OFFICIAL "Do It Yourself" Joystick thread...

[Imported]

Best thing about the HRAPs is that the buttons are easy to interchange with Sanwa or Seimitsu so you can have the arcade quality buttons for like an additional $20. Thus why I say the TE is the better stick to get over the EX since it comes to about the same price and you get some extras that the TE has over the EX.

 

[mxyzptlk]

So I could get the < $50 hori ps3 fighting stick and swap the joystick with one of those fly ass happ joysticks from lizardlick for an additional 8 bucks? Or do I need to start with one of the more expensive ones ?

 

[gorcorps]

Purbeast, I'm having some trouble w/ that $10 PCB and was hoping you could help me. I'm wondering how/where you have it grounded. You mention a common ground but I'm not sure if I can route all ground on the board to one spot or have to use the ground for each button separately.

 

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: gorcorps
Purbeast, I'm having some trouble w/ that $10 PCB and was hoping you could help me. I'm wondering how/where you have it grounded. You mention a common ground but I'm not sure if I can route all ground on the board to one spot or have to use the ground for each button separately.

I put the grounds on the 2 spots that are shown on the diagram at slagcoin.

one of them connects to the daisy chain, the other connects to the cthulhu board.

 

[gorcorps]

Originally posted by: purbeast0

Originally posted by: gorcorps
Purbeast, I'm having some trouble w/ that $10 PCB and was hoping you could help me. I'm wondering how/where you have it grounded. You mention a common ground but I'm not sure if I can route all ground on the board to one spot or have to use the ground for each button separately.

I put the grounds on the 2 spots that are shown on the diagram at slagcoin.

one of them connects to the daisy chain, the other connects to the cthulhu board.

Alright there are 3 marked in the diagram: RB ground, UP ground, and RC(?) ground. I'm only using this as the 360 board w/ no cthulu, so would I hook one end of the daisy chain up to one ground and the other end to another ground?

 

[blurredvision]

Originally posted by: gorcorps

Originally posted by: purbeast0

Originally posted by: gorcorps
Purbeast, I'm having some trouble w/ that $10 PCB and was hoping you could help me. I'm wondering how/where you have it grounded. You mention a common ground but I'm not sure if I can route all ground on the board to one spot or have to use the ground for each button separately.

I put the grounds on the 2 spots that are shown on the diagram at slagcoin.

one of them connects to the daisy chain, the other connects to the cthulhu board.

Alright there are 3 marked in the diagram: RB ground, UP ground, and RC(?) ground. I'm only using this as the 360 board w/ no cthulu, so would I hook one end of the daisy chain up to one ground and the other end to another ground?

I'd love to know this as well, since I'll run into the same problem. I also see those 3 ground points in the slagcoin diagram, but am unsure which ones to use. I assume when running a ground wire from the board to all buttons, then to all joystick grounds, then back to the board, it's fine for it to be one big circle, right?

 

[gorcorps]

Originally posted by: peritusONE

Originally posted by: gorcorps

Originally posted by: purbeast0

Originally posted by: gorcorps
Purbeast, I'm having some trouble w/ that $10 PCB and was hoping you could help me. I'm wondering how/where you have it grounded. You mention a common ground but I'm not sure if I can route all ground on the board to one spot or have to use the ground for each button separately.

I put the grounds on the 2 spots that are shown on the diagram at slagcoin.

one of them connects to the daisy chain, the other connects to the cthulhu board.

Alright there are 3 marked in the diagram: RB ground, UP ground, and RC(?) ground. I'm only using this as the 360 board w/ no cthulu, so would I hook one end of the daisy chain up to one ground and the other end to another ground?

I'd love to know this as well, since I'll run into the same problem. I also see those 3 ground points in the slagcoin diagram, but am unsure which ones to use. I assume when running a ground wire from the board to all buttons, then to all joystick grounds, then back to the board, it's fine for it to be one big circle, right?

Ok, I've tried all the grounds and I'm still having the same problem... so that probably ISN'T my problem. Whenever I hit my 3xK button (LT) it also hits down and left. Even when my joystick isn't soldered anywhere it does this so it seems like something is seriously messed up on the board somewhere. All other buttons are fine.

