ArcadeCab- MAME Cabinet Plans 2: Control Panel II


Cabinet Dimensions

Cabinet Plans 2: Control Panel II

Control Panel II
Scott decided on the following items for his control panel: two Happ 8-way Competition joysticks, a J-stick balltop joystick, a GoovyGameGear Tubospinner,

To be finished soon!

Template for routing for joystick
I always route out underneath the control panel for each of my joysticks. This gives them additional height. For the first time I constructed a template to make my life a little easier. If you don't feel a need to build this template, feel free to skip down to the next section on layout. I provided this instruction for any interested parties.

Below is a diagram of how I arrived at the interior template measurements.

Basically what the diagram shows is that I measured from the outside edge of the 1/2" straight bit that is in the router to the edge of the router base plate. A picture of this measurement is to the right. The template will be for the router base to bump into and ride along, so the cut ends up being perfect.

I took a piece of 3/16" masonite (hardboard) and cut a 14" square piece from it (see A). In the middle of the resultant board, I created a square with the measurements from the above diagram (8-3/4" x 9-1/4"), and drew it with a Sharpie (see B). Next, I cut the square out with my trusty jigsaw, after first drilling two holes in the middle (C) for the jigsaw blade to get through initially. Next, I cleaned up the hole with a bit of sandpaper. Now I had the template built and ready to use a little later.

A

B

C

D

Layout
You can now take the control panel top blank you cut previously and layout your controls on it. I'd recommend first taking the base and lay it atop the panel, just like it would be placed when attached. Then draw a line around the box. Remove the box, then draw a box within that box, in one inch. What this will do is give you an area that is no-man's land- nothing can be placed where it would touch this line.

The PDF document that I use for the various Happ templates is this trusty one you might recognize from my original control panel page. I do a Select... on each image I need, then print them each out, keeping 100% scale. I then cut these items out with scissors, and tape them to the panel blank. Play around with the layout until you are happy, then take each item down well with a couple pieces of tape.

My strategy is to take a drill loaded with my 1-1/8" spade bit and slowly start each button hole. Get it centered exactly right, and drill down just enough so you'll easily be able to find the hole when you remove the paper. Do the same with the center of each joystick hole. Finally, take a ___" bit in the drill and start to drill a hole in each corner of the joystick mounts. So the same with the four trackball bolt holes. After you've done that, you can remove the paper pieces and finish drilling through each bolt hole.

What I've found works best for me is to next figure out the outline of the trackball itself.... You should have been provided...

Drill a few 3/8" holes along the edge of the line you drew (see E). These will provide you a way of getting the jigsaw blade through. Then carefully use the jigsaw to follow your line as closely as possible (F). You should end up with a hole shaped something like G shows. Note- Although this hole's shape appears goofy, it fits both the Betson and the Happ trackballs perfectly.

E

F

G

For each button hole, drill through most of the way from the front, until the center pops through the backside. Then flip the panel and drill from the backside until you are mostly through. Finally, flip it back good-side up and finish drilling through for all the button holes. This sounds complicated but is obvious once you begin. H through J shows the process.

H

I

J