My home built metal DDR pad (Part IV)

Happypeoplebugme · Basic Member Joined: 28 Mar 2004

i am sooooooooo frustrated right now. im attempting ddrhomepads design, and i have had nothing but problems, i have had 2 3rd party controllers go to hell, and one 1st party, all digital. my abomination of a dance pad is begging to be put out of its misery, and im out 140 bucks in supplies. please someone give me some advice, i can send pictures on a request basis, i praying someone can help me.

game3eak · Trick Member Joined: 17 Feb 2004

Well what do you need help with.. Like i said before im open for questions at [email protected]

I just finished a ddr homepad and i used the adaptor for the xbox so i should know what your talking about.
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Happypeoplebugme · Basic Member Joined: 28 Mar 2004

i must apologize for my prior post, it was drenched in rant, but the truth remains, i keep shorting controllers, so im thinking it has something to do with my enviroment, i know that phoenix isnt the best for static electricity, so im thinking the sony controller will have to be my best bet, but to tell you the truth, i cant get the solder to stick to it. i have tried scraping off a little, a lot, and everything inbetween, and it just wont stick, im using rosin with 15watt iron, and im thinking if i can get the controller working freak free, then i can hammer out the problems with my pad, mechanics is much easier than electronics in my book.

tolookah · Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2004 6:20 pm Post subject: solder tips

ok, instead of putting the items next to eachother, heating them up and poking with solder, try to get solder on the wire, then the controller, and then put them against eachother, then heat. that should really help you out, just remember to take your time, and make sure you are working with a clean soldering iron (while its hot, consider dabbing it against a wet sponge, a clean iron does wonders)
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Aim: Tolookah
MSN: Tolookah
XBox: Tolookah
DDRPad Soldering and electrical Help: http://www.tolookah.net/DDR/ As hooded_paladin put it: "Currently, help for Beatpad Pro, official Sony Playstation Controller and ANY controller unless you are extremely stupid or lazy."

Happypeoplebugme · Basic Member Joined: 28 Mar 2004

ok, everyone read this, the sony brand H series controllers are the ones to use for soldering, you can check in the back above the term made in china, it will say that there. lots of exposed copper there, still smaller than an ants toilet seat, but at least the copper is there, now, its just a matter of getting to stay soldered, ill get it done, test it, and in the process of putting the controller back together, the solders will break. well, at least im heading the right direction, thank you for your advice.

hooded__paladin · Trick Member Joined: 10 Nov 2003

IMO any official controller, Dualshock 1 or whatever those only-digital ones are called (anything but DS2) work. They all have the little copper circles that are so convenient to solder to.

boardpusher2002 · Basic Member Joined: 11 Oct 2003 Location: New Jersey

yeah im thinking of building a ddr pad, is there really any major differences between riptides and ddrhomepads designs? is one easier to follow than the other? and also u say to use the dual shock 1 controller but wasnt that for ps1 and not pressure sensitive, which means it wouldnt register the freeze arrows?

thanks in advance!

sexualsoybean · Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2004 9:04 pm Post subject:

I got three questions:

1) For the arrow graphic sticker thing.. Ireally aren't that professional to make my own.. So can anyone make some for me?? They don't have to be the traditional arrows. Can be something funny, etc. And also, what size do I make them? And where do i print them? And how much does it cost to print them? And with what paper? I'm cluesless because Riptide doesn't include any information about them!

2) And I'm concerned, because I have a Playstation 1 controller.. I dont think those are pressure-sensitive, so what would happen if I used them? Will I stop be able to do freeze arrows? Keep in mind I have the old-school playstation1 controller that's gray and doesnt even have lil joysticks. So, what will happen with freeze arrows? Will they still work?

3) Does anyone have any tips for makiung the trick bar?? I haven't bothered with the dimensions or thought of any ways? So is there any tutorials or do you guys have any tips for me to even start doing it?

tolookah · Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2004 9:13 pm Post subject:

note: pressure sensitive != freeze arrows

if it's pressure sensitive, it WONT work unless you manage to make a pad that's pressure sensitive and encodes it the same way as the controller (don't ask, im sure none of us know/care to share because it's too difficult)

pressure sensitivity doesnt do anything for freezes, just pressing the button does.

