Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: lungdart on December 01, 2009, 09:14:02 pm

Title: Looking for opinions on cab design
Post by: lungdart on December 01, 2009, 09:14:02 pm
I have started the planning stages of my first cab. I am basing it on Knievel's neon cab. I just like the shape of it, but I am going to omit the side speakers and opt for speakers under the marquee. Here are some autocad files of my cabinet and control panel with dimensions. Sorry if the they are not the greatest, I am not very experienced with it.

Let me know if you guys need the files in a different format. All criticism excepted here. Just want the best for my cab!
Title: Re: Looking for opinions on cab design
Post by: Knave Jack on December 01, 2009, 09:18:54 pm
I dont know what you drew it in, but I just tried opening it in AutoCad 2007, and it says its a corrupt file. I also tried a few other CAD programs and they come up with no data/corrupt file. Try saving it a different way and repost it.
KJ
Title: Re: Looking for opinions on cab design
Post by: lungdart on December 01, 2009, 11:10:13 pm
It was drawn in autocad 2010. Let me see if there are some older formats. Maybe some high res JPG's?

Edit: The .dwg format is specific to 2010. I could repackage them as 2007. There doesnt seem to be a compatability format that will work across the board. Huh. Anywho I've attached some PNG's
Title: Re: Looking for opinions on cab design
Post by: Knave Jack on December 02, 2009, 09:34:05 am
When you save, or save as it should give you the option of saving to a previous version. I usually save back to 2000 or 2002 for drawings for my vendors. Most of them have not upgraded in a while, and even we go 2 to 4 years on AutoCad updates. Its just too expensive to update every year.
KJ
Title: Re: Looking for opinions on cab design
Post by: lungdart on December 02, 2009, 06:19:26 pm
Here are the autocad 2000 versions of the above files.
Title: Re: Looking for opinions on cab design
Post by: Knave Jack on December 02, 2009, 07:29:42 pm
My personal preference with control panels is to radius the corners you could run into. It makes the T-Molding easier to put on, and it hurts less when you bump in to the machine (especially in the dark). I like the cabinet design.
KJ
Title: Re: Looking for opinions on cab design
Post by: lungdart on December 03, 2009, 08:04:47 am
Thank you for your feed back. I have been thinking about doing that.

What about the spacing for the buttons. Would they be comfortable? I couldnt find any good information on button spacing or anything like that. Seems everyone just eyes it out.
Title: Re: Looking for opinions on cab design
Post by: Knave Jack on December 03, 2009, 09:18:48 am
I cut a couple of different versions and tried them out before settling on my final spacing. Let me clarify that...I didn't cut complete control panels, just sets of button holes with different spacings. Its a bit easier for me, we have CNC equipment in the shop I can use for prototyping. My 6 button spacing is just a bit wider between buttons than a Killer Instinct set. My 4 button is just a bit wider than the Neo Geo standard. It fits my hands better. On my 4 player machine, the button sets are interchangeable so it can be a 2, 4, 5, or 6 button setup.
I hope that wasn't too much info  :dizzy:
Title: Re: Looking for opinions on cab design
Post by: lungdart on December 03, 2009, 01:17:57 pm
I hope that wasn't too much info  :dizzy:

No such thing! Where did you get your information on the standard button spacings? I would like to review it. I was never huge into arcades, I was always a console boy. But I have a great interest in them (Small town, not many arcade options to choose from). I will do some test drills with cardboard once I am ready to start the build (probably after the new year) just so I don't mess anything up.

thanks!
Title: Re: Looking for opinions on cab design
Post by: Knave Jack on December 03, 2009, 03:19:08 pm
Well, i own a KI2 and have a couple of New Geo control panels, so checking their spacing was easy. I can post the cad file for a KI2 if you like. I only drew up the buttons from the Neo Geo. I can the drawings from my changeable button pads on the 4 player as well if you like. I just went with what was the most comfortable for me hands. I figure i play these games more than anyone else, so I should make them as comfortable as possible.
Title: Re: Looking for opinions on cab design
Post by: lungdart on December 05, 2009, 02:31:06 pm
Post away. All the information I can absorb to make this project worth while the better.
Title: Re: Looking for opinions on cab design
Post by: Knave Jack on December 06, 2009, 04:21:58 pm
Ok, i will put them up on monday. They are on my shop computer, and I am not working this weekend. :cheers:
Title: Re: Looking for opinions on cab design
Post by: ammitz on December 07, 2009, 08:35:54 am
Post away. All the information I can absorb to make this project worth while the better.

http://slagcoin.com/joystick/layout.html (http://slagcoin.com/joystick/layout.html)

They have a lot of templates for positioning of joysticks and buttons.

Go check it out, you won't regret ;)
Title: Re: Looking for opinions on cab design
Post by: Knave Jack on December 14, 2009, 07:22:31 pm
Here are the drawings. Sorry for the delay. They should be AutoCAD 2002 for easy opening. They were saved out of the waterjet software, so I dont know for sure what year AC they save as.
KJ