Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: xeon3d on April 05, 2013, 12:34:41 am

Title: New guy here, trying to build 2 arcade joysticks. Need help... badly! :P
Post by: xeon3d on April 05, 2013, 12:34:41 am

Hi.

I'm kinda new here (been lurking for the past couple of weeks or so), but I've finally decided to move to the contributing part (even if it is with questions...), so here I am.

First things first, while I love to think my English is pretty good, I'm not a native speaker so forgive me if I murder your language a bit, it's kinda late now (4.30 AM).

So, I'm trying to build 2 separate but very similar arcade joysticks using wood, some spare arcade parts a friend gave me, a couple of gamepads (usb, xbox 1) and some solder.  :laugh:
They're going to be used either on the top of a table or on the lap (hence why they're separate) and connect to a computer via usb (which case will be redesigned later and hopefully shrunk!) console-style.
I don't think I'll have issues with the software (already got hyperspin working nicely on a separate computer), and anyways this is not the proper sub-forum for it.
I also sourced out someone with a vinyl printer / cutter for the decals and luckily he also has plexiglass which he can cut to measure as well so I think the artwork bit is covered for now.

Here's what I've got at the moment:

Parts:

• 3 arcade joysticks, 2 of them having been pulled out of a declassified arcade machine and the other being almost brand new as it lacks a switch. Note that the latter is different from the first couple.
• 6 fully working and assembled 6v bulb-lighted arcade buttons (¹). I think I can get 10 more of these.
• 5 fully working and assembled 6v led-lighted arcade buttons (²). To get more of these I'll have to find them online and buy them.
• 2 fully working and assembled 6v led-lighted rectangular arcade buttons (³). Same as the previous ones if I need more..
• A crapload of wire and a teared down jamma connector.
• 1 non-original Gamepad from a Xbox 1. It's been "properly" dismantled, has wires soldered to all the available buttons (minus the triggers) and a usb lead. I can probably get my hands on another or a Dualshock

Tools:

• Screwdrivers galore
• 30w Soldering Iron + Solder (is it the proper name?) + Desoldering braid
• Multimeter
• Pliers Galore

What I don't have:
Parts:

• No wood at all, but I can buy it and have it cut by my measurements.
• Not enough buttons :cry:

Tools:

• No power tools at all, but I have a friend which has some. I have yet to find out which, but i'll assume he has a drill with various different bits and at least a manual saw...

I've made a schematic based on the control panel that I got from the now defunct arcade, with a tiny variation to the number of buttons and their layout that I'm going to attach. I'm also going to attach photos of the joysticks and buttons and their measurements. Measurements are in centimeters btw.

Thoughts:

• Each joystick will have 10 buttons as that's all I can source out from the xbox gamepad (trigger bits messed up while dismantled...). 8 action, 1 start, 1 coin.

Questions:

• Since money isn't flowing that much atm, what do you think I should do regarding sourcing the buttons?
• What kind of wood is best? Thickness? I'd prefer something in the medium area regarding weight. This might probably be answered somewhere else, but please be so kind and point me in the proper direction.
• Since they're probably going to be used on the lap and on top of a table, do you reckon it should have a slant or not?
• What's the best way of securing the various parts that compose "the box"? I was thinking of glue & screw, but I'm open for suggestions
• Can you tell me the brand/model of the sticks/buttons by looking at the photos? ¹ is the leftmost one, ² and ³ are branded Idec LW-C10. So I just need help with the first one.
• Has this been done before? Is there any basis for me to work on or follow? All I've seen are full control panels / arcades... not 2 separate joysticks and the one's I've seen didn't use gamepad pcbs as well.
• Any thoughts regarding size/height of the "box"?
• Also, since the buttons have lights, what would be the best way of making them work? USB port doesn't really have enough power for everything so I was thinking of a custom connector for the "arcade console" which would carry the voltage for the leds and a custom connector to usb in case I wanna use them in another pc, but I'm not seeing the best way to go about doing that so suggestions are welcome!

This is all for now, but most probably I'll be back tomorrow to check up on the thread.
Thanks for the time you took reading this!