My home built metal DDR pad (Part IV)

MaXxX · Basic Member Joined: 11 Jul 2004

As this is the first time I'm taking on building a metal/wood pad, I'd be terribly grateful for any comments. Note that the pad itself is in no way built yet, hell, I haven't bought even a single part for it yet. I'd just like someone to look at the "blueprints" I made, and comment on the workability of it all...

Here goes:

This is the plan for the step panel. From the top: a plexi/lucite panel, a wooden or pressed panel with the arrow image on a piece of paper put on it, then a sheet metal square with a wire placed with a screw into it, then 1/4-inch rubber pads, and finally another sheet metal square with a little springy metal piece screwed into it and a hole cut in it to let the top wire out. The wires - the one from the top plate and the one from the bottom metal piece - end together in a mono headphone jack plug.

And here is the base. A lot of wooden blocks, covered with thin rubber, on a large wooden or wood-like board. Between the blocks, where the centers of the panels will be placed, headphone sockets will be placed, and their wires will run out of the board to the controller. And, there's going to be a rubber layer on the bottom of it all.

The panels will be held down with screws+metal pads, placed around their corners.

The plug/socket things are to ensure easy removal and repairs of the panels, should any get broken, or perhaps for installing lighting, or something... It will definitely be more handy than wires soldered to the panels, anyway.

I know it's not going to be thin or light, but it's not supposed to. I'm planning on getting as close as possible to the feel of an arcade pad, so I'm going to allow the 6cm (2.5" ?) height and the ~10 kg (20 lbs?) weight it's going to have.

So, what do you think? It's ingenious, maybe it might work, it sucks, it'll break the moment someone steps on it?

morgan_rhys · Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2004 4:16 pm Post subject: Re: Review my pad blueprint?

[quote="MaXxX"]As this is the first time I'm taking on building a metal/wood pad, I'd be terribly grateful for any comments. Note that the pad itself is in no way built yet, hell, I haven't bought even a single part for it yet. I'd just like someone to look at the "blueprints" I made, and comment on the workability of it all...

Here goes:

*snip*

I think it sound pretty good, no obvious flaws that I see - except possible the springy metal thingie, not too sure about that, and d*mn! LOVE the drawings!! I especially like the idea of the plugs instead of "hard" wiring. My pad isn't exactly hard to switch things out from, but not needing to break out the soldering iron would definately speed the process.

Good luck, I hope it turns out as good as it looks.
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Morgan_Rhys' Site

joshuass · Basic Member Joined: 03 Aug 2003

I agree with morgan about hte mono jacks. Its an awsome idea indeed. I also share his concern over the spring steel strips you mention. I dont think they will provide adequate contact for the arrow pads. For example, stepping on the corner might not set it it off unless the spring steel is finely tweaked.

Also, if the only contact point is the spring steel, I dont think it would be necessary for you to use all that sheet metal (could cut down on some material costs--a good thing).

All in all it sounds like you got a great plan for your pad. It sounds very modular which is nice incase something stops working. Post some pictures if you can when your done.

discobiscuits · Trick Member Joined: 07 Sep 2003 Location: phoenix

some1 should so make a video with step by step (damned long video) and sell it. I know it would make a poopy load of money.

Shadow_65 · Trick Member Joined: 04 Jan 2004 Location: Saturn

im sorry if this has vbeen asked but does any one know the deminsions of the bar on the arcade machienes?
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LordPyrex · Trick Member Joined: 25 Apr 2004 Location: Yorktown, VA

Yes, and it has its answer in the arcade forum under FAQ About Arcade DDR. Scroll down and its somewhere in the head post.

Also, don't forget if you think that a question has been asked, you can try the search function.

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Does anyone else ever get caught in that perpertual time loop that exists when your in line between Beginners and Light players?

