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Q's about flush-mounting joysticks

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NoOne=NBA=:


--- Quote from: hyiu on May 02, 2005, 03:01:41 pm ---how about you just route the dust cover layer, and on your sticky overlay, cut a circle piece of paper and let the paper stick to that section ??
--- End quote ---

The problem with doing that is that there won't be anything supporting that portion of the overlay, so it will probably leave a visible depression over the routed area.

Depth is the critical issue when routing the coverplate area.
If the hole is jagged at the edge, or something like that, you can use filler to smooth it out.
If the cover plate sits too low, or too high, you will have to shim it (or re-rout it) to bring it flush with the existing CP.

If you follow Oscar's router setting instructions, it should go really smooth however.

NoOne=NBA=:

Kremmit,

Unless you have some gravity-defying dustwasher in mind, there's no need to rout like you showed.
Most joysticks have a recess built into the top of them that will allow the dustwasher to move below the CP.
The dustwasher in your diagram will fall into that recess, unless it is held up by something below it.

IntruderAlert:

mounting the dustwasher under the CP is kind of ugly if you're using wood
I hate that big 3/4" deep hole that stuff can fall into

I'd rather put them on top of the CP
but if you're willing to do the work, it looks a lot cooler just below the CPO

Timstuff:

the concept of using two sheets of plexi sounds OK, but a little inconvinient, and more expensive. But that might be my best option. If for some reason I ever need to acsess something under the CPO like the trackball mounting plate, dust washers, or whatever, it'd be a mere matter of undoing some screws. Also, I'd have the option of countersinking some of the screws for the joysticks so I can attach those nut things to them like in that picture. The idea is really starting to grow on me now.

I'll probably want a wider T-Molding to go around the control panel box top's edge to keep the edges of all that plexiglass hidden, correct?

markrvp:

Hi Tim:

When I was working on my first panel, I went through the anguish of all the thought processes you are going through now.  There seemed to be a very strong opinion by some people that if you didn't put the dust washer under the CPO, then you should be burned at the stake.  So, not wanting to be burned at the stake, I put the dustwashers under the CPO.  What I found out in playing lots of games, is that my hand tends to pinch in the cutout exposed on top of the panel.  Sometimes it's better to have function over form, so on the Control Panels I'm working on now, the dustwashers will go on top.

Bottom line, don't kill yourself trying to engineer something.  Putting the dustwashers on top wouldn't be the end of the world if you decide to do that.  It certainly is simpler.

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