| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
FoxFireX
Trick Member
Joined: 07 Dec 2003
|
5220.  Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2006 7:15 am Post subject: Re: Materials |
 |
|
| vesper wrote: | | I'm buying all of that tonight/tomorrow, and I just wanted to make sure I'm not missing anything. I'm going to buy a PS2 controller instead of PS1 just to be safe, is there anything else I should do? |
I guess it may be too late now, being rather after tonight/tomorrow, but you might want to stick with the PS1 digital controller. The analog sticks tend to make things more complicated than they have to, plus if you get a PS2-only controller, you might not be able to go back and play Konamix, DDRUS, or (heaven forbid) Disney Mix. Or the PS1 imports if you ever feel so inclined. Just something to think about. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Jokerjr
Trick Member
Joined: 05 Aug 2004
|
| 5221. Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2006 6:45 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Yea..my pad is finished and all..but some times the arrows don't trigger.. it's werid.. I try to fix the contacts by screwing them and stuff.. nothing.. i leave.. i come back they work.. then don't.. then same thing i try to fix and leave come back and work.. Anyone know why my arrows won't trigger? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
stoli
Trick Member
Joined: 27 Mar 2005
Location: Southern NH |
| 5222. Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2006 8:57 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Jokerjr wrote: | | Yea..my pad is finished and all..but some times the arrows don't trigger.. it's werid.. I try to fix the contacts by screwing them and stuff.. nothing.. i leave.. i come back they work.. then don't.. then same thing i try to fix and leave come back and work.. Anyone know why my arrows won't trigger? |
I had a similar problem with the first pad I built. I determined that it was due to a static charge buildup on the sheet metal covering the center panel which was electically isolated from the rest of the metal on the pad. After I made sure that the center panel was connected to the rest of the metal sheathing, it has worked fine since.
-Stoli
_________________
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Jokerjr
Trick Member
Joined: 05 Aug 2004
|
| 5223. Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2006 6:05 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| don't really understand what u mean.. So i should check if my center metal panel is touching all the other panels? If not, how would i fix this problem with static? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
eTom
Trick Member
Joined: 26 Feb 2006
|
| 5224. Posted: Tue Apr 04, 2006 5:27 am Post subject: |
|
|
Just solder a wire from your center panel to the other metal panels on the mat i think...
_________________
LET GO |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Jokerjr
Trick Member
Joined: 05 Aug 2004
|
| 5225. Posted: Tue Apr 04, 2006 1:34 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| so solder the center metal center to the other panels? But isn't just a block of wood with metal on it? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
psisarah
Trick Member
Joined: 06 Jul 2005
Location: Toronto |
| 5226. Posted: Tue Apr 04, 2006 1:39 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Try removing your center panel and see if your pad works then. If it does, the problem is the sheet metal on the middle panel is connecing the circuit between other arrows. If thats the problem, wrap electrical tape around the sides of the center panel so the metal can't come into contact with any of the other parts.
_________________
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
stoli
Trick Member
Joined: 27 Mar 2005
Location: Southern NH |
| 5227. Posted: Tue Apr 04, 2006 1:45 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Jokerjr wrote: | | don't really understand what u mean.. So i should check if my center metal panel is touching all the other panels? If not, how would i fix this problem with static? |
If you use the corner brackets and scrw them together like DDR Homepad's design, then this is not your problem. If you used my design, or corner brackets that are not screwed together, then do like eTom says and connect a wire between the center panel and the rest of the metal sheathing. For test purposes, I recommend just taping a wire with some electrical tape and see if it solves your problem. If so, then spend the time soldering it where it is not visible or likely to be stepped on. Use as many wires as it takes to ensure all the metal on the pad (except the switch contacts of course) are electrically connected. Again, it depends on your design, but in the case of mine, I only needed to connect the center panel. All the other metal was touching.
As an alternative to soldering a wire, check out my web site - Borders Pt 2, steps 18 and 19. I used a small metal tab connected with some nails because the sheet metal I used for my stationary panels was un-solderable.
-Stoli
_________________
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
stoli
Trick Member
Joined: 27 Mar 2005
Location: Southern NH |
| 5228. Posted: Tue Apr 04, 2006 2:25 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Jokerjr wrote: | | so solder the center metal center to the other panels? But isn't just a block of wood with metal on it? |
I guess an explanation is in order. Here is what was happening on my original pad:
As the pad was being used, the constant rubbing of the center panel was causing a static buildup on that panel. Any peice of metal that has built up a charge like that, also develops an electromagnetic field around it. All the wires from my arrow switches go directly under the center panel and therefore, right through the electomagnetic field. They don't have to be touching the metal to be influenced by the field. It turns out that the controller board that I was using was very sensitive to this field and was intermittently shutting down - usually an arrow or two would stop working. If the pad sat unused for a bit, the field would dissipate and the pad would start working fine again.
