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paulscade - First Build - MAME - Blastoff!
paulscade:
Another "thinking" problem.
I wanted to hinge the top of my control panel at the front of the control panel box.... so that the control panel top will lift up from the back (like other panels you've seen here on this site). I had a requirement of not wanting to see the hinges from the front. BUT... my panel top overhangs the front of the control panel box by 3/4". Standard hinges wouldn't work.... because the top needs to lift and separate from the box to accommodate for the overhang.
Again, at Rockler, I found what I think will work. I don't have these mounted yet but my initial tests with scrap wood, it seems that these hinges give me the right amount of lift and separate that I need. They weren't cheap... $15 for the pair + shipping.
Here are some photos of the test.
Simulated 3/4" overhang on the front of a test "panel"
A closed panel top
Some of that lift and separate
This just might work
paulscade:
Time to place the monitor back into the cabinet for some fine tuning.
I'm now 57 hours into the project.
I placed the monitor back and marked up the holes for the mounting bolts. This was also a good time to cut the bezel to size. A sharp box cutter and a steel ruler did the trick nicely.
Measure twice (I probably measured 4 times)... and cut once. I didn't want to have to buy another bezel.
I also noticed that there was a gap between the top of the bezel and the speaker mounts... humm... time to cut a small MDF filler.
The filler panel for the gap
The first time that the bezel meets the cabinet
paulscade:
Once the monitor is removed, that bezel will need a frame to rest against. The frame will also serve as something to "push against" once I install the glass.
** By the way... I ordered glass from www.onedayglass.com. Smoked, tempered, pencil edges. I haven't received it yet but they had the best price around... I checked a number of local shops and this place beat them all.
The frame needed to be removable as the monitor would hit if I needed to remove it. I built an MDF frame with countersunk screws and attached it to the cabinet.
While I was "in the area", I also sealed up the speaker section. This would provide a for a speaker box and also give me somewhere to mount the marquee light later.
The frame
The bezel resting against the frame and the sealed up speaker area
paulscade:
Well... this is where I am today.
63 hours into the project with endless research time.
I bought some primer yesterday but I didn't feel like painting today. I also brought back some paint chips to decide on a color... to go with my, yet undecided, theme.
I have a good amount of parts already... as I've been ordering throughout the project. I plan on having the following components on my panel:
1 x Groovy Game Gear (GGG) Electric Ice Trackball
1 x GGG TT2 Spinner
1 x GGG KeyWiz 40-ST (a recent decision)
2 x Ultimarc MagStik Plus
1 x Untimarc Ultrastik 360
23 x Happ concave buttons
I've got some control panel layouts drawn up in Visio... but I'm not ready for you guys to beat me up on the design just yet.... so for now, I'll keep them to myself.... but check back later. ;)
leapinlew:
You use those magstik+ yet? Curious what you think... they weren't right for me to use on 8 way games. The throw was too short.