Author Topic: Hidden Controls? (Read 3428 times)

AtomSmasher · « **on:** February 07, 2006, 11:56:42 pm »

I'm in the planning stages of my next project and am looking for some examples to help me along. Are there any projects that have hidden control panels that slide out or open up when in use? I'm thinking along the lines of a cocktail cab that looks like a coffee table when not in use.

Necro · « **Reply #1 on:** February 08, 2006, 12:28:03 am »

I haven't seen any, but the first thing that popped into my head was making something like an old desk or a bread box thing with the wooden slats that rolls down over your controls....just first thing that popped into my head.

KDOG · « **Reply #2 on:** February 08, 2006, 12:42:43 am »

Maybe something like 1up's spincade rotating control panel but one side matching
outside and the other being the cp.

Magnet_Eye · « **Reply #3 on:** February 08, 2006, 12:52:49 am »

someone made a coffee table mame machine... its probably buried in the Project announcements thread somewhere. it was like a year ago or more.

Timoe · « **Reply #4 on:** February 08, 2006, 07:22:59 am »

Like a piano, where the keys are covered and you can fold back a panel to access them?

kelemvor · « **Reply #5 on:** February 08, 2006, 08:29:27 am »

I was also thinking of a rotatin thing. Have one side finished that looks like normal wood. Then you can spin it or rotate it down to reveal the controls and such

Lilwolf · « **Reply #6 on:** February 08, 2006, 08:32:05 am »

Whatever direction you go, make sure that they are secure.

wabbly control panels suck. (the only example I can think of looked super wabbly... but couldn't confirm).

unclet · « **Reply #7 on:** February 08, 2006, 12:29:44 pm »

It would be hard for me not to want to include a third side to a rotating control panel once you go through all that work to include two sides already ....

RayB · « **Reply #8 on:** February 08, 2006, 01:28:59 pm »

There have been a couple coffee table MAMEs... one of which was featured in CrapMAME.

Doc Thirst · « **Reply #9 on:** February 08, 2006, 01:43:03 pm »

I would think a simple box with a small detail-less drawer on each side. The problem would be keeping out of the way of the monitor. If you are going for a 4-way set up, this is no problem as the CP will only need to be 6 inches or so. I would also consider a paino henge on the front so you could fold down the front of the drawer where the controls are. Sorry doing a lousy job of discribing this, if I get some time, pic to follow.

AtomSmasher · « **Reply #10 on:** February 08, 2006, 01:57:00 pm »

Quote from: RayB on February 08, 2006, 01:28:59 pm

There have been a couple coffee table MAMEs... one of which was featured in CrapMAME.

Ya, I remember that one, it had the controls on big arms that popped out, hideous and not what I'm going for. I'm actually not going to be making a coffee table, I'm making something a little more ambitious, I just figured a coffee table was most likely what someone had already done. You've given me a number of ideas, maybe I'll whip up some small carboard mockups to test a few different approaches.

AtomSmasher · « **Reply #11 on:** February 08, 2006, 02:03:02 pm »

Quote from: Doc Thirst on February 08, 2006, 01:43:03 pm

I would think a simple box with a small detail-less drawer on each side. The problem would be keeping out of the way of the monitor. If you are going for a 4-way set up, this is no problem as the CP will only need to be 6 inches or so. I would also consider a paino henge on the front so you could fold down the front of the drawer where the controls are. Sorry doing a lousy job of discribing this, if I get some time, pic to follow.

I like this idea, except instead of having a front to the box, make the front attached to the table and fold down, then the controls slide out on top of it. That way the front would be completely out of the way and would even help support the controls. Its much simpler then a rotating design I was originally thinking.

Kremmit · « **Reply #12 on:** February 10, 2006, 12:26:53 am »

Can you make it turn into a robot?

AtomSmasher · « **Reply #13 on:** February 10, 2006, 02:15:19 am »

Quote from: Kremmit on February 10, 2006, 12:26:53 am

Can you make it turn into a robot?

That will be my project after this one

Hurray Banana · « **Reply #14 on:** February 10, 2006, 04:59:55 am »

I am currently half way through building my own cocktail.

I too wanted it to look normal when not in use. The problem with rotating panels is they need space inside the cab, once you drop a monitor in a cocktail box there aint much room for anything else on the inside.

