having 'hidden' joystick bolts without recessing. Is there a way?

[gse123]

I am building a CP where the top is just thick steel plate - no MDF at all. The plate will be covered by artwork, then then plexiglass as per the norm. Is there any way of having the joystick bolts hidden under the plexiglass (bearing in mind that i'm not using MDF so I cannot simply route out a recess for the joystick plate). The only thing I thought of was to glue the joystick panel to the underside of the steel plate using metal contact adhesive, but this would obviously prohibit me being able to change the stick at a later date.

Any ideas?

[Guaranos]

Maybe you could grind the heads of the bolts flat and weld them to the underside of the thick steel plate.

[Timoe]

If you will be drilling metal, then you must have metal working equipment yes?  HIgh speed bits, cutting fluid, etc?

If yes, then drill the holes for the joystick mounting bolts and use a countersink bit on the holes.  Get screws that will sit in that recess and cover them with your art and plexi.

[gse123]

If you will be drilling metal, then you must have metal working equipment yes?  HIgh speed bits, cutting fluid, etc?

If yes, then drill the holes for the joystick mounting bolts and use a countersink bit on the holes.  Get screws that will sit in that recess and cover them with your art and plexi.

Unfortuantely not - a local company is CNC cutting them for me. Although on that basis I will give them a quick ring and see if they can countersink the holes for me.

Thanks - I can't believe I didn't think of that.

[AcidArmitage]

I would weld some kind of locking latch to the underside of it... or a locking bolt... something locking lol

[scotthh]

You could permanently attach headless bolts to the bottom of your metal CP. I don't know if your metal contact adhesive would be strong enough, so you might want to weld them.

[Kremmit]

Lots of old metal control panels were built with bolts welded to the underside of the CP.

[HoopstarsGarage]

Oops.. didn't read the post very well 


Hoops