Need help with FightStick

[9tea]

Hi all

I have been playing SF4 in the arcade recently and would like to make a joystick that is compatible with my PS3 , i sort off know the stuff i'm going to get to build it except the PCB . The PCB is really hard for me to understand , i thought of using a PS3 controller's PCB , but after reading that you need to add resistor i dont really understand and im pretty scared to ruin a PS3 controller , Or should i get a PCB off some website ? would it be more expensive ?
If anyone can explain to me or show me picture/video of how to wire up the PS3 PCB that would be great

  here are the list of things i thought of getting

Joystick: Sanwa JLF                 x1
Button: Sanwa OSBN 30            x8
PCB: PS3 controller                   x1
European-style terminal strip
Wires
Wood

thanks

[Drnick]

Not sure where you are in the world, but this looks like a job for Vigo See the following thread for an encoder that should do the job perfectly

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=116490.0

[9tea]

Thanks for the link ! So the ZD rematch is basically a PCB right, i saw the wires on the ZD but there is only one for each button?i thought that buttons have 2 sockets / plugs on a button (sorry im really badwith wiring and with PCBs ) ? Just want to ask this before i start ordering my parts , all i need for my arcade stick is

a joy stick
8 Buttons
A PCB
Wires ( are there any different 'types' of wire you would recommend ? )
And a box ?

[Drnick]

Yes the ZD Rematch is a PCB, just with nice easy connections etc.  The way the encoder would work would be one wire which goes from the relevant place on the encoder to each button.   You then have a 2nd wire (Ground) which would go from the encoder to button1, then onto button2, then onto button3 all the way through the buttons and directions for the joystick.  So each button would have 2 connections its just that the ground is daisy chained together only taking up 1 connection on the Encoder.
With a pcb from an actual pad it could be that it does not use common ground and each of the directions/buttons has its own ground connection.  Then you have to have 2 individual wires to each.

If you look at the picture each wire has a red and a black connection so red goes to 1 connection the black goes to ground connection. (If the microswitches have 3 connections on them one is ground the other is NC (Normally closed) and the last is NO (Normally open) Black goes to ground and red would go to NO.   (nothing would be connected to NC).

As for the type of wire to use that depends on if you get an encoder or you get a pcb.  If you use a PCB then it depends on the solder points,  I normally use 22AWG (Gauge) wire for pretty much anything.  I cannot, will not and do not do micro soldering, My hands shake too much  

[PL1]

So the ZD rematch is basically a PCB right,

Ahem. . .

Here is what you will receive:
1 ZD ReMatch Encoder Board
1 Extra long USB cable
Your Choice: 1 Japanese joystick Sanwa 5 wire cable OR 4 standard wires up/down/left/right joystick wires.
Your Choice: 13 size .110 button wires (for Japanese style controls) OR 13 size .187 buttons wires optimized for Standard Arcade control switches.
1 set of instructions

i saw the wires on the ZD but there is only one for each button?i thought that buttons have 2 sockets / plugs on a button (sorry im really badwith wiring and with PCBs ) ?

The button wires are the ones behind the PCB in the picture above.  Look closer at the button wire connectors on the right side and you will notice that they have 2 wires like this example.

Just want to ask this before i start ordering my parts , all i need for my arcade stick is

a joy stick
8 Buttons
A PCB
Wires ( are there any different 'types' of wire you would recommend ? )
And a box ?

Joystick
You mentioned a Sanwa JLF earlier.  Looks like that will work perfectly with the ZD Rematch "1 Japanese joystick Sanwa 5 wire cable" option.

Buttons
You mentioned Sanwa OSBN 30's earlier.  Those have .110 Quick Disconnect (QD) tabs--be sure to request "13 size .110 button wires" option with your ZD Rematch.

Don't you want a home button or other admin buttons?  Look closer at your PS3 controller and double check exactly how many buttons you will actually want/need.

Buttons aren't that expensive--not a bad idea to have one or two spares just in case you're as bad at wiring as you say and accidently damage them.   

PCB
ZD Rematch with correct wire and QD size options.

Wires
You shouldn't need any other wires.

Box
Definitely better than resting the panel on the button tabs and wires.     I keed, I keed.  Here are a few ideas from Slagcoin.

Other
Mounting hardware for joystick.

Non-skid rubber feet for the bottom of the box.

PCB standoffs to mount the PCB to the box?


Artwork?


Scott

[9tea]

Thanks man! you guys are awesome , i understand the things alot clearer now , but i have a few questions,
1. for the buttons , i should need 8 buttons ( for games ) and 3 extras for the PS3 select , home and start am i right ?
2. and do a PS3 have a turbo button (i got no idea what is a turbo button so im not sure if a PS3 has them )?
3. what are the differences between a encoder and a PCB ?
4. And i see may people on this forum talking about MAME , may i know what is that ?
5.When i use it from my computer , can i set a key to it ? like example , can i set it to the letter ' C ' or something like that ? so i can play random computer games with it ? lets say a stupid game like maplestory , its the only game i know that you dont need to use the mouse .

[Drnick]

in response,

1) Yes, the rematch can handle 13 buttons so 8 buttons and home etc are no problem.
2) Not sure about the turbo option, its for autofire and its cheating in my eyes
3) They are basically the same thing, its just normally an encoder has simple plugs to connect to and your average pcb would need soldering
4) Multiple arcade machine emulator (Emulates arcade machines, ported to pretty much every OS ever made) Including PS3 If you are running a hacked firmware.
5) Windows will see it as a joystick, you can use JoytoKey to con the system into believing a key is being pressed.

And a quick question in return, Just to check something.
"Ever tried playing mame on an android device with tilt controls?"

[PL1]

1. for the buttons , i should need 8 buttons ( for games ) and 3 extras for the PS3 select , home and start am i right ?
2. and do a PS3 have a turbo button (i got no idea what is a turbo button so im not sure if a PS3 has them )?

Not sure about the PS3 specific questions -- I've never even played one.
Thought you were building a stick for your PS3.

3. what are the differences between a encoder and a PCB ?

A PCB or Printed Circuit Board is a board that holds the resistors, diodes, capacitors, etc. required to make an electronic assembly work.

An encoder translates physical button presses into signals/commands for the computer. 
The four general categories of encoder are:
UHID Joystick - Basic gamepad.  ZD Rematch is this type.
Keyboard - Keyboard/IPAC/KeyWiz
Optical - Mouse/trackball/spinner
Analog - Gas pedal/analog joystick/Star Wars yoke

Some encoders cover more than one category.
USB PS2-type controllers are UHID joysticks with analog thumbsticks.
Mini-Pac Opti's are keyboard encoders with trackball and spinner support.

4. And i see may people on this forum talking about MAME , may i know what is that ?

http://mamedev.org/devwiki/index.php?title=Frequently_Asked_Questions

5.When i use it from my computer , can i set a key to it ? like example , can i set it to the letter ' C ' or something like that ? so i can play random computer games with it ? lets say a stupid game like maplestory , its the only game i know that you dont need to use the mouse .

Joy2Key or Xpadder software will translate the UHID buttons into keystrokes. 

Search is your friend.


Scott

P.S. Drnick - He hasn't claimed that we're getting everything wrong or called anyone a "Goblin" yet, so I doubt your joking hunch is right.  Besides, what ever happened to the presumption of innocence until proven to be *shudder of revulsion and nausea* that guy.  Apologies to the forum for even the oblique mention of that individual.

Just to be sure -- Mods, where is he posting from?   

[9tea]

Thanks alot guys i think i understand the things i need to know , and thanks for the quick replys too