My home built metal DDR pad (Part IV)

MyChemicalRomance · Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2009 6:15 am Post subject:

Wow, those arrows look pretty nice! Unfortunatly, I'm amazingly low on funds and by not getting any arrow graphics not only am i saving on printing them out, but I also no longer have to buy 2 sheets of lucite to sandwhich the graphic.

Not sure what you mean about incorporating my sensors into a graphic, you might have the wrong idea about my sensors.

Devouts design works simply by creating the whole arrow out of two peices of sheet metal, seperated by some cardboard to keep them from touching. My pad was previously a devout, but I totally scrapped his sensors(I didnt' construct them very well). Now I'm using Matrix-style sensors(two brackets seperated by mousepad). Here's another pic:

See what I mean about the sensors forming an arrow(I still need to put that lasts arrows sensors in.)?
The lucite will go directly ontop of the sensors like the majority of homepads, but I'm not going to use any arrow graphic, so you can see right into the pad. That answer your questions?

Oh, do you now if 1/4" lucite will be thick enough?
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8ftmetalhead · Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2009 11:57 am Post subject:

I'm not sure about the lucite, since I didn't use any in my design. There was only thin plexi at my hardware store and it was about $60 a sheet.
Instead I made my entire thing out of MDF, then screwed 1mm of plastic sheet (about 0.15in?) over the top, with my design underneath.

About incorporating the design... if you could find a way to do it that would look nice you could say, print off a design that would fit around the sensors, and stick it on the bottom of the arrow well.
Might be better just being see-through though.

Also I finally get how that sensor will work. Google helped a bit

Just looking at the photo of your pad, you could stick small metal retainers on the mat and hold them down using the screws already on your solid panels.
Here, I edited your picture....

MyChemicalRomance · Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2009 2:29 pm Post subject:

Wow, that bracket idea is brilliant! I reeeaaally didnt' want to put screws through my acrylic. Definitly going to do that.

Ahhh, I see what you mean about the graphics, that's another brilliant idea. I'll definitly think about it.

Well, I finished the sensors and wired the whole thing. Everything works:)) Time to go cut the acrylic!

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8ftmetalhead · Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2009 12:49 am Post subject:

It is actually quite a common feature on metal pads and such. On a few I've seen they both use screws and brackets. One downside is that you can't really adjust the sensitivity as much as you can with screws, but if you've got a good setup then you shouldn't really need to.

Just make sure you file down the edges of the metal alot, because they can be a tad sharp if you have to make them yourself.
Good luck with the rest, and make sure you post pics

MyChemicalRomance · Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2009 6:16 pm Post subject:

Whew, been busy.

Ok, I cut the acrylic, put it in, the whole thing works perfectly except the acrylic(1/4")was too thin, and flexes too much. However, I found that if i stacked two of them together it was the perfect thickness. So using the acrylic I have I got the left and down arrow working perfectly:) Tomorrow I'll be able to get more acrylic and finish the pad

I also implementing your make-a-bracket idea. It works great and looks pretty cool to. I can actually adjust the sensors with them quite a bit.

By the way, if i wanted to recolor a graphic to you know how I would do that? 'Cause now that I'm using 2 1/4" panels stacked on each other I have the option of using arrow graphics.
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Knowledge is Power........Power Corrupts......Study Hard and be Evil! >:]

8ftmetalhead · Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2009 2:51 am Post subject:

If you want to recolour a graphic, you can use the gimp's desaturate and colourise tools.

there'll be tutorials for them on the gimp website, alternatively ask around in the graphics forums, there should be a few people keen to help you out, or just look for some ready made templates.

aegisjester · Basic Member Joined: 13 Aug 2009

for the life of me I can't find any good "stay cool" graphics. Anybody know where I can find one?

MyChemicalRomance · Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 5:46 pm Post subject:

Not sure which ones you mean, Aegis, but there's a link on the first page of this thread to some. You might wanna check there if you haven't.

As for me, If someone could post the official ITG graphics I'd be grateful. I just finished my pad and I'd like to get the graphics in.

I'm about to start fine tuning my sensors and hammering out any kinks; I'll post pics in a little bit

EDIT: How exactly do I get the graphics printed out? Don't I have to take them to office max or something?
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slvrshdw · Trick Member Joined: 05 Jan 2005

i have the ITG ones posted in here somewhere

to get them printed, you can go to kinkos, or print them on 2 sheets of paper and put them together.
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ChilliumBromide · Trick Member Joined: 16 Jun 2006 Location: Beaverton, OR

The "Stay Cool" graphics are the ones from official DDR machines. I have some panels with those graphics, but unfortunately, no scanner. :/

Shouldn't be too difficult to find if you just google image search it...
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MyChemicalRomance · Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2009 1:16 pm Post subject:

Sorry it took so long for me to post. School got busy and then I went out of town.

Well, I found out that the L shaped mending brackets I used are not as good as the straight mending brackets normally used. I think with the L shaped brackets I have my weight spread out over to much area so either the pad's not sensitive enough, or I have to make the sensors so sensitive that I get a crapload of Way offs/decents. I'm going to keep messing with it, and if that doesn't work I"m just going to go with the traditional matrix sensors.

Well, that's it. I'll post a pic of the pad once I get the ITG graphics(which I still can't find even though I've searched everywhere).

All the pictures are located here: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/album.php?aid=29896&id=1370087990&ref=nf
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aegisjester · Basic Member Joined: 13 Aug 2009

Arkanoid0 · Basic Member Joined: 23 Mar 2008

finished my pad a while ago, been using it it ITG2PC.

I've also added some buttons on top for X and O. the graphics are actually the RO 3.0 pad graphics, cut from the pad itself. (i used the control box.) i'm even using the 1" foam insert under the pad for cushioning!

8ftmetalhead · Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 1:10 am Post subject:

We demand further pictures, scores, and directions on how to build our own!

Looks nice. The use of the IG3.0 graphics is a new idea i reckon, and it's a quite impressive one at that.
Just a suggestion, if you wanted to add graphics to the solid panels, i suggest plastic sheet and printed/prefabbed designs of your choosing.

Click the link in my sig to see my own.

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The Zenius - I - Vanisher homepad building and modding thread!
http://zenius-i-vanisher.com/v5.2/viewthread.php?threadid=3350&page=1

goatee_guy · Trick Member Joined: 05 Feb 2002 Location: Edmonton, AB

Although it's not quite finished yet... I decided to post photos of it...

Still needs the metal around the edges, and the supports for the rear metal panels... but, it's playable...

Who says ITG 3 never came out

Edible Bondage Tape · Trick Member Joined: 26 Jan 2002 Location: Kerri

biggest NDS ever
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8ftmetalhead · Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 10:49 pm Post subject:

Sweet JESUS that is HOT.

How long did that take, and how much did it cost, and THAT IS SO DAMN AWESOME!
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The Zenius - I - Vanisher homepad building and modding thread!
http://zenius-i-vanisher.com/v5.2/viewthread.php?threadid=3350&page=1

goatee_guy · Trick Member Joined: 05 Feb 2002 Location: Edmonton, AB

Suko · Trick Member Joined: 13 Jun 2003 Location: Lynnwood, WA

That is a sweet home setup. At that price, I'd argue it's better just to buy a used arcade machine, but I understand the love to build and have a "hobby" project. Awesome rig. I'd be very interested in a how-to for those pads. They're definitely the best looking home built pads I've ever seen.
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goatee_guy · Trick Member Joined: 05 Feb 2002 Location: Edmonton, AB