Author Topic: Dweebs0r's Big Bad Bad Assked 2 player COntrol Panel (Read 17388 times)

dweebs0r · « **Reply #40 on:** March 28, 2006, 10:38:05 pm »

Looking good. I dont think youre gonna be able to let this puppy go at the end.

-D

Timoe · « **Reply #41 on:** March 28, 2006, 11:06:39 pm »

indeed, i have the same fear

dweebs0r · « **Reply #42 on:** March 29, 2006, 08:31:47 am »

I'll tell you what, I'll sell it to you. $600 sounds about right?

Whaddayasay?

-Dweebs

Timoe · « **Reply #43 on:** March 30, 2006, 09:45:10 pm »

I started the formica for the control panel box.

in the first pic you can see that I used my dremel with cutting disc to make the basic cuts in the formica. I sorta scored it then broke it along the line.

in the second pic, thats the contact glue right after application. It goes on milky white and I let it dry out until it turns clear then I slap the pieces together and roll over it with a rubber roller.

The glue has a really distinctive smell. ...i think I'm starting to like the smell. Maybe its because I really like working with this material :p

Timoe · « **Reply #44 on:** March 30, 2006, 09:47:06 pm »

note: I'm not like, sniffing the glue or anything, well at least not yet....

Heres a couple more shots of the formica after I routered off the excess.

Timoe · « **Reply #45 on:** March 31, 2006, 12:16:48 am »

Cut the angles on the front and back pieces as well as drilled for the dowels

divemaster127 · « **Reply #46 on:** March 31, 2006, 12:00:52 pm »

CP looks great plus i like the step by step
dm

Timoe · « **Reply #47 on:** April 02, 2006, 04:49:11 am »

these are little mounting panels for Dweebs to bolt through to attach this thing to his cabinet. They also leave a space underneath for him to reach up and undo the panel clamps.... and to let the cords hang out to attach to his computer and what not.

Timoe · « **Reply #48 on:** April 02, 2006, 04:51:00 am »

I made little 1/16" holes at the corners and up infront of the trackball. Then I took my countersink bit and put a teeny tiny countersink on the lexan..

BTW I drilled forward not in reverse both times

for the art I carefully cut a sliver off the backing material with an exacto knife and positioned the artwork. I used a moist rag to then smooth the artwork onto the panel. this material from mamemarquees is really something. It looks amazing and feels pretty cool after you install it too.

Timoe · « **Reply #49 on:** April 02, 2006, 04:56:40 am »

I still need to install:

The t-molding

trackball

formica on the sides of the control box

all wiring

...but here's a preview...

Timoe · « **Reply #50 on:** April 02, 2006, 04:59:33 am »

This thing really came out well. I am really pleased with how clean it looks in person.

I mean the cuts, the artwork application, etc.

The DING DANG dust when you put on the plexi/lexan is annoying. I thought I got it all before I put the overlay on last night only to discover this morning that I have to lift up part of the lexan to "dust"!

Hockeyboy · « **Reply #51 on:** April 02, 2006, 07:17:31 am »

Forgive the possibly obvious or n00b question, but can I get a quick rundown of parts used in this CP? Pretty please? And, don't know if I missed it or not, but are you planning on underlighting the buttons with LEDs? If so, what type and such?

Very cool project...can't wait to move into our new house this summer - that's when the wife will let me build whatever MAME project I can come up with cuz we'll finally have tons of room and garage space to build it in...<crosses fingers>

Timoe · « **Reply #52 on:** April 02, 2006, 10:34:55 am »

Quote from: Hockeyboy on April 02, 2006, 07:17:31 am

Very cool project...can't wait to move into our new house this summer - that's when the wife will let me build whatever MAME project I can come up with cuz we'll finally have tons of room and garage space to build it in...<crosses fingers>

HA! me too! ^ this is my exact situation.

the parts are all supplied by Dweebs0r (some are by me)

Happ Competition 8-ways
J-stick, set to 4-way mode
Turbo Twist spinner from groovy game gear, spinner top from slikstik
Happ 3" blue trackball
Happ regular horizontal buttons'

the only LED or lighting in this thing will be the SuperBright LED cluster under the trackball.

and I think the rest of the info is in this thread somewhere.

