Cabinet Opening & Active Area Guide

A request such as “We need a 43-inch monitor” is a useful starting point, but it is not enough to confirm whether a display will fit a slot machine cabinet.

The nominal screen size only describes the diagonal display category. It does not confirm the cabinet opening, visible display area, outer monitor dimensions, cover glass size, mounting position, rear clearance or cable direction.

For a new cabinet project, these details should be checked before a sample monitor is ordered. Doing this early reduces the risk of reworking the cabinet, front glass, mounting brackets or internal wiring after the sample arrives.

1. Cabinet opening size

The cabinet opening is the visible cut-out in the front structure of the machine.

This dimension should be provided as:

• opening width

• opening height

• corner radius, if applicable

• allowable tolerance

The cabinet opening should not be assumed from the nominal monitor size. Two monitors with the same diagonal size can have different active areas, borders, glass dimensions and outer structures.

For curved monitors, the opening should also follow the actual C-Curve or J-Curve profile. A flat rectangular opening may not match the front surface or visible area of a curved display.

2. Active display area

The active area is the part of the LCD that shows the image.

It is different from:

• the outer monitor size

• the front cover glass size

• the cabinet opening

• the visible opening after assembly

The cabinet opening should allow the intended image area to remain visible without covering important content near the edges.

When reviewing an existing cabinet design, the following should be checked:

• active area width and height

• position of the active area inside the monitor

• distance from the active area to each outer edge

• possible obstruction from cabinet trims, decorative frames or LED structures

This is especially important for game content that places buttons, text or symbols close to the edge of the screen.

3. Overall monitor dimensions

The outer monitor dimensions determine whether the complete unit can be installed inside the cabinet.

The required information normally includes:

• total width

• total height

• total depth

• front structure thickness

• rear housing depth

• position of protruding connectors or brackets

A monitor may fit the front opening but still interfere with an internal bracket, speaker, controller, power supply or cabinet door.

The available installation envelope should therefore be checked from the front, side and rear.

4. Cover glass and touch area

For PCAP touch monitors, the front glass may be larger than the LCD module or metal frame.

The cabinet design should confirm:

• total cover glass size

• glass overlap around the opening

• touch-active area

• required clearance around the glass

• whether the glass is exposed, recessed or supported by the cabinet

The touch glass should not be pressed unevenly by the cabinet structure. Mechanical pressure near the edges can affect appearance, touch performance or long-term reliability.

For projects using decorative front panels or LED halo structures, the glass and lighting parts should also be checked together.

5. Mounting points and reference positions

Mounting holes should be confirmed from a shared reference point.

The drawing should clearly show:

• hole diameter

• horizontal and vertical spacing

• distance from the monitor edge

• bracket position

• screw direction

• allowed adjustment range

It is not enough to provide only the distance between two holes. The hole pattern should be related to the outer monitor dimensions and the intended cabinet reference surfaces.

When possible, a STEP or DWG file is more useful than a photo or a handwritten dimension list.

6. Rear clearance and interface direction

The rear of the monitor needs enough space for:

• HDMI or DisplayPort cables

• USB touch cable

• power connector

• control board

• ventilation

• cable bending radius

• installation and service access

The interface direction should be checked before sample production.

For example, a connector facing downward may work in one cabinet but interfere with a metal bracket in another. A side-facing connector may require additional cable space that was not included in the original cabinet design.

The drawing should therefore indicate:

• available rear depth

• cable exit direction

• restricted areas

• nearby internal parts

• preferred connector orientation

7. Additional checks for curved casino monitors

C-Curve and J-Curve displays require several extra checks.

These may include:

• curve radius

• curve direction

• front profile

• lower bezel height

• alignment with adjacent screens

• glass and frame overlap

• LED halo clearance

• cabinet trim position

A monitor described only as “43-inch curved” may still be unsuitable if the curve radius, lower profile or installation depth does not match the cabinet.

For multi-screen cabinets, the gap and visual alignment between displays should also be reviewed.

What to provide when the final cabinet drawing is not ready

A complete STEP or DWG file is preferred, but an early fit review can still begin with basic information.

The minimum useful information is:

• cabinet opening width and height

• maximum available monitor width and height

• maximum rear depth

• required screen size and resolution

• flat, C-Curve or J-Curve profile

• touch requirement

• preferred interfaces

• mounting method

• photos or sketches of the installation area

These details are usually enough to identify major fit risks before a final drawing is completed.

Before Ordering a Sample

Once the cabinet dimensions and installation space have been reviewed, the mechanical, electrical and functional sample requirements should also be confirmed.

See our Casino Display Integration Checklist: 10 Things OEM Teams Should Confirm Before Ordering Samples for the complete pre-sample review.

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Send Your Cabinet Drawing for Review

ClaraTech can review cabinet drawings and available installation space for new casino display and gaming cabinet projects.

For an initial fit review, please provide the available STEP, DWG or PDF drawing, or the key cabinet dimensions together with the required display size, resolution, touch configuration, interfaces and sample quantity.

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