calling in the pros...control panel

[emerica]

Hello all,

I am in the process of designing a small cabinet for my kids ala minimame style. It will most likely only play nes games with a couple of mame games in there. Just simple games as they are only 4 and under. I would like to have 2 players with at least 2 buttons, maybe 3, each and a small trackball (every kid love world class bowling). The cabinet will only be about 19" wide so my real estate is pretty small.

I tried searching for examples but didn't find any with a trackball. Perhaps the width is too small.

Also I remember there a small program that helped design a control panel. Can't remember the name of it which is not much help in trying to find it again. Can anyone point me to it?

Thanks

[drventure]

Don't have any pointers for the cp, but most people use Google Sketchup to do layout and design work around here.

It's free, just google it.

[mrbones]

You can use Inkscape, www.inkscape.org. That's a free drawing program. You could use a trial version of Adobe Illustrator CS4. That lasts for 30 days. There's a CP program from Mameroom, that might be of some use to you. http://www.mameroom.com/files/mameroomcpd.zip

[severdhed]

i used the mameroom custom control panel designer for laying out mine.  it is pretty limited, but can at least give you an idea of how much space you will need

[emerica]

I think I have used that tool before. I couldn't remember where I found it before. Thanks for the heads up guys.

[Turnarcades]

Our 'Mini' cabinets are 20" wide (so 18.5" control panel) and look like this:



So there's a demonstration of the kind of space you will have. If you're going for 3 buttons then you may as well go for 4 as the space requirement will be roughly the same, plus if running NES you could then use the two extra as turbo-fire buttons for A and B, or map START and SELECT to them as I do; handy for those games that used those buttons for important game functions, such as the 'uppercut' button in Punch-Out (mapped to START).

It is doubtful you will fit any kind of standard trackball on a panel that size, many 3" trackballs have around a 5.5-6" footprint (remember underneath the panel is where you need to consider with switch, wiring and catch space), though you may get away with some kind of mini-trackball like a thumb trackball or similar.

[emerica]

Our 'Mini' cabinets are 20" wide (so 18.5" control panel)

 

Thanks for the pics. This gives me a better idea of how much room I will have to play with.

As for a trackball, does anyone know the footprint of a 2 1/4 inch ball?

[Turnarcades]

Our 'Mini' cabinets are 20" wide (so 18.5" control panel)

Thanks for the pics. This gives me a better idea of how much room I will have to play with.
As for a trackball, does anyone know the footprint of a 2 1/4 inch ball?

Luckily for you I've got a spare 2.5" trackball lying around I've just been able to measure, and can tell you the footprint isn't much smaller, at roughly 5-5.5" (makes sense I suppose as the ball is half an inch smaller but the mech is roughly the same) so I think you will struggle even with this. I was thinking more along the lines of a hacked trackball mouse.

[severdhed]

HAPP makes a 1.5" trackball, but even that is about 2.25" x 3"...which i just dont see how you would fit that in there...not to mention that they are $222.20, plus the $48.20 for the special usb cable that it needs. 

[Turnarcades]

HAPP makes a 1.5" trackball, but even that is about 2.25" x 3"...which i just dont see how you would fit that in there...not to mention that they are $222.20, plus the $48.20 for the special usb cable that it needs. 

$280 for a piddly trackball? Sheesh. It would fit if only going with 4 buttons each, but the practicality of it is a bit questionable with how cramped it may be.

[severdhed]

yeah, i think with a panel that small, you should forget about the trackball....

since it is for young children, swapable panels really isnt a good option....you could always build a second cabinet, with a vertical monitor, a single 4way stick, trackball, and 2 or 3 buttons. 


i remember seeing someone here built a cabinet with a trackball on a flip down front panel...i'll see if i can find it

[emerica]

I guess I could always build a panel that has some overhang like the lusid cabinet. I have to measure my own panel and see how I can squish things. That should give me another 4-6 inches on the panel.

[severdhed]

my panel is 30" wide, with 2 sticks, 6 buttons each and a 3" trackball...that being said, i dont think i would want it any more narrow, or it would be too crowded

[emerica]

Just measured and it looks like in order to put the trackball in, I would need at least 22-24 inches. That is going to be a little too big for the project. They will just have to suffer and miss out on a couple of games. Oh well, I think I will go with 3 buttons per player and a two happ supers or competitions.

[smalltownguy]

My cab is 22" accross, and I was able to get a Happs 3" trackball in.

Here's my original overlay:



I've modified the design slightly since then, and have filled in the holes that overlap with my joystick cluster graphics, leaving the upper buttons to act as mouse buttons. (I would preferred to not have the upper buttons at all, but they were part of the original layout on the Rolling Thunder overlay, and I'm re-using the metal control panel.) My cabinet has an angled monitor bezel (where there's a speaker grille, actually) and I have just enough clearance to get a good 'spin' on the Golden Tee style games.

[emerica]

That design looks good it is just a bit too wide for the cabinet. The cab is only going to be 19" wide.

[bkenobi]

Have you considered using slightly smaller buttons?  If this is for a kid anyway, you don't NEED the full sized buttons.  Perhaps if you shrink the buttons by 1/4" each, you might be able to squeeze everything in?  Just a thought...

[severdhed]

here is the cabinet i was thinking of with the folding trackball panel...pretty awesome design.

it was on page 2 of the control panel thread..this cabinet was made by MoonDog





something like that may work well for your narrow cabinet.

i'm not sure how the flip up panel is supported, but that shouldn't be too difficult

[Turnarcades]

I imagine it's done using standard 'bonnet raiser' type struts on either side, or sliding guides like those used on some flip-down doors.

[emerica]

in my opinion, that is a great idea. \

I am going out today to pick up some MDF to get this project on the way. I'll try to mock something up and post some pictures for you guys to critique.