My home built metal DDR pad (Part IV)

HitokiriX · Trick Member Joined: 27 Mar 2004 Location: Berwyn, PA

sorry double post

Makaiju · Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2004 11:04 am Post subject:

Okay, here's the scoop. I've been working on my own metal pad (using RipTide's design from the videos) for the past two weeks and I just recently finished it the other day.

Everything seems to work great! Well, for a song or two. Then, for some unknown reason, one or two of the arrows completely stop registering. The weird thing is, it's like "hot potatoe" because, even though one arrow stops registering, a few seconds later, it will start registering again and another arrow will die in it's place...

If I unplug the controller, and put it back in, it resets it and it works perfectly again. For one or two songs.

Here's the kicker, it only works if I'm in sockfeet. The second I put on shoes, or slippers, it dies on the spot.

All I can ask is, "How can I fix this!?"

ch · Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2004 11:41 am Post subject:

a six arrow is the same as a 4 arrow, except that where the edges of the arrows touch each other, theres no wood or metal or anything. theyre just open to each other. they should keep separated by the corner braces, but make sure they wont hit each other when you press them.

whatever you did for the regular wells, just do it again for the corner ones. im sure it can be done, just noone said anything about it. you'll be the first if you post instructions, i think.
_________________

http://www.grapheine.com/bombaytv/index.php?module=see&l=uk&code=36e44d4914f14070cc5b3d4c6bcd1042

CStarFlare wrote:

I approve of the direction this thread is going

http://www.xtranormal.com/watch?e=20090310025322668

moonmen0 · Trick Member Joined: 08 Jul 2004

hey i read that you are having a problem with your buttons not working, umm, first of all what is it for ? playstation, if it is, on the plug in the middle is there a little metal thing, or is it solid plastic, that metal thing is a ground. If you dont have it then you prob need to try to ground the pad to either an outlet(if its for playstation) or you could ground it to the computer case if its for computer.....i grounded mine to the computer case.
_________________

WHAT WAS I THINKING WHEN I READ 100+ PAGES OF POSTS?

Ulala321 · Trick Member Joined: 28 Sep 2004

ch · Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2004 8:06 pm Post subject:

5thdementian, what did you use to make the borders on your pads with? it looks really nice. i like the handles and casters for easy storage behind the couch!

EDIT: nvm, didnt read closely enough. COOL, tho
_________________

http://www.grapheine.com/bombaytv/index.php?module=see&l=uk&code=36e44d4914f14070cc5b3d4c6bcd1042

CStarFlare wrote:

I approve of the direction this thread is going

http://www.xtranormal.com/watch?e=20090310025322668

DDRdre · Trick Member Joined: 08 Feb 2004 Location: Fl

PROBELM: Hey i got a problem. My pad will only resgister if i hit around the wire that connets it to the control board. My contacts are differnt then most people since im using my freind degsin and since my email is not working i cant email him. My contacts are two sheets of sheet metal. One end of the wire is soldered to ground and the and the other taped to a small part to the sheet metal. The same thing is done for the button it is assgined to (up down left or right) When you press the arrow the two sheets contact each other and it resgisters. The probelm is it only contacts about 3 inches above and to the side of the wire. Anymore and it wont resgiter. I need help. I tought of that if i just extended the wire it will slove the probelm but before i do it i just want to make sure there is no simple error that im doing.

I have no pics since i cant upload pics on my image server for some reason!!

_________________

....... < (My view of life)

ch · Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2004 6:56 pm Post subject:

im thinkin that theres too much resistance between the contact on the controller and the ground on the controller. make sure you're only using enough wire to get from the controller to the plate, and vice versa. also make sure that the wire isnt as thin as a whisker, because that would increase resistance, too. or, your plates could be dirty. make sure that the metal can contact easily, and that the wires arent coming loose.
_________________

http://www.grapheine.com/bombaytv/index.php?module=see&l=uk&code=36e44d4914f14070cc5b3d4c6bcd1042

CStarFlare wrote:

I approve of the direction this thread is going

http://www.xtranormal.com/watch?e=20090310025322668

moonmen0 · Trick Member Joined: 08 Jul 2004

i just finished cutting my pannels and, i found that the best tool is wiss type snips, the way the blade is made it cuts throught the metal but doesnt leave a sharp edge, which is good if you plan on playing barefoot. And i used steel wool on the metal and it looks like it removed all the spreckles from the surface, it looks real shiny so if that is what you are going for, you should do that.......hope it wont rust or oxidize?
_________________

WHAT WAS I THINKING WHEN I READ 100+ PAGES OF POSTS?

mtwieg · Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2004 2:25 pm Post subject:

what's the big deal with cutting the sheet metal? as many others have mentioned, the edges are never exposed, so the sharpness shouldnt matter.
if you really want to know, tin snips work well.

Raymond85 · Basic Member Joined: 07 Nov 2004

Puh,

Finally.. Finnished reading the pages.. Took me the whole week!
Anyway..

Many of the old posts includes links that are broken, where did beefman's pad intructions go??

Im concidering building a pad.. And I dont own a ps or xbox..
I want to play it on my pc.. Can I buy a cheap gamepad, and use that instead of pscontroller?
Gamepad that uses usb?

Ulala321 · Trick Member Joined: 28 Sep 2004

You can wire it to USB for your computer, yes. Someone heere should be able to tell you how or link you to instructions. I'm not too savy with electronics wiring myself though.

ch · Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2004 5:08 pm Post subject:

you should be able to do it the same as soldering to any other controller. Make sure that you can press both left and right at the same time before you solder to it; pop the case off and put leads across the left and right buttons at the same time. be careful with this! dont fry the controller! or yourself! then just make a pad like any other, soldering the same, everything.
_________________

http://www.grapheine.com/bombaytv/index.php?module=see&l=uk&code=36e44d4914f14070cc5b3d4c6bcd1042

CStarFlare wrote:

I approve of the direction this thread is going

http://www.xtranormal.com/watch?e=20090310025322668

MrZombie44 · Basic Member Joined: 14 Sep 2004

im currently working on building my own pad. Instead of using a PS2 controller i have opted to buy an old computer keyboard and pull it apart and use the arrow keys on it so i wont need a ps2 to usb adapter i can just plug directly in to my usb port it works wonders so far all the electronics work.

well thats my pointless post for the day

Rockhopper · Basic Member Joined: 30 Sep 2004

Raymond85 · Basic Member Joined: 07 Nov 2004

oki, but instead of soldering the left and right directions I could solder the buttons instead? Same thing.. Since you can asign it in stepmania anyway..

You said you used a kwyboard? Is that nye more difficult than soldnering a gamepad?

MrZombie44 · Basic Member Joined: 14 Sep 2004

i dont think it was that hard i pulled it apart attached 9 wires to the board which gives me u,d,l,r,enter, and esc not much to it

DarkDragon696 · Trick Member Joined: 18 Aug 2004 Location: PA

Where does the ground wire go to???

latindude88wpg · Trick Member Joined: 12 Nov 2004 Location: winnipeg, mb

Raymond85 wrote: