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Author Topic: Contacts for removable panels (cable-free)  (Read 12081 times)

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Major Rock Hardy

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Re: Contacts for removable panels (cable-free)
« Reply #40 on: September 29, 2005, 07:36:49 pm »
I would be interested to see if USB still functions through a noisy connector such as this - keep me posted...

I was planning on doing my contacts on the other side of my encoder (i.e. the joystick/pushbutton/steeringwheel/trackball side).  I am curious about how USB will handle this.

If you end up going w/ the jamb tac's I would get the

#40024 - Jamb Tac 4-Wire Contact Kit
instead of
#40025 - Jamb Tac 4-Wire with dome lamp switch

I found the 40024's at jegs for $27.99:
http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=1213&prmenbr=361

perhaps something like a spring battery terminal like these would work as a cheaper option:
http://www.mouser.com/catalog/623/1486.pdf

Rock

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Re: Contacts for removable panels (cable-free)
« Reply #41 on: September 29, 2005, 09:17:16 pm »
i think the battery terminals is what minwah has right now, but i don't think they give enough leway.

Minwah

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Re: Contacts for removable panels (cable-free)
« Reply #42 on: September 30, 2005, 08:05:01 am »
I found the 40024's at jegs for $27.99:
http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=1213&prmenbr=361

I'm a bit confused as to whether you get 1 or 2 of the jamb tac things.  If you click to see the product photo, it shows 2x 4-way jamb tacs, presumably one for each side of the door jamb.  Do you actually get 2 of them?

I still think the contacts I already have would work, if only I can connect wires to them and mount them OK.  I might give it a try this weekend...

Lilwolf

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Re: Contacts for removable panels (cable-free)
« Reply #43 on: September 30, 2005, 08:33:31 am »
btw, how many inputs are you looking for? 

If you trying to get a usb cable (so encoder or hacked mouse / whatever is on the control panel)

Or are you looking for 20-30 for a 2player control panel?

Also, how many control panel sides do you expect?  3 or 4 or 10 - 20?

Minwah

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Re: Contacts for removable panels (cable-free)
« Reply #44 on: September 30, 2005, 09:31:19 am »
btw, how many inputs are you looking for? 

If you trying to get a usb cable (so encoder or hacked mouse / whatever is on the control panel)

Or are you looking for 20-30 for a 2player control panel?

I need 11 per player + 5 for USB.  Of course not every control panel will use them all...some will just use USB etc...

Quote
Also, how many control panel sides do you expect?  3 or 4 or 10 - 20?

What do you mean by 'control panel sides'?

Lilwolf

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Re: Contacts for removable panels (cable-free)
« Reply #45 on: September 30, 2005, 10:32:54 am »
control panels themself. 

Makes a difference if you have to spend 20 bucks on the control panel itself for the 'male' side.   

For my usb I have 4 control panels to use it.  For my straight connections I have 5+.  But for the AKI one I only have 2 (well parts for 2 more, but not sure when that would be used)

Minwah

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Re: Contacts for removable panels (cable-free)
« Reply #46 on: October 01, 2005, 09:51:53 am »
OK I've given the contacts a try...had a few problems tho.  Firstly I need a new soldering iron tip...and secondly I didn't line the contact on the control panel up right and in adjusting I managed to break off some of the metal contacts on the um contact.  However, I'm sure this will work.

Here's you can see a piece of wood I've mounted for the male contacts to sit on.  The contact is on the right and is connected to a cut-off USB cable:

Minwah

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Re: Contacts for removable panels (cable-free)
« Reply #47 on: October 01, 2005, 09:52:50 am »
And here is a closeup:

Minwah

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Re: Contacts for removable panels (cable-free)
« Reply #48 on: October 01, 2005, 09:54:04 am »
So I need to get a new soldering iron tip and some more of these contacts, and then I'll give it another shot...

koz319

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Re: Contacts for removable panels (cable-free)
« Reply #49 on: October 03, 2005, 11:07:06 am »
I went with centronics style connectors on my cab, they didn't require soldering, just crimped on 50 conductor IDC cable.  Here are some pics that show how they line up, the connectors are positioned in the cab and on the panels so all you have to do is drop in the new panel and the connectors mate.  I attached a small 'guide' on each side of the panel to make sure the panel position was correct when being inserted.  (Hopefully the pics will help explain this.)

koz319

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Re: Contacts for removable panels (cable-free)
« Reply #50 on: October 03, 2005, 11:08:02 am »
Now some panel pics...

koz319

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Re: Contacts for removable panels (cable-free)
« Reply #51 on: October 03, 2005, 11:15:27 am »
A few more pics...

I have a few more pics if anyone is interested, I dont want to clutter the thread too much. 

(If you notice in the pics, you will see the bezel is masked to allow the monitor to be positioned horizontally or vertically.  If you really look, in on of the pics you will see a motor and v-belt.  Unfortunately, you can't see the limit switches, or the h-bridge interface connected to the parallel port.  The cabinet automatically rotates the monitor and degausess based on the orientation the game you select, no user intervention required :)  oops off topic, sorry.)

Koz

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Re: Contacts for removable panels (cable-free)
« Reply #52 on: October 03, 2005, 11:44:25 am »
I envy you guys that can wire well. Every time I try to wire anything up, it always looks like a rats nest. :/ Oh well. Maybe someday.
Raspberry Pi, AttractMode, and Skeletor enthusiast.

Minwah

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Re: Contacts for removable panels (cable-free)
« Reply #53 on: October 03, 2005, 01:46:32 pm »
The cabinet automatically rotates the monitor and degausess based on the orientation the game you select, no user intervention required :)  oops off topic, sorry.)

Show off!  :P j/k

Nice work :)

Major Rock Hardy

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Re: Contacts for removable panels (cable-free)
« Reply #54 on: October 03, 2005, 02:20:23 pm »
Koz-

nice work!

Did you run all manner of signals (i.e. pushbuttons/joystick, optical/analog, usb) in the 50 conductor ribbon cable?  Or was it just pushbuttons and joystick stuff?  If the latter, how does the trackball get connected?

when you populated your connector/cable with your signals - did you just run everything alongside each other or did you run grounds between each signal to minimize crosstalk (interference)?

Rock

Minwah

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Re: Contacts for removable panels (cable-free)
« Reply #55 on: October 04, 2005, 07:30:00 am »
I attached a small 'guide' on each side of the panel to make sure the panel position was correct when being inserted.  (Hopefully the pics will help explain this.)

Just interested...how well does this work?  Do you have any problems lining things up?  It looks as though the panel would have to be in the exact right place for it to work...

koz319

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Re: Contacts for removable panels (cable-free)
« Reply #56 on: October 04, 2005, 10:56:11 am »

Show off! :P j/k

Nice work :)

Thanks!  I take that as a great compliment, especially coming from the guy who wrote the front end I'm using  :D

Koz-

nice work!

Did you run all manner of signals (i.e. pushbuttons/joystick, optical/analog, usb) in the 50 conductor ribbon cable? Or was it just pushbuttons and joystick stuff? If the latter, how does the trackball get connected?

when you populated your connector/cable with your signals - did you just run everything alongside each other or did you run grounds between each signal to minimize crosstalk (interference)?

Rock

I ran all the signals through the ribbon cable, including +5v to drive the LED and the trackball/spinner.   I'm not using a usb trackball or spinner, (using an opti-pac) so I'm not running any usb signalling through the ribbon cable.  If there's any interest in testing usb through the connector, I could probably hack apart an old keyboard and do some testing, just let me know.

Since there are no hi-speed communications on the cable, I really didn't worry  much about cross-talk.  I made positions 1+2 a shared common ground for all the buttons/joystics etc.  Positions 47+48 were a doubled ground for 5v, 49+50 doubled +5v.  Positions  39-46 wired to the opti-pac for trackball or spinner.  That leaves 3-38 (36 positions) available for joys + buttons.
 I've never had a problem with any form of interference/ ghosting/ lag/ droupouts/ whatever, and I play Tempest quite a bit (not that it helps me get any better at it, I pretty much stink.)

I attached a small 'guide' on each side of the panel to make sure the panel position was correct when being inserted. (Hopefully the pics will help explain this.)

Just interested...how well does this work? Do you have any problems lining things up? It looks as though the panel would have to be in the exact right place for it to work...


Actually, this seems to work really well.  I do have the advantage on my cab, that the panels are sort of sandwiched between the sides of the cab, so the left to right alignment takes care of itself (you can see this in one of the pics)  The guides take care of front to back alignment.  It's really very easy to swap panels, my wife does it to play frogger on occasion, and the neighborhood kids took about 2 seconds to figure it out.  The cab is two years old and I've never had to do any maintanance on any of the connectors/guides etc.   If anyone wants, I might be able to take a short vid of swapping out the panels, again just let me know.

And Minwah, thanks again for the great front end.  In fact, if you ever get the itch to build a rotating monitor setup,  I have a spare motor and enough parts to build another interface, yours for the taking with my compliments!

Koz

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Re: Contacts for removable panels (cable-free)
« Reply #57 on: October 04, 2005, 12:04:04 pm »
The ways in which koz319 is a better person than me:

-he's already built his cab
-it has a rotating monitor
-it has an automated rotating monitor
-it has interchangable CPs

-HE LETS THE NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS USE HIS CABINET
... arcade builders could someday rule the world...currency would be reduced to quarters only, and wars would be settled

Major Rock Hardy

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Re: Contacts for removable panels (cable-free)
« Reply #58 on: October 04, 2005, 04:06:36 pm »

I ran all the signals through the ribbon cable, including +5v to drive the LED and the trackball/spinner. I'm not using a usb trackball or spinner, (using an opti-pac) so I'm not running any usb signalling through the ribbon cable. If there's any interest in testing usb through the connector, I could probably hack apart an old keyboard and do some testing, just let me know.

