Cheap and Easy Home-Built Pads

jpoppyz · Posted: Sat Jun 03, 2006 9:56 am Post subject: Cheap and Easy Home-Built Pads

well, i want to make a pad now because i am sick of soft pads and over-priced foam pads, so i want to make a pad. I have literally no experience in wiring/building things, but my dad does and i can get some help from him. I want to build a cheap pad(i.e, pad that will run me under $60) yet it will last me a good year so i can know the fundementals of building a pad before i go out and spend $100 building a metal pad without any idea on how to do so. If anyone knows of any guides(i looked around a bit, prolly could have looked a bit harder but found little to nothing) on building this type of pad, let me know. I will also probably make a walkthrough called "ben's making cheap homepads for dummies!" page. I'll post pics/how i did things on this site if you guys give me a walkthrough. I have the whole summer ahead to build build revolution!

ceraf · Posted: Sat Jun 03, 2006 11:39 am Post subject:

cheap pad.....reminds me of hardboard and pegboard. =)

jpoppyz · Posted: Sat Jun 03, 2006 1:07 pm Post subject:

i saw that pad you made....do you happen to have a guide for it?

MinN_Limited · Posted: Sat Jun 03, 2006 9:02 pm Post subject:

I would suggest substituting the plexiglass with wood, don't add sheet matal, and use a different and cheaper bracket system. that should cut the costs significantly and not affect performace, just appearance

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

Don't use sheet metal, just wood for panels.

Don't use corner braces, just screws will do fine.

Don't use graphics... it'll look kinda ugly, but they're not essential. Also use only one layer of Lexan, since this it's quite costly. You *can* use wood, but I highly reccommend against this since it's easier to snap/will give you splinters.

Save on solder. Use electrical tape.

Use wires you would find around the house, old telephone wires, game controllers you never use, etc.

If you still have your old crappy soft pads, snag the PCB out of it and save yourself having to buy a new controller.

Make sure you understand all the utorials for building the pad to avoid any costs for trial-and-error. My pad ended up costing me an extra $40 because of this

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Jaufwa · Posted: Sun Jun 04, 2006 3:03 am Post subject:

ha ha same here! I bought a ton of plastic that, as it turned out, shattered quite marvelously under my jig saw.

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My home built pad: (DDRHomepad... thank you so much.)

jpoppyz · Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 11:53 am Post subject:

actually, when i say budget, i mean SUPER BUDGET. I was thinking something along the lines of this http://www.ddrfreak.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=117452

i dont really care if it has an "arcade feel" or anything, i just want a pad that...

1. is fairly easy to make
2. doesnt involve too much drilling, cutting wood, and things like that
3. is affordable

that pad is all of the above. im gonna be toying around with soldering/sensors for a while until i find an efficiant way to do that. also, does anyone think that something like a DDR finger pad might be easier to wire? if so, i'm probably gonna get one of those(the only dance pad i have is a konami soft pad that still works fine and i would like to use for 2P) since the finger pad is about just as much as a controller.

I'm gonna need help doing all this and figuring out how to and i will post pictures/a walkthrough in exchange for you guys helping me.

Marq(uistadorous) · Trick Member Joined: 03 Aug 2005 Location: Arvada, CO

ceraf · Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 1:20 pm Post subject:

if you really want to make my pad....=)

The hardboard panel is taped on top of four pieces of cardboard on each corner. This design requires slightly flexible hardboard, which probably won't last for an entire year, since it will become permanently curved over time.

http://img129.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img5718a6ir.jpg

you can see the basic design of the button contact area...two strips of aluminum foil on the base, and some more on the back of the button panel. (this isn't the only way to do it.) The foil tends to rip after a couple weeks of 8-10 footers, so i'd recommend a more durable metal.

wiring is done in the same way as the pizo pad (http://royconejo.host.sk/piso-pad1-en.html): 4 button wires, 1 ground.

As for a base, It's probably better to use plywood or some thick hardboard. I used a foam board with a plastic desk mat (with the spikes) so the wiring could be done underneath, but it probably costs more and makes it look really ghetto.

If you have a little more money, time, and effort to spare...i'd recommend following some of the metal ddr pad guides and tweaking them to use cheaper material. for my next project, i'm planning to use a less-flexible hardboard for panels and some metal from old computer cases for contacts. hopefully, it'll last longer than my current one.[/img]

jpoppyz · Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2006 2:22 am Post subject:

**very helpful**

thanks. I plan on starting all this sometime this weekend. first task is gonna be getting a contact/sensor system down. I plan on using foil contacts for this pad(sheet metal is kind of a pain) and yeah, i have a good idea of what its gonna look like. Also, if you wanna know the best thing for making non slip dance pads, use yoga mats. I took some adhesive spray, sprayed on the back of the wood my konami pad is taped on , and layed some yoga mats under. The thing doesnt slide at and it's fairly cheap(i just took one of my moms ratty old ones). I plan on putting it on the bottom of this pad too.

just thought i would tell you guys that if your looking for an easy way to make a nonslip bottom.