My pad is done

Arcangel2479 · Basic Member Joined: 16 May 2006 Location: LI, NY

I just got into DDR to lose some weight, and still aint that good at it... however, I saw the plans on here for making your own metal dance pad, so I had to do it...

I used a combo of all the instructions I found, and made my own little changes...

here is the controller I used... Initially I used a blue EA sports one, but after messing up the connections, I got lucky and found this controller at ebgames, which is actually identical to it, except for color, lucky for me, or I would have had to make another top border, since it was already cut..

here is my wife testing it out...

LMK what you think of it, I think it came out pretty damn good..

videoCWK! · Posted: Thu May 25, 2006 3:19 pm Post subject:

It looks great! How long did it take to bulid? How's the sensitivity and such?

Arcangel2479 · Basic Member Joined: 16 May 2006 Location: LI, NY

DARREN HAYEZ · Trick Member Joined: 13 Apr 2006 Location: Michigan

Wow, that looks really nice! Is the controller like, built into the pad?
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loyx · Basic Member Joined: 12 Dec 2005 Location: New Jersey

Wow, good job! It looks great.

Just curious, is the connection made by a big piece of sheet metal coming in contact with another piece of sheet metal, or does it have little metal strips like in the riptide design (better, arcade like, and room for lights)
http://www.digitaltorque.com/mydancepad/?display=4%20-%20supports%20and%20switches%2F64006.jpg

videoCWK! · Posted: Thu May 25, 2006 5:00 pm Post subject:

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

Great job! But I must say, I still like mine better

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slvrshdw · Trick Member Joined: 05 Jan 2005

looks nice, but is it up to arcade standards?

anyway, great job..and is the riptide sensors or what?

i just gotta try the other contact system on mine now

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Arcangel2479 · Basic Member Joined: 16 May 2006 Location: LI, NY

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

Nice job. How much of a pain was it to cut the metal for the controller to fit?
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umanwizard · Basic Member Joined: 11 Jan 2006

The built-in controller was an excellent touch! I think I'll do that if/when I ever build a pad.

slvrshdw · Trick Member Joined: 05 Jan 2005

MadFlava · Trick Member Joined: 21 Feb 2006

How about posting photos and diagrams of how you wired in the controller. Someone else may be able to use that info later for doing their own controller box.

Arcangel2479 · Basic Member Joined: 16 May 2006 Location: LI, NY

Arcangel2479 · Basic Member Joined: 16 May 2006 Location: LI, NY

I found that pic, and photoshopped it, not the best, but it will do... I used the colors listed, as those are the colors in your typical CAT 5 cables... Pad being shown is an EA pad, though I have found others like them, labeled as superpads for $1.99 at gamestop... note, if a superpad with rapidfire is used, the top connection needs to be bridged in order for the o,x,etc. buttons work..

be careful when applying solder to these contacts, as too much heat will cause them to pop off.. I used a hot glue gun after each connection was made, to insure that they dont pop off, or break as I moved the wires to solder the next connections... though doing so renders the directional pad useless, however, the integration of the pad was really to allow use of the select, start, and other buttons...

MadFlava · Trick Member Joined: 21 Feb 2006

So I guess you ran a ground wire to each button then?

Ive got to cobble something up for my Cobal Flux, thus my interest in how you got the controller working. The CF only has one ground wire but daisy chaining it to each contact wouldnt be a problem.

Arcangel2479 · Basic Member Joined: 16 May 2006 Location: LI, NY

well, you don't have to do it that way, you could also bunch up all the grounds, and solder them to one point.... actually, you can solder it to any ground point on the pad, there are many, you can follow the tracks on the pcb board to find other ground sources... or a multimeter...