Cutting guide for arcade buttons (with dimensions)

[The Progen]

I've searched around but can't seem to find a copy of the cutting guide with dimensions so that the machinist can double check before lowering the drill onto the frontplate.

I downloaded the DXF file, loaded it into an online DXG to PDF converter and all I got was a rectangle with 4 holes, no dimensions shown. The machinist I've gotten to standby is not willing to do anything until he has something more reliable.

Is there a cutting guide in another format other than the CAD one?

[photojojo]

That's it as far as I know.

[photojojo]

You could always buy an arcade overlay and take the measurements from that.

[sarasin]

dude....just do it yourself.

Get the overlay....mark the holes with a sharpi....and use a rounded file.

Took me an hour to do them all.

No cutting was needed.

[The Progen]

According to the tracking system, my VCI-100 SE has arrived in the country, at an airport 300+km away so I thought I might as well get everything ready. Have already soldered up my cables and the relevant diodes, heat shrinked them to make everything tidy, etc..

I know getting the holes done NEATLY's probably the hardest part. Problem with the machinists over in Malaysia is that most of them are still very much in the old days, quite capable of making things with no plans needed (rather like George Lopez's Mexicans) so a CAD diagram's going to get me nowhere. Most of the ones I know are willing to do it for close to nothing so I might as well make use of their experience, benches and drills rather than get dust all over my apartment.

ps. Plus my VCI-100 SE's a bit of a custom order. I traded in the overlay since I intend to get a buddy doing ads and stuff to print me a custom one so all I have are the small original faceplates. That's why I'm asking whether there're any other versions of the cutting guide. I know it's sickening when people ask the same questions over and over again which was why I did check out a lot of the threads carefully before posting my question.

[sarasin]

mmm....

I hear ya.

Do a search for cutting dimensions.

If i recall correctly, I read a post where the dimensions were given etc.

There were MANY posts regarding the cutting issue. People were seriously scared man!

As was I....that's why I did it myself. It was not hard....just a mission.....tired arm.

Once you have marked the holes...you just file like a mad man till you get about 1mm from the line. Then you go carefully and it will be perfect.

Up to you....

Will you be there when the cut it?

Take you heart pills along!



HEHEHE

[The Progen]

I got a car number plate maker to cut me the 8 holes with a coping saw in the end. He had a bench drill but didn't have the bit size needed since they didn't use that in their work. I offered to buy one but he told me not to bother because he was going to do it by hand. Experience sure played an important role. The 8 holes he sawed out were pretty round. Brought the cover home and finished filing them to size myself.

I decided not to scale up the overlay images and use those because I wanted what were to be my Play and Pause buttons closer together on the right of the jog wheels and the other 2 which will most probably be cuepoint triggers in a pair further away. Was actually tempted to mount two of them in a vertical line a la Play and Cue on most DJ CD players but couldn't find the space with the jog wheels taking up precious real estate.

[sarasin]

Nicely!!