My home built metal DDR pad (Part IV)

pnaxighn · Basic Member Joined: 11 Jun 2004

While there are a lot of pad designs available here, it seems they all use two contacts with weather stripping between them.

While a lot of people seem happy with this, I wanted more. I'm currently working on a pad (design-as-I-go) which contains no moving parts whatsoever. I'm almost done with the schematics for each button, with my test button being fairly satisfactory (a tap of my big toe on the corner, without putting my weight on it, is enough to activate it).

When done, should I post the schematics here? Would there be any interest? The cost of components per button looks to be ~$15, so one whole pad will likely be under $75, in case anyone is curious.

--oberon

wireplaycc · Basic Member Joined: 13 Jun 2004 Location: Southern Maine

kirbyrockz · Trick Member Joined: 18 May 2004 Location: TX

Is digitaltorque down? It's not coming up for me.
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pnaxighn · Basic Member Joined: 11 Jun 2004

Tyris · Posted: Thu Jun 17, 2004 5:01 pm Post subject:

whooo!! long time since last post XD
I got 3 pads, the latest of which is based of the original HP designs, only a LOT lighter and thinner...

I need to repair all three atm... but I'm very interested to hear about your button idea pnaxighn...
what can you tell us about them? and could we assume they would never need to be repaired because there are no moving parts...? also.. what about the chance that they're too sensitive?
share your secrets, c'mon

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-Tyris
master of http://www.square-cubed.com and http://nintengu.net

Verified · Trick Member Joined: 01 Jun 2004 Location: Behind You!

update: Due to new ideas, my pad still isn't done, there has been a change in deminsion. its now 3 1'2 inches think, just because thats the thickness of the actual pads. heh

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Tyris · Posted: Thu Jun 17, 2004 5:36 pm Post subject:

ooo, thats a thick pad =S
I take it you dont really intend to take it place?

mine is about half an inch... (my good one), the others are DDRHP style so about an inch each...
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-Tyris
master of http://www.square-cubed.com and http://nintengu.net

adante · Basic Member Joined: 22 Jan 2003

Where can I obtain different styles for the arrow graphics? I know there used to be heaps out there, with designs like jedijeffs except the actual arrows were more square/less rounded), and some nice ones with kanji for north/south/east/west

are these still archived somewhere? does someone still have them? I went through about 30 pages of this thread trying to find them before I gave up.

tolookah · Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2004 3:34 am Post subject:

Heffenfeffer · Trick Member Joined: 22 Apr 2002 Location: Las Cruces, NM

Hey folks, long time listener, first time caller. I decided to try building a homepad, but now I'm stuck at an impasse. I decided to go on a Riptide v.2.0 design (i.e., the 'new' one he has on his site, with the plywood base and corners cut from the plexiglass panels.)

Right now, I'm having trouble with each of the corners - whenever I try to cut plywood corners so that they fit the plexiglass, there's no room to screw the screws into (the screwhole has half plexiglass and half wood under it.) When I try to cut corners so that wood is visible under the screwholes, it pushes the plexiglass out, forming gaps around the edges of the panel.

What can I do to solve this problem?

Thanks,
Heffenfeffer
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Verified · Trick Member Joined: 01 Jun 2004 Location: Behind You!

big problem, i used DDRHP design, but my contacts are so weak! i have the right foam pad and weatherstripping, but they take a lot of pressure to contact/when they contact, they stay contacted for long periods of time, leading to loads of misses/boos on my game, what other good arrow designs are out there?
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adante · Basic Member Joined: 22 Jan 2003

Verified · Trick Member Joined: 01 Jun 2004 Location: Behind You!

figured i should highlight my problem for better perpective, and maybe some help..

The sensors are messed up because my dad insisted on using aluminum... plus, he said to build the frame and then! put aluminum flashing over it. which leads to aluminum flashing sicking out, which lads to the buttons getting stuck under the aluminum, causing them to stay contacted. I tried making them more sensitive by adding screws to add height to the bottom contact, but that doesn't work too well.

and adante, why don't you try making your own graphic, thats what i did... *I have feet on mine*

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Tyris · Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2004 7:09 am Post subject:

Verified · Trick Member Joined: 01 Jun 2004 Location: Behind You!

yeah... i'll test out some of those things... I was toying around, and i did get the frame out of the way, in the process, i made very weak metal covering. the center square now has a pretty tear in the aluminum flashing from my foot catching. It really is a horrible way to build a pad. I think its mostly just a very stupid mistake on my dads choosing that i now have to pay for. I dunno, maybe i'll try and sell a bunch of stuff to get enough to buy a CF... I'm just really bummed. Because i don't think there is any way to fix this, even with your ideas, the only thing i could probably do with it at this point is *maybe* lessen the problems, nonetheless, without an overhaul, i would have a shoddy built semi-working thick, heavy dance pad. Okay! now on to help other people who still have a chance!
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Tyris · Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2004 12:32 am Post subject:

if you could maybe post a pic or two... maybe we could give some more help

;
I dunno.. i know that my pads are kinda old now... so I'm gonna upgrade them completely to v2.5 pads (my design based of DDRHP) so that they're lighter and better... and I dont really have to replace that much stuff...
so you can probably save your pad without toooo much replacement and stuff

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-Tyris
master of http://www.square-cubed.com and http://nintengu.net

Verified · Trick Member Joined: 01 Jun 2004 Location: Behind You!

my pad was made mostly out of stuff we already had, we put around 30-40 dollars into it. Nowi i'm looking to get a metal one online, probably a judysdeals, its probably bettermade that my homeone was NEway! I'l just be sure to mod it, i could probably use the aluminum flashing for that job anyway.
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Neya · Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2004 10:23 am Post subject:

You used Alunimum on the contacts? it tends to be a bad conductor of electricity If I remember correctly

IIIMUNKIII · Trick Member Joined: 07 May 2004 Location: Deltona FL

Im gonan try to build a metal pad with my dad because i jus wasted 65 bux on a pad and it broke so im gonna build my own. Now im gonna use ddrhomepads design and i am wonderin how do i get lights on there? So if anyone has a link to a guide that would help also if u have any tips that arnt on sites that uv learned from ur own mistakes while buildin a pad please share

. Thanx in advanced.
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