Any way to cut perfect circles in control panel overlays?

fizgig

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Any way to cut perfect circles in control panel overlays?

I'm installing repro cpos and some of them are not pre-cut/die cut for buttons, joysticks, guns, etc. is there a tool or method to cut perfect circles?

Thanks!
 
When I am installing uncut cpo material I get it in position on the control panel, making sure there are no air bubbles, etc.

I pull out an exacto knife kit I got from the dollar store and use an exacto knife. It works flawlessly. I punch a hole somewhere in the cpo material (in the control panel button hole) smoothly work my way to the edge and just cut around until the circle falls out. done it 50 times or more. always works perfectly.

I wouldn't cut it prior to installing it. Definitely wait until it's installed.
 
Thanks, I guess I should be more specific. Around buttons im fine hand cutting because the lip of the button overlaps the hole leaving some margin of error acceptable. However on a joystick hole, specifically front line, if the circle isn't perfect there's nothing to hide it.


When I am installing uncut cpo material I get it in position on the control panel, making sure there are no air bubbles, etc.

I pull out an exacto knife kit I got from the dollar store and use an exacto knife. It works flawlessly. I punch a hole somewhere in the cpo material (in the control panel button hole) smoothly work my way to the edge and just cut around until the circle falls out. done it 50 times or more. always works perfectly.

I wouldn't cut it prior to installing it. Definitely wait until it's installed.
 
Thanks, I guess I should be more specific. Around buttons im fine hand cutting because the lip of the button overlaps the hole leaving some margin of error acceptable. However on a joystick hole, specifically front line, if the circle isn't perfect there's nothing to hide it.

I just pulled up a pic of the frontline cp. No plastic joystick disc to protect you there. I still think this would work. I use this method when I cut holes for the trackball on a multicade control panel. Always a very clean cut. I guess if you cut a couple of the buttons and thought it wasn't working at that point, you could try to devise a plan b. :)
 
get soemthing like this:

25311g.jpg


in germany it is called "kreis cutter" (which is a german english hybrid and translates to "circle cutter")
 
Duh, I'm so lazy. Didn't think to do a search, thanks for pointing me in the right direction. I'm going to try one of these things, a circle scissor pro.

http://www.eksuccessbrands.com/ektools/Products/Circle_Scissor_Pro_EKPL1006.htm

How it works:
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?bmb=1&desktop_uri=/watch?v=CJrneCPdEsM&gl=US&v=CJrneCPdEsM


get soemthing like this:

25311g.jpg


in germany it is called "kreis cutter" (which is a german english hybrid and translates to "circle cutter")
 
When I am installing uncut cpo material I get it in position on the control panel, making sure there are no air bubbles, etc.
I pull out an exacto knife kit I got from the dollar store and use an exacto knife. It works flawlessly. I punch a hole somewhere in the cpo material (in the control panel button hole) smoothly work my way to the edge and just cut around until the circle falls out.
I wouldn't cut it prior to installing it. Definitely wait until it's installed.

However on a joystick hole, specifically front line, if the circle isn't perfect there's nothing to hide it.

I've used tron guy's method on a few cpo's where the joystick hole didn't have any sort of cover and it has worked fine. Once the overlay is stuck to the control panel if you use the exacto knife and just run it around the inner edge of the joystick hole it should leave a very clean edge around the entire circle. I've never had any problems going this route.
 
Pretty much any scrap booking store carries lots of options for cutting circular holes.
 
Just get a really sharp exacto knife or hin wall razor blade. Once the overlay is installed over the holes, warm up the CPO a little where you are going to be cutting and let the blade ride along the edge of the CP. This will make your hole damn near perfect.

That circle cutter probably will not work if the overlay is already installed because there is nothing behind the hold you want to cut for the tool to rest on. If you tried to cut before you installed you are asking for trouble when lining up the holes.

Hope that helps.
 
Hmmm michaels craft store carries that Circle Scissor (the older model it looks like but i'll check it out this week). there's a 50% off coupon in this weeks flier otherwise i'd pass on it for $30

http://www.michaels.com/
 
You can also combo exacto knife with a circle template. Most reputable art supply stores will have several to choose from.
 
I've used tron guy's method on a few cpo's where the joystick hole didn't have any sort of cover and it has worked fine. Once the overlay is stuck to the control panel if you use the exacto knife and just run it around the inner edge of the joystick hole it should leave a very clean edge around the entire circle. I've never had any problems going this route.

+1. Done this many times myself.
 
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