Main > Main Forum
Any good concepts for a larger panel in my Defender cab?
Stingray:
--- Quote from: daveg2000 on February 15, 2005, 12:06:50 pm ---
To those of you using swappable control panels, any chance you
could snap a picture of the panel(s) and I'd be curious to see how
you disconnect/reconnect the wires underneath.
I have an idea of the plugs you would use for this (dont know
the exact name of these) but would be interested to see this
stuff if there are any pics available....?
--- End quote ---
You can ignore most of the lables in this pic. I did this for a not terribly technical friend who wanted to know how everything plugs in.
And here's the inside of one of the panels. It's wired through an old printer cable that plugs into #2 in the previous picture. My trackball/spinner panel has an extra cable that plugs into #5.
Hope that helps.
-S
telengard:
--- Quote from: Lilwolf on February 15, 2005, 07:47:22 am ---I would go with moduler myself.
I think its just cool to see a great moduler setup... And you can put together a new part without building up a whole new cp and all the buttons / ect.
--- End quote ---
I'm very glad I went the modular route. Allows for just about any combination imaginable and it's very easy to incorporate new controls as you get them and not have to have duplicates of stuff.
My cab is in the sig below for pics of the modular setup. I've since changed some things that aren't in the pics. I no longer use molex connectors but instead use ethernet cables. Way easier to deal with.
daveg2000:
The modular examples are very interesting... but I"m also about
simplicity. If I want to switch between Robotron and Street Fighter, I dont want to have to change out control panel pieces... I'd rather have as much as I can on a ctrl panel, and call it there.
So, I dont think I"d go that route....
mahuti:
I currently have 2 panels, and i'm getting ready to start on a third.
Panel 1;
I switchable joystick, 4 buttons, one trackball, one spinner. Its configuration effectively plays a large number of games comfortably, without being overly confusing.
Red button- used for 1 button games.
Grn & Blue button - used for 2 button games.
Yel, Grn & Blue buttons - used for 3 button games.
If you really wanna get nuts and play a 4 button game, I suppose you could, but this panel isn't really configured for that.
Panel 2. I only use this for side by side 2 player games (fighters, etc. ) It's impossible to remember what button does what, and guests get very confused if this is used on anything except fighting games.
I'm not really interested in modular panels for the following reasons;
1. Some designs take too long to swap
2. Some designs don't attach well enough
3. Don't like the big cut lines that are visible.
4. I'm not a complete purist... don't really care if things are completely accurate.
I just wanna have room for expansion, I want things to be easy for my friends to setup & change, and I want to have good aeshetics on my cabinet.
Someone asked about connectors... I use 37 pin connectors... I solder the wire to them myself. I think that 21 gauge wire is the best for arcade stuff (except for power & ground on 18) Using phone lines, ethernet, and printer cables are fine, but I prefer thicker wire. My soldering skills have gotten pretty good, so it's a pretty quick process to set up a new connector. If I had it to do again, I think I'd use 36 pin connectors... they're easier to find. I've looked for a system in the past with zero (or low) insertion force for the connectors, but an inexpensive and functional system hasn't presented itself.
daveg2000:
--- Quote from: Lilwolf on February 15, 2005, 01:10:06 pm ---
btw, how did you lock down your control panel? I want to build another one for an act-labs steering wheel... but I didn't come up with any good ways to lock down the control panel...
--- End quote ---
Actually, when I got the machine, it's existing control panel
(for some Trivia game) was clamped down with these
puppies. They work awesome.... that panel doesn't budge
a bit....
(from other machine pics I've seen.. these look like the factory installed clamps. I just removed the "L" shaped hooks from under the control panel and put them on my new one... if this is what you are asking....?)
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version