Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Project Announcements => Topic started by: weisshaupt on May 26, 2008, 03:41:40 pm
-
Hi all,
I finally had a bit of free time this weekend and so did an experiment with some scraps of 1/8 inch plexi in Preparation for the Fall ( when my wife says I am allowed to work in earnest on a new cabinet)
The Idea behind the experiment is to
1) Confirm that 1/8 plexi will work well with the etching
2) Confirm that I can "light-Pipe" the light from underneath the plexi, rather than by shining it on the edges (thus eliminating the doors I put on Ghost , and making it look more like a standard CP
3) Confirm that an Overlay will have the desired effect...
I think I was able to accomplish all 3 objectives...
With the room lights off
(http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c341/weisshaupt/IMAGE_00012.jpg)
with the room lights on
(http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c341/weisshaupt/IMAGE_00013.jpg)
with the CCFL off...
(http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c341/weisshaupt/IMAGE_00015.jpg)
The CP would be 1/2 MDF covered with White Vinyl (or other white surface-- in this case its just a sheet of paper) For the experiment I just used a short piece of MDF -- a real panel would have a large hole cut in it to let the light through.
On top of the MDF there is a sheet of 1/8 plexi with etchings. I tried a number of things to try and get the light pipe to work better. What I found is the light sources need to be approximately 2-3 inches away from the edge of the piece and that scuffing up the plastic on the top and then installing a bit of reflective tape (shiny duct tape) on the top seems to work best to get light into the piece. I also tried drilling holes i the piece and routing a slot, with unclear results. I think it worked a little better with the slot cut...
On top of the scuffs and duct tape, I would place a bands of arcade vinyl (in this case just a black pieces of scrap) to make it look better and give it a nice uniform line (otherwise the light source will shine up in your face and it would be way less cool)
(http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c341/weisshaupt/IMAGE_00014.jpg)
On top of the etched plexi is a transparency I printed off of my laser jet. IN real life I would probably have this printed on clear vinyl and apply it to the top of the etched plexi. On tops of the transparency is another piece of 1/8 inch plexi. This will give it a nice smooth finish..
The pieces used are shown below...
(http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c341/weisshaupt/IMAGE_00010.jpg)
If anybody has a brilliant idea as to how to secure the sandwich layers together I would love to hear it -- Right now I am think I will install a bolt at the top and bottom to hold things in place.
-
Quite cool. 8)
-
Very interesting use of the idea