Help installing ultimarc 360's into control panel

[hellothere123]

Wondering what you did to install the 360 into your CP, making it so its built in from the top

[BobA]

See the sticky topic How to make a Top Mount or Under Mount Joystick Jig to mount your joystick on top of your CP.

[fjl]

I originally made my U360 top mounted on my test control panel but it turned out to look pretty ugly. I now want to do an undermount. My only concern is to have support for it underneath like bolts and a nut. But that option would mean I'd have to drill a hole all the way through. I don't want to do that. I'd preffer something that will have a strong hold and will not have screws show on the top of the CP since it will be plain and bare wood. What should I do to hold it?

[patrickl]

I'd preffer something that will have a strong hold and will not have screws show on the top of the CP since it will be plain and bare wood. What should I do to hold it?

I "mid" mounted some sticks. Basically I top mounted the stick and then covered it with another thin layer of wood.

[javeryh]

 I bottom mounted mine in 3/4" MDF but I routed about 1/2 the material away to make the shaft a bit longer.  Oh, I also installed the "long shafts" in it.  HERE is how I did it.






Not sure that helps you top-mount it but the process woud be the same.... cut a rectangular through hole in your CP that the black base of the joystick fits into and then route out a section on top the same thickness and size as the metal mounting plate so it will drop the joystick flush with the top of the control panel.  Then finish it by drilling out the 4 holes in the corners for the bolts/screws or whatever you decide to use.   

[fjl]

Thats cool, but I dont see the holes or screws that are supposed to be holding up the joystick. I thought you said you made some.

[fixedpigs]

Thats cool, but I dont see the holes or screws that are supposed to be holding up the joystick. I thought you said you made some.

uh...there's one in each corner...

[fjl]

I meant on this pic where its already installed, http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/992/1469/1600/285653/P1010116.jpg

[javeryh]

I used eight 1/2" screws to hold it in place from the bottom - they don't poke through the top and with all 8 of them in there the joystick is VERY secure.

[kegger]

I plan on mounting mine soon and I plan to use T-Nuts and bottom mount the joystick.
This method will give you a solid mounting option  and if you use a laminate or some type of overlay you won't have to remove it if you have to replace the stick and you won't have to worry about stripping out the wood using wood screws. I would think if you top mount a joystick you would ruin your overlay or laminate if you had to swap it out for some reason. Google t-nuts if you are not sure what they are. You would first have to install them and countersink them slightly then put your laminate over them.

[csa3d]

I routed out even less the Javery did on mine, still think I used 1/2" screws as well.  I'm really not worried about it coming loose.. you'd really have to be abusing the cabinet,  in my opinion, to break it.


Note I bottom mounted my dust covers here.

-csa

[fjl]

How do you get out small things that will fall into the holes that the dust cover was originally supposed to cover?

[csa3d]

How do you get out small things that will fall into the holes that the dust cover was originally supposed to cover?

Dust cover still exists, it's just below the wood.  My guess would be compressed air in the hole, a slightly damp cloth.. anything that falls in there will get caught.

-csa

[fjl]

I figure you leave the dust cover on the inside for looks but is it worth the hassle of removing all those little pieces of trash that fall in there? Or is there another reason besides looks why that washer is put underneath.

[TOK]

I figure you leave the dust cover on the inside for looks but is it worth the hassle of removing all those little pieces of trash that fall in there? Or is there another reason besides looks why that washer is put underneath.

How much trash is falling off you while you're playing a game? Under the panel is the correct way, though its been done wrong SO many times that people are confused. You can just blow on it to clean it out if its dusty.

[fixedpigs]

fjl clearly is chomping down on doritos & such whilst playing his favourite mame games...

nobody made orange balltops like he wanted...so he custom made some using his fingers covered in cheetos dust...!

[fjl]

Hey!! No making fun of cheetos! 

Cheetos are like ambrosia to me... Mmmm... Cheetos... gahghahghag...