Main > Main Forum
Control Panel: Attaching
Graham1:
Hi again :)
I'm planning on using removable CP's for my project. My original plan was to bolt onto the sides of the cabinet (i.e using 2 bolts each side). Has anybody tried this? Another idea was to just rest in the frame of the cabinet (with the bottom of the CP open for easy access). With the CP being horizontal, I thought it would fit in nicely and hold well. Can you see any problems in doing it this way. I've viewed most of the examples here but haven't yet seen any that are attached using these methods. Please comment?
:)
nipsmg:
Personally, I made mine removeable (for various reasons) and hinged the top:
http://arcadia.gerety.net/gallery/index.php?Qwd=.&Qif=Cabinet004.jpg&Qiv=thumbs&Qis=M
the control panel is a separate entity, it secures to the bottom through 4 bolts that go through from the inside of the control panel into 4 L Brackets secured to the inside of the cabinet (2 on each side). The bolt goes in through the inside of the control panel, and is secured from underneath with wingnuts.
When I want to take it off, I merely reach in through the coin door (or pull the keyboard drawer out), unscrew the wingnuts, pull the bolts out, and lift.
This really helped for testing too, because I could keep the control panel on the floor, and run the cords through the coin door, then fix whatver wiring problems I had while it was off the cabinet.. (They attach using a 2 parallel and one monitor (15 pin) cable). It really helps when moving it too (I've had to move 3 times since I built it, and one more FINAL move in a month or so).
--NipsMG
ALeX K:
great looking CP...! can you tell me a little more about the hinge pls? Thats exactly how i am planning to do my panel. I was thinking of using 4 cabinet hinges, mounted to the inside front face of the CP box allowing the top CP surface to fold up, as yours does. Got any more photos of the CP? Thanks
Graham1:
I thought about using a hinged CP but decided to go with a fixed one. I chose to use removable CP's so I have the flexibility to add more later ;D (i.e spinner, trackball, etc). I won't be using a coin door (not yet anyway) but should be able to get underneath the CP (bottom open) to unscrew wing nuts either side. Do you think 2 on each side would be ok? The CP sides would be resting on a ridge (attached to the side of the cabinet) with the top of the CP resting on the sides of the cabinet (hope that makes sense :) ) for support. Btw, nice CP and cabinet.
:)
Heinekenator:
Alex - take a look at piano hinges in your local hardware store. They're inexpensive, sturdy, and dont look bad if exposed. The only downside is that you have to drill into the edges of your MDF/ply, so be sure that the hinge mounting holes are directly in the middle of the edge, and drill small pilot holes.
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
Go to full version