sensor idea

Tenchi50 · Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2007 10:00 am Post subject: sensor idea

it's more of a mod of devout's sensor, but if it works it'd be much easier for people because you wouldnt have to deal with epoxy..

i'm not really sure of the conductivity of aluminum tape, but if it conducts electricity well, it'd be a great way to make cheap sensors..

cover the wood panel with aluminum tape, then if you're doing an arcade style, not a devout stealth pad, cover the actual step panel.

any thoughts?
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Devon · Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2007 11:53 am Post subject:

I have no idea what you're talking about, frankly.

Tenchi50 · Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2007 2:38 pm Post subject:

hah. i'm talking about making a sensor using aluminum tape.

i was wondering if anyone knew how well aluminum tape conducts electricity
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ChilliumBromide · Trick Member Joined: 16 Jun 2006 Location: Beaverton, OR

It's horrible, useless stuff. Seriously; don't use it. :<
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Tenchi50 · Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 4:35 am Post subject:

hah good to know.

i was planning on building an ASC out of it...back to the drawing board
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ChilliumBromide · Trick Member Joined: 16 Jun 2006 Location: Beaverton, OR

A spray adhesive and some very low-gauge steel would probably work well. If you're just going to have little 1" buttons, you could probably get some 3/32" steel plates and use those for the contacts; you'll just need a way to cut them into little circles. There are some carbide drill bit things that might work for that. I'm no expert on this sort of thing, so I wouldn't take my advice to heart, but I'm sure devout would know.
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Tenchi50 · Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 2:18 pm Post subject:

i'm going to lowes tomorrow to get the bar materials for my devout pad,

and i might look into some different things, i want a way to build cheap ASCs for my friends, they don't like playing on the devout, but want me to build them pads :/
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ChilliumBromide · Trick Member Joined: 16 Jun 2006 Location: Beaverton, OR

Well, are they primarily arcade players, or softpad players?
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Tenchi50 · Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 4:42 pm Post subject:

arcade
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ChilliumBromide · Trick Member Joined: 16 Jun 2006 Location: Beaverton, OR

Then just try making them with recessed arrows. To do that, all you need to do is get slightly thicker pieces of wood for the corners and center panel. Better yet, ask your friends what they don't like about the Stealth, and then modify it to fix those problems.
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devout · Trick Member Joined: 15 Dec 2006 Location: the atl

aluminum is aluminum and it all conducts the same... except when it doesnt. the only reason it wouldnt conduct is if someone did something to make it not. if the tape advertises itself as being "conductive tape", you can be sure it will work just fine. an example where someone makes it not conduct is a soda can, which despite being made of aluminum does not conduct electricity. If it's just "aluminum tape" and doesnt say conductive, test out a little before you buy a bunch. PS, i've heard (but never tested) that duct tape is mildly conductive... that's why I don't recommend using it to hold the foil edges down.

I suppose that conductive tape would be easier that foil, but also more expensive, maybe a lot more expensive. For that matter, there is also such a thing as conductive paint that could be pretty easy to spray on, but that's even more expensive. (If you've ever seen something plastic that looks chrome plated, it is made by spraying conductive paint on the plastic and then electroplating it.)

As for smaller sensors... the original stealth sensor that I built in 2001 didnt have the whole surface covered with foil, but just had a little circle (cut out of 26 ga steel) in the center of the step, and you pushed the steel down onto that circle. For the most part it worked fine, though I only used it for the x/o buttons, and never tested it for anything but navigating menus. It's entirely possible that it would work just as well as the foil if done correctly.

As for cutting plates into circles, the only thing i'd recommend to do that at home would be a dremel with a reinforced cutting wheel. dont waste your time trying any other hand tools... though if you had access to real sheet metal tools it would be even better.
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Ghettobarney · Trick Member Joined: 21 Dec 2006 Location: Failing Pandy

Duct tape is not conductive since I believe it's rubber based adhevise, or at least if it is it's not nearly enough so to make any kind of difference.
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Tenchi50 · Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 2:25 pm Post subject:

yea i actually folded some over to add a little more distance between the metals on my pad, and it hasnt made a bit of difference
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