OK all you engineers - let's figure something out!

[javeryh]

I'm trying to hold my CP in place and I need some suggestions.  Here's a quick and dirty cross section of how things look right now:



The interior blocks are screwed and glued to the inside of the cabinet and they provide a 0.75" surface to clamp on to (I'm using 3" C-clamps).  I think I'm OK there (unless one of you has a better idea).  The problem area is connecting the top of the control panel to the rabbeted lip of the monitor panel/bezel panel.  Due to the offsetting panels it is going to be tough to come up with something that will work.  So far the best idea I can come up with is gluing a 3/8" panel to the underside of the control panel top so the surfaces will be aligned and then installing some cocktail clips or something.  I really want this thing to be locked in place and basically immovable unless I open the coin door panel and reach up inside to unlock it (for maintenance or whatever).

Any and all ideas are welcome!

[ChadTower]

Cabs usually use a latch for that... the type you find on a toolbox is the best thing I can think of.  Push the loop/hook over a hook on the other piece and then pull the lever tight.

[Extreme8]

If you have access to the back side a control panel camp will work fine.

http://homearcade.org/BBBB/cplatch.jpg

They're more than forgiving enough to work with that offset.

[ChadTower]

That's exactly what I was trying to describe.  It should be perfect given that he wants to be able to reach up inside the coin door to access it.

[GoPodular.com]

What about this?

[Crowquill]

Most arcade manufacturers designed them with a piano hinge on one edge of the CP (many times it was underneath, but not always) and then used control panel latches.

The moving part of the latch mounts on the side of the cabinet just under the CP, the "catch" part of it mounts to the underside of the control panel. You reach up through the coin door and un-latch it to be able to lift open the CP.

Why is part of it clamped down? Is that just for support?

[shardian]

You can get a piano hinge at your local hardware store for a few bucks. A piano hinge and two panel clamps are the bext method - that is why original manufacturers used them. 

[javeryh]

I originally planned on the piano hinge but in practice there wasn't enough of the bottom piece hanging over the coin door panel to allow for it.  Also, the coin door panel opens completely (like one of Kneivel's cabs) and believe it or not the 1/8" hangdown of the actual hinge would not allow the door to open.

The clamps are there because I have nothing securing the bottom of the control panel to the cabinet.  I can't drill a hole through the interior support either because it's alreay installed and I wouldn't be able to get a proper angle with my drill.  I'm thinking those control panel clips might be the way to go.  Maybe I can figure out a way to install them on the bottom as well so I'm not undoing a clamp when I want to get in there...

[shardian]

Maybe you could use some sort of hook system for the bottom.

There would be two hooks on the cp that would sit into two corresponding holes on the cabinet. If the holes on the cabinet were hinged in some sort, along with codder pins on the hook, then you could have the same effect as a piano hinge.
No time for a picture, but hopefully you get the idea.

[ChadTower]

Velcro solves everything.

[javeryh]

Velcro solves everything.

That's an amazing idea.  If I run a strip of velcro along the rabbeted lip that the control panel sits on as well as on the underside of the front of the control panel I think it will work.  How thick do you think the velcro would be once everything is put together?  I have 3/8" to play with but I would only want to push things up by 1/8" max.  The lip that is created from the overlapping pieces is to hold the glass and bezel in place.

[ChadTower]

Heavy duty velcro would do that job very well.  Don't get the type with fabric looking loops... get the heavy stuff that looks more like a rough brush with heavy loops.  Any hardware store should have it.  Good Velcro is strong enough that the failure point often becomes the adhesive used to attach it rather than the Velcro itself.  It comes in all thicknesses and strengths so just shop around until you find what you need.

[ringram]

Velcro is amazing! I use the commercial stuff at work. About 1.5" wide, adhesive backed. Very strong. If you use too much of it, you will find it hard to remove.

[Havok]

Radio Shack sells the heavy duty stuff in small strips, that stuff is strong; I have used it with other projects...