My home built metal DDR pad (Part IV)

Paramount X · Trick Member Joined: 15 Jun 2005

Ok. I see so when I make mines. All the ground wires of wach arrow panel will have to be soldered to a single point ?

Natural Killer · Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2005 12:39 pm Post subject:

Just figured I'd show off my home-made DDR platform w/ bar...

It isn't finished yet...still needs to be screwed down and I will most likely slap some paint on it eventually. This is basically what it will look like though...

http://public.fotki.com/NaturalKiller/dance_dance_revolution/ddr_platform.html

Tell me what you think!

Paramount X · Trick Member Joined: 15 Jun 2005

where you get the arrow grapics from. Or is that RO AB
It look like RO AB
But it look ok.

Natural Killer · Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2005 1:43 pm Post subject:

No no... haha its definitly an AB... I know this is the "Homemade pad thread" but I just figured I'd put that in this thread since the platform and bar is home made.

KazeNoKoneko · Basic Member Joined: 25 Jul 2005

I'm still a few weeks away from any actual construction, but have been designing a few things to possibly make a pad more like I think one should work. I've got a few questions tho...

I'm looking at creating some spring powered switches under the panels. I'm looking at about 4lbs for the 1/4th inch compression I am aiming for. With 4 of these per panel that would be about 16lbs of force to activate the switch, any comments on that? I'm also looking at using springs for all of the contacts aswell to help cut back on noise and stress on the panels.

I'd also like to build a pad with a swappable controller box, but seeing how I've not seen many pads that do this I have to wonder how well it would work. My old pad used a $3 joypad for the computer, but since I only played on my computer with my hardpad it was fine. I'm looking at trying to support all PC/XBox/PS, but would be most willing to drop the PS. Hoping to use nice little male/female plugs to swap out the diffrent controllers.

I'm also trying to work 6 panels into the pad, with the up-left/right doubling as start/back with a switch to toggle the functions.

Finally I'm looking at lighting the pads, prolly with cathodes. Would a simple relay along the ground coming from each arrow be enough to flip the lights, or am I not thinking enough about this? I'm a CSE major, not EE

I'm working on a prototype of the switch I want, and I'll be taking pictures of it as I go. I'm hoping it'll give better results than a simple screw-contact system without requiring extra electronics to function. The downside is I'm looking at an extra $20 or so for the springs and metal I'm using.

Any thoughts and comments are very much welcome, as I'm trying to brainstorm as much as possible before I start to commit cash to this project.

tolookah · Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2005 7:16 pm Post subject:

EE reply about relays:
if you want to use relays, have them be your switches connected to the controller, then you dont have to figure out how you are going to draw enough current for the relays, and you can power the relays off some external supply (like the one you are using for your cathodes)

As for the compression, If you are going for realism, you don't want that much compression while playing (it disorients your feet a little)... but that is personal opinion.

Swapable controller: look at an xbox to USB converter for that, its the same wiring, and i think there are drivers out for xbox DDR pads (if not, I get to push them on that)
You may look at DB9 connectors, it allows for a ground wire and 8 buttons (its the same form as the serial plug on your computer, nine pins, row of 4 and 5) and you can buy those connectors for less than a buck a piece.

I look forward to seeing that prototype

my 2 cents.
_________________

Aim: Tolookah
MSN: Tolookah
XBox: Tolookah
DDRPad Soldering and electrical Help: http://www.tolookah.net/DDR/ As hooded_paladin put it: "Currently, help for Beatpad Pro, official Sony Playstation Controller and ANY controller unless you are extremely stupid or lazy."

KazeNoKoneko · Basic Member Joined: 25 Jul 2005

I've thought about using weatherstripping or rubber of some sort instead of springs to lower how far the panel compresses. I've even through about some miniture garden hoses I saw a while back. Not quite sure how it would work out tho.

About how much do most pad's panels compress? I'm thinking that I could match any number given to me and keep the force required to activate the panels constant by using diffrent numbers and lengths of springs. Hopefully I can keep it simple enough that anyone that wants to do this can as an alternetive to what is currently used.

And by having the relays as the switch to the controller I assume you mean to basicly turn them around and have the panel activate the lights and the relays, then the relays are what will complete the controller circuit?

If these switches of mine work I might just double them up to save myself the trouble. Shouldn't sacrifice any sensitivity and should be fairly simple to add-on later... could even put in the second ones right now and have them do nothing.

squeakypants · Trick Member Joined: 31 Jul 2005

If I make a metal pad I'll make a tutorial that isn't a pain to read or a video that isn't boring as hell (no offense to those who have made tutorials/videos already, as my design would be learned off yours).

Would it be possible to use a soft pad (even if it is broken) to create the hard pad?

