My home built metal DDR pad (Part IV)

Little Firefly · Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2003 4:17 pm Post subject:

I was wondering about how heavy these pads are once you finish them. I need to be able to move mine, my mom won't be happy to have a permanent ddr setup in her living room ( even though i would LOVE that)

o and how thick does the Lexan have to be? 1/8 or 3/16?
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GiZMO13SOLiD · Trick Member Joined: 24 Apr 2003

Has anyone made a design for a DDR metal pad that's compatible with Pump it Up?
What would you need to change for it to work? Will wiring be different, or basicly the same , just more? Also, the actual foundation and structure of the pad will be different since there won't be corners to support it since it will be 8 button pad?

Someone think about this. I really want to build one.

Enforce1 · Trick Member Joined: 22 Aug 2002 Location: Forest Hill, MD

Well, it really depends on what kind of pump you're talking about. If you're using the official Pump It Up Perfect Collection, or the like, released by adimiro (sp?), then good luck, I don't know how a ps2 keyboard works well enough to be of assistance. However, I do know a thing or two about computers... and I'm going to impart that on ya right now...

I'm sick of hearing all this bulldink about peoples psx->usb adapters not working. We can do this an easier way, people! I got a usb control pad from Electronics Boutique in the mall for 10 bucks. Its wired and made the EXACT same way as the "cheapie" psx controllers that ddrhomepad talks about. Now, heres where it gets tricky... not really. This can be done really crudely, or very nicely (GiZMO13SOLiD: you'll have 6 wires on your pump pad, and 5 on your DDR pad... I wouldn't recommend doing both, or you'll be rockin some kind of crazy technomotion action that I'm semi-scared of)... There are 5 wires coming out of your ddrhomepad, right? Right. Now, if you built the arcade style box (I don't remember the link to it) then you'll already have an 8 position bi-pole switch. If you get a slighty larger box... actually, very much larger box (so pcbs don't touch), you can run 2 wires out of the bi-pole switch, one set into your psx controller, one to your usb. I wouldn't use both, as that might short something... or whatever. Another thing you could do, which is what I've done, and it works VERY well, is put all of it on 3 way switches. I don't know if this could be down a better, more efficient way, very novice with electronics. I put wach of the 5 wires on its own switch, and when all 5 are to the left, its stepmania (USB) and when all 5 switches are to the right, its PSX. It works VERY well, and I haven't had any latency problems, no voltage problems etc... at least, nothing has blown up, and I used both sides of the switch very frequently. I mean, this project costs you 20 bucks and a little more time, as opposed to 40, or whatever, plus shipping, and then it might not work. Someone better than me can make the plans, and all that, I just thought I'd shed a little insight on this prob.

And in closing... I have no freakin clue how to set up pump official. Seems out of sync anyways.

Thats about it...
Piece,
Enforce
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tolookah · Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2003 10:32 pm Post subject:

ok, instead of the switching idea, something that may work out a little better (and possibly cheaper) with enforces design is using possibly networking cables. Just have a network cable(8 pins, 7 buttons and ground) come out of the controller (something short preferably) and a female connection at your pad. if you dont like crimping your own network cables, look at using a serial cable's connection (9 pins, 8 buttons and ground) can find listed as D shell connector. and again, if that doesnt have enough buttons for you, look at parallel shells (also D sub, but 25 pins, 24 buttons and one ground.)

hope this sheds some options for you guys who would use enforces design for using the ddr pad on the pc... i just made a parallel adaptor, it works fine for both my controllers

Enforce1 · Trick Member Joined: 22 Aug 2002 Location: Forest Hill, MD

Yeah, I made this for the people who already have theirs built, and don't want to tear them apart...

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Thanks for your attention,
Jesse [DDR Seniors Division]

chewie69x0 · Basic Member Joined: 16 Sep 2003 Location: saline, mi

hi... i have an RO metal pad... but it hasen't work sinced the switches poped off...... so i tried to solder new switches and the pad still doesn't work.... so in theory i might have to make a control box... but what should i do?

KickTheCan · Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2003 12:01 pm Post subject:

Do you have to use the washers if you do mending bracket contacts? It would be nice if i could get a response this time...

