Easiest way to cut all holes in Plexiglass for CP?

[numbnutz48]

What is the easiest way to cut all holes in Plexiglass for CP?

[brock.sampson]

I clamped my plexi to the top of my cp.  Then used a 3/4" forstner to make a pilot hole for each hole and finished it off with my router and a laminate trim bit .

[shponglefan]

Pay someone else to do it.

But what I did was clamp down the base on top of the plexi, then used a hole saw to cut through.  It worked fine and 25 holes w/ no chips or cracks.  Just make sure to go slow and careful.

[smalltownguy]

Every few months, this subject comes up. Here's what I know:

(shamelessly posted from other threads)

If (when!) you do recut the lexan for the CP, here's the approach I'd take, to ensure you don't get movement -- pick holes in each corner, and do them first. Then, if possible, mount the piece to your control panel, and mount buttons to the 4 holes. The buttons will serve as anchors that will keep things aligned much tighter than any clamp could. Then you can cut the rest of your holes.

If you're looking for a solution for drilling in plexi/lexan that can be done with a hand drill, see my post from another thread:

Find someone you know who has a forstner bit. They really do cut through plexi smoothly without melting the edges & causing all sorts of problems. If you can't borrow one, you should be able to get the bit for about $10-15.

Of course a drill press is the recommended option, to ensure straight holes.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE those mini racing wheels, mounted to a spinner. I gotta get me one of those -- perfect solution to my 'I wanna wheel but don't want it all the time' quandary. Plus, I should be able to integrate it by just adding a spinner, which shouldn't take up much real estate. 

[severdhed]

there have been alot of threads on this subject...

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?;topic=89334

i used a router to cut all of the holes in my plexi and it worked great

[bungy]

+1 for the fostner bit, but I used a 1-1/8" and finished in one shot.  I started drilling from the bottom with the plexi clamped to the top and drilled 1 hole on each (lateral) side of CP.  Then I attached a pushbutton in each hole and removed the clamps, it was easier to move it around that way and there was no way the plexi would shift.  I also used a piece of scrap under the plexi as I drilled.

[numbnutz48]

Thanks for the ideas! Now, once the holes are all drilled ant the "LEXAN" is trimmed to fit, What is the best way to secure it to the CP

[Beretta]

well the buttons will hold it in place pretty well..

for the outer edges however you'll wanna use carriage bolts.

[Franco B]

I find the best way to cut the holes is to use double sided tape to stick the plastic (with the film on) to the CP. I then drill 8mm holes though the button etc holes and then use a 1/4" flush trim bit on a router table to cut the excess. You can also cut the plastic over size and use this method to trim the profile of the CP.

Drilling smaller holes will make the plastic less likely to crack. You should have got acrylic (Plexi) rather than polycarbonate (Lexan) as polycarb will scratch easier than acrylic but it will machine just as easily in that thickness.

In regards to securing the plastic to the CP, your buttons/nuts should be enough clamp the two together.

I wouldn't use carriage bolts personally as I think they look fugly but its down to you. Your plastic should lay nice and flat.

[severdhed]

i've never used any bolts in my plexi, the buttons are more than enough to hold it in place.  i guess if the plexi sits above the t-molding, then you may want to bolt it, but i installed it so the top edge of the tmolding sits flush with the top edge of the plexi, so it is quite secure

[Beretta]

if your panels is large and your buttons dont go very close to the edge you'll need something to secure the edes..

although i suppose like severdhed said if you have tmolding even with the plexi it may not be necessary.


carriage bolts dont bother me on a CP.. thats how the original machines secured the panel.

[numbnutz48]

Sweet! Thanks for the help everyone. Anyone know any cool pinball roms for MAME?

[severdhed]

if you want to play pinball, you may want to look into a dedicated pinball emulator, such as visual pinball, or future pinball

[numbnutz48]

How's that work with a frontend? Is pinball really worth the hassle?

[severdhed]

most front ends allow for lots of other emulators other than mame...i use MALA and it works great.

as for the pinball, i found that once the novelty of it wore off, i never touched it again.  i went to the trouble of adding pinball flipper buttons and even a plunger. they got used maybe 10 times over the course of about 2 weeks, and then were never touched again.  playing pinball on a monitor like that just isnt very rewarding...it is just too different from the real experience.

[Avenger257]

The easiest is not always the most effective... the easiest would be a forstner bit... the best would definitely be a router... I tried: drill bit, hole, bit, forstner, spade bit, and finally a router... the router was wonderful (and I hadn't used one before this)... I used it to trim the overlay and the plexi at the same time

[numbnutz48]

Yeah, i used my router for the trimming and holes. turned out really good. I'll get some paint on it and an overlay of some sort and she'll be chicken dinner, then off to the wiring which should be fun!?