Optimal control panel angle

[botez]

I incorrectly measured something on my cab, which, if I correct it (by making some re-cuts), will cause my control panel to be a little more slanted.  My question is what do most people see as the maximum angle that the CP can be while still being comfortable to use.

As is, my CP will be at about a 17 degree angle.  With the re-cuts, my CP would be around 20-21 degree angle (which seems like a pretty severe angle for the CP, in my opinion).

Any thoughts on this are appreciated.

Troy

[DrewKaree]

Not sure if they discuss that particular angle, but there were a few angles listed in a few threads here:

#1

#2

See urebelscum's depiction of angles and his good breakdown on this subject:

-->here<--

*edit*
sorry for being such a knob and not fixing the url's into tags

[NoOne=NBA=]

I tested a bunch of different angles, and decided that about 5-10 degrees was optimal.
My CP has a 1" rise over a 10" run, which is equal to a 4.5 degrees angle.
I didn't care for perfectly flat, but anything over about 10 degrees was uncomfortable to me.

[paigeoliver]

Optimal angle really depends on control panel size, and what sort of controls you have. I own machines with angles varying from flat to 90 degrees (yes, straight up and down).

You won't want to exceed about 25 degrees for a Streetfighter 2 type setup (or anything else with 2 rows of buttons). I have a cabinet that has those controls at a 45 degree angle, and the "kick" buttons seem significantly lower than the punch buttons. It isn't a huge deal, but it is noticeable.

The true OPTIMAL angle (for smaller panels), is to lay your monitor way the heck back, and match the monitor angle with the control panel angle (where the control panel and monitor glass make one continuous plane). This is why pac cabs feel SO GOOD and NATURAL to play on.

MONSTER sized panels should only have a very slight angle.

[Stingray]

The true OPTIMAL angle (for smaller panels), is to lay your monitor way the heck back, and match the monitor angle with the control panel angle (where the control panel and monitor glass make one continuous plane). This is why pac cabs feel SO GOOD and NATURAL to play on.

I agree with this statement 100%. The controls feel right like that and so does the monitor.

-S

[patrickl]

This question really ties in with my question about the optimal height for the CP (height as in position on the cab) I assume dthe principal problem was how heig to locate the control panel, but it's probably a combination of "how heigh" and "at what angle" you set your CP.

I was looking at the drawings rebelscum made and it struck me that they were slightly out of whack (the tall guy's arms are too long for his body), but the diagrams depict the problem pretty nicely. I did a similar drawing (with my CP at 15 degree angle) and came out on a ridiculously heigh location for my CP. If I keep my arms like in the drawing "f" or "g" then my CP should be at 50". If I take it that the tall guy is 6' heigh then his CP comes at 40" when the smaller guy in "f" (which is better proportioned) is 6'tall, his CP is at 44". So he seems to arrive at a pretty heigh placement too  

Apparently ergonomics really don't apply to the standard arcade cabinets.   Or at least not for 6' adults.

The true OPTIMAL angle (for smaller panels), is to lay your monitor way the heck back, and match the monitor angle with the control panel angle (where the control panel and monitor glass make one continuous plane). This is why pac cabs feel SO GOOD and NATURAL to play on.

I agree with this statement 100%. The controls feel right like that and so does the monitor.

-S

Odd, I love Galaga, but I  really dislike that configuration of CP and monitor. It forces you to lean into the cabinet (to see the whole screen properly) and thus it's very bad for your back. Since you need to hang your head down to see the screen at all your neck will suffer quite a lot too. I thought they just choose that layout to get people away from pinball machines on to a computer game.

[soslo]

I'm no expert - I've only had 5 cabs - but I can't play anything over around 10 degress for very long without getting sore.

0 degrees  seems like a good angle.