New cab project with removeable control panel

[flowon]

Hello Eveyone!
Ok so i've finally decided to build an mame cab!  I don't have a lot of room so I've decided to build the control panel first and then have my cab design so that the control panel can be dropped in and out at will... so I can start work on that when I finally clear out my garage lol.

Here is my initial design... bear with me please because this is the first time I have ever done anything like this... so I'm going to learn as I go... and make lots of mistakes too i bet!

What do you guys think of the design?  I downloaded sketchup after reading about that lovely ARTIFACT game machine someone made and I have had a practice with it:

I'm not going for a totally authentic retro cab which may not go down to well on some forums... but in my opinion mame is not authentic so why should the cab be! I want to make it kinda new-skool/old-skool if you get me!  fancy artwork but with basic black and white buttons and a white trackball...  no spinner.

From an angle:


From the top:


One with the test artwork:


I will post the design of the cab that this control panel will drop into seamlessly later.  This design also means I can take this thing to a friend's house and play there too.  Portable mame cab!

Any input appreciated!

[leapinlew]

Angled joysticks may SEEM like a good idea, but it's best if "up" meant pushing the joystick directly towards the monitor.

[javeryh]

Angled joysticks may SEEM like a good idea, but it's best if "up" meant pushing the joystick directly towards the monitor.

This x 1,000,000.  Do not angle those joysticks!  I like the design though - have you thought about maybe a red trackball to match the art?   

[flowon]

Ok i hadn't considered this!!  see what I mean about learning as I go? ... i like that the buttons are angled but do you think it would be ok/user friendly to have the buttons at an angle like this and then the joys at parallel with the monitor? Yes I think that would be better... having to aim 10 degrees to the right when you mean up would be confusing I suppose.  But have the buttons angled on their own would be ok.

Originally I wanted an orange trackball and orange/black buttons but finding colored trackballs where I live was very difficult so I just went with this one... I can swap it out later tho. I will be in the states on business sometime later this year and its a lot easier to find them there.  thanks for the input!

[flowon]

Hello,
I've been working on this control panel and have taken some pretty poor quality shots with my phone if anyone is interested.


Made a box out of mdf fixing the corners with glue and three pieces of dowel and sanded.  Drilled the holes for trackball and buttons:



I got a perspex sheet drilled for the overlay... it fits like a glove but the guys that did it for me drilled the four holes around the trackball also.  I didn't really want this as I had countersunk them on the wood already and had intended to obscure the heads under the artwork for a cleaner finish.  Oh well... i'm gonna make do...



painted the box (this is after the first coat, i did another 5 sanding between each one)


checked artwork and lay perspex on top


I clamped the perspex on and used a sharp craft knife to cut out the buttons holes from the artwork and trim the edges so it fits flush with the edge of the perspex.


you can see the holes for the joys that i haven't fitted yet, and also the black bolt heads around the trackball that were not intended to be there... but it looks ok.  It's a lot more red in real life and doesn't look so orangey.  I guess my n95 8gb camera isn't as good as I thought it was hehe.


im gonna stick the joys in when I get a chance and fire it up.  The prototype i made (basically this without the trackball, art and perspex) works great so I don't anticipate any probs.

[ARTIFACT]

good work!!!


Mine is finished (as you mentioned), but I miss building it!!!
Have fun

[Martijn]

good work !

dont you want some flipper buttons on the side as well?

[flowon]

Hi Everyone,
more sub standard updates from yours truly for you guys to roll your eyes at lol 

in response to the flipper button q... i was gonna have the ctrl panel drop into the cab, so i can't have stuff poking out the side if I want a flush finish to it.

however...

I have started designing the cab this control panel will slot into... i just wanted some feeback from the pros.

Please notice in particular the indent at the bottom where people's feet go.  Does this look big enough for all but those with gargantuon mutant feet?

also, in your experiances, is it worth having the ctrl panel stick out instead of go straight down, so you can get your knees under it whilst sitting on a bar stool... i'm just wondering if I should do that... I realise that for long sessions people probably get tired... but I kind of like this shape.

thanks!!


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3069/2964052747_1960fc2bd3.jpg


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3025/2964052587_8839fb2650.jpg

[DaveMMR]

You have a good looking panel there which is why I'm a little bummed out that it still looks like you're angling the sticks based on the outlines on the wood.  Even if you don't, the layout of the buttons implies otherwise and may cause some serious confusion come game time (especially guests).  Knowing which way is up should never be guesswork. 

You've gone far enough I can't in good conscious recommend rebuilding right this moment.   See how you like it and if worse comes to worse, you can always redo it in the future if it really bothers you.  And if it doesn't - all the better.   

Good work otherwise.  Keep it up!

[flowon]

You have a good looking panel there which is why I'm a little bummed out that it still looks like you're angling the sticks based on the outlines on the wood.  Even if you don't, the layout of the buttons implies otherwise and may cause some serious confusion come game time (especially guests).  Knowing which way is up should never be guesswork. 

You've gone far enough I can't in good conscious recommend rebuilding right this moment.   See how you like it and if worse comes to worse, you can always redo it in the future if it really bothers you.  And if it doesn't - all the better.   

Good work otherwise.  Keep it up!

Thanks for saying its a good looking panel

Yes its correct that the original plans included angling the joys... however, based the feedback I received when I started this thread, I changed it so that the joys were aligned based on the bottom of the monitor.. ie... "up = up", not "10 degrees to the right = up".  You can ignore the pencil lines on the unfinished CP shots.  I have quickly realised that this the was best way to go after using my control panel.   Regarding the angled buttons leading to confusion I am happy to report that guests have also not had a problem as they instinctivly seem to know "up=up"... I guess this is an example of the benefits of designing it in 3d software and then running it by the members of this forum first!  Hence me asking about a "shelf" for the control panel

[DaveMMR]

You can ignore the pencil lines on the unfinished CP shots...  Regarding the angled buttons leading to confusion I am happy to report that guests have also not had a problem as they instinctivly seem to know "up=up"

Excellent then!  Keep up the good work! 

[pinballwizard79]

Is that diamond plate?

I like diamond plate.

[flowon]

Is that diamond plate?

I like diamond plate.

yup!  i figured a kick plate would be good for all those frustrating moments lol.  Yes, I can see you like diamond plate after checking your arcade.  very nice indeed, great job. I wish I had the room for such a big cab.  I see your buttons are angled slightly too... did you angle the joysticks too? If not do the angled buttons confuse anyone?