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CP design -> build strategies
Chris G:
--- Quote from: javeryh on May 07, 2007, 03:05:26 pm ---I just do it the old fashioned way - I measure the center points out on a piece of MDF using a ruler and t-square. Then I just use a 1-1/8" forestner bit to drill out the holes.
I'm thinking of making a template ala Knievel for the next one though because I'm building a traditional MAME upright and I'm actually going to end up building three of them (probably not all at once though).
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I like the idea of a template - I may do that too. Although, who knows if I'll want the same layout on my next cab...
--- Quote from: moriartyds on May 07, 2007, 03:30:43 pm ---
You don't go into much detail about why Visio didn't work, but i did something similar and it worked fairly well. As long as you can create an image (using CP Sketcher or Visio or whatever), you can use your tool of choice (I used GIMP, but you can probably even do it in Visio). Here's the steps I took:
- Determine your printer margin sizes (e.g. 1.0" on sides, .5" on top/bottom).
- Create gridlines on your image the same size as your 'printable area' on the paper. For example with the above dimensions on an 8.5 x 11" paper, the printable area is 6.5 x 10, so the grid lines are 6.5 x 10.
- I then cut and pasted the area inside each grid into it's own document.
- Then I printed each document (no scaling). I used printable gridlines just to make sure I got it right. If the ends of the image are smaller than one page/grid box, you can just create cut lines for that page.
- If everything works, you can cut along the border/gridlines for each document and reassemble and tape it down and it should be a perfect fit.
- From there, you can use an exacto knife to score out the cutting lines, or for screw holes/button holes you can just mark the center and cut after you've removed the guide.
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The main reason Visio didn't work for me was that I was using 2002. They didn't add gridline printing until the 2003 version, so it was tough for me to align the pages. I'm sure I'll have access to the newer version someday, though, so thanks for sharing your steps.
--- Quote from: miles2912 on May 07, 2007, 09:01:41 pm ---The Kinkos solution was the easiest for me. For a few bucks they blew up my normal 8.5" X 11" print out to the actual size. I then taped it on the pre cut CP top and CENTER PUNCHED all the holes. Trackball was pretty simple. After tracing the square I just kind of figured out how the big egg shaped cut out would fit, went slowly and enlarged it where I need to test fitting all the way.
All the center punched holes drilled real easy with a forstner bit.
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That doesn't sound too bad - for some reason I figured it would be expensive at Kinko's. Although, with as many versions as I went through, it could still add up! And I guess I need to try out a forstner bit - some others have mentioned that too. I've been using Irwin Speedbors with mixed results...
:cheers:
Chris
Tahnok:
--- Quote from: Chris G on May 07, 2007, 10:37:38 pm ---The main reason Visio didn't work for me was that I was using 2002. They didn't add gridline printing until the 2003 version, so it was tough for me to align the pages. I'm sure I'll have access to the newer version someday, though, so thanks for sharing your steps.
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Maybe there's something I'm missing, but couldn't you have put in the alignment lines yourself? You could create a box around 5" x 5" with faint lines and no fill that could be duplicated across the entire CP fairly quickly.