 

[purbeast0]

can you guys tell me exactly what you have already done, especially you gocorps, that is causing the problem?

the thing about the ground is that you just want it to complete a loop.

so the 2 grounds on the front of the board ... wire one of them to a button your joystick, daisy chain the rest of the ground buttons, starting at the one that you conected that wire to, so that every button and microswitch is grounded in this daisy chain, then at the end of the daisy chain, run the wire to the other ground on the pcb.

that should complete the ground loop.

i don't tihnk you need to even worry about the ground on the rear of the pcb, since all the buttons are all running from the same common ground.

 

[blurredvision]

How in the hell do you get the grey analog sticks off? I can't figure it out.

picture

In reference to the picture, how do I get that black thing off also? I've taken out the two screws from underneath, but I'm guessing the grey sticks are getting in my way.

 

[gorcorps]

Originally posted by: peritusONE
How in the hell do you get the grey analog sticks off? I can't figure it out.

picture

In reference to the picture, how do I get that black thing off also? I've taken out the two screws from underneath, but I'm guessing the grey sticks are getting in my way.

All of that comes off when you pull, but you have to pull damn hard. I was worried about snapping the board while taking off the sticks. I left the black wheel on there. Put in on a flat surface, brace the board properly with your hand, and yank the stick. The right stick comes off easier than the other one because you can get a better grip. You might have to wedge something under the left stick and pry it off while pulling. It's a total bitch but they just pop off.

@ Purbeast. I fixed my initial problem. I guess I didn't ground my start/select/guide buttons properly in the loop and things were getting wonky. Things have been working solid since I've fixed that problem.

 

[blurredvision]

Thanks gorcorps, I'll give it a whirl. Also, I don't think you're on my friends list, so I'm adding you. We'll play a few matches when we can if you want. I'm a good loser!

 

[gorcorps]

Originally posted by: peritusONE
Thanks gorcorps, I'll give it a whirl. Also, I don't think you're on my friends list, so I'm adding you. We'll play a few matches when we can if you want. I'm a good loser!

:thumbsup: Sounds good. I'm on and off completely randomly at all times of the week. I'm not great at this yet either, so maybe we'll be a good matchup

 

[blurredvision]

Originally posted by: gorcorps

Originally posted by: peritusONE
Thanks gorcorps, I'll give it a whirl. Also, I don't think you're on my friends list, so I'm adding you. We'll play a few matches when we can if you want. I'm a good loser!

:thumbsup: Sounds good. I'm on and off completely randomly at all times of the week. I'm not great at this yet either, so maybe we'll be a good matchup

Haha.

Maybe I missed it earlier, but are you building your stick completely from scratch, box and all?

 

[gorcorps]

Originally posted by: peritusONE

Originally posted by: gorcorps

Originally posted by: peritusONE
Thanks gorcorps, I'll give it a whirl. Also, I don't think you're on my friends list, so I'm adding you. We'll play a few matches when we can if you want. I'm a good loser!

:thumbsup: Sounds good. I'm on and off completely randomly at all times of the week. I'm not great at this yet either, so maybe we'll be a good matchup

Haha.

Maybe I missed it earlier, but are you building your stick completely from scratch, box and all?

No, I bought a Hori stick made for the Wii and am just swapping out the board to work w/ the 360. It was the cheapest stick I could find ($30). I'm gonna do a couple upgrades to the joystick, but will probably leave the buttons for now.

 

[blurredvision]

Ahh, OK. Can't wait to see the upgrades when you get them done.

I finally got those analog sticks off, also. Just like you said, the right analog stick was easy once I quit being a pussy and just applied some upward pressure. The left stick was on pretty good, and I basically pryed it off with a screwdriver.

Here's the layout I think I'm going to use, except I'll move the joystick farther away from the buttons a little bit:

http://www.slagcoin.com/joystick/layout/sega2_s.png

 

[gorcorps]

Originally posted by: peritusONE
Ahh, OK. Can't wait to see the upgrades when you get them done.

I finally got those analog sticks off, also. Just like you said, the right analog stick was easy once I quit being a pussy and just applied some upward pressure. The left stick was on pretty good, and I basically pryed it off with a screwdriver.

