How did YOU align your controls?

[s8n]

im not talking about how many buttons, where to put things, etc, etc. i mean, how did you get the idea in your head to go onto your CP. i know how i want my controls, its just a matter of placing them, and its driving me nuts. please leave me some feedback  

[Frostillicus]

im not talking about how many buttons, where to put things, etc, etc. i mean, how did you get the idea in your head to go onto your CP. i know how i want my controls, its just a matter of placing them, and its driving me nuts. please leave me some feedback  

best way is to print full size and trace them.  If you haven't laid them out yet in computer than grab the visio templates from this site.  Might also be eps for other vector programs, too, i'm not sure.  

You can either print out one big sheet or tape a bunch together - then you can do the PoorMan'sJamesBond version of carbon paper by rubbing charcoal or a pencil on the back, then trace the front after you placed the sheet on the CP.  presto.  instant guides for cutting.

[OSCAR]

I use AutoCAD, but any drafting type software should be useful.  I've actually been making a library of parts, controls, monitors, etc. all drawn in .dwg format, but it's one of those things that I only get a chance to work on in my free time...  After I get it somewhat organized, I am going to make it freely available.  I imagine that others like 1UP also have a nice library of solid models, but that's not my gig.  

I typically make many different control panel layouts and print them out full size (during lunch hour, of course!) on our large plotters at work.  Here's a snap of just a couple of monitors and the Happ 3" trackball, along with a couple of control panel layouts for my last cabinet.

http://www.oscarcontrols.com/tmp/controls.gif

[Smittydc]

Design and print out using computer.  Drill small pilot hole through center of each hole -- remove template and drill big holes.

Simple!  

Or, if you don't want to mess with a computer, practice different layouts on a bunch of pieces of cardboard until you get it the way you want, then use that as your template.

[s8n]

thanks guys, very helpful stuff. now i can get back to this <<<STUFF - censored>>>

[SNAAAKE]

Now i can get back to this <<<STUFF - Censored>>>

What the hell!?
you okay in there man?

  "<<<Censored>>>"

Planetjay..ban on the double ..dont worry..j/k

Back to to topic...
Are you looking for generic street fighter layout?
You could go to my site and get templete from the site.
http://snake11417.tripod.com/myarcade/id7.html
CD_vision also has some stuff if it helps?
http://www.darkravenwind.com/cdvision/download.htm

[wescotte]

I didn't use a template for mine.. I did a little math and drew some lines. Basically I designed the size of the CP I wanted.. Calculated the perimeter and divided by 4 for each set of joystick and buttons. With that a I created the size each player had to work with. Inside each of those places I put some lines to pintpoint the tip of the drill.

Eric

[eightbit]

Heres an interesting web page to layout your controls.
http://www.move360media.com/mame/icpd/ICPD.htm
It has an interactive design template that you can drag things around on.