What did the real arcade units use for opening a control panel?

[Wiibound]

I think I've seen some odd contraptions attached inside the control panel box of real arcade units such as Midway's Mortal Kombat machines.. that some magical way you do something and it'll open up from the back without having to unscrew anything? can anyone explain this to me?

Otherwise I was just going to build it with screws and hinges and then when I need to just unscrew and lift up... kind of a pain in the butt

[whammoed]

Panel clamps:

http://www.happcontrols.com/amusement/acesor/49005900.htm

[Wiibound]

how do they work?

[javeryh]

Um...they just do?



One side is not moveable (the piece on the left) and the other has a moveable lever.  When you lift up the lever (it's on the far right in the pic) it releases the latch part (in the middle of the pic).  I'm not sure how else to explain it...

[Wiibound]

but you have immediate access to those from the outside of the cabinet?
whats stopping people from lifting those up in arcades?

[javeryh]

Nah.  You'd need a key to get in there through the coin door or a locked panel on the back of the cabinet.  I use these to hold down the top on my cocktail table but I've got to stick my arm in the coin door (which is locked) in order to access them...

[Wiibound]

what do you think would be more hassle and/or cause more damage after repeated opening- these latches, or unscrewing/screwing everytime you want to make a change?

[Wiibound]

Oh I just read the discription of these at groovygamegear

to clarify I'm referring to just the top panel of the control panel box itself... like for it to flip open.

I don't mean securing the entire cp box to the cabinet, I'd bolt that down for sure.

[Avrus]

Oh I just read the discription of these at groovygamegear

to clarify I'm referring to just the top panel of the control panel box itself... like for it to flip open.

I don't mean securing the entire cp box to the cabinet, I'd bolt that down for sure.

Panel clamps and typically piano hinges were used to keep the CP top down to the CP Box.  You either went in through the coin door and reached up through a hole in the bottom of the CP box, or the back of the CP box to unlatch so the clamps weren't visible.

[Hoopz]

Panel clamps and typically piano hinges were used to keep the CP top down to the CP Box.  You either went in through the coin door and reached up through a hole in the bottom of the CP box, or the back of the CP box to unlatch so the clamps weren't visible.

Yep, thats it.  I have a Dynamo Showcase 33 cabinet that has a hole in the bottom of the CP and a hole in the top of the base that the CP sits upon.  You unlock the coin door, open it, then reach through to release a catch that keeps the CP securely closed.

[Wiibound]

Ok I got it now, thanks guys. Definately I think I'm going to go with this.

So you put hinges at the front of the CP BOX to hold the top panel in place and then two of these clamps at the back so it flips towards you right? I could have swarn I saw someone do this before.. oh wait I think it was on Tekken 5 now that I think of it.

So many details to build a cabinet good thing I'm taking my time