Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: ahofle on May 30, 2003, 11:25:31 am
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This might be a dumb question, but has anyone tried mounting their joysticks into a wood control panel with wood screws from the bottom, stopping just short of the top so the screws don't show on the top? I know it wouldn't be as strong as machine screws from the top, but I'm wondering if anyone has tried it.
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This might be a dumb question, but has anyone tried mounting their joysticks into a wood control panel with wood screws from the bottom, stopping just short of the top so the screws don't show on the top? I know it wouldn't be as strong as machine screws from the top, but I'm wondering if anyone has tried it.
Yeah, sure, it works fine. Just make sure your CP is thick enough. The longer the screws, the better.
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This might be a dumb question, but has anyone tried mounting their joysticks into a wood control panel with wood screws from the bottom, stopping just short of the top so the screws don't show on the top? I know it wouldn't be as strong as machine screws from the top, but I'm wondering if anyone has tried it.
FWIW this can work fine if you are using plywood... I wouldn't recommend it for MDF. If you were using MDF and decided on not having bolt heads show on top... you can use t-nuts in old thread (http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=5195;start=msg34248#msg34248) another thread with a good picture of an install of t-nuts (http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=2597;start=msg13928#msg13928) heh.. i just like saying t-nuts... countersunk t-nuts =P
Rampy
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My CP is 3/4" MDF and I mounted all my joysticks from the bottom with no problems at all. I have 2 Happ's Supers and a J-stick from Ultimarc. The supers have been in place since last November and they haven't come loose at all. I just mounted the J-stick last week, it's a little low, but it works just fine.
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I just built a new CP out of MDF 1/2". Bottom mounted one of the joysticks w/ I think a 1/2" wood screw. Should hold fine unless the screw is removed and reinserted... which unfortunately I need to do (I want to cover up the paint job I just did on it). I think if you add some glue to the hole it will help. I don't see why it would ever have a problem with "normal use". If someone is trying to intentionally push it through the top of the panel, I don't think a wood screw will stop them..... of course my fist will stop them ;D
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My old prototype was particle board and used it for a year even under the relentless beating of a friend of mine who plays Samurai Shodown against me frequently and due to his lack of manual dexterity would move this whole arm to perform every move.
Anyway, the joysticks were screwed to the bottom surface of the panel and held like like a vise.
I say, do it if you like it like that because if they fail, you can always drill through them and install bolts from the top.
Installing from the top does not have to look bad if you countersink the head of the bolt so that it does not protrude from the surface. You can then cover these holes with CP art.
Good luck.
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i decided to mount my j-stick from the top, but found the flattest screws i could and covered it with some of that stuff oscar found in previous thred
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I mounted my sticks from the bottom in 3/4" MDF. Here is what I did: I routered in a recess of 1/4" into the back of the panel ( slightly larger than the joystick mounting footprint), drilled my mounting holes all the way through the remaining 1/2" and tapped in 1/4" threaded inserts ( the package tells you what size to drill the holes) can be found at Home Depot in the nuts and bolts area. the inserts are 1/2" long so once in place they come flush to the surface of my cp. I used countertop laminate to cover the surface so none of the holes show once complete.
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It's actually what I do, even on MDF. You just can't keep on screwing it in and out or you'll chew up your MDF.