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Modular controls panel discussion

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neuromancer:
You could simplify things a bit.

For instance, the T&F panels will probalby only be used with each other, so you can make them fill the space.

The red joystick modules always have at least an inch on the left, so you could make them an inch wider and not need that many more spacers.

Bob

l8nite:
Anybody considered using magnets to secure the front portion?

Anybody considered using dowels or "edge slots" on the sides of their modules so that they can achieve a really snug fit and help secure the entire panel?

Has anybody built a modular 4-player panel?

These are a few deas I had while thinking through my panel design.  I'm still looking at the best ways to do this and trying to come up with something easy to swap and nice to look at.

Regarding modular artwork, my initial impulse was to use a simple color scheme and do the standard art (such as arrows around joysticks, starbursts on buttons, etc) and then a very simple horizontal 'stripe' pattern that could have areas that moved up and down within a single panel.  Look at the art on the front edge of a dig-dug control panel for an example of what I'm thinking about.

Dig-dug artwork
http://irc.topgamers.net/~l8nite/img_3223.jpg

I think if the right colors were chosen, it could look very tasteful and still retain the ability to move around the art.  If you have varying width segments, making it symmetrical might be more of a problem, in which case you could go with half triangles on each panel that alternated a few colors and blended together (think like the atari logo).  If anybody wants I can do a small mockup of that idea.

patrickl:

--- Quote from: l8nite on September 01, 2004, 06:14:04 am ---Has anybody built a modular 4-player panel?

--- End quote ---
I think the "star wars wing type polyester CP" that someone was working on a while ago was 4 player and (sort of) modular.

BTW Wasn't there someone who build a whole cab from lego? Now that's modular  8)

telengard:

--- Quote from: l8nite on September 01, 2004, 06:14:04 am ---Anybody considered using magnets to secure the front portion?

Anybody considered using dowels or "edge slots" on the sides of their modules so that they can achieve a really snug fit and help secure the entire panel?

Has anybody built a modular 4-player panel?

These are a few deas I had while thinking through my panel design.  I'm still looking at the best ways to do this and trying to come up with something easy to swap and nice to look at.

Regarding modular artwork, my initial impulse was to use a simple color scheme and do the standard art (such as arrows around joysticks, starbursts on buttons, etc) and then a very simple horizontal 'stripe' pattern that could have areas that moved up and down within a single panel.  Look at the art on the front edge of a dig-dug control panel for an example of what I'm thinking about.

Dig-dug artwork
http://irc.topgamers.net/~l8nite/img_3223.jpg

I think if the right colors were chosen, it could look very tasteful and still retain the ability to move around the art.  If you have varying width segments, making it symmetrical might be more of a problem, in which case you could go with half triangles on each panel that alternated a few colors and blended together (think like the atari logo).  If anybody wants I can do a small mockup of that idea.

--- End quote ---

Unless the magnets were either really powerful or they are used as a secondary securing mechanism I'm not sure how they could work.   I'm having a hard time using a magnet to hold an optical board in place so I don't have to re-do a module.   The dowel thing sounds like a good idea but lining up the holes sounds difficult.  I don't think I've seen a modular 4 player panel yet.

Your artwork idea sounds very cool, I'd like to see it.

NoOne=NBA=:
I didn't build a whole cab out of Legos, but I did build a Tron handle with them awhile back.



Telengard,

Why are you holding the optic card in place with magnets?
I'm curious if it's to swap it out between modules, or just to keep it in place on a single module.
If it's just to keep it in place on a single module, I've had really good luck with the 3M foam tape.
I've used that almost exclusively on a bunch of "can I get this working" temporary projects that I've done recently.
I'm actually planning on using it PERMANENTLY to mount some of Oscar's boards to the Ivan Stewart's Off Road wheels I bought awhile back.
They used the curved Atari-style optic cards, and the mount for them works PERFECTLY if you foam tape an Oscar board to it.

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