Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: twist on June 24, 2002, 04:43:47 pm

Title: Control Panel?
Post by: twist on June 24, 2002, 04:43:47 pm

I am building a cocktail cabinet MAME machine. I want to buy a pre-built control panel.

It needs to be:
Width: 5 inches or less
Height: 10 inches or less
Length: 20 inches or less

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(side view)
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Title: Re: Control Panel?
Post by: Lilwolf on June 24, 2002, 05:39:48 pm

why spend time building a cocktail table and not just do it all?  The control panel will be a TON easier then the cabinet....

Get an Ipac.

Get a few joysticks and a bunch of buttons.

Hook them up.  (this will take 10 minutes).

You wont be saving yourself anything by buying a premade controller.  Most of what you pay for on a premade is the box it's in and the encoder.  Well, the encoder is easy and cheap (ipac again) and you will have to remove it from the box anyway to make it look right in your cabinet.

do yourself a favor and just do it.  

Title: Re: Control Panel?
Post by: twist on June 24, 2002, 06:04:40 pm

I don't have a soldering iron, and I've never ever used one before.

Also, how do I hook 'em up? Any good tutorials?

Title: Re: Control Panel?
Post by: gnat3y3 on June 24, 2002, 08:32:01 pm

no soldering needed, just buy a bag of female .187 quick disconnects, and a wire stripper/crimper. check the ultimarc site for  a full guide, its so very simple, trust me ipac rules.

Title: Re: Control Panel?
Post by: Mameham on June 24, 2002, 08:42:32 pm

I agree, Ultimarc rules...

JPac.

IPac.

Optipac ( my personal fav... )

Too bad he wasn't around when I started all of this... ;)

- Eric

Title: Re: Control Panel?
Post by: twist on June 25, 2002, 06:11:09 am

Where do I get "a bag of female .187 quick disconnects"?

What kind of stripper/crimper?

Title: Re: Control Panel?
Post by: JustMichael on June 25, 2002, 08:16:18 am

Have you tried the connectors page of Bob Roberts' (http://therealbobroberts.com/) site?

Title: Re: Control Panel?
Post by: twist on June 25, 2002, 08:43:03 am

Eh..I'll go to radioshack and get the stuff  :P

And I'm going to do the keyboard hack myself, I'm not going to bother spending $39+tax on an I-PAC, when I can just do it my self. It's more fun that way.

Title: Re: Control Panel?
Post by: Lilwolf on June 25, 2002, 09:19:14 am

I got my crimps at the local hardware shop.  They are used in many areas..  Automotive and electronics.

Go in to a good hardware store and ask for them by name.  They will point them out for you.

btw, 100 for about 5 bucks.  Very easy.

oh yeah.  Buy a crimper.  I didn't and only used pliers.  I have to redo a few more often then I like