My home built metal DDR pad (Part IV)

[deM']

Well, that i can think of the only other designs are patsters and blue beefmans, but neither of them offered guides of how to build them, so not the best bet for someone building their first pad. Patsters design is an arcade replica more or less, and BBmans is basically a riptide pad with altered sensor and support designs.

[XenoX101]

Alright, I have a few questions.

Firstly, which of those pads can you feel the arrows? Is it possible to make stoli's have arrows that you can feel without redesigning the whole thing?

Secondly, If I want to add lights underneath the buttons that light up when the button is hit, how would I do that? Is there a tutorial somewhere? Also can I add this later and is it doable on all the designs?

Sorry about this, but I don't know how I would go about finding this information through this thread.

Lastly, what are the differences between the designs in terms of technical difficulty, I am not the kind of person to build their own wardrobes and shelves and I most probably will encounter problems during creation, but I'd like to know which is the easiest to make without sacrificing quality, I still want this to be a robust pad that will last me and works like the arcade ones.

Oh actually, I have one last thing, for the parts that use stainless steel in stoli's design, is it possible to use a different material? Is there any way I could implement a smooth, rubber-looking black material kind of like this one ..

What would that be classified as and how could I go about to making the pad of that texture/appearance.

I know I've asked alot in this post but I really want to make my own DDR pad. I'm going to be using custom arrows because I'm a graphic designer and its adding my own touch and if anyone wants me to help them with some designs feel free to ask, thats all I can think of but um.. wait I also have cookies. Yes, cookies

Thanks.

[Paramount X]

http://www.digitaltorque.com/mydancepad/

For arrows that are recessed

[actjksn]

Just out of curiousity, how is everyone cutting plexiglass? I spoke to a guy at Home Depot about cutting lucite, and he said if I just scored the lucite a bunch of times with a utility knife it should be able to break and I'd just have to file it down a bit...has anyone done it like that?

[Paramount X]

I heard to cut plexi usign the jig saw, Your suppose to use 14 tpi blade.

[slvrshdw]

act-i just used a jig saw (i think it was the 14 tpi, i think its usually called the metal blade...tpi=thats teeth per inch right?)

xenox-if ur planning on putting lights in the pad do NOT use stolis, because its really thin...not good for adding lights..

use riptides pad..www.digitaltorque.com/mydancepad
same as paramount said..

u could use varnish instead of the sheet metal...some one else here did it but i cant rmr who, sorry


id just recommend riptides pad; its heavier, more stable (IMO) and i atually got it to work w/o much trouble at ALL
(the only i might do different is a lil bit about the contact system..that was a hastle and i think i got an idea of a better idea)

riptides plans have a center space that u could add lights because they are HOLLOW

another thing about just about any dance pad thats like an inch or thicker..
BUILD A BORDER!!
riptide doesnt have one, but when your cutting the base board, just add in another length of a 2x4 (3 1/2" i think)..maybe two 2x4s (7") if u want a top and bottom border mostly like the arcade, and a two 2x2s for teh sides (i dont know those measurements..sorry)

my friend messed up his ankle twice on his RO ignition pad becuz it didnt have a border, and on mine thats about 3 1/2" off the ground..so id add it in

(i might make a riptides based pad instructions on my site later WITH the border and measurements on it too)

just AIM, email me if u need help, im usually not doing anything at all

hope that convinces u to make a riptide/homepad pad hahaha
_________________

[Prozzorp]

[deM']

Prozzorp:

There is already a fully working light schematic for a riptide pad without having to use 2 switchs. It incorporates a basic transistor circuit and an external power source.

The circuit is http://marcansoft.com/subidos/images/sgdp/simpleleds2.png

[geckoinc99]

For those asking about cutting plexiglass, if you have access to a table saw it will work very well. Just use a blade with as many teeth as possible (or can afford, 60 is a good number). Then set the blade height to be just a little bit higher than the plexi (about 1/4 to 1/2 inch higher). Just pass it through slowly and you'll get a real nice cut. The scoring thing sort of works, but if you screw up it can ruin the entire piece of plexiglass. Otherwise a jigsaw or a hand circular saw should also work. Just pass through the material slowly. Don't try to force it.

David
_________________

Life is very different 3000 feet above the earth with only a wing to hold you up....
Can't wait to be there again. Wanna join me? Visit http://www.hanglide.com

[Paramount X]

[Tenesu]

[Future Master]

Im doing the riptide design. I was wondering what do u use on on the bottom of the plexiglass to connect the mending brackets? Do you you put four longer mending brackets on the plexiglass to connect the ground n arrow wire mending brackets? Or do you just do it ddrhomepad style by putting a big piece of sheet metal on the bottom of the plexiglass? Or four rectangles of sheet metal?
_________________

Remember this name i will be your master someday...

[Paramount X]

It doesn't realyl matter.

I;d say go with the strips of metal. Because you don't really want to cut another piece. As long as some type of metal is touching them and connecting you can do anything.

[tolookah]

[XenoX101]

Alright, I'm going with riptide's. Does anyone have a mirror for the videos or anything? The torrents won't work and the mirror he provided is down (well the videos are).

This would really help me as I'm not very savvy in this area. Anyway any info on how to implement lights would be appreciated, but for the most part I'd still like to know if I can get the panels which aren't buttons to look like this...



Without causing the design to flop, or have less sturdiness, does anyone know a material I could use, or something? Oh well thanks for the help so far anyway.

[Ðark @ngel]

[mikieson]

Well Im almost done with my new pad. I just need to drill the holes for my buttons in my control box. By the way..the metal isnt green, its gold color. My wall is green and reflecting on it..But green might be nice..LOL
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v470/mikieson/pad.jpg
Hope the link works as good as the pad...haha

[XenoX101]

[Paramount X]

I have the vidoes, Im me at Parmount X(AIM
super_Sayin_12_goku(yahoo)

[Paramount X]