Question about mounting top of control panel to slanted base

[Wolf]

Question for peoples.  What are some ways to mount the top of a control panel (the part with the controls on it) to a slanted base?  The type of design I am referring to:
http://home.earthlink.net/~alanyar/mame/phase1.html
http://www.classicgaming.com/mame32qa/controller/controller.htm
(The second controller, near bottom of page)

Screwing down from the top would suck.  Is it better to screw in from the back?  How would the sides fasten?  Use internal brackets?  This is one aspect of my panel construction that I just can't figure out how to make nice.

Oh, additionally, I am wanting my top to "overhang" from the base.  This seems to make it even harder to mount on a slant as you can't really screw in from the back.

Any insights appreciated!

-Wolf

[GodSend25]

My top panel is screwed in from the top.  I set up 1 inch * 1inch braces around the interior of the sides (not all the way around, but in stretegic places).


The screws are counter sunk at the top so that the graphic overlay just sits on top of them (and then the plexi glass).

Should I have to repair any connections I can simply remove the bottom (yes you have to take the control panel off the arcade..) but hopefully I wont be doing this too often ...

[MrBond]

I'm using a piano hinge for the top.  The weight of the top and all the controls keeps it down.  Works great for me.  Of course, this is a stand alone control panel, not on a cabinet.  I've heard of using velcro.  Not sure how this would do, but sounds like a viable solution.  
My 2 cents  

[ErikRuud]

I used short pieces of wood screwed to the under side of my CP.  The wood blocks hold the top in place by pressure alone. So far it works very well.

You can see the picures here.

[Silverwind]

I used short pieces of wood screwed to the under side of my CP.  The wood blocks hold the top in place by pressure alone. So far it works very well.

You can see the picures here.

Interesting concept... does it stay in pretty well during rough play??

Also how do you take it on and off?  Do you have to slide it up or down first.. or just pull straight up?  How much effort does it take to do so?

Looks like it might be a good solution for removeable CP.

[Silverwind]

Yours is a stand-alone CP though right?

Wonder how it would translate into an upright cab?

[Smittydc]

To get the overhang just route out a ridge in the bottom of the CP equal to the width of the wood it's being mounted on.

Couple that with a hinge in the back, and it won't budge an inch.

[eightbit]

Couple that with a hinge in the back, and it won't budge an inch.

You people and your hinges.

To hold the top on either screw it down from the outside right into the base sides. If you don't want screws to show use metal L brackets on the inside to hold the top to the sides.

Hopefully you build it well enough that you don't have to get inside it often. You should rarely need to go inside you CP. If you hinge the top you'll need to find a way to lock it down if the people play on it like they do mine or how they treat a normal arcade. You ever seen a arcade cabinet rock when people really get into it? If your going to hinge, hinge the bottom. Why even bother with the hinge? 4 screws will hold the bottom on nicely and still be relatively easy to remove.

A hinge says to me- "look in here and poke at my wires".

[Silverwind]

Couple that with a hinge in the back, and it won't budge an inch.

You people and your hinges.

To hold the top on either screw it down from the outside right into the base sides. If you don't want screws to show use metal L brackets on the inside to hold the top to the sides.

Hopefully you build it well enough that you don't have to get inside it often. You should rarely need to go inside you CP. If you hinge the top you'll need to find a way to lock it down if the people play on it like they do mine or how they treat a normal arcade. You ever seen a arcade cabinet rock when people really get into it? If your going to hinge, hinge the bottom. Why even bother with the hinge? 4 screws will hold the bottom on nicely and still be relatively easy to remove.

A hinge says to me- "look in here and poke at my wires".

yeah, that's true.  Especially for those pesky relatives that like to get into stuff

[ErikRuud]

Silverwind,

It is currently just a CP, but it is bolted to the desk in the picture.  The CP is sixed the same as the one in Lusid's plans.  I intend to build the rest of the cabinet this summer.  My intention was to have at least two panles. Unless I change directions and build a copy of 1Up's cabinet.  

I placed the blocks of wood so that it is a very tight fit.  To open it, you have to grab the front edge and pull up hard. There is no reason it should come up during rough play.  I did design it with the pesky little relatives in mind.

[PoDunkMoFo]

I have two pieces of wood mounted under my control panel.  They sit against the inside walls of my control panel box when installed.  Each one has a threaded insert and I have holes drilled to match in my contol panel box.  Remove two knobs and lift.  Very secure and fast to remove.  This is on my cab.

[Frostillicus]

You people and your hinges.

To hold the top on either screw it down from the outside right into the base sides. If you don't want screws to show use metal L brackets on the inside to hold the top to the sides.

Hopefully you build it well enough that you don't have to get inside it often. You should rarely need to go inside you CP. If you hinge the top you'll need to find a way to lock it down if the people play on it like they do mine or how they treat a normal arcade. You ever seen a arcade cabinet rock when people really get into it? If your going to hinge, hinge the bottom. Why even bother with the hinge? 4 screws will hold the bottom on nicely and still be relatively easy to remove.

A hinge says to me- "look in here and poke at my wires".

Most of us like to have easy access to the insides - to add new stuff, tweak other stuff...etc.   Having to take out screws constantly is just too time-consuming, IMO. Hence the hinges. I hinge my panel from the front using just a standard 3 or 4 inch basic from home depot.  

Then I put two clasps on the back on either side to lock it down - with a small key lock in one to discourage the techie-challenged from messing with it...that thing doesn't wiggle at all - velcro worked pretty well, but I wanted the security of a lock.  Best of all you can't see any hardware unless you are standing behind the machine for some reason.