Timoe · « **Reply #53 on:** April 03, 2006, 08:19:48 pm »

Just waitin' on a trackball. but here are some shots with the t-molding installed.

markrvp · « **Reply #54 on:** April 04, 2006, 02:51:24 pm »

It looks great! How do you install the T-molding without it showing "hammer dents?"

motorfish · « **Reply #55 on:** April 04, 2006, 03:02:28 pm »

rubber hammer

Timoe · « **Reply #56 on:** April 04, 2006, 03:54:28 pm »

I have a rubber hammer and I keep it on hand for t-molding installation but I rarely use it. I use a 1/16" slot cutter which is usually pretty tight for the t-mold. Its excessively tight when used on plywood but thats another panel.

For this one I really just used my thumb and sorta smoothed the tmolding into the slot from left to right.

edit: actually I learned not to use the mallet much from a Markrvp post about t-mold and flat spots.

markrvp · « **Reply #57 on:** April 04, 2006, 10:22:10 pm »

Quote from: timoe on April 04, 2006, 03:54:28 pm

edit: actually I learned not to use the mallet much from a Markrvp post about t-mold and flat spots.

I think this demotivator sums up my projects pretty well:

Dweebs0r:

You should be really happy. This looks like a top-notch A-Superduper control panel!

dweebs0r · « **Reply #58 on:** April 05, 2006, 06:46:17 am »

Quote from: markrvp on April 04, 2006, 10:22:10 pm

Dweebs0r:

You should be really happy. This looks like a top-notch A-Superduper control panel!

"Really happy" doesn't really capture it completely. I am ecstatic!
This control panel is awesome! Unbelievable! I've drooled over others on this forum for a looong time. I have been wanting to purchase a SlikStik control panel for years but never have because of the money those things cost but in my opinion, this panel is miles ahead of a prefab-type panel. I cant thank timoe enough for agreeing to build this for me.
Trust me, with my woodworking ability this panel wouldn't have ever seen the light of day. I'm more of the computer geek type.

Timoe · « **Reply #59 on:** April 06, 2006, 09:26:48 pm »

Got the panel clamp and the wiring done. Everything works perfect.

the wiring job is pretty clean and tidy. The reason it looks alittle sloppy is the ground wires. I cut them all the same length because

A: it was faster and easier and
B: if Dweebs ever wants to change out a part he'll have a little slack in the wire and a little less chance of damaging something.

Jeff AMN · « **Reply #60 on:** April 07, 2006, 12:36:39 am »

Nice job, it looks great!

dweebs0r · « **Reply #61 on:** April 07, 2006, 11:09:35 am »

Man, that wiring looks great. If you want to see sloppy wiring you should look at my Dynamo cabs wiring (the ipac is hanging loose in the cab if that gives you any indication). I havent been motivated to make it look better since I havent stopped playing it since it became playable.

-Dweebs

Timoe · « **Reply #62 on:** April 07, 2006, 01:47:00 pm »

The J-stick on this thing is awesome. I got it from miles2912 the guy with the "Vortex" cabinet.

I will definitely try a j-stick again.

nullb0y · « **Reply #63 on:** April 07, 2006, 08:14:29 pm »

wow thats really nice how do i get you to build a cp for me? lol

Timoe · « **Reply #64 on:** April 07, 2006, 09:32:03 pm »

Dweebs,

here's a heads up

Timoe · « **Reply #65 on:** April 07, 2006, 09:34:26 pm »

Quote from: nullb0y on April 07, 2006, 08:14:29 pm

wow thats really nice how do i get you to build a cp for me? lol

I have more posts than you.

trade some goods.....
or cash

NiteWalker · « **Reply #66 on:** April 08, 2006, 06:06:29 am »

Quote from: timoe on April 07, 2006, 09:32:03 pm

Dweebs,

here's a heads up

That's a beautiful 2 player panel but I have a couple of questions about the small one. What did you put on top of it? Plastic laminate? It looks kind of sunk in where the joystick bolt holes would be. Did someone forget to use the wood putty??

