What would you change?

[darktemp]

I've just about finalized my control panel parts and would like some expert opinions before I order.

My cp will be 25 3/4 by 8" in size and I'm going with the 2 player 6 button layout and trackball which seems to be quite popular.

I've currently got my eye on a happ high lip 3" trackball with the red pcbs (if that matters) sold used, as is, untested for $31 + shipping that rolls good and is quiet.  Is this a good deal and will it be a problem fitting it into my cp with the mounting plate?  Every measurement I've done says I should have just enough room for everything but I can go with a 2.25 trackball if it's going to be close.

I'm planning on using 1/8" lexan over artwork which I hope will have very few bolts showing.  If I understand correctly the easiest way to use a concealed trackball with a 5/8 wood panel and 1/8 lexan is to use the high lip happ, is this correct?  Also do they make a 2.25" high lip ball to give me an extra option?

My other parts consist of 2 happ competition sticks (am I going to need mounting plates to get a clean install?) with happ horizontal pushbuttons all around.

I plan on interfacing the trackball using a usb or ps/2 mouse hack which I'm going to do using Oscar's great plans.  The controls I would like to interface with playstation pads which aside from being cheaper than the ipac will allow me to use them on my computer as well as any console I have using adapters (I can finally put my old psx and dreamcast to use again).

I will be getting everything I can from Bob Roberts and would like to do just one order.  Any advice you guys have please let me know.  I've extracted tons of info from this board in the last couple months and want to make sure I've got everything straight.  Thanks

[Sylentwulf]

My only thought is that a 8" deep CP is AWFULLY small. I tried to keep mine as absolutely small as possible and still be comfortable witha  tarckball, and 2 players with 7 buttons each, and the smallest depth I could come up with is 14"

Remember, you lose .75" on ALL FOUR sides having the "box" sides of the control panel, PLUS if you want an overhang on the top piece, you're losing even more space (I went with a half inch overhang, which means I lost 1.25" on each of the four sides, ok .75" on the back, and 1.25" on the other three sides)

[Chris]

I had a panel that size.  You CANNOT fit all those controls on the panel.  The trackball alone will take up a 6" square, and even if you could make it fit your fingers will be crashing into the glass and joysticks.  The joysticks and buttons can only be crammed so close together or you can't get the nuts for the buttons on, and you need to leave a small gap at the edges for the panel clamps.

You might be able to cram a 2-1/4" track ball in there...  it'll be close, though.

--Chris

[darktemp]

Thanks for the replies guys, you saved me some time and money.  That's everything I was worried about actually.  Assuming I get a 2.25" trackball which I was actually thinking about earlier (this only knocks the plate down to 5.5") how do I go about mounting it under a plate and 1/8" lexan so the trackball is still flush and the plate is hidden under the artwork?  I couldn't find any 2.25" tb's with high lips.

On to the second problem which is the height of the cp.  I thought about fingers smashing into the glass on games like golden tee with only a few inches between the glass and top of the ball, however I've seen quite a few high quality cp's that have limited space above as well (PhantomPower's excellent mamestation II comes to mind).  Is there a solution for this such as raising mouse sensitivity?

I'm pretty determined to get this worked out without going with an extended cp.  I've attached a picture I found of my cabinet.  

[AlanS17]

Are you mounting on wood or metal?

[darktemp]

Are you mounting on wood or metal?

Wood, I've already removed the metal cp which was home to a poorly converted capcom bowling game with a 3" trackball.  This was also one of the reasons I didn't think the 8" depth of the control panel would be a problem.

[Tilzs]

8" isn't too small for a cp without a trackball. I don't have a trackball so I don't know how much room you'd need on top of a trackball. I'm guessing you'd want enough to make sure you don't bang your hand on front glass.

TBH I see a lot of CPs that are a lot bigger than I think they need to be and seem to have a lot of wasted blank space. Up until maybe the mid 90's, CPs on arcade machines generally weren't all that big.

[AlanS17]

To make it flush you'll need a router. You route out 1/16 or 1/8 or however the depth of the mounting plate is. Then when you install the mounting plate the TB will be flush with the wood. Then place the artwork over that. Then when you drill your hole for the TB in the plexi just sand it well to avoid catching on hour hand. It seems like the TB will be a bit low, but it really isn't... TADA!!!

[darktemp]

Great advice AlanS17.  So if I follow that method where can I buy a black ring piece to put around the ball?  Does anyone see a problem with using a 2.25" trackball on this panel or any of my other plans?  I'm hoping to order this week and post a rough draft of my artwork soon.