By connecting a wire between the metal on the center panel to the rest of the metal on the pad, the charge does not build up and the problem was solved.
It's kind of like walking across a carpet and then touching a door knob. Sometimes you get a shock. That is caused by an electrical charge jumping from your body to the door knob. The charge builds up as you rub the carpet. If there was a wire connecting you to the door knob while you were walking around, you wouldn't get a shock because the charge would not be able to build up.
Hope that helps. And by the way, this is only one of many things that could be going on with your pad. A loose wire, a bad solder joint, or an intermittent short on your controller board could also be causing this behavior.
-Stoli
_________________
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
vesper
Trick Member
Joined: 06 Dec 2005
|
| 5229. Posted: Tue Apr 04, 2006 6:34 pm Post subject: 2x4's |
|
|
I'm not sure how the 2x4's fit into RipTide's design. Does anyone have a diagram of just the 2x4's and how they fit into relation to the base? I was watching his videos and saw that he cut them in half and that really just threw me off  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
eTom
Trick Member
Joined: 26 Feb 2006
|
| 5230. Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 11:09 am Post subject: |
|
|
stoli, i just read your site and i would like to thank you for the expert guide on making my own dance mat, brilliantly set out and detailed and your mat was made professionally, do you use them types of materials in your job?
_________________
LET GO |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Alaby
Basic Member
Joined: 04 Apr 2006
|
| 5231. Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 4:11 pm Post subject: |
|
|
After testing out some soft mats that did not work after a while, I have decided to make my own for the PC.
I have read this forum, it seems that people are using PC controllers, is this the best way to make it for the PC?
Last edited by Alaby on Wed Apr 05, 2006 6:22 pm, edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
-Scorpion-
Trick Member
Joined: 16 Feb 2005
|
| 5232. Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 5:49 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Yes, PC USB Controllers are the best way to go if you want to connect a dancemat to a Computer.
However, in my experience Xbox Gamepads/Dancemats with a soldered USB Connector and XBHD's HID driver work with less latency, especially the one specially designed for DDR. I guess that might be due to a lag-producing debouncing method in normal USB Gamepads. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Alaby
Basic Member
Joined: 04 Apr 2006
|
| 5233. Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 6:19 pm Post subject: |
|
|
thnx Scorpion, that is some really handy advice 
I am just waiting to dload RipTides videos, to see which way I want to go, in order to buy the parts.
Thnx to everyone who contributed to this board it was extremely helpful and inspiring! I will def keep an eye on this board |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Whitney
Trick Member
Joined: 26 Jul 2004
Location: Duluth, MN |
| 5234. Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 10:06 am Post subject: |
|
|
how rough can one be on these pads?
do they stand up to a sound beating of an all- day ddr fest on heavy songs? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
eTom
Trick Member
Joined: 26 Feb 2006
|
| 5235. Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 2:57 pm Post subject: |
|
|
That all depends how you make them. Use strong materials and construct it professionally and they can definatley stand years of abuse.
_________________
LET GO |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
stoli
Trick Member
Joined: 27 Mar 2005
Location: Southern NH |
| 5236. Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 9:00 am Post subject: |
|
|
| eTom wrote: | | stoli, i just read your site and i would like to thank you for the expert guide on making my own dance mat, brilliantly set out and detailed and your mat was made professionally, do you use them types of materials in your job? |
This was the first time I have worked with sheet metal. I have done a lot of woodworking prior to this project. I also have dabbled in electronics, so the soldering was nothing new. My job has nothing to do with any of them however. Just hobbies.
-Stoli
_________________
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
homestar1111
Basic Member
Joined: 17 Sep 2005
Location: NC |
| 5237. Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 2:16 pm Post subject: |
|
|
where do i find a place to get my metal pads fixed
_________________
DDR d
dddd
dd d dd
dd d dd
d
d |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
homestar1111
Basic Member
Joined: 17 Sep 2005
Location: NC |
| 5238. Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 2:19 pm Post subject: |
|
|
fdfdfdfdfd
_________________
DDR d
dddd
dd d dd
dd d dd
d
d |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
thelegendofnevets
Basic Member
Joined: 14 Apr 2006
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
Forums FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Login to check your private messages
Login
My Chrome Pad Website
