Bottom Mounting Joysticks

[acevedor2]

Well I am just about ready to start mounting the joysticks (as soon as the flush/pattern router bits I bought from MLCS get here).  Here is the rub - I want to mount them from underneath so that I can use my CPO that MameMarquees is designing for me.  I have read all of the threads I can find on the subject and have a couple of thoughts/questions.

It seems that most who want a flush top for their control panel use T-nuts.  I am more inclined to use the threaded nuts that RandyT recommended.  My question though is that in order for the joys to feel right, I have to recess mount them (probably 1/4-1/2") or so I have heard.  Once that is done, I don't think there will be enough room (material left) to install the threaded nuts.  Does that make sense?  With 3/4" MDF recessed 1/4 to 1/2 inch already, that only leaves 1/4 inch of material which is less than the length of the threaded nuts.

Any ideas?  Thanks.

[NoOne=NBA=]

The easiest solution would be to get longer handles.
I've never used MDF for any of my control panels, so I don't know how well it will hold up to screws from the bottom without being full thickness.

[Encryptor]

What kind of joysticks are you using? How thick is the mounting plate of the joystick? This will determine the depth of the recess you have to make in order for the joystick to be flush. I used Magstick Plus joysticks which have a metal mounting plate approx 1/8 inch thick so a 1/4 inch recess is plenty deep enough to make the recess. That leaves me 1/2 inch of mdf to mount to.

Encryptor

[acevedor2]

I am recessing from the bottom.  The only things I am recessing at the top is the trackball mounting plate and the Happ Trigger.  My intentions are to mount the 2 Ultimarc Magic Stik Plus joys and the Happ reunion 4 way from the bottom.  I am using 3/4" MDF for the CP.  I have the longer joy for the Happ reunion so I thick I will be able to mount it from below with threaded fasteners, but I don't have the longer sticks for the Ultimarc's.  Any thoughts?

[Encryptor]

I don't know if Ultimarc makes a longer handle for the Mag + or not. I think I remember reading somewhere here in the forums about a balltop handle but you'd have to ask Andy at Ultimarc to be sure. I top mounted mine in 3/4 inch mdf so I didn't have to worry about the length of the handle. I have a Pac Man 4-way that I also recessed from the top.

Encryptor

[miles2912]

The easiest solution is carriage bolts.  Some people do not want to see bolts on their cp but IMHO it looks great.  Bob Robers sells black ones that look good.. you will have a hard time finding these locally.


Don

[acevedor2]

Thanks Don.  I am struggling with that because I really don't want them showing and ruining the CP.  In the end, I might not have a choice.  That is why I am hoping some of the brilliant arcade builders on this site can give me some advice!  Thanks again.
Cheers.

[miles2912]

Ok got to get creative here.   What you will need is a very short bolt the same diameter as the hole in your joystick ( take the stick to hardware store) and a nut to fit the bolt.  The bolt needs to be able to go through the joystick hole and the nut and then just a bit further. 

Test this out on a piece of scrap first.  Drill a hole in the wood so the nut barely fits and is a bit recessed.  Make sure none of it sticks out.  SMall pieces of tape - and tape over the nut holes ( lol- he said nut holes) we don't want any epoxy fouling the holes.  Epoxy the nut in place making sure it is in the correct position.  Use just the bare minimum to hold the nut.  Let it cure and then attach the joystick.  Give it some good shakes to see if it will come loose.  If not then you have a winner.

Don

[tranq]

Yeah, I remember as a kid seeing panels with bolts and thinking they looked cheap an ugly.  As for the special idea, I was thinking of something similar for my plastic panel design, though I was thinking thread inserts....which, a nut is basically that.

[acevedor2]

Tranq,

I think I am going to end up trying to find a longer shaft for joys and mounting them straight to the bottom (no recess) with the insert nuts.  I picked the insert nuts and bolts up yesterday.  They look really simple to use.   Just like some of that Sauder put together furniture.  Only problem is, as we discussed, you really can't recess the joy AND use the nuts.  Just not enough thickness.  I'll let you kow how it turns out.

[NiteWalker]

Here's how I mount mine:


Now for the description. I use machine screws (10-32 I think) and have the heads counterbored under the surface of the cp top. They hold very tightly and don't come loose even though I recess the bottom.


The way I do it is first drill the counterbore with a 5/16" forstner bit and then drill the through hole for the bolt with an 11/32" (or something like that; whatever the bolt fits) standard bit. There is a dimple from the forstner for positioning. Like I said, this method holds extremely well because there's no connection to the wood like when using screws. The strength of the connection completely relies on the nut and bolt and not the wood.

Here it is from the underside all hooked up. Look closely at the joystick. It's a happ competition stick btw.


In the future I'm going to try using flathead machine screws which will eliminate the need for a counterbore resulting in a stronger joint. I'd only need a slight countersink instead.

[acevedor2]

That's exactly what I am going to use, Flat head Machine screws.  Thanks.  I'll post pics as soon as I get them done.  I am still working on how to mount the Happ trigger joy flush.....

[tranq]

As I'm totally confused to what you're doing, now, I'm waiting for the pics.

[acevedor2]

The two mag stik plus joys willl be recessed about 1/4 inch into the bottom of the cp.  I will then use flat head, 1/4" bolts down from the top into the joys recessed underneath.  The heads are flat and will be slightly countersunk so they are nice and flat.

The Reuion joy will not be recessed because I got he one with the longer shaft and it looks perfect just being mounted underneath.  I will stil luse the 4 bolts countersunk from the top method to secure it to the CP. 

The problem I am having now is mounting the trigger joy (viewable in the link below).  I don't want the carriage bolts to show and I am still working on that...
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=61823.40