How to mount my joysticks

[HeadRusch]

I ordered some of the happs Supers, and I've got a couple of the Happs button-tops, and I've got one of the ball-topped sticks from Ultimarc.

I'd like to go for that really cool "plateless" look that so many folks have on their CP's and cabs.  With just the plastic shield above the control panel, oh and obviously the stick too.

Can someone provide a good site on how to go about doing that?

[Octagon3k]

You can just screw them in from the bottom with wood screws, but some people have said they had trouble with the joystick breaking through (I haven't had that trouble with particle board 5/8 in though)..........Or you can get some flat machine screws, or the like, and countersink them in........then cover that with wood putty.

[Smack]

Nothing to add really, but your topic title cracked me up...

Smack

[dac]

the forums are a good place to search here... Happs also sells some black screws / nuts tht you can use that work great... just don't have the part number off hand...

It really depends on a couple of factors... material type (ply or particle?  thickness?) abuse (trying to beat Zankuro in samurai showdown4... how do you beat that freak!!!) and asthetics... do you mind 4 boltheads @ the joystick?  if so screw from underneath...

The bolts from happs worked best for me... their heads (sorry bad thought about the title are smooth, so you don't loose skin and they fit perfectly....

hope this helps...

"my first .002 are free!"

[rampy]

I couldn't find the site I bookmarked that showed how NOT to mount them, which I found helpful...

I used the joystick plate/base to mark where I needed to drill (center hole, 4 screw holes)

I then drilled a hole for the joystick shaft (1 1/8" i what I used) Basically most people use four 3/16" carriage bolts (aces hardware has em)
from the top of the CP wood/lexan/etc  then through the supers base (which is underneath your control panel).   Put some nuts on there and then assemble the shaft with the plastic circle on top.

If I find the how NOT to do it link I'll edit this post...

rampy

[HeadRusch]

You guys have sick minds.  The title wasn't "how to mount my joysticks without Vaseline" or anything..

Ok, thanks for the tips...3/16" Carriage Bolts added to HomeDepot list.
Is 1 1/8" enough for the joysticks to travel all the way?

Thats the same size to use for the buttons, right?

I'll practice on some cardboard boxes first.

I do like the idea of countersinking flat-head screws and covering them with putty however...that ought to look quite professional.

I think I'm going to build a cardboard prototype this weekend, so I'll have something to play with, so I can take my time and not rush the cabs

Tonite I gotta build up the new PC and make sure its working ok, do some benchmarks, and go from there.  

Frightening Fact of the day: 512 megs of PC133 ram for $24.00
On my first 486, going from 4 megs to 8 megs of ram cost me an
additional Thousand Dollars I think.



Well...cost my parents...but thats what Doom really required so....

[hyiu]

I might have read your last msg wrong...

push buttons doesn't need screws... they come with a nut and mount themselves in....

as for if you want a clean looking cp, are you using lexan on top ?? if so, route a bit on the wood for the joystick screws, then mount the joystick screws below the lexan, so, when the lexan is placed on top, you'll see no screw heads other than the corner ones which is used to secure the lexan... very professional looking... (and you can sandwich an artwork in btw !!!...)

hope it helps....

[Chris]

I didn't bother with putty... I just used a larger drill bit to enlarge the top of the bolt hole (since I don't have a proper countersink bit) to get the bold heads under the surface of the panel; the artwork between the panel and the plexi hid the holes just fine.

The only downside is that if you need to remove the bolts for whatever reason, you have to completely disassemble the CP to get the plexi and artwork off.

--Chris

[rampy]

FYI  home depot doeisn't have 3/16" carriage bolts they only have 1/4" (you can use the 1/4" ones but they are tight - need to widen the holes on the super's base...)

Ace hardware has em though... (the 3/16")

rampy

[isugoat]

Check out http://home.earthlink.net/~seanhat/arcade/, LuSiD's site.  Go to download section and download the control panel template.  The measurements are perfect for Happs Super.
As far as what size bolts to use, I forget which size I used but I just brought my joystick to an ACE hardware and dug through the bolts until I found some that fit snug.