Thanks.

dweebs0r · « **Reply #67 on:** April 08, 2006, 09:16:43 am »

The little one was a bonus. It wasnt intended to be a super-duper nice lil panel.
It was kind of like a buy one, get one free deal. I'm going to use that lil one with the roms on my modded Xbox.

To answer your question about the covering, I believe its covered with Happs vinyl.

-Dweebs

Timoe · « **Reply #68 on:** April 08, 2006, 09:37:50 am »

The little one was my first completed panel. yeah, its pretty sloppy and I've learned a lot since then, both about wood working and BYOAC.

It is covered with Parts Express vinyl. The bottom is an original pelican box. The top was made from a template. The joysticks where undermounted into sloppy recesses. The location of the joysticks was not properly centered and did not even account for the box. So the the top has more over hang on the left side than the right.

And yeah, I used wood putty for the t-nuts. I also used Gorilla Glue on the t nuts because I was worried about them coming loose from the panel. Then I primered the whole top to receive the vinyl.

Well, when I attached the joysticks the bond from the gorilla glue broke when I over tightened the mounting screws and the wood putty sunk.,

NiteWalker · « **Reply #69 on:** April 08, 2006, 01:37:24 pm »

Thanks for the responses guys.

Timoe · « **Reply #70 on:** April 08, 2006, 09:30:36 pm »

my experience with that little panel is what prompted me to pre-mount the joystick bases on Dweebs0r's panel and to use drywall mud instead of that soft wood putty stuff.

It worked MUCH better.

edit: by premount I mean install the joystick base with the tnuts and tighten it down before you apply the filler. Then let the filler dry (over dry) and later remove the bases and then sand and prime

NiteWalker · « **Reply #71 on:** April 08, 2006, 11:21:25 pm »

I heard good things about fiberglass reinforced bondo as well. For mounting though why not try small machine screws counterbored a bit so they're below the surface? This is the way I do it so I have access to the joystick in case I ever need to change it.

Timoe · « **Reply #72 on:** April 09, 2006, 01:35:35 am »

with tnuts the joysticks are interchangeable as well.

NiteWalker · « **Reply #73 on:** April 09, 2006, 03:34:08 am »

Oh ok. You don't need to remove the top either do you? Very clever...

Timoe · « **Reply #74 on:** April 09, 2006, 10:17:00 am »

When I finished the formica to formica corners there was a thin line of brown at the joint. I'm not sure if this was glue or the material. It was nice, thin and uniform but still, it was not black...

I just took a sharpie to it and it disappeared.

Timoe · « **Reply #75 on:** April 09, 2006, 10:21:20 am »

So, you can see by the pictures that I'm missing something.

A trackball. The blue trackballs are not in season quite yet. I have an unripe red ball but that wont match the color scheme here.

It dawned on me last night that I have a blue trackball from last season that would work perfectly. Its almost never been used. The blue ball has the USB/PS2 harness on it which is undesirable. So I swapped the ...um, deals.

Timoe · « **Reply #76 on:** April 09, 2006, 10:23:43 am »

Herr we go...

Timoe · « **Reply #77 on:** April 09, 2006, 11:25:49 am »

Ahhhhh mang, I just playtested this thing. I gotta get one. Everything works silky smooth and

"I'm playing the best [robotron] of my life. Well it feels like it anyway."

I still have to adjust the Dial Sensitivity to (1) for the Z axis in PowerMame. But I almost couldn't stop myself in Iron Man Stewarts Super Off Road.

Here's the money shot of the trackball lighting

Timoe · « **Reply #78 on:** April 09, 2006, 05:50:39 pm »

For the trackball lighting, we went with a Super Bright 4-led cluster in blue. After several attempts at fabricating some mounting hardware for this thing I finally realized that I could screw it directly onto the trackball case, just like Happ does it.

I took the TBall box apart, took the ball out, flipped over the box and lined up the light cluster. I predrilled with a 1/16" bit. the screwed it in with some small pan head screws. Its perfectly positioned and sturdy.

I like using the optiwiz and cable. It makes for clean installation and removal. I think I really just like those white plastic molex style connectors though. I fabricated my own molex style cable for Dweebs to connect to his computer.

Knievel · « **Reply #79 on:** April 09, 2006, 09:47:38 pm »

Nice job all around Tim!


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