J/King we all started somewhere

Tyris · Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2004 5:17 pm Post subject:

LordPyrex and Caltrops, thanks for the compliments

I've thought of uploading my plans for it... however the biggest problem is they're mostly incomplete...
Basically its DDRHP's design... with the bits of wood that raies it 'removed', and with little ditches dug in the wood for the wiring.
Then instead of the brackets, I just asked my local steel guy to make up some of those things (was $15AU... about $11US... where as the brackets cost me $50 originally).

Thats pretty much all I changed, and removed the screws the the perspex I guess too...

The only problems at the moment, are that its sensitivity sucks... I need to spend a long time cleaning up the contacts inside etc... coz at the moment they're no good (I think the copper contacts are screwed from massive over use).

Thanks again for the compliments

*edit*
o, and if I build another pad (read: next time I build a pad), I'll be sure to document what I do and upload those instructions.. maybe even make a few sort video clips for it

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

LordPyrex · Trick Member Joined: 25 Apr 2004 Location: Yorktown, VA

No prob Tyris. Any chance that your taking orders on the steel work

. Not all of us have a local steel guy to work with, LOL.
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Does anyone else ever get caught in that perpertual time loop that exists when your in line between Beginners and Light players?

J/King we all started somewhere

Tyris · Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2004 6:02 am Post subject:

taking orders on steel work aye...?
I'd love to... but being in Australia and all... it wouldnt really be worth it

(shipping and all

) (aaa... Australia is awesome.. but... such a rip off

and so far away!)
The pieces I got made up are reasonable generic looking... and I reckon if you shopped around and asked around you could probably find some place that sells something close enough.
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-Tyris
master of http://www.square-cubed.com and http://nintengu.net

LordPyrex · Trick Member Joined: 25 Apr 2004 Location: Yorktown, VA

Its all good. I could probably find someone around here that could do that. I think that I would probably have a time trying to do it myself

. I'm trying to piece together my next pad from multiple designs.
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Does anyone else ever get caught in that perpertual time loop that exists when your in line between Beginners and Light players?

J/King we all started somewhere

Buckie06 · Basic Member Joined: 02 May 2004 Location: Toledo, Ohio

I'm having problems with my solder, I'm useing the sony non-analog controller, I drilled the holes and scraped off the black stuff. My solder is not sticking to the board though, I'm using silver-bearing solder .015 from radio shack. I even got some soldering flux and used that on the circut board but the solder is still not sticking, does anyone have some advice to help??
Thanks!

DBunny · Basic Member Joined: 15 Jul 2004

Hey everyone, I am planning to build a mat using ripsaw's instructions, but I am lacking the instructional videos , if someone can hook me up with a mirror or send them over it would be greatly appreciated, my email is [email protected]. Thanks in advance =)

Tomo_kun · Trick Member Joined: 26 Oct 2003 Location: SE-WI.

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

How much wiring would be needed for a pad to have noticable lag?? It feel like my pad has a bit of a lag problem...

the longest wiring is on the back button, in which case, goes around from the bottom of the pad stretched around the edge to the front.
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tolookah · Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2004 8:06 pm Post subject:

Nephus · Trick Member Joined: 22 Jun 2004

well, I'm still working out the design I'm going to use, but so far I do have one thing figured out for sure. The board is going under the center square. That way, all the wireing to the buttons will be the same length, it'll cut down on wire lengths (less chance for things to go wrong if there's less parts), and it just makes more sense to me to do it that way.

Right now I'm trying to figure out if there's a better way to do the contacts for the switches. I'm liking riptide's, but there has to be a better way to do things than using weather stripping foam.

LordPyrex · Trick Member Joined: 25 Apr 2004 Location: Yorktown, VA

Nephus · Trick Member Joined: 22 Jun 2004

what do the arcade pads use?

Shinmizu · Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 3:39 am Post subject:

Oryan · Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 5:32 am Post subject:

http://www.freehomepages.com/oryan/MetalPadFinished.zip

Right Click + Save Target As

Thats my Video i made, its alright i didnt go to much trouble doing the video editing becuase im one lazy mofo. Well anyways, the good and boo were caused by the pad, only becuase i didnt re-align the screws right.
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