Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: acevedor2 on January 06, 2007, 03:56:57 pm

Title: CP Hinge Front or Back?
Post by: acevedor2 on January 06, 2007, 03:56:57 pm
Ok, this may sund like a dumb question, but is there a reason everyone hinges their CP at the front? It would seem more intuitive that you would hinge it that the back so you could lift it up in the front when needd. 

The only reason I can see that it would be hinged in the back is because it might interfere with the cab when you try to open it. Again, this is my first cab so I would like your thoughts.  Thanks as always for the expert advice!
Title: Re: CP Hinge Front or Back?
Post by: CheffoJeffo on January 06, 2007, 04:49:19 pm

Convenience and ergonomics -- it is much easier to work on something that flips out clear of the cabinet to horizontal towards you than flips up to the vertical in front of the cabinet further away from you.

Cheers.
Title: Re: CP Hinge Front or Back?
Post by: miles2912 on January 06, 2007, 04:51:05 pm
When you open the top you want it to go past top dead center to stay open.  That would cause controls to hit the monitor and or sides of the cab... and it might not stay open on its own.

Usually you don't need to get in there too much to do wiring and such.

Don
Title: Re: CP Hinge Front or Back?
Post by: acevedor2 on January 06, 2007, 05:24:08 pm
Great reasons, thanks.  I just wanted to make sure before I installed the piano hinge.  Cheers,
Ray
Title: Re: CP Hinge Front or Back?
Post by: tranq on January 06, 2007, 09:49:04 pm
Oh.  I hadn't noticed this.  Good idea.  I was considering this feature, but then thought 'well, what will it be good for, really?'.  Mmm?
Title: Re: CP Hinge Front or Back?
Post by: acevedor2 on January 06, 2007, 09:52:19 pm
Yeah, I have seen it in most of the cabs, I just couldn't figure out why they always opened forward instead of the traditional way....now I know.  Cheers
Title: Re: CP Hinge Front or Back?
Post by: JONTHEBOMB on January 06, 2007, 10:50:40 pm
The only reason I can see that it would be hinged in the back is because it might interfere with the cab when you try to open it.

You are 100% correct.  I hinged the back of my control panel.  The control panel is right up against the cabinet so I can't open it all the way.  Everytime I want to mess with something inside the control panel, I have to go inside the cabinet, release the control panel clamps and remove it from the cabinet.  Well you live and learn.  For my second cabinet I will not make such a dumb mistake.
Title: Re: CP Hinge Front or Back?
Post by: tranq on January 07, 2007, 12:11:51 am
Mmm, it's natural to want to open that way.  Sorta like cars: you can't get under 'em as well, vs those foreign ones in the 70s that opened by the windshield, but you can get to the front of the engine.  The uncommon difference with panels is that the guts come up with the top.
Title: Re: CP Hinge Front or Back?
Post by: acevedor2 on January 07, 2007, 09:13:04 am
Glad I posted this!  Now I will make sure to open from the back!
Title: Re: CP Hinge Front or Back?
Post by: FrizzleFried on January 07, 2007, 11:25:52 am
Believe it or not...I almost hinged mine on the side...so it swung open like a door....

Title: Re: CP Hinge Front or Back?
Post by: acevedor2 on January 07, 2007, 11:32:55 am
That wouldn't be a bad idea.  It might actually work kind of nice.  Hmmm.....
Title: Re: CP Hinge Front or Back?
Post by: tranq on January 07, 2007, 02:59:17 pm
Initially sounds like a neat idea....but the stability might be an issue - have to use tight hinges - and then there's the issue of the end being probly at least at eye level, which could be a countre to the feature.
Title: Re: CP Hinge Front or Back?
Post by: DrewKaree on January 07, 2007, 03:09:17 pm
Unless the CP top locks, I'd think you also want the hinge on the front to keep some asshat from opening it up "just to see what's inside"  ::)

Hopefully the brainpower in such an individual doesn't extend to figuring out just WHERE the hinge is ;D
Title: Re: CP Hinge Front or Back?
Post by: acevedor2 on January 07, 2007, 05:48:31 pm
Yep, I think I will continue with the tried and tru method of opening from the front.  Thanks again guys!
Title: Re: CP Hinge Front or Back?
Post by: Fozzy The Bear on January 07, 2007, 08:17:23 pm
Errrmmmm.......  My CP Hinge is at the back..... I can well see the points that you guys are making. But to be very honest, I've never had a problem with it being there.