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thetaller1 · Trick Member Joined: 26 Jun 2003 Location: Ur Momma

i do not have a metal pad but i suggest if ur using non metal washers.
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KickTheCan · Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2003 3:48 pm Post subject:

i dont understand what you are saying
_________________

"I am Jack's smirking revenge."
"I am Jack's cold sweat"
"I am Jack's raging bile duct"
"I am Jack's broken heart"
"I am Jack's complete lack of surprise"

CPU · Trick Member Joined: 28 Dec 2002 Location: Augusta, GA

I am building a DDR controller, but with jumbo pushbuttons instead. Could someone direct me to a site or somewhere with instructions of how to wire it up. The main problem is finding a source for the lamp in the button. Which wire goes where? Please help.
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thetaller1 · Trick Member Joined: 26 Jun 2003 Location: Ur Momma

i mean u can use washer, but make sure they dont attract anything [it may burn the wires and mess them up].
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PM me your pics if you did my softpad mod!

thetaller1 · Trick Member Joined: 26 Jun 2003 Location: Ur Momma

if ur using this for ddr u dont wont push buttons, u'll get an injury
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PM me your pics if you did my softpad mod!

tolookah · Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2003 12:02 pm Post subject:

for buttons: if you are thinking of using microswitches, they are great little devices... BUT... they are a little loud, and if you don't take care enough, you will totally smash, shatter and/or render useless a switch.

Side note, anyone ever think of using conductive foam? (also known as antistatic foam) I'll post more in about an hour or two when i get results how it works as a pseudo button. (i am using relays, and a bunch of other stuff, already thinking about lighting)

fall3n · Basic Member Joined: 16 Aug 2003

yea i made a ddr pad using the instructions from that website. It worked really well.. but i wrecked the solder point for ground on the controller so i hadda scrape one of the sircuits and solder it to that.. now the wires come out and im poopy out of luck. Im trying to use my old soft pads control but all it does when i touch wires together is lights up but doesnt send the signal to my ps2 to register a button! is there something special u have to do to the soft pad control to make it work?
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thetaller1 · Trick Member Joined: 26 Jun 2003 Location: Ur Momma

ok, so did u open up a softpad and touched the "sensor" [wut ever it is called] alone? i think it needs that type of material to perform the button, it lights up cuz it has nothing to do with the game, just a lil side on.

fall3n if i get anything wrong, i think its cuz u werent descriptive enuff [i do it all the time

] so dont be mad at me [like him,

]
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PM me your pics if you did my softpad mod!

SwiftDancer · Trick Member Joined: 22 Mar 2002

Ok, since I don't have time to go through 56 pages to look to see if this has been answered..
I am curious does anyone have a design of a pad with 6 panels and lights? or at least 4 panels and lights?
if so please post the website
thanks

CPU · Trick Member Joined: 28 Dec 2002 Location: Augusta, GA

The pushbuttons have microswitches, I just want to know how to wire the buttons up so I don't have to have a separate power source for the lights, it would be nice to have a website. Or if someone could post about it, with instructions of how to. Note: I will be using my hands for the buttons.
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tolookah · Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2003 8:48 pm Post subject:

Kradd Kento · Basic Member Joined: 23 Jul 2003

I really don't have enough time and interest to look through all these pages, so I don't know whether my question has already been answered or not... so anyway, here goes.

I'm using DDR Home Pad's design, and for the weatherstripping, i couldn't find any 1/2 wide by 1/4 thick. I could only find 3/4" wide by 5/16" thick and 3/8" wide by 3/16" thick.

As for my question, if I can I use either of these instead of of the 1/2 wide by 1/4 thick without it really screwing up, and if so which of the two I can find is better?

QuestionMark · Trick Member Joined: 07 Sep 2003 Location: Burke,VA

I planning on building this pad:

www.angelfire.com/d20/ddrhomepad/ [think that's it]

together for like a doubles and also building that terterbox actually rising from the pad and hiding a select button somewhere - [arcade dosen't have select dose it

] then doing the actual trick bar on the back.
I'm estimating it's going to cost me around $250-300 to build so i have to save up. However i have a question and need ideas... I actually want all this to be able to detach from each other and easily be put together in pretty much seconds... any ideas on how to do this easily? i just can't think of a way it can detach and have the terterbox and rail on it without ruining the whole thing.....

anything is appreciated...
Thanks....

P.S. TerTerBox isn't my main concern anymore since i can probally just attach it with screws onto the front of the pad. But i can't think of a way for the ACTUAL bars [from channelbeat] to be detachable without opening the thing each time i want to detach.