Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: Mugzilla on September 30, 2003, 06:57:16 am
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First off, I did a search and read the FAQs. I realize this is a friendly community, but I am attempting to lower the # of repetitive questions that I can answer myself...
#1
How THICK of lexan did you use? I have a 1/4" thick one, but even if I recess my trackball mounting plate, it will still be DEEP in the lexan, so to speak. How thick is too thick? Too flimsy?
#2
I did a search in the FAQ on "Cut lexan", "cutting lexan", etc. All I saw was people saying it cuts easier and doesn't crack like plexi.
How DID you cut your piece of 0.000" thick lexan? Bandsaw? Score it with a knife? Jigsaw?
Thank you one and all.
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You can always install the trackball plate over the lexan if it bothers you. I personally don't use plexi or lexan on my control panels (and I remove it if it is on a machine I buy), so I don't have any other suggestions.
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I used 1/8" lexan and installed the trackball mounting plate over top of it. I wanted maximum use out of the tball.
To cut it I used a little scoring knife which was in the same dept as the lexan at home depot. Just score it a few time, and it snaps in half easily.
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Lexan also trims up nicely with a router. After that I use a razor blade to bezel the edges so they aren't so sharp. 1/8 inch sounds about right.
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if its on top of a wood panel...
the lexan doesn't need to be thick....
(cos its only for scratch protection... not for support...)
I have used 1/8 in before... and HD also have some that is even thinner.... both are great....
if you're using 3/4 in wood, you might not want to use 1/4 in lexan cos the joystick might be too short for playing.....
(well.... personal opinion...) or you can route some depth out from the bottom....
I have used jigsaw to cut lexan.... its fine.....
if in doubt, just cut some scrap piece to test (and use fine teeth blade...) and you'll be fine....
oh.... I use those spade bit with a hand drill to cut the hole button....
I didn't try it before, but was told router will give good results....
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I've used both 1/8 and 1/4 and have to say my personal preference for the control panel is 1/4, this is for two reasons.
1. Much easier to cut. I had a heck of a time with the 1/8 cracking and breaking when I was cutting the button holes (6 in a SF2 configuration). There just wasn't much room between the buttons and this really weakened it and would finally give out and shatter when I was cutting (usually the last hole but that's just murpheys law). I had to cut 3 panels before I got one that was usable.
2. It just feels better on my control panel. It feels stronger, and I don't get any problems on the corners. When I had 1/8 on my panel the corners came up ever so slightly and I was worried about it catching on someones sleeve or something and breaking. I almost put corner protectors on, instead just went to the 1/4 and never looked back.
Again, its all personal preference but for me it was 1/8 for the over the monitor and marquee and 1/4 for the control panel.
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Here is my panel; I used 1/2" birch ply with 1/4" lexan on top. I used a roundover bit in my router to round over the trackball hole. He should be using the wico 4-way leaf to play DK.
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I'd use 1/8" but if you already have 1/4" handy... use that.
Regarding the recess "sunken-ness" of the t-ball... you can use a "high lip" trackball to compensate...
(linkage coming shortly)
rampy
great u_rebel post (http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=7749;start=msg56093#msg56093)
another good u_rebelscum post with links to even more threads! (http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=2;action=display;threadid=10431;start=msg80109#msg80109) Enjoy...
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I have used 1/8 and whatever that thinnest type in HD....
and drilled I donno how many holes altogether....
top, bottom... near the edge.... SF layout...
never have cracking pblm.... arer you talking about plexi ??....
I only use lexan.....
I'm stupid enough to scratch one.... (I've worked with 3 already...) but that is my mistake.... but it NEVER cracked ?!?!...
but yes, for the corner... I have a screw and nut near the edge to make sure the edge doesn't come up.....
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1/4" is on it's way back to MSC.
1/8" ships out today.
Thank you one and all.