CP thickness, is 1/2" mdf enough if I add some support "pillars" in the CP box?

[NoMoUserNames]

My original plan was to do the CP in 5/8" with a 1/8" plexi top, and 3/4" t-molding. Unfortunately, there is no longer even a single source of 5/8" mdf anywhere nearby (at least a ~two hour drive). Unless I am willing to special order it at about 3.5x the normal price that is, which I am not. My only options are 1/2" or 3/4" for the mdf. The body of the cab will be 3/4" either way, so I am confident that the cabinet itself will be good and sturdy. This is just about the surface of the control panel. CP will be the typical "4 players with a trackball in the middle" setup at about 48" wide, and 18" deep.

If I go with 3/4" mdf, I either need to drop the plexi, or it severely limits my options for T-molding (which kind of throws off the whole black/green color scheme I was going with). Not a total dealbreaker, but definitely disappointing.

If i go with 1/2" mdf, I can use 1/8" mdf, and get the color of t-molding that I wanted. But I worry about flex in the surface of the 48"x18" CP. There are a ton of posts by people saying that they don't recommend 1/2", but most seem to repeating the common wisdom, and not from their personal experience. Has anyone actually built one that size from 1/2"? If it is just an issue of panel flex, I was thinking maybe I could just cut a couple of 2x4s to act as pillars between the top and bottom of the CP for extra support. Thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

[javeryh]

I came in here to say 1/2" is fine and I use it for all of my CPs (and interior panels to keep weight down) but then I saw your CP is 48" wide and 18" deep and holy crap that's huge and I don't think 1/2" MDF will work in that scenario without interior bracing. I would just add 3 panels on the inside for support spaced about 12" apart (like ceiling/decking joists) - you can drill holes in them to run wires. That seems like it would work.

Good luck!

[NoMoUserNames]

40-48" wide seems pretty standard for a 4p cabinet. You CAN go a little smaller, but human bodies need space, and I really don't want to crowd the trackball, which most smaller build inevitably do.

See image for my current plans. Human stand-ins are like 5' and 6'2" for reference.

It's currently designed with 3/4" mdf in my plans, but I'd love to drop some weight and open up options for the T-molding if I can. Or I may stick with the 3/4" and drop the plexi on the CP top.

[pbj]

Do a pedestal and put the monitor on a rolling stand.  You’ll thank me later.

[NoMoUserNames]

Is your concern more of the aesthetics or the playability?

Personally, I have no problem with the appearance of a large 4p panel as I'm not going for any specific nostalgic feeling. I have the space for it, and I've played on machines with a "frankenpanel" before.