Transparent Control Panel

[Jollyrob]

I've yet to build my cabinet after tossing ideas around for 2 years, buying the Project Arcade book, reading it cover to cover and what not, so I still consider myself pretty up to date and schooled in the whole hobby.  So not seeking help on wiring, opinions on a layout, or anything like that, so you can relax now

BUT, I am seeking opinions and thoughts on something that is really up to my own personal experimental preference.

Has anyone ever done a clear acrylic/lexan control panel top, wood sides and all that, so not like clear all around but clear on top (maybe with some artwork painted on the underside) to show off the sexy wiring scheme in there.

And if noone has, why not, and would it be wise for me to do this. I just feel it's the one thing I can do that would set mine just a little apart from the common.

Ideas I have for this to clean it up a little as well:

Under the acrylic top, put t-molding over the top edges of the panel sides for a clean look (or other smooth flat material)

lighting obviously (but not shining outward directly cause that would bother the daylights out of anybody) maybe put an LED like under the encoder just to shine light out from under it and other strategic places like that etcetera.


Also, i'm under the assumption this should be treated like a metal CP thickness wise as very clearly (pun) being a thinner top material.



Ok, i'm prepared to have the idea shot down, after all, this is the purpose of this thread, to point out potential issues

[thetered]

I think it would be an awesome idea, and now with the clear translucent buttons, it's even better.  I can't say why it appears to not have been done yet, but I would think it would be more expensive, some people might not like seeing wires and that mess, I would think it would be a little harder to work with, etc... 

I always liked seeing how things worked so if there ever was a clear case option for anything I bought I usually chose it.  But I think to pull it off in style the biggest thing is to make the wiring look SHARP and uniform. 

I say stop talking about it and do it! I want to see it!

[CJK]

Saw one made out of Lexan for sale on eBay -- it looked REALLY cool. Maybe someone still has the link...

-- Chris

[Jollyrob]

I remember that one now, it was clear all around and had a screen inside that noone hear could guess what was used for and apparently belonged to some basketball player, it was a seperate panel only, and yeah, that did look cool....I think i'll probably note this down as a strong condideration on my cab...following a couple more car payments and initial payments on a hernia operation (uhg)

[Timoe]

pixxelhugger made one with a clear bottom a while back.  I should be in the projects announcements section somewhere.

[darktemp]

Twas this one.

[CJK]

Yep, that's the one! Something like that would look really excellent with some of Shawnzilla's translucent buttons in it. Then you could use Budda's LED controller to light up the buttons...

Anyway, if you decide to build it, share pics!!!   

-- Chris

[unix4hire]

That reminds me of a phone I had in the late 80s that was clear and had some neon lights whenever it rang.  I don't think I'd be putting clear buttons in mine if I made it but maybe some neon that lights whenever the buttons are pushed or something.  I say go for it, I think it'd be pretty sweet.

[Jollyrob]

transparent buttons would be cool, but i wouldn't use clear ones, you'd never see them without light under it, people would get all bent out of shape...

I'd probably be using like trasparent blue ones, or a darker trasparent color that would aloow light to pass but still be noticable

and my fabrication skills aren't quite that advanced, so I also doubt there will be any cool curves like the one shown above, but lighting should make up for it 

[Sylentwulf]

The same reason Clear acrylic PC Cases never caught on.
DUST.
That acrylic isn't gonna look pretty for long unless you REALLY SEAL it up tight. I can't imagine grabbing a bottle of windex and having to clean both sides of the acrylic/lexan with all that wiring and mounted stuff on it.

Also, support is an issue since you'd have to get a thick piece of acrylic. And then there's the fact that working with the stuff isn't too fun. Wood is easy to cut up to how you need it, acrylic is another story. I would suggest getting it profesionally made/cut if you're going that way.

[Jollyrob]

it shouldn't be too hard, cause after a little bit of replanning iv'e decided best way to do it is to make it almost like any other panel, have lexan as a top layer, difference will be a rectangular hole in the middle of the CP top, so think of it as any other panel with a lexan top but with a big fat hole in the middle of the top wood, so cutting wouldnt' be any different than any other panel, the only thing that may still be a pain is the cleaning like you mentioned, but i'm only mounting the buttons and sticks in lexan, so i only have to clean around that, the encoder,wires, and such will mostly be following the bottom of the CP box and be pretty much out of the way, plus i think my method would actually seal it pretty well anyway.