My home built metal DDR pad (Part IV)

Goliath01364 · Trick Member Joined: 26 May 2003 Location: Lowell, MA

Alright here is my problem (hopefully someone can help!) When I first wired my pad I used a game pad colors non-analog everything worked great for about 3 days then the up button fried, this I expected because it was a cheap controler. So I soon found myself at Babbages picking up an original ps controler. After a lot of stupid mistakes, I actualy ended up ripping the copper vein right out of the chip (dont ask), I found myself at walmart (I didnt want to drive an hour again) buying a cheap madkatz contoler for $4.88, this time the wireing went perfectly but after playing for about 30seconds the up button died. So any ideas whats going on? Static electricity? I'm playing on a hardwood floor so I cant see it being that.....
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I don't play DDR......I destroy it....

MoonJihad · Basic Member Joined: 08 Oct 2002 Location: Granby, Québec

sokochan · Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2003 10:32 am Post subject:

Aluminum does conduct electricity ... just not extraordinarily well.

It acts as a superconductor near 0 degrees Kelvin ... But thats really cold so stick with steel

It has 3 valence electrons making it a poor conductor but one nonetheless. 1 more electron and it'd be a semi-conductor
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watashi wa sakki

Momo -YHB- · Trick Member Joined: 15 Feb 2003 Location: Killeen, Texas

Russ-Bus · Basic Member Joined: 11 May 2003

Okay, so I'm thinking about making one or two of these metal pads. But I have a few questions. First of all, I have a bunch of particle board laying around at my house, so could I use that instead of plywood? Second, is this pad GOING TO WORK? ( I mean I am willing to tweek it a bit, but if it doesnt work...). Third, how long have you had this pad? How long is it going to last (hopefully forever). Fourth, how heavy is this pad and how... durable is it (I need to transport it every once in a while... dont ask) Oh and if these questions have been previously asked and answered, I'm sorry.

Thanks for all the help!
Russ-Bus

cjc312chunky · Trick Member Joined: 29 Nov 2002 Location: NY

hehe, sorry if it sounds like i'm bugging you guys with the same question, but it's getting really close to me finally building my pad. all i need to know at this point is.. can anyone confirm wether or not i shouls use the control box for my soft pad? if so, are there any techniques i need to know?

sokochan · Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2003 6:48 pm Post subject:

1) What style are you going for?

DDRHomePad's design will be thinner and lighter than a patster one.

2) Nothing lasts forever

They will last a good long time if you make them correctly

3) Particle board wont work.

Particle board is far too weak and will break with very little stress

4) It will work if made correctly
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watashi wa sakki

ShardDragoon · Basic Member Joined: 14 Jun 2003

ShardDragoon · Basic Member Joined: 14 Jun 2003

That was bad of me, little type-o there. www.modernplastics.com was the site I went to for lexan since I was too lazy to find it locally at first (couldn't find it at home depot or rona, they don't carry it anymore here).
And just so there's no confusion they are located in Connecticut, I live in Calgary, Alberta so you shouldn't be paying more than I did if you live in the states I would imagine.

Items I needed and will be using for pad #2 of the project: The lexan of course 1/8" thick, 11" x 11" squares, 5 pieces of 26 gauge sheet metal from Home Depot got 3 pieces out of each they were 3' x 1.5' roughly, 3M spray adhesive, 4' pack of velcro, 33 & 1/4" x 33 & 1/4" MDF board (if you only want 9 squares, mine is slightly longer, but still that width). Screws are optional, got 1/2" screws going through my poorly stuck sheet metal on this prototype board, got 5/8" handy for when I screw down my buttons after I'm sure I'm done. Also printed 10" x 10" buttons I found on this forum. 1 male serial port, 1 female serial port, some 30 awg kynar wiring that I had around anyways, 1 project enclosure box, 1 used ps POS gamepad, 1 m/f serial cable. Oh ya, and 1 3' x 3' piece of 1/8" spacer board stuff.

Andreq · Trick Member Joined: 11 Apr 2003 Location: Quebec foreva

Russ-Bus · Basic Member Joined: 11 May 2003

I'm sorry, when I said plywood, I assumed thats what it was... ahhhh but it is: structureboard. See I found a link with a pic: http://www.weyerhaeuser.com/ourbusinesses/buildingproducts/structurwood/ I think the structurboard lying around might be 1'' thick though. Oh... and more questions, is this Lexan material better and/or cheaper than lucite?[/url]

Tyris · Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2003 1:07 am Post subject:

At last! HomePad number 3, version 2.0 complete!!!

I built 2 last year... and they were a bit dodgy for a while... but since I opened em up in January and fixed em they've been going strong since.

Last holidays I started work on new plans for a thinner and cheaper version of ddrhp's. (It was originally going to fold along the diagnal too... but the wires would have been to much of a problem).
I finally finished it just now (finally wired the controller) and it works great (new record on Can't Stop Falling in Love (maniac) 5th mix first try

)
Shame it was for my friend!!!

also, due to inflation (damn Australia is a rip off... for everything!!!) it was about the same price as the first 2

. At least its only half an inch thick... or less.... and way lighter than the originals. (problem with making it so much thinner... is there's no where for the wires to go... so I had to dig rivets into the wood of the thing... VERY time consuming!!)

(already planning next pad

) I used copper for the contacts in my pad... does anyone know of a cheaper material that works as well...? coz its like $60 for 8 sheets

(australian pricing... which is still a RIP!!!)
Thanx!

(good luck to everyone else building their pads!!!, and another Thanx to ddrhp for the guide!!!)
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-Tyris
master of http://www.square-cubed.com and http://nintengu.net

betaiotaomega2 · Basic Member Joined: 06 Mar 2003 Location: UK

1) Hey. I have been collecting the materials for building my very own pad, however, I live in the UK (in the Midlands to be more specific) and am having trouble finding somewhere that sells those Stanly corner brackets. Anyone else in the UK know where i could get some? I checked all my local hardware and DIY stores but with no luck. I might have to make my own :-S.

2) Whats the point of the hardboard on the bottem? Would it not be cheaper/lighter/thinner to just use a large sheet of plywood? Just a thought.

3) And also, whats the point of the foam core? Couldn't you just use weather stripping up to the corners of the pads?

Thanks in advance!!

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Anyone know the closest DDR arcade machine to Worcester??

Keep on movin'!

sokochan · Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2003 11:25 am Post subject:

simdude · Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2003 1:04 pm Post subject: me dumb...........

i feel stupid asking but i am currently saving for a PS1, a DDR pad, and DDR game. Right now i am making very little money, and can't get out to make my own pad (which i would love to do). And i have heard people say that buying a cheaper plastic pad then taping/gluing/velcro-ing to plywood/plexiglass is easier. Is this a decent solution or should i just skip the trouble and save for the metal?
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Achernar · Basic Member Joined: 26 Jun 2003 Location: Green Bay, WI

Theoretical question:

You guys who have built platforms based on the ddrhomepad style (and most especially the Patster style, which I'm planning on using):

What would you consider to be the max weight load on those doubled-up 1/2" total squares of Lexan? I'm considering hacking together a Patster-style platform (lights and all) and would like to make sure that I'm not going to punch my foot right THROUGH the thing, since I'm a fairly hefty guy.

Anyone? Anyone field tested one of these bad boys and had someone (not stomping, just moving) just shove a foot straight through a panel? I was checking out the vid of Patster and his board, and it looks like those panels are flexing pretty well - and he doesn't look like too heavy a guy...

Tyris · Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2003 4:32 am Post subject:

@ betaiotaomega2
Down in AU the brackets were the hardest to find. Also very expensive. Try looking around (or ringing around better... ring all your local hardwares), and see if anyone has (or can order in) Corner Brackets... I got 50mm Zenith brand Corner Brackets (or maybe braces?) I was also thinking of just using flat pieces of metal instead... but if you haven't built a pad before... I'd probably suggest sticking with the instructions unless you really know what you're doing.
The hardboard on the bottom is for things to screw into... and to hold it all together... and also for stability... so really you can use anything.. just so long as its a big solid slab of wood... (or other hard substance)
I couldn't find any foam core down here... so I DID just use weather stripping... it seems to work fine.. tho I cant compare it coz I havn't tried a pad with foam core.
mine are deisgned like:

Achernar · Basic Member Joined: 26 Jun 2003 Location: Green Bay, WI

ZotTower · Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2003 6:27 am Post subject:

Achernar · Basic Member Joined: 26 Jun 2003 Location: Green Bay, WI