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I can't afford my dream control panel!
Tiger-Heli:
Got into this late and many of the good comments have already been said, but I'll throw my two (ten?) cents in anyways
--- Quote ---8 Competition Pushbutton 13.60
16 Pushbutton with Horizontal Microswitch 28.80
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$42 in pushbuttons, not sure what you are using the Comp's for (or why 8 of them), but regular buttons are on sale for $1 each, so that's a $18 savings there. You could use less expensive buttons for the admin functions, but it's probably not worth it. Recommend using www.therealbobroberts.com over Happ, as already mentioned.
--- Quote ---2 Optical Rotary Joystick 94.40
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not much to say here, Druin's http://members.rogers.com/druins22/ls30/interface is $45 and you used to be able to get SNK's from www.videoconnect.com for $15.00 each, so you would save $25, but they don't work well for non-rotary games, so I would stay with what you have.
--- Quote ---1 High-Ball Trackball w/Harness, Black 95.65
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I think someone mentioned Betson refurbished joysticks for like $30. Otherwise WICO 3-inch's are $50. If you don't mind the smaller size, WICO's 2-1/4 TB is $25 and you can use billiard balls in it. Finally, I picked up this 2-inch usb trackball http://shop2.outpost.com/product/2422410 for $2.99, but it's back-ordered (hasn't arrived yet) and I don't expect it to be arcade quality, but for occasional use and for the price, it can't be beat.
--- Quote ---1 3" High Ball Trackball Mounting Kit, Clear Zinc 18.20
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Recommend: Atari 3" TB mounting plate, black dimpled $10.00, www.therealbobroberts.com
--- Quote ---<edit> 2 SlikStik Tornado Spinner $180
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Recommend: 2 OSCAR model 3 spinners - 42.00 each. No offense to slikstik, but you can buy both OSCAR's for LESS than ONE tornado. OSCAR's PRO at $61 is a better option, but you wanted to save money and the Model 3 works well.
--- Quote ---1 Ultimarc I-PAC2 39.00
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Consider: KeyWiz Standard - $33.00 www.groovygamegear.com, lacks a keyboard pass-thru, but otherwise does almost all that the I-PAC does and RandyT's shipping is cheaper if you're U.S.-based (or probably to Canada also).
--- Quote ---1 Ultimarc Opti-PAC 44.00
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Recommend 1 www.oscarcontrols.com USB interface kit $9, saves $35. What you lose is the ability to auto-switch to the active control. You can wire everything up to one interface if you aren't worried about bumping your trackball in spinner games, or . . . OSCAR has a circuit here http://www.oscarcontrols.com/DPDTswitch.shtml for using a DPDT switch to select between a spinner and a trackball. I am sure you could use a 3-position slide switch with two poles to select between your tracball/rotary joys/spinners. OSCAR can prolly tell you how to wire it up (Sorry to put you on the spot, OSCAR)!
--- Quote ---2 Oscar Controls 2-way Restrictors 16.00
2 Oscar Controls 4-way Restrictors 20.00
1 Oscar Controls Diagonal Restrictors 7.00
2 Oscar Controls Joystick Mounting Plate 30.00
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Recommend: Buy only ONE Joystick mounting plate for $15.00 and use as a drilling template. It looks better and saves you money. Be sure to read the instructions here: http://www.oscarcontrols.com/customize_hotrod.shtml and mount your joystick using the 1/4-inch hardware and then one at a time swap out the carriage bolts, as the joystick centering is critical.
Except that shipping charges will eat you alive, I would try without the restrictors first, then add the 4-ways and diagonal, then only add the 2-ways if you felt you really needed them.
Hope this helps a little, looks like using a 2-1/4 inch TB and my other suggestions saves you $252 dollars and leaving off the restrictors saves you over $300 !!!
Civilan:
Tiger-Heli:
Thanks for taking the time to reply! Lots of good suggestions there.
I like the suggestion of the 2 1/4" trackball and the billiard ball. I guess this would allow different colors over time for low $. A small trackball would also make my control panel a narrower by another 1" - a good thing.
I also hadn't considered Oscar's USB interface kit. I do have the wiring/circuit skills to hook up the joysticks, the spinners, and the trackball to one interface. It just complicates the usability of the control panel for the guests. This idea is a keeper!
I did consider a design without the joystick mounting plates but was concerned about wear around the pin holes. The plates will be routed into the control panel and covered with vinyl so the look will be that of no plates. I have to think about this one some more.
Once again thanks for the suggestions; my dream panel is slowly becoming a reality.
Civilan.
Tiger-Heli:
--- Quote from: Civilan on April 21, 2003, 01:43:34 pm ---I did consider a design without the joystick mounting plates but was concerned about wear around the pin holes. The plates will be routed into the control panel and covered with vinyl so the look will be that of no plates. I have to think about this one some more.
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Okay, I forgot you were using vinyl, and I didn't have any cost savings for you there. I plan to use laminate and figured the pins couldn't wear it down too much. BTW, you might consider laminate, since you have access to a router, problem is, in the states, you can get 2x4' sheets of it for $11.50 (in pretty much black only) or 4'x8' sheets in any color for $40, but this is a lot for one control panel.
I think OSCAR also mentioned using brass sleeves and either press-fitting or super-gluing them into the pin holes to reduce wear.
FWIW!
Mojo2000:
--- Quote ---
--- Quote from: Tiger-Heli on April 21, 2003, 12:54:18 pm ---1 Ultimarc Opti-PAC 44.00
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Recommend 1 www.oscarcontrols.com USB interface kit $9, saves $35. What you lose is the ability to auto-switch to the active control. You can wire everything up to one interface if you aren't worried about bumping your trackball in spinner games, or . . .
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Is this compatible with the concept of two (or more) OSCAR spinners operating simultaneously? I tried to find this interface on the website but failed.
In any case, I applaud you for your detailed budget research. :D
rampy:
--- Quote from: Mojo2000 on April 21, 2003, 02:49:08 pm ---
--- Quote ---
--- Quote from: Tiger-Heli on April 21, 2003, 12:54:18 pm ---1 Ultimarc Opti-PAC 44.00
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Recommend 1 www.oscarcontrols.com USB interface kit $9, saves $35. What you lose is the ability to auto-switch to the active control. You can wire everything up to one interface if you aren't worried about bumping your trackball in spinner games, or . . .
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Is this compatible with the concept of two (or more) OSCAR spinners operating simultaneously? I tried to find this interface on the website but failed.
In any case, I applaud you for your detailed budget research. :D
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if you use analog+ mame you can split the axis to get 2 spinner goodness out of a single mouse hack...
The USB mouse interface - $9.00 Connect to Model 3 or Pro spinners for USB compatibility. Includes spinner wiring harness. (is listed on his order page(s) ) on oscarcontrols.com.
*shrug*
rampy