Mounting Ms. Pac/Galaga Reunion in Wood CP w/out plexi overlay.

[RickDIII]

Ok, I know this is out here somewhere.  I've heard about the problem enough that I know someone else has probably done a write up.  Searched and couldn't find it and I aplogize if this method has already been used.  Regardless, I'm gonna post my how to, just in case.



A = top view of mount
B = side view of mount
C = top view of cp
D = bottom view of cp
E = side view of cp
F = finished assembly

Please forgive the lame MS Paint illustrations.  I'll follow up with pics of the finished CP once I have all work completed (I did this first in case I screwed up and my idea didn't work).

1.  Get a scrap piece of wood larger than your anticipated mount size and you are going to shape it like illustrations A (top view) and B (bottom view).  The trick here is to measure it all out and then do all your routing before cutting the piece down to size. 

2.  Cut the main hole for the base of the joystick.  This one gets cut all the way through the piece.  You could use a jigsaw if you prefer. 

3.  Route out the sections that form the flanges on the sides.  You want to get your depth correct here.  I planned on leaving 1/8" of material in the cp hole.  I was using 3/4" mdf for the cp.  This meant that the material left after the route had to be 5/8" in height AFTER the joystick mounting plate was attached. 

4.  You now have a strange looking block of wood with a full square hole and two partially routed holes.  Now cut the excess off so you have a final piece that looks like A and B.  Drill some holes and mount the joystick plate to the piece. 

5.  Set the piece you just finished on the back of your cp and trace the raised block section.  Now route out the wood until you have a hole that fits the raised block with only 1/8" of material left on the top of the cp.  The top of the joystick mounting plat should be touching the leftover material.  The flanges on the piece should be resting against the uncut back of the cp.

6.  With a small bit drill down the center hole of the joystick mount through the front of your cp.  This tells you exactly where to make the larger joystick hole with a forstner or spade bit.  BE CAREFUL... the material is thin and you risk messing up the whole works.  Take your time with the final drilling.

7.  Pre drill holes through the flanges and into the main body of the back of the cp board.  Use four screws to get a nice grip into the board. 

This leaves you with the pressure of the joystick affecting the special piece you cut and the main body of the cp.  It leaves no visible screw holes through the front of the cp and very little strain on the 1/8" facing. 

This worked for me, but there may be better ideas out there.  Just thought I'd post this since I have received so much help from these boards.

Thanks,
Rick

 

[RobotronNut]

nice design, thanks for the write-up!

4.  You now have a strange looking block of wood with a full square hole and two partially routed holes.

did you mean "two partially routed flanges" here?

6.  With a small bit drill down the center hole of the joystick mount through the front of your cp.  This tells you exactly where to make the larger joystick hole with a forstner or spade bit.  BE CAREFUL... the material is thin and you risk messing up the whole works.  Take your time with the final drilling.

might be safer to drill the large center hole before routing out the bottom.

[RickDIII]

did you mean "two partially routed flanges" here?

Yep, thanks for the clarification.

might be safer to drill the large center hole before routing out the bottom.

Probably safer.  Only reason I did it this way was it allows perfect centering of the joystick if any of your other measurements are off.  If you drill first you have to make sure to get everything lined up perfectly.

Thanks for the feedback.