How do you make the control panels.

[LoyalistRevolt]

Does anyone have an good guide?

[csa3d]

Which part has you most confused?  With such a vague question, you're probably not going to find the information you desire.  Ultimately, it's just a box with 1 1/8" hole drilled into it, wired up to a bunch of boards which attach to your keyboard connection.  Let us know, and you'll probably get better answers.

-csa

[LoyalistRevolt]

I have no idea where to start with the wiring!

[havic626]

http://www.projectarcade.com/ 
this is a good place to start, alot of info on every aspect of arcade building

[javeryh]

I have no idea where to start with the wiring!

Wiring is the easiest part!  If you are using microswitches you wire each NO to the proper node on your encoder and you daisy chain all of the COMs together and into the ground node on your encoder.  I use 20 gauge solid core wire and .187 crimp connectors so there's no soldering.  The control panel on my first cabinet was the first thing I ever wired in my life and it was the easiest part (and most relaxing).   

[LoyalistRevolt]

could you explain a little more.

[severdhed]

wiring can be a bit overwhelming at first, but once you get a basic understanding of what needs to happen, it is pretty simple.  Most encoders have a terminal that is dedicated to each individual switch, and then a common ground terminal that must be connected to every switch.  so you would run a separate wire from each switch to the corresponding input on the encoder, and then chain all of you switches together and tie that into the common ground on the encoder.  However this is not always the case...for instance, if you are using an x-arcade, the button inputs are bundled in groups of 4. you have to use the ground for that group with those buttons, and the ground for the next group with the next group of buttons.  if you use the wrong ground, your inputs will be all wacky. ( i learned this the hard way) I don't know if any other encoders are this way or not (i certainly hope not) . 

what kind of encoder are you using?

[tristan]

Many people forget that the main page of this site has a ton of great info:

http://arcadecontrols.com/arcade_wiring.shtml

[DeLuSioNal29]

I just finished a "Wiring Control Panel for Beginners" video that should be posted by tomorrow.  It has the basics of wiring.

It should be very helpful.

~ DeLuSioNaL

[Fozzy The Bear]

Looking forward to seeing that video!   

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)

[Fozzy The Bear]

Does anyone have an good guide?

1) Buy Saint's Book "Project Arcade" and read it cover to cover.
2) Go to the front page of this forum and read! the links on the left have a lot of information.  http://arcadecontrols.com/arcade.htm
3) Go To The WIKI for this forum and read it! http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/wiki/Main_Page
4) Learn to use the search option on the forum, many questions have already been answered multiple times.

Those will give you all the basic answers you are looking for.

The real answer is that you have to put a bit of effort in to it. Read Read Read and Read again. There is no instant result to be had, and certainly no quality of any sort if you don't put some effort in.

The forum is really better for very specific questions, when you have a specific build problem. Nobody is going to write you a full control panel building tutorial in the forum itself.

When you've done the above and have specific questions, feel free to ask them. Somebody in here will be pleased to help you.

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)

[ArtsNFartsNCrafts]

Wiring is so easy.  If I can do it, I swear anyone can do it!  Just keep it clean, and don't let it get all "rat's nest" on you.

[unclet]

This gives you an idea ....

http://home.austin.rr.com/shumate/unicade/controls.htm

[DeLuSioNal29]

OK, the video is posted.

View it here:
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=77412.0

~ DeLuSioNaL

[LoyalistRevolt]

I have watched your video but It didn't help me in the equipment department everyone is telling me I need different things I'm confused and frustrated 

[Donkey_Kong]

You just need a keyboard encoder, that's the main thing. It sends button presses and joystick movements to your computer via USB. So you need a flat headed (standard) screw driver. wire, buttons, and joystick. You run the wires from the encoder (pictured below) to your buttons and joystick(s).

Thats it!

Encoder (Ipac)



That is the main idea. You do have to run a daisy chain (ground) from ALL of your buttons and joystick cherry switches as well, but it is super easy.

The reason I'm making this post and have posted the picture of the Ipac, is because I was in the same boat as you when I wanted to learn this. Then someone posted a picture of the Ipac and I knew I could do it then. It is super easy.

You can also get a Keywhiz from a different source, and it does essentially the same thing. I will link to either of those places now.

First, is a link to where you can buy the Ipac (pictured above located in the UK) http://www.ultimarc.com/ipac1.html

You can also buy a comparable encoder here (located in the US) www.groovygamegear.com

 

[ArtsNFartsNCrafts]

You'll need, the aforementioned encoder, 22 guage wire (I think that's the right guage), and some quick-disconnect connectors for 22 guage wire, and wire strimper, and a crimper.

I went to radio shack and said, "I need all this stuff," and the guy just picked it all out for me.

As for wiring, each button will have a microswitch attached to it, and each joystick will (usually) have 4.  They look like this:



Each one has three prongs, but we only bother with two of the three:  the COM prong, and the NO (normally open) prong (guys, correct me if I'm wrong).  To connect wire to the prong, you'll use a quick disconnect:

(see #4 in this pic):



To add a quick disconnect to wire, you strip some of the insulation off the wire, and insert it into the quick disconnect, then you use a crimping tool to secure it in place.  Each little quick disconnect connector that you crimp slides onto the specified prongs on each microswitch.

there is a spot on the encoder that says "com".  You twist the screw up on that, insert some wire, twist the screw back down, and then make a chain of connections from this spot to each of the "COM" prongs on each of your switches.  This is your ground.  It's a "daisy chain."

Then, for each of your buttons, you take a length of wire and connect it to the proper spot on the encoder, then crimp the other end of the wire w/ a quick disconnect, and put that connector on the "NO" prong on the microswitch (it's usually labeled).


does that help any?

[rrcade]

You can use crimp connectors, and I have but usually I just solder every wire, then you know you have a good connection, they'll never get knocked loose and you don't have to worry about a bad crimp, not to mention soldering is cheaper.

[Jdurg]

You can use crimp connectors, and I have but usually I just solder every wire, then you know you have a good connection, they'll never get knocked loose and you don't have to worry about a bad crimp, not to mention soldering is cheaper.

But if you have ANY problems crop up at all with your control panel you'll have to go and get your soldering iron and hope that you don't screw up any connections in the somewhat crowded CP.  Basically, soldering them on is like gluing your joysticks and buttons to your CP.  Yes, it's far more secure, but it also prevents you from every replacing the problematic parts without potentially damaging everything else.

[LoyalistRevolt]

this helped alot thanks!