My home built metal DDR pad (Part IV)

mikieson · Trick Member Joined: 14 Nov 2003

Very nice, what design did you use and did you modify it at all? I like the surface, is it the same material as the one used on the design you followed? Or did you choose a different material.

Also have you had any troubles in terms of accidently hitting the controlbox? Personally I'd put it a bit further from the pad if possible, or recess it a bit if you can (even if it makes it wider) so that if you do accidently hit it it will be hit from the top not from the sides. Just a few thoughts, it looks professional though good job

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I'm buying the materials for RipTide's Design tomorrow and making my design with the help of my dad, his tools and my friend's tools, wish me luck!

Also I'll post my arrow designs tomorrow for anyone else who wants to use them, also an optional tiny (about 5cm long, 2.5cm high)sticker that says "XenoX DESIGN - xenoxdesign.50webs.com" which you can put anywhere on your pad for anybody who wants to credit me

. Not necessary ofcourse, I can't (and don't want to) tell you what to do with my design. Just incase you feel guilty for using my design

.[/quote]

Well as far as I know its just a design I came up with. I have another I built a little while back and I have never once had any problems. It works and feels pretty much like the arcade. I really enjoy making pads. Gives me something to do.
As far as the material. I used flashing to cover my solid squares. And I also use angle aluminum to trim out around the pad.
The control box doesnt get in the way at all. Its just as wide as the solid square and not very tall......Thanks for the comments

Paramount X · Trick Member Joined: 15 Jun 2005

This is what I mean. Most pad for xbox do not have a break away piece right?

So i found a site that uses the controller and the usb at the same time

http://www.modfatha.com/ma_xbox_controller_mod.html

Ãark @ngel · Basic Member Joined: 12 Aug 2005

http://www.internalreality.com/XboxUsbAdapter.jpg

XenoX101 · Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2005 5:39 am Post subject: Arrow Designs Ready!

MOVED: To imaging thread for noticibility and relevance, which can be seen here..
www.ddrfreak.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=8206338

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

Hey guys. Does anyone know where I could buy super thin foam mats that you find under manufactured metal pads? I want one so I can put it under my homemade pad and protect my wood floors from the metal underside. I've already tried looking on google and home depot and stuff but everything's either too small, thick, or super expensive.

marcan · Trick Member Joined: 28 Jul 2005

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

Paramount X · Trick Member Joined: 15 Jun 2005

How do i get the light to light up with the bass and stuff.

I know that there is a disco ball looking thing, that changes with the bass. So how can one implement that.

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

tolookah · Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2005 3:28 pm Post subject:

re: bass lights

remember the sound a foot makes against an arrow is bass, and nomatter what the sensor, unless you have it a straight feed from the system, it will make noise to your foot presses
_________________

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

that's why it would be a lot better to have a digital output coming from the parallel port. it doesn't really work using the bass, but it lights up when you're supposed to step on the arrows and you can make a lights file, which would be saved with all the other step files for stepmania.

Paramount X · Trick Member Joined: 15 Jun 2005

...Lol I though it could adapt to any game. Like Ultramix 2.

Digital whaaaa?

marcan · Trick Member Joined: 28 Jul 2005

For linux I'll alter stepmania to send stuff out to a proc file into the gamecon driver, for commands. For windows you could have it alter the parallel port directly, too (kinda like that DLL does). But I have no idea how to program that on windows, although I will gladly post the source to the linux version (and windows folks can just edit the actual output to the system. Actually, a simple outp() to the parallel port address will work fine on windoze probably, but you need one of those drivers that open up specific IO ports. Not a big deal though.)

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

there is a dll available here for us, unlucky windows users.

as i said before, this only works for pc, but there should be a way to make it work with ps2 or xbox (i'm thinking of an inline-equalizer or something like that, but i have nooooooooooo clue how to make one of those)

more info on this can be found at cnlohr's website and at the stepmania lights tutorial.

Master_Nabo · Basic Member Joined: 22 May 2005 Location: Wisconsin

I finally finished my pad over my summer vacation. Cost a bit more than the estimates, but that was due to my lack of power tools.

My first pad turned out really well, but I had to do a bit of changing from the original specs. First, my steel wans't stainless, just galvanized, so it rusted. So I sanded it down, and applied some "Rust Away" spray paint (turned out decently nice). Second, soldering directly to the steel for the sensors didn't work the greatest (this steel was a different type, and didn't stick to solder too well). So, thanks to the help of a friend, we redesigned the sensors with little y-connectors and a bit of guessing.

It all worked out in the end, and it looks decently nice (little things still bother me), and it works great on my PS2 (plan to eventually hook it up to my PC). A bit heavy, but I can still move it, and perfect for transporting (put 600lbs on top of it and drove for about +5 hours). Still works great after this and many other stress tests.

I plan on eventually moving the control box from under the center panel to the empty room on the peg board, a bar on the other side, and maybe a boarder for looks.

btw, the lights idea would be awesome to do. I always wondered about the lights bit in the source for Stepmania, but never fully understood it.

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

as promised, here's a video of the stepmania lights thingy. sorry about the low resolution, but i'm trying to keep the file down.

i only have blue leds right now, but i should be getting some more soon, so i'll make it a little bit more colourful. so go ahead and click here

Prozzorp · Basic Member Joined: 26 Mar 2005

in riptide's design, I don't understand the purpose of the mending brackets. Could each mending bracket be replaced by a few washers to keep the height the same, and then some wire connecting the screws that were connected by the bracket?

I also don't get why there are two screws for signal and two for ground on each side, couldn't there just be one (meaning that you would have two screws on each side)?

slvrshdw · Trick Member Joined: 05 Jan 2005

well u could just have 2 screws per side of each arrow, but then u have to make sure when u hit the arrow to hit the arrow panel down onto those ONLY 2 screws., and thus makes the circuit complete...

if u have 2 of ground and 2 arrow (whatever), u only have to connect one set of the 2

basically its more sensitive..but i like it the way it is

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stupidbarber · Trick Member Joined: 28 Feb 2005

XenoX101

Hey all,

Just a quick question, does anyone know of how to get Riptide's sheet metal to be black? I asked my local warehouse and they said for $30 AU ($22 US) they can get me primer and paint, now while that doesn't sound so bad I've already spent $286 AU on this project ($215 US). I don't really want to spend much more, any tips?