The NEW Build Your Own Arcade Controls

Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: ARTIFACT on July 14, 2007, 11:37:55 pm

Title: ** SURVEY ** --- What is the height of your CP? (upright cabinets)
Post by: ARTIFACT on July 14, 2007, 11:37:55 pm
I am curious to see if there is a "standard".

Since most CPs are sloped, let's measure FROM THE FLOOR TO THE BASE OF THE JOYSTICKS

This should be interesting :cheers:

(in inches if you can)

----------------------
(I'll start)

Mine: 35" + ~1" for the upcoming cabinet casters/feet

Title: Re: ** SURVEY ** --- What is the height of your CP? (upright cabinets)
Post by: NightGod on July 15, 2007, 02:39:33 am
39", used to be an inch or two less, but I found that the slope was too sharp and it got painful to play on for extended periods. Since I shallowed it out some, it's a lot more comfortable.
Title: Re: ** SURVEY ** --- What is the height of your CP? (upright cabinets)
Post by: btp2k2 on July 15, 2007, 02:42:32 am
depending on the design, I go between 37 to 40
Title: Re: ** SURVEY ** --- What is the height of your CP? (upright cabinets)
Post by: Fozzy The Bear on July 15, 2007, 03:08:00 am
37"........ 

Nothing else to say really.....

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)
Title: Re: ** SURVEY ** --- What is the height of your CP? (upright cabinets)
Post by: sealslayer on July 15, 2007, 10:50:59 am
40"
Title: Re: ** SURVEY ** --- What is the height of your CP? (upright cabinets)
Post by: ARTIFACT on July 15, 2007, 11:42:15 am
Very interesting!

Oups... I HOPE ~36 is going to be high enough... It's already built (!!!) but I haven't ordered the control parts yet so I can't tell for sure...

At the moment I am putting a n X-Arcade 2 players box on top to "test" things with my son  ... this adds a few inches on top (~4") and to me it feels a "little" high.

I guess I can build a small frame/platform the size of the cab, out of 2x4 (3 1/2" high) ... IF it's not high enough

THANKS!
Title: Re: ** SURVEY ** --- What is the height of your CP? (upright cabinets)
Post by: Turnarcades on July 15, 2007, 12:28:55 pm
I custom build arcade machines, and to ensure comfort, I usually make them around 37-39".

Many people get confused about this, but I came up with the perfect formula that the base of the joystick should be about the same height as your elbow, so that your forearms are at 90 degree angles with your body when you play.

This may help any of you tall people out there who want to build a cabinet better for your frame, or for anyone planning a kid's cabinet. I usually give the surface a slope of 1 1/2" down from the back to the front.
Title: Re: ** SURVEY ** --- What is the height of your CP? (upright cabinets)
Post by: ARTIFACT on July 15, 2007, 01:56:47 pm
EXCELLENT information samshaw946... Thank you!
Title: Re: ** SURVEY ** --- What is the height of your CP? (upright cabinets)
Post by: Crowquill on July 15, 2007, 04:19:38 pm
MAME cab (Frogger cab w/ casters) 38"
Neo Geo dedicated - 37"
Primal Rage dedicated - 35"

Primal Rage is a bit low, but it's not uncomfortable to play. My MAME is slightly too high the way it is now. I'm going to remove the casters soon which should bring it down to about 36.5".  The Neo-Geo is just right.

When I first started working on designing a cabinet from scratch I compared a lot of the drawings from jakobud.com. There definitely wasn't a standard for arcade manufacturers. From memory they were all between 33"-40". I think DK was the lowest.
Title: Re: ** SURVEY ** --- What is the height of your CP? (upright cabinets)
Post by: ARTIFACT on July 15, 2007, 06:29:21 pm
Good... I think I will add a 3/4" plywood layer under my custom "ARTIFACT" cabinet then...
This + ~1" for the casters/rubber feet and I should be right around ~36 1/2"

I'll do trial and errors as soon as I get my controller components.

thanks again guys!
Title: Re: ** SURVEY ** --- What is the height of your CP? (upright cabinets)
Post by: Xam on July 16, 2007, 12:27:10 am
Bout 39 1/2" here...bit low for me standing (I'm 6' 6"), but its perfect for my kids and most people. I usually play sitting, so it works fine for me.

Xam
Title: Re: ** SURVEY ** --- What is the height of your CP? (upright cabinets)
Post by: bfauska on July 16, 2007, 02:40:39 am
38" to the base of my joys on a Dynamo HS-5 with custom CP in stock location at stock angle.

