spinner on the final cp (though who can really say?!), but I thought it made sense to get an educated idea. Thanks for looking!

Also, here's the current state of what I'm going for. Nothing ground-breaking or earth-shattering, to be sure, but so far, I like it!

[yotsuya]

You're going to hit that spinner repeatedly where it's at.

[BGoulette]

Well crap. That's pretty much what I was afraid of. Any thoughts on salvaging it, or just shelve the idea for now?

[HanoiBoi]

Don't shelve it....delete it.

Not sure of your motive here - you knew the answer when you posted.

Why is it so cramped?  Are you limited in space on your CP?

If you really don't have decent room for both, ask yourself why do you want a trackball and why do you want a spinner?  I passed on the trackball and have no regrets.

[Slippyblade]

Can't recall the other project at the moment, but he is routing a recess and mounting the spinner slightly lower than normal.  Then his knob has a small extension/collet so that it just slips on.  Basically the spinner knob will live on a shelf or something and just friction fits onto the spindle when playing a spinner game. 

Something similar would make your panel totally workable.

[drventure]

I SOOOO want to see someone come up with a "popup" spinner.

I imagine a mechanism similiar to the popup drain plug in a lot of tubs.

One of these days, I'll have to give that a go.

[PL1]

Can't recall the other project at the moment, but he is routing a recess and mounting the spinner slightly lower than normal.  Then his knob has a small extension/collet so that it just slips on.  Basically the spinner knob will live on a shelf or something and just friction fits onto the spindle when playing a spinner game. 

Something similar would make your panel totally workable.

Is this the one you're thinking of?


Scott

[Slippyblade]

Is this the one you're thinking of?

Yep - that was it!  Thanks for digging that up.

[BGoulette]

Not sure of your motive here

I suspected I was facing a problem, but, having never done this before, I wanted to get another set of eyes on it for feedback. I'm glad I did.

My goal is to keep the total width 29" (not counting t molding); the main portion of the cabinet will be 26" (plus 1.5" for the sides). That might make it seem somewhat cramped, and it might turn out I need to widen things.

Of course, now I'm trying to think of ways to introduce a recessed, "on demand" spinner...

[yotsuya]

I SOOOO want to see someone come up with a "popup" spinner.

I imagine a mechanism similiar to the popup drain plug in a lot of tubs.

One of these days, I'll have to give that a go.

WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN, BRO!!!!!???!! 

[PL1]

I SOOOO want to see someone come up with a "popup" spinner.

I imagine a mechanism similiar to the popup drain plug in a lot of tubs.

A linear actuator driving a box guided by short drawer slides mounted on support blocks, combined with a spinner knob like the GGG Black Dome where the top is larger than the base.   


When lowered, the top of the dome is a gentle swell on the CP.

When raised, a circular plug on the top of the box (same diameter as the knob) fills the gap left under the knob overhang.

The spinner is mounted on top of the plug.


Scott

[Louis Tully]

.

[DaveMMR]

Pop-up spinners? Just move that spinner up and over a bit. You have the room.
 

[drventure]

I SOOOO want to see someone come up with a "popup" spinner.

I imagine a mechanism similiar to the popup drain plug in a lot of tubs.

One of these days, I'll have to give that a go.

WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN, BRO!!!!!???!! 

 
Takin' out the trash 

Here's hoping I can get back on some building soon. It's been way too long.

[drventure]

Pop-up spinners?

Now if ever there was a question that answered itself 

 

[yotsuya]

I SOOOO want to see someone come up with a "popup" spinner.

I imagine a mechanism similiar to the popup drain plug in a lot of tubs.

One of these days, I'll have to give that a go.

WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN, BRO!!!!!???!! 

 
Takin' out the trash 

Here's hoping I can get back on some building soon. It's been way too long.

Good to have you back, my friend! We could have used your wisdom in a few of the conversations that have popped up recently. Stick around!

[BGoulette]

All right, all right, a pop-up spinner might be better some time in the future...on someone else's cabinet!

That said, here's a revision to my previous layout:


Click for big!

While the movement might seem somewhat arbitrary, I'm largely trying to keep things lined up with my 15° angles (and complements). This version also focuses on the 34mm spinner knob, versus the 44mm.

[dkersten]

I ordered the parts for my idea on a recessed spinner, not sure if they will be here before the holiday weekend though.  Either way I will probably have a "proof of concept" by next week.  If it works out, I will post the exact parts and what I did to make it work out.

You could certainly move the spinner over, but then it becomes a question of comfort when using it.  As it is, is anything going to get in the way of resting your palms on the CP while playing?  Have you printed this to scale and laid it out to see where your hands rest?

[BGoulette]

I did print out the relevant portion -- it's surprising to see how big 30mm or 3.25" really is! I should try to mock up the actual heights as well, though, to try to better approximate what I'd be getting myself into. I have a chunk of scrap MDF that might work to that end (in part, at least).

I'd definitely be interested in seeing what you're able to come up with regarding a recessed spinner!

[PL1]

All right, all right, a pop-up spinner might be better some time in the future...on someone else's cabinet!

Agreed.  I was just tossing it out there for Drventure.   


Scott

[Le Chuck]

Pop-up spinner:  Go to the boat store and buy two pop-up cleats



Break off the tops and and weld on a base panel and a top panel.  Mount spinner through top panel.  Ensure mounting plate at proper height so spinner top flush with CP.  Doneskies. 

[dkersten]

Gonna a lot of depth to do a popup, and a lot of area if you used a plate and popped the plate up.  Cool idea though.  Well, maybe not with a wheel, you would be pushing it down all the time.  Would need a dust washer with felt on it to keep from grinding your art off the CP surface. 

Would be cool though..

[drventure]

Pop-up spinner:  Go to the boat store and buy two pop-up cleats



Break off the tops and and weld on a base panel and a top panel.  Mount spinner through top panel.  Ensure mounting plate at proper height so spinner top flush with CP.  Doneskies.

That's exactly the kind of mechanism I was looking for. Heavy duty, pretty straightforward to hack.

Very Nice 

[zanna5910]

Depending on what joystick you get, you may have issues wiring all the switches for the P1 joystick being that tight to the wall.

[BGoulette]

Hmm. I was considering either a ServoStik or a U360 for P1. My hope was that a U360 wouldn't cause any issues, and the connections on a ServoStik looked like they'd fit, but if not, I think I could route out a small pocket on the side of that wall. Good observation. Thanks!