A PS1 controller (without the knobs) is the one most suggested on this thread.

*end public announcement*
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Aim: Tolookah
MSN: Tolookah
XBox: Tolookah
DDRPad Soldering and electrical Help: http://www.tolookah.net/DDR/ As hooded_paladin put it: "Currently, help for Beatpad Pro, official Sony Playstation Controller and ANY controller unless you are extremely stupid or lazy."

hooded__paladin · Trick Member Joined: 10 Nov 2003

sexualsoybean · Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2004 7:41 am Post subject:

1. Arrows are size of the plexiglass.. 10 7/8 x 10 7/8 i think. so im assuming 10 7/8 by 10 7/8 paper is needed for that. There's only Kinko's and I think Office Max might do them.
2. I didn't check ddrhomepad's FAQ because I'm doing Riptide's design..

ANd I have one more quesiton:

My hardware store doesn't have .22" plexiglass, they only have 3/16" (which is 0.1875") so, will that okay for me to use? Will I notice a difference? Will I need to do anything additional because of my size difference?

hooded__paladin · Trick Member Joined: 10 Nov 2003

what I mean by #2 is:
Have you tried to do freeze arrows playing with your controller? Try it and then you tell us if it needs to be pressure sensitive. Or, you could look in the FAQ for DDRHomePad's design. Yes, I know that you're doing Riptide's design but electronics is electronics.

game3eak · Trick Member Joined: 17 Feb 2004

The arrows can be of anything, i made mine smaller (i cropped it) and then i used black spray paint to make a border so i didnt see the ugly insides.

YOU DONT HAVE TO GET THESE ARROWS PRINTED PROFESIONALY!

All you need is some thick paper (very cheap @ wallmart) and a color printer.

But if you dont have a printer then yea go get them printed a kinkos

EDIT: I made mine w/ out the pressure sensative stuff and i can do freez arrows fine... no problem
_________________

If i had a penny for every person who asked how i move my feet so fast i would be as rich as bill gates.

XBL Gamertag- Game3eak
AIM- Game3eak
Battle.Net- God_of_ddr \or/ ddr_legend

Windows · Trick Member Joined: 09 Jan 2004 Location: Ks

ok, my friend and i are planning on making a metal pad, we are going to use this http://www.geocities.com/ddrhomepad/ and we are also going to make this http://www.rufus3.com/ddr/pad/box/ we plan on making em for the xbox and ps2, control boxes that is, but....

i can't find the page that has the color arrows, and i can't remember if that page i listed is the best site to use to build a home pad, i just bought a raptor and i lost my old favorites

do you guys know a link to the color arrows and if that is the best site to use to make your own homepad? thanks ahead for the replies

xerox personality · Posted: Mon Apr 05, 2004 3:32 pm Post subject:

Alot of people here are talking about makeing a pad "for XBox" and alot of people are also asking if there are designes for "XBox pads". And to tell you the truth it anoys the crap outa me.
The pad designes are universal. The only difference between a "Sony pad" and an "XBox" pad is the controller you wire it to. If you want your pad to work on XBox, wire it to an XBox controller instead of a sony controller. Simple really.
My pad is hooked up to a PC. How? By wiring it to a key board.

Peace Out

Xerox_
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tolookah · Posted: Mon Apr 05, 2004 8:30 pm Post subject:

TrustNo1Uk · Basic Member Joined: 05 Apr 2004

Hi,

I am currently building a Cobult Flux clone Dance Pad. I am familiar with how the contact system works with two metal sheets and velcro seperating the two panels. I was just wondering if anyone had any information on how the Cobalt Flux is contructed/wiring mounted. Any pictures would be great (I don't want to reinvent the wheel

. I would also be interested with any suggestions anyone has to make in regard to this design.

fatddr · Basic Member Joined: 06 Apr 2004

has anyone tried to make one of these using a wireless controller? i am planning on building one of these for xbox when i can scrape together the extra money, but i was wondering, could you take apart a wireless controller and mount the transmitter from the controller on the front of the pad and hten just have the reciever in the xbox and it would work instead of having the cables going to a controller? then you could leave the controller with soldered points inside of the pad secured somehow.

does anyone think this could work and a lil suggestion or 8 would be helpful, thanks.
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