Mounting Monitor Plexiglass

[fjl]

How did you mount the plexiglass on your cabs. I'm trying to implement this on my 3D model but it doesn't seem to be coming out right. I want my monitor plexiglass to extend to both ends of the cabinet. To reach each side of the cab so I could mount any type size monitor. But problem is mounting the plexiglass. I added a pic of what I've done so far. the bottom doesn't really seem right and I'm not even sure how to get it to hold in place from the top.



I saw a Neo-geo cab today and touched the plexiglass in front of the monitor. Seems like nothing is holding it in the middle cause the plexiglass can be bent inwards towards the monitor. For a bezel, they just cut out what looks like black construction paper in the shape of the monitor itself. Sounds cheesy but actually looks good. I plan to do something similar. Just trying to figure out how it was made to hold in place. Take into consideration that my CP will have hinges to open outwards towards the player.

Anyone got pics or can make a mock up of how they mounted the monitor plexiglass?

[Tailgunner]

Put a strip behind the plexi at the top like so. You can also run support blocks down the sides to support the bezel and plexi, just screw them in place one the monitor is in position.

[fjl]

Yeah I kind of figured that. But honestly I wanted some kind of movable hinge or someting that would quickly allow me to change or remove the plexi when need be without having to unscrew blocks off and such. Also, I want to keep the plexiglass encased away from the marquee area. Otherwise light will bleed into the monitor area. And as for that one piece of plywood that will hold the bottom part of the marquee, I tilted it down a bit since being straight looked bad.



Here's how it looks with the side panels just incase some of you are still confused,

[BamBam]

I would suggest going with a tinted (Iused 14%) tempered glass instead of plexi.  Plexi scratches.  I then mounted marquee retainer around the front, finished edge of my cabinet.  I inserted the the glass.  I then placed my bezel behind the glass and fixed both in place with black cleats (1'x1" stock), which extend from the top to the bottom of the cabinet opening.  this way the glass is sandwiched between the cleats and the marquee retainer.  I have no light bleeding through and the finish looks very clean.

John

[fjl]

Pictures?

Plus what thickness glass did you use and how much did it cost? By the way, is marquee retainer solid or can it be bent a bit to make the angle greater and smaller?

[ssc arcade]

I did mine just like you have modeled, I can take some pictures tonight and post them.

From what I can remember I used my square to mark a line from the bottom where the plexi sits to the top to show where my plexi will sit.  then I put a piece of square wood there to hold it from falling in.

to remove it I just place my palms on the plexi and push up, it goes up into my marquee area until I can rotate it out.

Don't really have any problems with light leakage, again I will take some pics and how you it will be later tonight when I can post 9 to 10 central

I used tinted plexi and haven't had any problems, my machine isn't heavily used or abused by too many kids.

[fjl]

Cool. Would love to see the pics. Although, I was pretty convinced that I should go with tempered glass instead of plexi. Thinking of it. I Just might do that.

[ssc arcade]

here are a few pics that I had on my usb drive.  I modeled mine in 3d also (catia) but now that I am looking for the files I can't find them.  Might have them at home.  The pictures don't have the detail you are looking for but gives an idea.

I used black construction paper for the bezel around the monitor, worked good for me.  I have a 21" monitor, if I would paint the edges showing black it would help but not that big a deal to me.

I also used plastic corner protector for the marquee holder, works good also.

My control panel hinges up away from the monitor, hinge is by the person.

[fjl]

That's cool. But I'm really interested in the part where the CP meets the plexiglass. You obviously did it differently than me. I'd like to see the 3D model that you did. Can you export it to DXf or something?

By the way, did you use laminate for the sides? And what about the keyboard? It looks like you made a drawer like part that pulls out for the keyboard but it seems like there is a part of the wood that stays sticking up getting in the way. this is how I made mines so it has a hinge plus the drawer pull out part...

[ssc arcade]

Here are the pics they aren't very good I can take some more when you have a chance to look at these.  On the vertical ones to keep it from falling back into the monitor I put some foam tape on it to help snug it up to the front.

My drawer setup is very similar to yours, I did not do a drop down door I attached the bottom of the keyboard drawer to the front so you pull it open.

I will attach a picture of that also.

As far as the paint I used latex flat black, I should have followed up with a clear coat that would help with some of the scuffs.  But the picture makes them look 10 times worse than they really are.  I was very happy with painting I think it was much easier than trying to laminate.  I used a good latex primer and then the flat black latex paint.

I will look for my files for 3d and the 2d layouts that I did, I am a little worried that they may have been lost in some computer problems I had a while back.

again sorry the picks are not the best and for the mess in the background.

[leapinlew]

I tilted the plexi a little more which allows the plexi to top the very top of the CP. I used a chamfer bit on the router to give the edge of plexi that touches the cp an edge so it didn't look square on the CP.

2 methods to hold it in place is either some screws or some velcro.

Looks great on mine.

[fjl]

Thanks for the pics SSC Arcade. But I was also hoping you'd add the second pic with the CP opened. I'd like to get a better look in there as well. By the way, can't help but notice that there doesn't seem to be anything locking your CP in place besides the hinges. Don't you find yourself easily pulling the CP open while pressing down on the joystick? Does the CP feel loose at all?

[_) (V) (-)]

My setup is considerably different as I've got an angled monitor and flush mounted plexi, but the idea may still work for you.

Also, I don't have a detail photo of the area yet but you may get the idea from this pic...



All I did was cut a notch into the inner edges of the side panels deep enough to lay the plexi into. (example, using 1/4 plexi, I cut a 1/4 deep notch) Then I cut a slot for the t-molding next to the notch on each side. Lay in the plexi and the t-molding covers the edges perfectly. (In this photo, the t-molding has not yet been attached so tape is holding it in place)

As the plexi is angled, I used a single screw with a washer on each side, along the edge to hold it from sliding down. Gravity does the rest.

I'll try to get a more recent picture posted this week. I've been in the process of mounting the CP deck and it's coming along quite slow. 

[MaMeNnO]

Don't know if you already done with the design and decided yet, but here's how I did the mounting...

On each sides I've put a little support made out of a piece of wood. I rounded one side. The screw is placed in the center of the support. Turn the rounded side down to make some room for the glass to fit in between the support and the speaker plate. When you push the glass in this room the supports will turn towards the glass and the glass is clamped.


The down side of the glass rests on the supports that go beyond the plate where the monitor sits on.


It works nice for me.