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I need some suggestions for building a controller
2MBshit1:
-editing accident, delete please haha
BadMouth:
--- Quote from: 2MBshit1 on October 15, 2013, 05:36:32 pm --- May I ask what's so special about these leafs switches over, what seems to be the alternative, microswitches? Also you suggested the adjustable microswitch, yet not the adjustable leaf switch, was that intentional with a reason?
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In a leaf switch, your direct action pushes the two contacts together.
In a microswitch, your action sets off a chain of events that leads to a somewhat flat spring flipping it's position.
(think of it as similar to those slap on bracelets from the 90's)
There is the buidup of pressure until the spring reaches the tipping point, then the spring has a distance to travel...and may travel farther than it really needs to, etc.
If I wanted to build a set of custom switches to match your description,
I'd start with Sanwa or Seimitsu 24mm buttons for their size. (www.focusattack.com or www.paradisearcadeshop.com)
But we don't want the keyboard microswitches that are in them, so remove them and discard.
Fabricate new plungers from plastic rod (ebay) and glue to the button inserts or directly to the plunger body.
They would be small enough to pass through the opening where the microswitch was.
Have the length of the plunger and depth of the control panel so that the plunger contacts a leaf switch attached to the bottom of the box.
This way, it only makes contact when bottomed out and it doesn't travel any after being bottomed out.
Alternatively you could just try to mount gold contacts to the plunger itself and have them strike a metal plate that would ground them.
I have no idea where to source gold contacts.
Whatever you build, please post pics. ;)
jimmer:
--- Quote from: 2MBshit1 on October 15, 2013, 05:36:32 pm ---
I agree that from a mechanical perspective it's not the best solution. But from my own gameplay perspective, even 1ms at times can end up being crucial. Sure it's not possible to perceive that timespan. But when score is relevant to the precision you hit and release notes, a single ms is enough to ruin a good play as harsh as that may sound. With that in mind, a simple "the key activates when it touch the bottom and deactivates when it no longer touches the bottom" is much more intuitive and precise time-wise (on a ms scale) compared to "the key is activated when it reaches this threshold and is not longer activated when it leaves that threshold".
An example to put that into perspective would be the patterns that consists of long notes that fill the entire playing field. At some point you have to hold all the keys down, and keep track of when to release, and when to repress individual keys. You're not memorizing these maps, so most of your attention should be focused on this. You'd be wasting mental energy if you concentrate on keeping the keys pressed right bellow the threshold for a quick and accurate release over all the other already overwhelming stuff you gotta be aware of. So naturally the easiest thing to do is to press them all down all the way, and concentrate on what's more important: actually doing the releases and represses. But the problem with this is when a release comes, it's not as simple as "when the key in no longer bottomed out, it's no longer activated". Instead, it'll only deactivate when you exit the threshold, meaning you gotta start releasing early. Not the most ideal solution when you're trying to keep the most accurate and constant rhythm possible.
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I know what you are saying, but I'm suggesting you adapt to the response of the complete systeml. Even a bottomed out switch has a response time due to flexibility in your body, and probably response time between brain and muscle twitch.
Your argument is more valid when you don't have foresight of the input required (ie pure reflex ) but that's not the case for your long note that needs to be released at a known point.
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