I don't know if it is the height or angle, probably the angle, but my right hand (on the buttons) ends up with wrist pain after about 10 minutes of play, I like the simplicity of the system the Dynamo uses for the CP and don't really want to redesign it but I have a hard time playing very long on it.
Title: Re: ** SURVEY ** --- What is the height of your CP? (upright cabinets)
Post by: NightGod on July 16, 2007, 03:24:36 am
Most likely the angle-changing mine by a bit made all the difference in the world-it's like a whole new control panel.
Title: Re: ** SURVEY ** --- What is the height of your CP? (upright cabinets)
Post by: severdhed on July 16, 2007, 09:41:49 am
my control panel is level, not sloped and is at 41" from the floor.  and it feels great.   It is still about 3" lower than my elbows, but I have played it for hours a few times with no discomfort at all.  it even works great from my bar stools.  I have thought about sloping it slightly to give it a more authentic look, but it is so comfortable now, i'm not sure that is the best thing to do.  From the looks of things, my panel is higher than most peoples, but I have found that most real arcade games that I play are too low and sloped too much to be comfortable to play for more than a few minutes.

Title: Re: ** SURVEY ** --- What is the height of your CP? (upright cabinets)
Post by: northerngames on July 16, 2007, 10:43:26 am
38-1/4" floor to joystick dust cover.
Title: Re: ** SURVEY ** --- What is the height of your CP? (upright cabinets)
Post by: More Cowbell on July 16, 2007, 12:08:38 pm
I measured out where the cp would fit me best before making the final cuts for the cab. I'm a tall guy so 42" was the magic number for me. Funny thing is, I almost always sit on a stool to play anyway.  :dunno
Title: Re: ** SURVEY ** --- What is the height of your CP? (upright cabinets)
Post by: Green Giant on July 16, 2007, 01:32:07 pm
Bout 39 1/2" here...bit low for me standing (I'm 6' 6"), but its perfect for my kids and most people. I usually play sitting, so it works fine for me.

Xam

Being another 6'6"er, made mine taller than the average 36-40".  Wanted it to be the most comfortable for myself as I play it the most.  You should just tell the kids to get a stool.
Title: Re: ** SURVEY ** --- What is the height of your CP? (upright cabinets)
Post by: More Cowbell on July 16, 2007, 02:30:56 pm
You should just tell the kids to get a stool.

That's exactly the conclusion that I came to. They're too short for a 38" control panel so why not make it at least playable for one of us, especially the one of us that's building the damn thing for me!
Title: Re: ** SURVEY ** --- What is the height of your CP? (upright cabinets)
Post by: RecklessAbandon on July 16, 2007, 04:47:15 pm
mines 35" or thereabouts.
it seemed fine when testing but when i came to play properly i wished i added a couple more inches to it now  :(
Title: Re: ** SURVEY ** --- What is the height of your CP? (upright cabinets)
Post by: More Cowbell on July 16, 2007, 05:22:57 pm
mines 35" or thereabouts.
it seemed fine when testing but when i came to play properly i wished i added a couple more inches to it now  :(

Throw a base under the bottom a'la Nintendo cabs. Instant 3".
Title: Re: ** SURVEY ** --- What is the height of your CP? (upright cabinets)
Post by: ARTIFACT on July 16, 2007, 06:46:29 pm
Throw a base under the bottom a'la Nintendo cabs. Instant 3".

Cool. Do you have a picture of that by any chance?

thanks
Title: Re: ** SURVEY ** --- What is the height of your CP? (upright cabinets)
Post by: More Cowbell on July 16, 2007, 07:27:26 pm
Throw a base under the bottom a'la Nintendo cabs. Instant 3".
Cool. Do you have a picture of that by any chance?
thanks

Not the greatest picture in the world, but see the black base at the bottom? It's essentially just a box made of 2x4's cut into a square. Affix it to the bottom of your cab and it adds height and Nintendo style. Enjoy!
Title: Re: ** SURVEY ** --- What is the height of your CP? (upright cabinets)
Post by: Green Giant on July 16, 2007, 11:07:46 pm
Comes in at 41 1/2", but I wish I could add 4 or 5 more inches.
Title: Re: ** SURVEY ** --- What is the height of your CP? (upright cabinets)
Post by: f4phantomii on July 16, 2007, 11:48:52 pm
Mine is at 38-inches.

I'm 6 ft tall and I find it comfortable with about a 5-10 degree tilt on the panel.

It's also a comfortable height if I'm sitting on a 30-inch tall barstool.
Title: Re: ** SURVEY ** --- What is the height of your CP? (upright cabinets)
Post by: unclet on July 17, 2007, 10:36:36 am
I am not at home to measure, but when deciding on the height, I sat on an stool and measured from the floor to about 3 inches above my leg.  This is the height I went with so I would be assured I could sit comfortably when pushed into the arcade control panel.
Title: Re: ** SURVEY ** --- What is the height of your CP? (upright cabinets)
Post by: vidmouse on July 18, 2007, 01:15:35 am
38", very comfortable for a 5'11" person standing or barstooling...
Title: Re: ** SURVEY ** --- What is the height of your CP? (upright cabinets)
Post by: RecklessAbandon on July 18, 2007, 12:17:07 pm
Throw a base under the bottom a'la Nintendo cabs. Instant 3".
Cool. Do you have a picture of that by any chance?
thanks

Not the greatest picture in the world, but see the black base at the bottom? It's essentially just a box made of 2x4's cut into a square. Affix it to the bottom of your cab and it adds height and Nintendo style. Enjoy!

that is a cunning plan