Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: ArcadEd on May 03, 2006, 03:17:23 pm
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Since I have a few customers requesting Ultimarc Mag Sticks for their arcade boxes, I'm planning on making some replacement mounting plates that fit the standard HAPP joystick hole layout.
I make them with 1/16" alumunim on my CNC router. I was just kind of curious if this is something I should offer up on my site, or if they are available elsewhere right now.
Thanks for the feedback.
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I think it would be a great idea. I made some to use with WICO plate pattern, but some made properly would be nice.
http://retroblast.com/articles/joystick_plates-04222006-01.html
As an aside, I will be the first to get some if you move forward. I have a Dynamo cabinet that came with Happs, but I would like to use Ultimarc sticks.
Also, you might ping Andy at Ultimarc and see if you can offer them on his site as well. I am sure he would be very interested.
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Great to hear. I'll try to get a sheet of them done up this weekend.
And good idea on contacting Andy, I'll do that.
What do you think would be a good price for them? Should I sell them in pairs, or individual?
And James, it was actually that article that made me think of this ;).
Oh, and my other "thing" is moving forward, expect and update on the yahoo group in the next few days.
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What do you think would be a good price for them? Should I sell them in pairs, or individual?
Not sure on price, I made mine for about $1.00 each, but they were a pain. I would certainly pay more than $1 not to have to make them again.
Maybe individual with a break for two or more? I personally needed two before, and I need two now, but obviously some folks would only need the one.
And James, it was actually that article that made me think of this Wink.
Happy to help with my Replacement Mounting Plates for Ultimarc Joysticks (TM)(Pat Pend)(C) idea. :)
Oh, and my other "thing" is moving forward, expect and update on the yahoo group in the next few days.
kyo, I'll keep an eye out
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Great idea! A guy at work made one for me and it works great. It would be nice to have someone that made these readily available to the community.
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It's a cool idea. I'd definitely buy a few if they're not too expensive.
But it would be even better if you could make some generic mounting plates for top mounting any type of joystick to wood.
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It's a cool idea. I'd definitely buy a few if they're not too expensive.
But it would be even better if you could make some generic mounting plates for top mounting any type of joystick to wood.
Grasshopper, I'm not sure I follow. Can you be a bit more specific?
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Grasshopper, I'm not sure I follow. Can you be a bit more specific?
Well a picture speaks a thousand words and I've managed to find one on Bob Robert's site.
http://homearcade.org/BBBB/joyplate2.jpg
Basically it's similar to a trackball mounting plate but designed for joysticks.
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Oh ok, I understand now. That's interesting. I'll do some research on that one as well if there is a demand for it.
Thanks for pointing it out.
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What would be even better than that would be to make some like the trackball mounts that don't show any bolts or anything on top. Now that would be sweet.
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Yeah, I probably can't do that. I don't have a plasma cutter, so I need to make these out of aluminum which I can cut with my CNC router.
My point is that I can't weld to aluminum to make the bolts from underneath. I guess I could make a through hole, thread it and screw in an allthread flush with the top. But with only 1/16 aluminum I don't think there would be enough threads to do much good. I'll put some thought into it though.
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Trackball mounting plate bolts are not welded on to the bottom, they are through. Mess with a trackball plate enough and the bolts will start to come loose and show on the top. They seem to be unthreaded, only held in by the coating.
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Well I whipped up one over the weekend just to see how easy it was. It was a bit more work than I thought, getting the aluminum all cleaned up afterwards, but still not bad.
Here are a few pictures.
Just the plate
(http://www.aiabgames.com/temp/plate2.jpg)
Installed on a MagStick Plus
(http://www.aiabgames.com/temp/plate1.jpg)
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Looks great, except those bolts. The bolts sticking out like that will make it difficult to mount under a CP. Surely there's a way to countersink them.
Also, are you using the original bolts that came with the joy? If not, it seems like you could save a little per-unit cost and not include them. The bolts that come with them can be countersunk fairly easily too.
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Yeah, those are the screws that came with joys. I did counter sink the holes, I just didn't countersink them big enough, so that will be fixed ;).
You can barely see the counter sink the plate picture.
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Very good then. I'm looking forward to this product.
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The holes in the original plates aren't countersunk, they are pressed. You can get by countersinking them though, the only thing you have to watch out for is when you tighten the screws, you don't want to tighten them too tight or you will possibly bend your mounting plate. The other option is to use a small spacer between the plate and the screw holes.
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The only thing that bothers me a bit is whether aluminium is strong enough. Most mounting plates are made of mild steel. I guess it depends on the thickness.
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That's a good point, and until I test it, I just don't know.
Since there are other parts I need cut, I put out to bid getting some stuff plasma cut, and if this comes through I will use steel.
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Well I am waiting on a quote to have them plasma cut on 16gauge steel. I'll let you all know how it turns out.
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I guess the CNC will not cut steel?? I sent mine to a friend that has a machine shop. I will ask him what he used....
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No, mine just has a router installed installed.
I could install a plasma cutter if I wanted to I guess. But I found some reasonable pricing, so I'll put up some pictures when I get them.