Use additional bolts to hold down plexi?

[markronz]

Hello everyone-
     I will soon be creating my second control panel and I just have a quick question about the plexi glass.   On the first control panel, I didn't have any, so this is new to me.   On this one, I am thinking about putting some plexiglass on top of it, and I am just wondering if I need to install any extra bolts to hold it down.   I will be bottom mounting my joysticks, so there will be no bolts there.   I will have a trackball mounting plate though.   My question is, do you think that merely having the buttons and the trackball on top of the glass is sufficient to hold the plexiglass in place?  Or do you think I'd need extra bolts.   I just don't want the people using the arcade machine to be able to pick up the plexi at all.   

Let me know what you think!

Thanks
-Mark

[ahofle]

Buttons usually do a pretty good job of holding it down, although I have a couple recessed screws at the top of mine as well.  Also, I would recommend not having your trackball plate showing.  Looks much better recessed and under the CP artwork/lexan.

[Malenko]

MKII, MK3, KI1,KI2, etc all have bolts into the plexi from the factory

[Kman-Sweden]

I'd say that you don't need any bolts. Buttons do the job.

[garnerb350]

This is one subject that been pondering in my head...I know that buttons would hold the pexi down...but wouldnt you need something to hold the edges down?...say for example somebody just goes to it and pulls up on the edge...CRACK!

Next cab that i want to do, I want to have pexi overlay, and that thought has always bothered me...

[dekar24k]

It really depends on your CP layout imho. If you have all the controls in the center of the control panel you might want some bolts in the corners and on the upper/lower edges to hold the plexi down. If not it will be possible to lift/bend the plexi from the outer edges. I have buttons and stuff all over my cp, so no need for bolts really.

[Gamester]

This is one subject that been pondering in my head...I know that buttons would hold the pexi down...but wouldnt you need something to hold the edges down?...say for example somebody just goes to it and pulls up on the edge...CRACK!

If you offset the t-molding slot upward by the thickness of the plexi, the t-molding will be flush with the top of the plexi, covering the edge.  That's how I did mine, and it works great.  Nobody is going to be lifting the edge of my plexi without a screwdriver.  To compensate for the offset, you simply bevel the bottom edge of the CP.  Works great.

Anyway, I agree that in most cases, the buttons do a fine job of keeping the plexi in place.  Combine that with the technique above, and it's not going anywhere.

I also agree with the other poster(s) that it looks way better to flush mount the trackball plate and cover it with the overlay/plexi.

[dekar24k]

This is one subject that been pondering in my head...I know that buttons would hold the pexi down...but wouldnt you need something to hold the edges down?...say for example somebody just goes to it and pulls up on the edge...CRACK!

If you offset the t-molding slot upward by the thickness of the plexi, the t-molding will be flush with the top of the plexi, covering the edge.  That's how I did mine, and it works great.  Nobody is going to be lifting the edge of my plexi without a screwdriver.  To compensate for the offset, you simply bevel the bottom edge of the CP.  Works great.

Anyway, I agree that in most cases, the buttons do a fine job of keeping the plexi in place.  Combine that with the technique above, and it's not going anywhere.

I also agree with the other poster(s) that it looks way better to flush mount the trackball plate and cover it with the overlay/plexi.

Hey I did the same thing unintentionally. I didn't trim the CP t-molding and now it's perfectly flush with the plexi overlay.

[SirPeale]

In the wild, only having the buttons holding the plexi down would be a recipe for a service call.  First time some kid realizes that it wiggles....SNAP!

[Kman-Sweden]

I routed my plexi on top of the CP with a flushtrim bit and routed the t-mold slot so the t-mold would cover the edge of the plexi. There's absolutly no wiggle.