My metal pad design with fold-away control panel

Crowquill · Basic Member Joined: 10 Sep 2006 Location: Cincinnati, OH

I'm starting on a pad similar to Riptide's design, but I'm making a few changes. Most changes are due to cost. How much am I going to regret using fender washers instead of corner brackets?

http://www.UploadYourImages.com/view/877887sensor-diagram.gif

The other thing I really wanted was to use my hands to get though menus. So I've designed a fold-away control panel (similar to the TerTerBox) that will mount on the front of the platform in front of the top-left square. It's going to use arcade buttons left over from my MAME cabinet. It'll fold down for storage.

Here's a drawing of what it's like:

http://www.UploadYourImages.com/view/495865ddr_cpanel.ai.gif

I'll be using the solderless hack for a PS1 Dual Shock for the electronics.

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

Problem: won't the selection panel wobble like crazy?
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Marq(uistadorous) · Trick Member Joined: 03 Aug 2005 Location: Arvada, CO

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

Crowquill · Basic Member Joined: 10 Sep 2006 Location: Cincinnati, OH

That's probably a really good point.

Are we more concerned with the movement of the whole pad (and the connected box), or just the movement of the pipe and box? Making the pipe-frame rigid shouldn't be that big of a problem, and there will be thumbscrews securing it to the base below the hinges, so I don't see that the frame will wobble that much unless the whole pad is moving. The plastic box on top of the frame will have a locking pin to keep it stable in relation to the frame.

It'll be kind of like the stunt bar, but probably only 1" metal pipe.

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

slvrshdw · Trick Member Joined: 05 Jan 2005

do NOT i repeat do NOT attach it directly to the pad, it wobbles like crazy and doesnt work too well...(ive tried already)

make a separate stand..like that tripod idea, or just build it into where the tv is, which is really cool

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

Crowquill · Basic Member Joined: 10 Sep 2006 Location: Cincinnati, OH

That was a lovely diagram. It helps reinforce that I've wasted WAY TOO MUCH TIME in Illustrator planning this thing out and making diagrams when I could be BUILDING the pad itself.

I just want to be able to reach the control panel without having to get off the pad. Maybe I'll test the tripod idea. First I have to get the main pad built. Hopefully I'll get it finished up the first of next week.

BTW, after some experimentation, here are the arrow graphics I finally decided on. Simple but effective.

Crowquill · Basic Member Joined: 10 Sep 2006 Location: Cincinnati, OH

Oops. Double-posted.

The Wise Fool · Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2006 5:06 pm Post subject:

Those are nice graphics, did you make them?

Crowquill · Basic Member Joined: 10 Sep 2006 Location: Cincinnati, OH

Yep. I figured once I get done I'm going to upload PDFs of these and the "rejected" designs. I roughed out probably 7 different arrow designs.

At one point, since I wasn't worried about making an arcade-perfect pad, I was going to use vinyl flooring for the stationary panels. They would have been black with a white diamond on each. That would have given a grid of 9 diamonds on a black background. I finally gave in and bought the sheet metal, but kept the diamond design. Here's a picture as I was trying to visualize it:

See. I told you guys I spent way too much time planning it out in Illustrator.

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

Funny you mention that.
Took me all of 2 hours to do all of these:

((On the last one, I'm going to use the paintjob that gives you a Purple with blue reflection-stuff for the metal parts, so that's what the funny purple and blue stripes are all about.

))

Anyway, do you think they're amazingly trippy enough for a guy like me?
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Crowquill · Basic Member Joined: 10 Sep 2006 Location: Cincinnati, OH

Lookin' good. I like that they're more natural and free-flowing than the geometric arrows you usually see. They kind of remind me of manta rays. Not that that's a bad thing at all. Is the pink one for the X button?

Is there a place on the DDR Freak boards to discuss arrows and artwork?

Here's some of the designs I'd started working on. I was trying to keep them simple. The 3 rows of bars ended looking a bit too military. The card suits could work, but the UUDDLRLR Konami thing is a lost cause. I tried to make a girly-looking one too, but it just came out looking religeous.

Meanwhile, I actually got the frame finished.

Griffon12 · Basic Member Joined: 23 Dec 2005

frame looks good not sure if there is anywhere that people post their decal ideas let me know if you find anywhere

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

I got my sister doing more detailed shading and whatnot now for $5 (total), so they should come out pretty good.
The pink one's for if I decide to get busy and make a PIU platform too.
If my DDR doubles platform turns out alright (by alright I mean perfect), I'll build a second one, sell it for $800, then use the money from that to get the materials for a Pump doubles platform and a Solo platform.
I'll use excess to save up for a KBM machine.
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