My solution is to make removable control panels that connect using a db25 connector (a bit like rchads), but when removed I'm gonna have little plugs to go over the db25 connectors and the holes where I bolt the control panel on.

I have got some pictures but haven't had the time to put anything together yet.

Chris · « **Reply #15 on:** February 10, 2006, 11:09:57 am »

As much as possible, I would think in terms of removable or retractable covers rather than moving control panels... the piano keyboard cover was an excellent analogy.

--Chris

Doc Thirst · « **Reply #16 on:** February 21, 2006, 01:13:28 pm »

BUMP - I saw a premade design for this a few days ago, I believe it was in playboy...long weekend, I'll find the (a) link for you. Perhaps you can "borrow" their design.

Clonedsheep · « **Reply #17 on:** February 21, 2006, 01:24:09 pm »

I have seen this one.

http://www.eamontales.com/coffeetable/index.html

Clonedsheep · « **Reply #18 on:** February 21, 2006, 01:25:22 pm »

I don't know how stable it would be. However it looks real normal when not playing.

AtomSmasher · « **Reply #19 on:** February 21, 2006, 02:39:10 pm »

Quote from: Clonedsheep on February 21, 2006, 01:24:09 pm

I have seen this one.

http://www.eamontales.com/coffeetable/index.html

Haha, ya that one was the one we were talking about that was in CrapMame. Its definately not what I'm looking for. I just finished my last project (a custom end table, not Mame related) last weekend, so I'm actually going to begin designing this project soon, possibly today since its a slow day at work. I'm almost positive of the design I'm going to do, but I'd still like to see that one in playboy if you can find a link.

MinerAl · « **Reply #20 on:** February 21, 2006, 02:42:55 pm »

Get a table that takes removable leaves in the middle and mount the top of it above the screen on your cocktail table, so you have to open the table to play, but when you're done, it's just a table.

Another option would be a table cloth. Seriously, I've put a big plastic lined table cloth on the big cocktail and had guests amazed when I revealed that they had been setting their drinks on a video game.

TheCaptain · « **Reply #21 on:** February 21, 2006, 03:01:36 pm »

You definately need two leaves covering the monitor, and a remote control that opens it all up.

deadkenndys1105 · « **Reply #22 on:** February 21, 2006, 03:08:22 pm »

I have been thinking of doing a bartop like one after the one im building. Just take an end table that goes all the way to the floor. You wont be able to put anything in the table but it would look good. have the bartop slid up and down into place.

muzland · « **Reply #23 on:** February 21, 2006, 04:29:37 pm »

Use a TFT monitor to alleviate the space problems. Viewing angles are good for about 160 degrees these days.

You could then have the control panels slide out from whereever you want.

Muzland

SithMaster · « **Reply #24 on:** February 21, 2006, 06:40:25 pm »

to cover the monitor maybe a hard cover that can lift up and slide down into the side so it doesnt take up space and is always on hand. and the controls can flip down or slide in.

GadgetGeek · « **Reply #25 on:** February 21, 2006, 08:48:33 pm »

Quote from: AtomSmasher on February 21, 2006, 02:39:10 pm

Quote from: Clonedsheep on February 21, 2006, 01:24:09 pm
I have seen this one.

http://www.eamontales.com/coffeetable/index.html
Haha, ya that one was the one we were talking about that was in CrapMame. Its definately not what I'm looking for. I just finished my last project (a custom end table, not Mame related) last weekend, so I'm actually going to begin designing this project soon, possibly today since its a slow day at work. I'm almost positive of the design I'm going to do, but I'd still like to see that one in playboy if you can find a link.

Not the actual playboy link, but another reference to it with a bit of a picture
http://www.retroblast.com/newsitem.php?cid=706

Doc Thirst · « **Reply #26 on:** February 22, 2006, 09:30:00 am »

That would be the article. I must have read it wrong, or perhaps was distracted by the pics. Anyway, scrap that, the controls are fixed. Sorry for the false alarm.

AtomSmasher · « **Reply #27 on:** February 25, 2006, 08:46:25 pm »

I'm now figuring out the final design and dimensions of my project if anyone has any input they wish to share.
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=50651.0


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