CP Assembly Question

[Beeeph]

I'm building my CP and I plan to layer it with a CPO and a 1/16" sheet of plexiglass.

[Bones]

Are you more worried about the plexi breaking or damaging your artwork? (Which by the way looks bloody awesome!)

I think I have seen where another layer of thinner MDF is placed on top of the plexi and then all layers (including the top throw away), were all drilled at once. I hear the plexi might vibrate/jump around if it's not supported evenly.

So how exactly do you line up the holes when you can't see your artwork guides? I will be also watching closely for the answer! 

[eyal8r]

Hmmm- I opted to NOT put the hole guides in my printed overlay artwork- just in case the holes didn't like up EXACTLY right. If they don't, then you'll see white where the hole SHOULDVE gone. Leaving it black or a part of the artwork won't harm the design any, since the buttons will cover it up anyways. Just my advice...

Also- I gotta say- drilling a pilot hole and then using a router with a flush trim bit for the holes in the plexi works INCREDIBLY!  Drill the holes in the wood, flush trim the plexi to line it all up, then just use an exacto to slice the graphics overlay when you're ready to install the buttons. Ask me how I know this...
D

[Beeeph]

Thanks everyone!

Are you more worried about the plexi breaking or damaging your artwork?

Both.

[Bones]

Ask me how I know this...
D

How do you know this eyal8r? Oooops, don't tell me this was a lesson learned the hard & expensive way?

[DrewKaree]

Another thing to consider - what if your printer screws up the scale of your image, or if you've done the screwing up without knowing it - blam - either big fat white spots on your pretty CPO, or small all around, and your carefully thought out spacing between players is now uncomfortably in the "dude, quit touching me, I don't want to question if I'm gay" zone.

Plot out all your button/joy placeholders, put your plexi over it, open up yer holes, and AFTERWARDS, do the Xacto knife thing.  You'll be thanking your lucky stars you took eye's tip on that one.