Any Suggestion on this CP layout

[Punisher]

I'm getting ready to drill the holes in my CP and I thought I would make sure this looks OK before I proceed.  Any comments would be appreciated since this is my first CP.

Just to get an Idea of the size and spacing
The CP is 36" wide and 14.5" Deep
Buttons are spaced 1-1/2" center to center
Joystick is 2-3/4" away from buttons
Top four buttons in the middle are Admin buttons
Top 2 on each side are Coin and Start buttons
The 2 above the trackball are essentially mouse buttons

The picture isn't great.  It is an AutoCad file that I changed into a JPG but you'll see the general layout

[EvilTwin]

Looks good, though I personally prefer my buttons in a more natural layout. If you check out this site:

http://www.slagcoin.com/joystick/layout.html

They have all sorts of layouts. Just some options.

[Punisher]

Ya I have been to that web sight many times it is pretty helpful.  I am thinking of adding a 7th button but I'm not to sure how much I would actually use it.

[Endaar]

The motivation behind the 7th button is that it allows you to use the bottom four buttons as a Neo-Geo setup. It's certainly not necessary, but all the N-G stuff is four-button, and four in a row works nicely for this.

Endaar

[Ginsu Victim]

I'm leaving the 7th button off my next CP. Mostly due to space issues.

[smalltownguy]

My panel was pretty small, so I really needed to keep to 6 buttons. I can play Metal Slug just fine. I never really played it in the day, so learning the buttons on my setup was pretty much starting fresh anyway.

You've got lots of real estate to work with, so it's totally up to you.

[Punisher]

Well I think I will probably leave off the 7Th button.  I can always add it later.  What does everybody think about the two mouse buttons on my layout?  Should I leave them or remove them?

[smalltownguy]

If you have a wireless mouse available, then there's no need for the mouse buttons on the CP, IMHO. Thinking back, I would have left mine off.

[bungy]

Looks clean and simple.  Maybe try putting the mouse buttons closer to the center.  That's what I did on mine: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=98046.0;attach=136268;image

[Punisher]

Looks clean and simple.  Maybe try putting the mouse buttons closer to the center.  That's what I did on mine: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=98046.0;attach=136268;image

Do you ever hit the buttons in the middle when you are using the trackball?  Also do you have a picture of those buttons and what you have marked on them?  Are they Stickers? I'm thinking of doing something similar. 

[HanoiBoi]

Well I think I will probably leave off the 7Th button.  I can always add it later. 

That 7th button could also be handy if you are a Defender/Stargate fan (Reverse)

[bungy]

Never hit the buttons at all, and the ball is mounted at a pretty standard height.  I got the vinyl stickers from Pongo: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=64645.0
The stickers are awesome, but it looks like Pongo's not taking orders until next year.  His thread has examples of all the different buttons in different colors.  I highly recommend them.
The right mouse button is a "fast forward" icon.

[BamBam]

If you have a wireless mouse available, then there's no need for the mouse buttons on the CP, IMHO. Thinking back, I would have left mine off.

I installed mouse buttons on both sides of my trackball and wish I didn't.  Good call.