The NEW Build Your Own Arcade Controls
Main => Lightguns => Topic started by: Roland_001 on March 13, 2023, 03:42:01 pm
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I've been looking for a solution for use of a lightgun on my Mame/Mister FPGA arcade, with 15Hz CRT, and it looks like the Gun4IR project is the best option currently.
I've purchased the DIY kit from RPGElectronics, and have watched the few videos I can find on youtube about how to put everything together. They seem to focus mainly on the IR/mouse control wiring, for which they seem very helpful.
However, I'm unclear on how to integrate the control buttons that come standard with the Guncon-2 (4 way D-pad on the back, reload button on the butt of the gun, and the various push buttons on the frame). Pre-mod, these controls integrate into the original Guncon PCB, which I assume gets tossed during the conversion process, and replaced with the Gun4IR Adruino and associated software.
If so, how do people still use the push buttons on their gun? Do these somehow integrate into the Adruino? Do they still retain the original Guncon PCB for directional keys, and just re-route the aim-control tasks to the Gun4IR side hardware? Or am I totally missing the point and need to be asking a different question? I appreciate any/all info (Apologies if this has been asked, I've been searching for an answer for a few days without luck).
-Rolyen
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I think you can discard the Guncon-2 PCB entirely. Gun4IR allows you to connect buttons straight into the Arduino.
Someone should correct me if I'm wrong.
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Thank you, that does make sense. Wondering if anyone knows a good resource on how to wire controls to the Arduino. I tried reading through several pages of the main Gun4IR thread, but it didn't seem to contain any technicals.
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Wondering if anyone knows a good resource on how to wire controls to the Arduino.
Are you asking for a pinout?
- Pretty sure that JayBee includes the pinouts in the package he sends to personal license donors or has them on his Discord server (https://discord.gg/HJyfYja).
Are you asking a general question about how to connect buttons and a D-pad to an Arduino?
Are you asking whether to solder straight pins, right-angle pins, or wires to the Arduino for this application?
I tried reading through several pages of the main Gun4IR thread, but it didn't seem to contain any technicals.
This post has a picture showing the motherboard connections for wires going to the Arduino, but it lacks clear details that I assume will be in the User Guide or on JayBee's Discord. :dunno
I attached a pic of the motherboard of the GCon2, after being stripped of all unsused components and with the Arduino wires soldered. I lost my paper where I wrote down which point is what, but pretty much the connector on the right contains the gun handle buttons (trigger, reload, d pad) and the common ground, while the other buttons can be taken from other points on the motherboard.
(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=161189.0;attach=380950;image)
Scott
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Thank you. I purchased the DIY kit from rpegelectronics.com (they seem to b the U.S. distributor for the GUn4IR products?). I'll check my DIY kit box when I get home, but as I recall, it included a pretty basic card showing a few pinouts (I believe mainly for the camera, rumble and solenoid). I checked my purchase email from the purchase, and it did not include any additional guides or information.
As much as I'd like to support JayBee's project, I would presume that dropping $150 on a DYI kit would include basic information to..DYI. Hopefully it doesn't require an additional "donation" to get more information.
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As much as I'd like to support JayBee's project, I would presume that dropping $150 on a DYI kit would include basic information to..DYI. Hopefully it doesn't require an additional "donation" to get more information.
Agreed. Seems like there should be a pinout for the Pro Micro on the card you mentioned earlier.
I don't remember seeing JayBee's custom Pro Micro pinout posted in his GUN4IR thread, but it probably looks like this one that Slybunda made using the template I posted here (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,159740.msg1705268.html#msg1705268) for JayBee.
(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=165677.0;attach=389138;image)
Also, have you tried joining his Discord server that I mentioned in my earlier post?
Everything can also be also accessed from my discord server (recommended if you want to stay up to date and want help):
JB Discord Server (https://discord.gg/HJyfYja)
Scott
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Thank you so much. I was able to locate the User Guide in an email from JB that I had missed when I first purchased the DIY kit. It has a lot of helpful details and the exact pinout for the controls. It shows a diagram that's similar to what you posted. I've attached my version below.
I hope to devote a few hours to this later in the week. I'll post an update with my experience.
Regards,
Rolyen
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Thank you. I purchased the DIY kit from rpegelectronics.com (they seem to b the U.S. distributor for the GUn4IR products?). I'll check my DIY kit box when I get home, but as I recall, it included a pretty basic card showing a few pinouts (I believe mainly for the camera, rumble and solenoid). I checked my purchase email from the purchase, and it did not include any additional guides or information.
As much as I'd like to support JayBee's project, I would presume that dropping $150 on a DYI kit would include basic information to..DYI. Hopefully it doesn't require an additional "donation" to get more information.
yes it is included, it cames with the license you got in your email box ;)
Edit: nevermind, you found it :D
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Thanks JayBee, yes, I was able to locate it.
I was playing around with the wiring, and from what I can tell, the keypad at the back of the guncon 2, and the "magazine" button at the bottom are pretty easy to rewire to the Arduino.
However, some of the side buttons press down on integrated sensors directly on the Guncon 2 original PCB, and I'm unclear on how to change this. It seems that I'd have to either figure out a way to capture the signal for these side sensors through the PCB integrated circuits, or create some kind of 3d printed parts to install my own micro buttons just in the right locations. Wondering if anyone has experience with this?