Paramount X · Trick Member Joined: 15 Jun 2005

if the wiring isn't messed up

Heffenfeffer · Trick Member Joined: 22 Apr 2002 Location: Las Cruces, NM

stoli · Trick Member Joined: 27 Mar 2005 Location: Southern NH

tolookah · Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2005 12:55 pm Post subject:

Stoli: awesome.

and squeaky: check the last few pages (no more than 10) and your answer is there.
_________________

Aim: Tolookah
MSN: Tolookah
XBox: Tolookah
DDRPad Soldering and electrical Help: http://www.tolookah.net/DDR/ As hooded_paladin put it: "Currently, help for Beatpad Pro, official Sony Playstation Controller and ANY controller unless you are extremely stupid or lazy."

marcan · Trick Member Joined: 28 Jul 2005

My pad is going nicely

It now handles the analog values, stores and reads data from EEPROM, and handles the several modes. Currently missing: saving new threshold values, screensaver handling. Today I'll finish the screensaver part. I just wrote a 212-step screensaver table for flashing the lights to a bunch of patterns - You'll get bored of looking at it before you even see the complete cycle

photos soon!

marcan · Trick Member Joined: 28 Jul 2005

Here it is!

Click for a larger image

And now for a video of the "screensaver" thingy (flashing the lights to show off):

http://marcansoft.com/subidos/videos/sgdp-ss.avi

I've kept the bitrate low to make the file a manageable size, but you don't need much bitrate to see flashing lights

Update: I (think I have) officially finished the firmware. It now stores thresholds, handles auto screensaver turn-on and turn-off, etc.

By the way, the screensaver turn-on delay (when nothing is pressed) is of 42 seconds. Does that seems right to you guys? Seems OK to me, but I'd like opinions

(42 seconds is technically easy, because I use the same timer as for the actual screensaver. The screensaver runs 6 "beats" per second, and for the turn-on timer I use an 8-bit register which overflows after 256 counts. 256/6=42. And 42 seems cooler too because it is the answer to life, the universe, and everything

(which is why I picked it for the EEPROM ID byte too. Curiously it also showed up here)). It can be changed with some code though.

deM' · Trick Member Joined: 10 Apr 2005 Location: Southington CT

Marcan, you are a god.

What do you need for inputs with that? Or is it just off of a timer chip?

If you dont need any complex inputs would you ever consider marketing either a pcboard of that or the schematic? Because i would definatly be interested, thats amazing

marcan · Trick Member Joined: 28 Jul 2005

The thingy itself is a microcontroller, which acts as an emulator of a PS2 pad. When not in use, it flashes the controller lights in patterns. I do not understand what you mean by "inputs". Inputs from the buttons? or from what? BTW, I'll release schematic, source code, etc as soon as it is complete

OK, now comes the fscking point in every project's timeline where everything works and BAM - something does not work. The PS2 no longer detects the pic as a proper pad. Further investigation reveals that it is not receiving ATTENTION signals from the pad. Further investigation forcing the attention signal to ground reveals that it was probably pulled up inside, for unknown causes since it (was supposed to be) set as an input. Further investigation reveals I just fried the whole PORTB. Great. New microcontroller needed. No clue what happened, but I'll investigate. At least I'll have some fun blowing up the microcontroller with some large capacitors or something

deM' · Trick Member Joined: 10 Apr 2005 Location: Southington CT

I'm going to *Bump* the topic of lighting using solely transistors, has anyone managed it yet?

Or at least any way of lighting without using relays or a seperate physicall switch

tolookah · Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2005 8:03 pm Post subject:

Anyone know by chance where the 750mA fuse is connected inside the playstation? I am trying to figure out if the fuse is on the 5v line or on the ground line, as the playstation also has a 9V line for the motors on the dualshock controllers that I am curious about.

Demonic: some of us are working on different lighting setups, i sent a schematic to someone else asking for it, they are going to test it, and if it works, let me know, if it does, it can be posted, would require a 9v supply outside the system.

I myself am working on a system to not need a power supply at all, but I need information on that dualshock 9volt lead to know if i can even do it. (I am also waiting on the programmer to program my chips, the code is 90% written) and that is due in on the 20th (new chips, need a programmer to do it)
When I am done, I hope to sell the boards with everything needed minus the cabling for the whole lighting and controller solution. I am looking at end of August time for a complete prototype.
_________________

Aim: Tolookah
MSN: Tolookah
XBox: Tolookah
DDRPad Soldering and electrical Help: http://www.tolookah.net/DDR/ As hooded_paladin put it: "Currently, help for Beatpad Pro, official Sony Playstation Controller and ANY controller unless you are extremely stupid or lazy."

marcan · Trick Member Joined: 28 Jul 2005

Paramount X · Trick Member Joined: 15 Jun 2005

Hey Marcan what is that thingy of the pic. If its a pad why does it look so different. Did you put in lights in it? Better sensors?