Here's the layout I think I'm going to use, except I'll move the joystick farther away from the buttons a little bit:

http://www.slagcoin.com/joystick/layout/sega2_s.png

Nice. Yeah mine won't look any different on the outside. This is what I got :http://www.gamestop.com/Catalo...etails.aspx?sku=802721

 

[blurredvision]

I'm actually a little jealous that you are simply replacing parts in a premade box. While I have the tools and know-how of woodworking, I'm far from accomplished, and worst yet, I'm impatient. But hopefully I can make it look somewhat decent. I've not yet decided exactly how I'm going to put it together.

 

[gorcorps]

Originally posted by: peritusONE
I'm actually a little jealous that you are simply replacing parts in a premade box. While I have the tools and know-how of woodworking, I'm far from accomplished, and worst yet, I'm impatient. But hopefully I can make it look somewhat decent. I've not yet decided exactly how I'm going to put it together.

I actually wish I would have gotten another stick I was looking at as this wii one has very little room for this PCB with all my messy wiring. I may have to take off the entire analogue stick assemblies in order to get a proper fit.

 

[James3shin]

BAH! Lizardlick posted that they are going to be behind on shipments due to the overwhelming demand. /sadness

 

[blurredvision]

Originally posted by: James3shin
BAH! Lizardlick posted that they are going to be behind on shipments due to the overwhelming demand. /sadness

Ya, I saw that message last night. I ordered my parts Thursday night, so hopefully my small order will come through.

 

[blurredvision]

purbeast/gorcorps, how did you guys solder the wires onto the madcatz PCB? Did you stick the wire through the small hole on all of the contacts and solder from underneath?

 

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: peritusONE

Originally posted by: James3shin
BAH! Lizardlick posted that they are going to be behind on shipments due to the overwhelming demand. /sadness

Ya, I saw that message last night. I ordered my parts Thursday night, so hopefully my small order will come through.

i know guys who ordered 2 weeks ago and still don't have their orders, so I wouldn't get your hopes up yet

And i'm not sure what you are asking about the soldering thing. I just soldered directly to the poitns that are circled on the slagcoin diagram.

 

[blurredvision]

Originally posted by: purbeast0
And i'm not sure what you are asking about the soldering thing. I just soldered directly to the poitns that are circled on the slagcoin diagram.

Each of the contacts has a very small hole in the middle that you could stick a wire through. Each hole has a small contact on the backside. I didn't know if you were sticking your wire through that hole and soldering onto the contact on the backside or not. That hole is so small, I'm not even sure you could get a wire through it, though, so don't worry about it.

I'm just trying to figure out how you're supposed to hold the iron, solder, and the wire all at the same time. I might head out today and buy me a soldering iron and everything else I need, and go ahead and get the PCB ready. Then I'll start on making the box/panel, and hopefully the hardware will be in by the time I get that done.

What size hole should I make for the joystick? I read somewhere that a 1-1/8" hole would work fine and give the joystick enough room to move.

 

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: peritusONE

Originally posted by: purbeast0
And i'm not sure what you are asking about the soldering thing. I just soldered directly to the poitns that are circled on the slagcoin diagram.

Each of the contacts has a very small hole in the middle that you could stick a wire through. Each hole has a small contact on the backside. I didn't know if you were sticking your wire through that hole and soldering onto the contact on the backside or not. That hole is so small, I'm not even sure you could get a wire through it, though, so don't worry about it.

I'm just trying to figure out how you're supposed to hold the iron, solder, and the wire all at the same time. I might head out today and buy me a soldering iron and everything else I need, and go ahead and get the PCB ready. Then I'll start on making the box/panel, and hopefully the hardware will be in by the time I get that done.

What size hole should I make for the joystick? I read somewhere that a 1-1/8" hole would work fine and give the joystick enough room to move.

I am not sure what hole to use, i think it depends on the joystick possibly as well. but i think the size you are saying is correct, im sure they have all the information over on slagcoin.

also i'd recommend getting flux, i had never used flux to solder until tihs project, and i don't know wtf i was doign the past 10 years soldering w/out flux. it makes soldering so much easier.

 

[SandEagle]

damn, couldn't find any of the fightpads below.. i hear they're sold out until April. ended up just buying one off of eBay for $61.99. anyone else using one? not gonna complain about the price since i know i'll be using it often. reminds me of the old sega genesis controller. im used to it since i used to play SFII on the genesis many moons ago

http://www.buy.com/prod/osf-iv...loc/108/210674140.html