The NEW Build Your Own Arcade Controls
Main => Project Announcements => Topic started by: xonix_digital on November 13, 2005, 11:54:49 am
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Hey guys,
I started this project like a million years ago but only gathered materials for the CP before I had to give it up due to financial hardships.
BUT! Things are finally starting to look up and I have some free time! So, today I am going to make my first cuts on my CP. Its 3/4" MDF and I have a portable 18v Circular saw (Craftsman).
I have never used it before, and was wondering if there was anything I should be careful of.
Is the MDF going to chip at all? How do I assure a straight cut? Is there a "Circular sawing MDF Tutorial" somewhere?
All the info I could find was on Jigging, or routering. :)
Thanks guys!
-=XD=-
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My first piece of advice would be to check out Drew's thread in Project Announcements on how to build a saw board. Very good jig you'll have for years to come!
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=43568.0
This will come in handy because I assume you will not be using a table saw. A Table saw will give you clean straight cuts. Pretty hard to do this freehand with the hand portable skill saw. You will get good results with a saw board...
Second piece of advice is to put a piece of masking tape over the line you will cut. This will prevent chipout.
And finally, measure twice cut once and wear protective glasses.
Keep us posted on 'Radicade' !!!
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I don't make mistakes! :police:
::)
Masking Tape: CHECK!
I drilled all of my holes today. I got kind of antsy and couldn't help myself.
Here is what it looks like so far:
(http://home.comcast.net/~a_straffin/PB130058.jpg)
(http://home.comcast.net/~a_straffin/PB130060.jpg)
(http://home.comcast.net/~a_straffin/PB130061.jpg)
:)
-=XD=-
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Looking good.
I tried that button configuration but did not like it. Didn't feel right to me. I'll be redoing my CP to keep them in-line...
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LOL thats funny. because I have read about someone (probably you) not liking it but I was like BAH!! And now Im not so sure I like it either! lol
I'll obviously keep it for a while and see if I can learn to love it, but I think my main problem is the distance between the buttons. I have big hands, but I have spent my life playing on standard arcade machines. So it's wierd messing with a custom CP. None of my friends or anyone I know have ever done anything like this, so I have ZERO experience with this sort of thing.
Super excited about sawing my CP tomorrow. Ill post a pic. :laugh:
-=XD=-
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Looks like you put the buttons on upside down. I hope you aren't planning on using your left hand on the left side buttons, and your right hand on the left joystick.
That would be worth a video in action...
;D
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the buttons look too far apart to me..
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the buttons look too far apart to me..
Yea..mine is only about 1/4" - 1/3" apart from the outer ring of the button.
Maybe the guy has big hands.
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My first piece of advice would be to check out Drew's thread in Project Announcements on how to build a saw board. Very good jig you'l lhave for years to come!
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=43568.0
This will come in handy because I assume you will not be using a table saw. Table sawe would give you clean straight cuts. Pretty hard to do this freehand with the hand portable skill saw. You will get good results with a saw board...
Dammit, why do I always happen across extremely useful info like this after I needed it haha.
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I have never used it before, and was wondering if there was anything I should be careful of.
Always remember when using a skill saw to stand to the side of the saw when making a cut.
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I have never used it before, and was wondering if there was anything I should be careful of.
Always remember when using a skill saw to stand to the side of the saw when making a cut. If you stand directly behind it, there is a possibility it could jump back on you and turn up (it has happened). Draw a mental image of this activity and you will realize that one of the worse possible places is the one it is likely to hit. :o
AAHHHHH!!! Good thing I haven't cut yet, I don't think I would have thought of that. Again work has gotten in the way of my hobby but I will have it cut and a pic up soon. ::)
-=XD=-
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Man, if you change your button layout to make them closer don't do what I did so there's no clearance between them! You can't get all the plastic nuts on the back :-[
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See now Im concerned...
I don't wanna go with the setup I have if I am going to hate it. especially after I get my artwork printed. That would seriously suck.
I guess I need to do some thinking. Thanks for the tip, If I do redo the button configuration, I am going to need a new handypanel aren't I?
I am going to ask if anyone knows of a better solution. Though it seems unlikely. ???
If I can't think of anything cheap and easy I might just learn to love it. :)
-=XD=-
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Hey! My hot and sexy girlfriend modelling my CP! ;D
I finally got it cut. The long cut isn't very straight yet but I was careful to go "more" and not "less".
(http://home.comcast.net/~a_straffin/PB160068.jpg)
(http://home.comcast.net/~a_straffin/PB160071.jpg)
(http://home.comcast.net/~a_straffin/PB160073.jpg)
;D
I want to do some sort of curve along the bottom but I don't know how to start. I want it to be semetrical and clean.
Not so worried about the cutting but how to get it measured out without calling up my local Geometry whiz.
Thanks,
-=XD=-
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c-c-c-ccc-ccan't ress-ssisst ur-urge to make inaporpriate comments......
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c-c-c-ccc-ccan't
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So why did you install a flotation device on your CP?
(http://home.comcast.net/~a_straffin/PB160071.jpg)
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Outside of the flotation device, I see a couple concerns. If this is the end all for you, I would consider the following: 1)the buttons are far apart 2)why are the joys so far from the buttons? and 3)If you plan on making this the control panel you will have for a long time, why not leave space for a trackball if the funds ever become available? If you cleaned up the spacing a little, moved each player to the left and the right, you could leave space for a spinner, trackball, flight yoke, or any add on for later use. Shoot, you could make the middle a pedestal of sorts for usb plug ins like steering wheels and flight yokes. Just an idea for future planning.
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mind if I ask the dimensions are? (of the control panel) ? ;D
are you planning on making a cabinet for this as well?
are you going to be making a plexiglass/lexan cover for it?
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If you cleaned up the spacing a little, moved each player to the left and the right, you could leave space for a spinner, trackball, flight yoke, or any add on for later use. Shoot, you could make the middle a pedestal of sorts for usb plug ins like steering wheels and flight yokes. Just an idea for future planning.
In my other posts about Radicade I mentioned that it was primarily going to be a fighter cab. But later I do plan on adding guns on either side. It will also be Modded XBOX based and switchable between that and MAME pc. Also, My personal dimensions are rather... wide. I am built like the side of a house. so I need the controls wide. And I have Huge hands so I have officially become used to the distance between the buttons. :)
mind if I ask the dimensions are? (of the control panel) ? ;D
are you planning on making a cabinet for this as well?
are you going to be making a plexiglass/lexan cover for it?
I am definately making a cabinet for this, check out my website for pics and stuff that aren't posted here. And I do plan on having a 1/8" lexan cover, but not until I get my graphics and stuff printed.
I also just got a dope job so Ill be able to fuel my obsession a bit better in the near future.
ps. 36"x17"
pps. I wanted to do an all in one CP on a mame cab when I have more room. Boston isn't really all that Cab-Friendly! :)
-=XD=-