The CP slides forwards out of an overhang... It almost sits into a slot. So it can't be opened unless I slide it forwards.  I've never had a problem with this as I have two quick release catches underneath it inside the main cabinet box.

It's also easier for me this way, as it allows all the cables to exit easily at the back of the CP Box.

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)
Title: Re: CP Hinge Front or Back?
Post by: tranq on January 08, 2007, 02:19:55 pm
Your designs, perhaps?
Title: Re: CP Hinge Front or Back?
Post by: CheffoJeffo on January 08, 2007, 02:29:58 pm
Believe it or not...I almost hinged mine on the side...so it swung open like a door....

On my first cabinet (a three-sided cocktail), I hinged the panels on the long side ... I'll never do it again.

Cheers.

Title: Re: CP Hinge Front or Back?
Post by: ahofle on January 08, 2007, 05:17:54 pm
This may be common knowledge, but I thought I'd throw in a recommendation for one (or two) of those spring loaded lid support devices which keeps your CP from slamming down.  This way you don't have to have the CP completely vertical to stay in place.  I saw this on a toy chest I recently bought for the kid (to prevent it from slamming on heads/fingers) and couldn't believe I didn't have one in my hinged CP. 

http://www.kidsource.com/cpsc2/toy.box.chest.html
Title: Re: CP Hinge Front or Back?
Post by: FrizzleFried on January 08, 2007, 05:41:09 pm
...a pretty damn nifty idea there Ahofle...
Title: Re: CP Hinge Front or Back?
Post by: tranq on January 08, 2007, 06:12:40 pm
You could also put in a little hood support rod.
Title: Re: CP Hinge Front or Back?
Post by: DrewKaree on January 08, 2007, 06:49:22 pm
You could also put in a little hood support rod.

Keep your thoughts about rods to yourself
Title: Re: CP Hinge Front or Back?
Post by: Mr. Bubblehead on January 08, 2007, 07:08:52 pm
Honestly, how often do you need to access the underside of the control panel?  I have built at least a dozen cabs for both my self and others, and I have never hinged any of them.

If I don't like the layout of the controls, I just build another cab! ;D
Title: Re: CP Hinge Front or Back?
Post by: acevedor2 on January 08, 2007, 07:41:46 pm
Ahofle - that is a great idea.  Ironically I bought those about a week ago to go in my cab CP ;D
Title: Re: CP Hinge Front or Back?
Post by: tranq on January 08, 2007, 08:14:21 pm
You could also put in a little hood support rod.

Keep your thoughts about rods to yourself

I'll have to remember your penchance for exitability.
Title: Re: CP Hinge Front or Back?
Post by: CheffoJeffo on January 08, 2007, 08:17:35 pm
I'll have to remember your penchance for exitability.

That Drew, he's always a handy way to leave ... wait ... EXITability ? PenchanCE ?

 :dizzy:
Title: Re: CP Hinge Front or Back?
Post by: tranq on January 08, 2007, 08:48:00 pm
Whoops, I thought maybe penchant was verb form, and penchance noun.  In any case, that was a bit of dry humour, aye?
Title: Re: CP Hinge Front or Back?
Post by: DrewKaree on January 08, 2007, 10:02:37 pm
It still doesn't explain exitability, nor your "super teh skeelz yo" wif de spleling ::) 

Is this more of your "I can't be troubled to actually make sure things work/are correct before opening my gaping maw"?

I hear teh chickies, dey dig dat in a man.  You can test that out when you're out of puberty Lloydzmom.
Title: Re: CP Hinge Front or Back?
Post by: tranq on January 09, 2007, 01:33:50 am
Drewwwwwwwwwwww.........you're certainly living up to your self-description, there.  Boot thas thi point, eh?
Title: Re: CP Hinge Front or Back?
Post by: tranq on January 09, 2007, 01:38:53 am
...and....oh my....you're a christianiac.  I'm gonna have to indulge just this once:  :dizzy: :notworthy: