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How to make own mounting plates?

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RayB:
I'd like some advice on creating my own simple mounting plates for a couple buttons. I don't have a big arsenal of tools. Here's the deal:

My control panel is wood, about 1" thick. I have drilled holes for the buttons and joysticks. No problem there. But my two admin buttons will be small Radio Scrap buttons (needs half inch hole) and the player start buttons will be Atari volcano buttons.

Both those kinds of buttons are really meant for mounting to metal CPs. The Atari ones are particularly difficult since they have a rectangular base part, and use a round hole, need to be sticking out alot so the cone can be screw on.

I could route out hold underneath but I'd need to leave about 1/8" of wood to mount the Atari buttons properly. That's really thin for partical wood and it'll probably just crumble on me as I route out the hole.

The best solution would be to route out a thin area on top, cut a large piece out, then lay a metal mounting plate with the button hole cut out of it. (Like people do for trackballs.) The risks here is I have to route out this area with alot of precision so as not to have gaps between the plate and wood. How do people do it? What bit do I need? I have a router but the bit is a big rounded one. It only cuts holes with rounded edges.

How do I make my own mounting plate? Is there an easy way considering I don't have much in the way of fancy tools? (I have the basics: A drill, a sabre saw, hammer, pliers, screwdriver, small Dremel, basic hand router, and that's about it.)



markrvp:

--- Quote from: RayB on December 15, 2005, 12:08:43 am ---The best solution would be to route out a thin area on top, cut a large piece out, then lay a metal mounting plate with the button hole cut out of it. (Like people do for trackballs.) The risks here is I have to route out this area with alot of precision so as not to have gaps between the plate and wood. How do people do it? What bit do I need? I have a router but the bit is a big rounded one. It only cuts holes with rounded edges.

--- End quote ---

You can use that bit to recess everything but the corners and then use a chisel to square out the corners.


--- Quote ---How do I make my own mounting plate? Is there an easy way considering I don't have much in the way of fancy tools? (I have the basics: A drill, a sabre saw, hammer, pliers, screwdriver, small Dremel, basic hand router, and that's about it.)
--- End quote ---

Honestly, the best solution is to have a metal shop make you one.

Wade:
Go buy a small plate from Lowes which is close to the size you need, then just make your hole THAT size.  Rather than do the hole first and then try to cut a plate.

I have found various plates in Lowe's meant for different things, usually for a dollar or two.  Usually they are brackets or plates meant for joining studs or joists.

Wade

Witchboard:
Are you going to be using lexan over your CPO, if you have one?  You could just drill holes big enough to house the button base and drill the holes to fit in your lexan and mount them to that.  The nuts being under your CPO of course.

RayB:

--- Quote from: Witchboard on December 16, 2005, 01:22:53 pm ---Are you going to be using lexan over your CPO, if you have one?

--- End quote ---

No, nothing on top but printed overlay.


--- Quote from: Wade on December 16, 2005, 01:07:48 pm ---Go buy a small plate from Lowes which is close to the size you need, then just make your hole THAT size.
--- End quote ---

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