Metal CP Question.

[Kaytrim]

What type and thickness of metal is typically used for control panels?

TTFN

[NIVO]

1/16" is more than strong enough to do the job, it is what i used on mine. It allows just enough material to countersink for the heads of machine screws, if you go this route for a smooth surface. And when using a 1 1/8" punch for joy/button holes, pretty much makes the panel perfect.

[u_rebelscum]

Most arcade were 1/16" AFAIK.  Derived from the fact that trackball's lip was 1/16" tall, and the few used CPs I have laying around.

[Apollo]

I use 2.5mm electro galv, it is very strong, fairly cheap, pretty easy to work with and it powder coats very well.

[Crowquill]

When I went shopping to buy sheet metal to make a new panel, I compared to an existing Ms Pac panel that I had. 16ga was dead-on. This is consistant with everyone else's estimates as it's somewhere around 1/16" thick. Almost all panels I've seen are plain steel. My Neo-Geo dedicated cabinet's a bit weird in that it has an aluminum CP.