My home built metal DDR pad (Part IV)

HackaX0rus · Basic Member Joined: 27 Nov 2005

http://ultimarc.com/ipacve.html

has anyone used one of these instead of riggin up a ps2 controller?
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HitokiriX · Trick Member Joined: 27 Mar 2004 Location: Berwyn, PA

Something like that is a bit overdoing it. You really only need 6-9 buttons + ground, which a regular PS2 controller or a soft pad control board can handle. Using something like what you posted is going a little overboard both on price and need.

Ravenwing · Trick Member Joined: 22 Jun 2003 Location: Leavenworth, KS

Could be pretty useful though if you would want to, say, build one control box for multiple pads.
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HitokiriX · Trick Member Joined: 27 Mar 2004 Location: Berwyn, PA

I suppose so, but it would still be hassle in my mind. Connecting two pads to one control board, then two PS2 controller wires coming out and attaching to two different PS2 controller ports? Seems simpler to just use two regular softpad contol boards right? But whatever. I dont' even know why I'm arguing anymore. It's really not a problem cuz both work. Just a choice of preference.

Ravenwing · Trick Member Joined: 22 Jun 2003 Location: Leavenworth, KS

Oh no, I totally agree about the PS2. I was thinking more along the lines of Stepmania applications, since it looked like it used a computer interface to begin with.

Sorry, guess I shoulda specified.

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marcan · Trick Member Joined: 28 Jul 2005

You could easily build a simple version of that hardware, with only the microcontroller and normal contact pads, which would be very cheap (<$10 probably) and useful for PS2, PC, XBOX, and also several pads at once. The idea is, once I get my more complex design done, I can make simple versions of the software for people who only want a simple triple-system control box.

raytracer · Basic Member Joined: 07 Jan 2006

Because I'm a cheapskate, I worked out a method to build a pad using alfoil (tinfoil, whatever). One question however, do you think this method would create too much static? because if it does, i'll stop being a cheapskate and actually make a proper pad...

btw, first post!

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

You're talking about the contacts only right? All foil contacts should work fine. Static isn't a problem if you use a soft pad control board.

BarkBarkBarkBark · Basic Member Joined: 13 Feb 2006

I am wondering if someone has a quick link or a picture of the 9-pin connecter that is used by RO on their older metal pads control box, so I can make my own control box for it. Unless there is a cheapy somewhere.

I just want to know what pin/color of wire connects to what button without tearing the whole thing apart.

slvrshdw · Trick Member Joined: 05 Jan 2005

about the tin/al foil contacts...

i started off trying that, but it started breaking down after just minimal use

overall, you're prolly going to want to use the proper sheet metal contacts since they wont wear off
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raytracer · Basic Member Joined: 07 Jan 2006

Thanks for the headsup!

what i've worked out is basically to get a 1x1m sheet of pegboard (actually, i've trimmed it to 90x90 cm), put the alfoil directly on the pegboard with spray glue, attach wires (I'm using tape atm :s). Take sheet metal, 84x84cm, place paper in appropriate spots to provide insulation from the alfoil, attach alfoil to paper. attach wires. place the lot on top of the pegboard and secure in the centre (theres a bit about using weather stripping and board underneath the centre section i've ignored here - but it is there). Possibly the better method would be to attach the metal directly in the middle of the pegboard and bend each side up so that it's sloped. this suits my style of play better... anyway, this is still hypothetical, as I need to get the metal first! but what do you guys think?

psxzombie · Basic Member Joined: 16 Feb 2006 Location: Maryland

ok, let me say that I have never played DDR. I've been reading up and it seems the metal (i.e. hard) pad is the way to go.

A friend and I have a preliminary design of a dance pad without moving parts. Basically, we are employing an integrated circuit chip by Quantum that controls up to 8 inputs (i.e. up, down, left, right, X, O, etc.) The chip is based on capacitance to sense the inputs. You may recall the "touch lamp" about a decade ago. We think this is the way to go, since mechanical reliability seems to be the main concern.

More details to come...

geckoinc99 · Trick Member Joined: 11 Feb 2005 Location: Chattanooga, TN

PSXZombie,
That is a very neat idea! I looked up some on it. Looks like it would make things very simple. Anyone wanting to get an idea of what is involved, search for QT110 or QProx and you should get some searches. Let us know how that goes. It would take care of the need for weatherstripping which can wear out as well as the noise issue some people have.
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rbh221 · Trick Member Joined: 05 Feb 2006

I was wondering, do I really need to add that back pice that is in DDRHomepad's pad?

raytracer · Basic Member Joined: 07 Jan 2006

that's why I wanted to go with the whole, single piece of sheet metal. in fact, I think I may just use tissue paper instead of weather stripping to try and keep thickness to an absolute minimum and avoid bending the metal (lazy!)

tissue paper in strips between contacts in case you're wondering...

psisarah · Trick Member Joined: 06 Jul 2005 Location: Toronto

raytracer · Basic Member Joined: 07 Jan 2006

we'll see

I have a few ideas. I'll post pics when I get the damn thing built, but it won't be for a while. I have a massive phone bill and I need to borrow some $$$ to pay it! :S

NiGHTS Chao · Basic Member Joined: 30 Jun 2005

Can someone please help me?

I have my metal pad soldered to a soft mad catz pad but I want to know if I cut the soft pad off (cut the ribbon wire off so im just left with a circut board) will my metal pad still work??
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1337

psisarah · Trick Member Joined: 06 Jul 2005 Location: Toronto

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

A touch sensitive pad would be amazing! Recently the mod ideas for pads have been really complicated like the LCD screen one and such, but this one seems like something I could actually pull off. It might have to take a back seat for a while though cuz I just finalized my procedure and design for my pad and changing it now would just delay my building time which I need to start immediately if I'm to make the deadline my friend's have made for me.