Since there are no hi-speed communications on the cable, I really didn't worry much about cross-talk. I made positions 1+2 a shared common ground for all the buttons/joystics etc. Positions 47+48 were a doubled ground for 5v, 49+50 doubled +5v. Positions 39-46 wired to the opti-pac for trackball or spinner. That leaves 3-38 (36 positions) available for joys + buttons.
 I've never had a problem with any form of interference/ ghosting/ lag/ droupouts/ whatever, and I play Tempest quite a bit (not that it helps me get any better at it, I pretty much stink.)



thanks for the great info man!

Rock

Minwah

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Re: Contacts for removable panels (cable-free)
« Reply #59 on: October 04, 2005, 04:38:23 pm »
Positions 47+48 were a doubled ground for 5v, 49+50 doubled +5v.  Positions  39-46 wired to the opti-pac for trackball or spinner.

Did you double up gnd's and 5v's just because the ribbon cable is such a small gauge?

Quote
Actually, this seems to work really well.  I do have the advantage on my cab, that the panels are sort of sandwiched between the sides of the cab, so the left to right alignment takes care of itself (you can see this in one of the pics)  The guides take care of front to back alignment.  It's really very easy to swap panels, my wife does it to play frogger on occasion, and the neighborhood kids took about 2 seconds to figure it out.  The cab is two years old and I've never had to do any maintanance on any of the connectors/guides etc.   If anyone wants, I might be able to take a short vid of swapping out the panels, again just let me know.

Sounds good...my control panel sits between the two sides and also between the front & back panel, so alignment should be OK for me too.  I might well give this method a try, thanks for sharing :)

Quote
And Minwah, thanks again for the great front end.  In fact, if you ever get the itch to build a rotating monitor setup,  I have a spare motor and enough parts to build another interface, yours for the taking with my compliments!

No problem at all, and thanks for the offer, very kind.  To be honest though I think my current cab is the only woodwork I plan to do for a looooong time....and it isn't even finished yet - rotating monitors is beyond me I think!

koz319

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Re: Contacts for removable panels (cable-free)
« Reply #60 on: October 05, 2005, 11:24:34 am »
Positions 47+48 were a doubled ground for 5v, 49+50 doubled +5v. Positions 39-46 wired to the opti-pac for trackball or spinner.

Did you double up gnd's and 5v's just because the ribbon cable is such a small gauge?


Exactly, and also in case one of those contacts or cables became dirty or damaged there would be some minimal redundancy.  If the common gnd for all the joys/buttons, or power to the spinner/trackball gets flaky, the whole panel is pretty much useless.  I thought doubling up would help ensure good connectivity.  Probably not necessary, but I had positions to spare in the connector, so it seemed like a good idea at the time.

Good luck with your panels!  I really like being able to swap them out,  the giant frankenpanel thing never really appealed to me.  (Thats the cool thing about building your own cabinet, everyone gets whatever they like best!)  :)


Koz

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Re: Contacts for removable panels (cable-free)
« Reply #61 on: October 05, 2005, 11:58:22 am »
Hey koz, I'm gonna' jump on the bandwagon here and say your idea looks really good. 

Yours is the first one I've seen that might inspire me to do removable panels.  It's basic, straightforward, and doesn't require three hands.  A lot of the other plans seem like too much work and/or something I'd eff-up along the way.

Thanks for the inspiration
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Re: Contacts for removable panels (cable-free)
« Reply #62 on: October 05, 2005, 12:01:28 pm »
How is the panel being held down?

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Re: Contacts for removable panels (cable-free)
« Reply #63 on: October 05, 2005, 12:44:07 pm »

Great idea with the connectors!

But I share SirP's concerns about where the hold downs are.  I would think some good Velcro would be a minimum requirement (or some automatic locking solenoids ;) )

Very nice work, though!

RandyT


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Re: Contacts for removable panels (cable-free)
« Reply #64 on: October 05, 2005, 01:44:20 pm »
Exactly, and also in case one of those contacts or cables became dirty or damaged there would be some minimal redundancy.  If the common gnd for all the joys/buttons, or power to the spinner/trackball gets flaky, the whole panel is pretty much useless.  I thought doubling up would help ensure good connectivity.  Probably not necessary, but I had positions to spare in the connector, so it seemed like a good idea at the time.

Probably a good idea.  I noticed when cutting the USB cable I used above that the 5v & GND wires are a larger gauge than the data ones.

Quote
Good luck with your panels!  I really like being able to swap them out,  the giant frankenpanel thing never really appealed to me.  (Thats the cool thing about building your own cabinet, everyone gets whatever they like best!)  :)

Thanks...I'm not a frankenpanel guy either.  At the moment I use Molex connectors/USB which is very easy...just not quite as easy as having no cables to mess with ;).  My panels are fixed down with panel clamps so I reckon your method should work well for me...I'll post back with my results...

Major Rock Hardy

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Re: Contacts for removable panels (cable-free)
« Reply #65 on: January 10, 2006, 08:31:20 pm »
Update for those of you (like me) planning a swappable control panel: Blind mate connectors!

http://www.mouser.com/catalog/624/1038.pdf

and not prohibitively expensive...

Cheers,
Rock

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Re: Contacts for removable panels (cable-free)
« Reply #66 on: January 10, 2006, 08:37:52 pm »