Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: chrisindfw on November 06, 2003, 04:31:22 pm
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Does anyone have Ultimarc stencils for Visio?
Time to do some control panel planning.
Also,
What is the best way to go if I dont want a bunch of screws on top of my panel? Any tips to place everything without them?
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Well ... mine has no screws at all (visible I mean) it's not finished but will be completly screw free ...
(http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid87/p839c703a37079a02c537770ce28e2480/faa0a189.jpg)
Hope it helps ...
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Also,
What is the best way to go if I dont want a bunch of screws on top of my panel? Any tips to place everything without them?
Probably the quickest way to do this is just to use wood screws and attach your controls to the bottom of the panel. What I plan to do, however (got a few prototypes of this already, actually) is cut holes to fit the joystick bases and mount them from the top using flat-head screws. Then I will put a metal overlay over it all, held in place by the buttons. Also you don't have to use metal, you can always try using plexiglass/lexan. That was my first attempt but I'm not satisfied with that look.
John
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You can use the e-sticks (looks like to me) like pedro did and those don't require any screws.
You can use screws from the bottom if you use plywood in your control panel but these might pull out if subjected to a real arcade level of abuse.
A third option is to use bolts and countersink them. Then fill and sand before you paint or use some kind of overlay/artwork to hide them.
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A third option is to use bolts and countersink them. Then fill and sand before you paint or use some kind of overlay/artwork to hide them.
I'd recommend against this personally, because you'll never be able to swap the joystick out if you need to later. I'd suggest using tee-nuts (http://www.rockler.com/ecom7/product_details.cfm?sku=1592) instead.
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A third option is to use bolts and countersink them. Then fill and sand before you paint or use some kind of overlay/artwork to hide them.
I'd recommend against this personally, because you'll never be able to swap the joystick out if you need to later. I'd suggest using tee-nuts (http://www.rockler.com/ecom7/product_details.cfm?sku=1592) instead.
I'm assuming most sticks have the same footprint and hole locations.
If this is true then you wouldnt need to worry about not being able to put a new stick on or take it off because all you need to do is take off the nuts and put on the new stick.
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I'm assuming most sticks have the same footprint and hole locations.
If this is true then you wouldnt need to worry about not being able to put a new stick on or take it off because all you need to do is take off the nuts and put on the new stick.
I was more talking about using wood filler to fill in where the bolts were countersunk.
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A third option is to use bolts and countersink them. Then fill and sand before you paint or use some kind of overlay/artwork to hide them.
I'd recommend against this personally, because you'll never be able to swap the joystick out if you need to later. I'd suggest using tee-nuts (http://www.rockler.com/ecom7/product_details.cfm?sku=1592) instead.
I'm assuming most sticks have the same footprint and hole locations.
If this is true then you wouldnt need to worry about not being able to put a new stick on or take it off because all you need to do is take off the nuts and put on the new stick.
Except that it's hard to keep the screw from turning if the head is buried under putty & an overlay. Sasquatch! nailed it, t-nuts are the correct way to do this for a clean layout.
recesses for t-nuts & dust covers: http://www.oscarcontrols.com/sinistar/cp03.jpg
plexi overlay: http://www.oscarcontrols.com/sinistar/cp07.jpg
artwork over plexi: http://www.oscarcontrols.com/sinistar/cp14.jpg
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Except that it's hard to keep the screw from turning if the head is buried under putty & an overlay. Sasquatch! nailed it, t-nuts are the correct way to do this for a clean layout.
This is great stuff, I didn't mean to imply there was only 3 ways, I was just suggesting 3 common ways. Most people don't know what a t-nut is.
Use carriage bolts, they shouldn't turn. If they do your kind of stuck but they shouldn't as long as you don't go crazy tightening them.
I agree t-nuts would be better but you still need to fill and sand unless your using some kind of hard overlay. There are threaded inserts that can go in from the bottom, then you don't drill the hole all the way through and you could remove and relocate them if you replaced the joystick with a different bolt pattern. Its just another option but for maximum strength you should go all the way through the panel and use t-nuts or carriage bolts.
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You could use a hacksaw to cut a slot in the end of the bolt. That way, if the bolt did turn when you tried to loosen the nut you can hold it with a slotted screwdriver until it's loose enough to remove by hand.