Mini/micro build parts...

[Slippyblade]

I'd love to build a mini/micro but have some questions about the parts.

Comp and screen are covered.

Joystick used seems to be that tiny little Greyhill stick.  Honestly that stick seems maybe *too* small for some builds, but a full size stick is obviously too big.  Anybody know of a mid-sized stick?  I'm willing to hack something if need be.

Buttons...  I've seen lots of little buttons, but they all seem to have for too heavy of a push force.  I can't imagine rapid tapping of most of the small buttons I've found.  Arcade buttons have a very low push resistance, are there little buttons with a light touch?

I'd love to build a TMNT machine that was about 12-16" tall and appropriately scaled from the real machine.

[05SRT4]

Welcome aboard the Micro train.

I am actually about to start another Micro build myself. I enjoyed using the common Greyhill stick but I too wish it was just a tab bit bigger. I recently got a 3d printer and have been trying to find some ideas on printing one.

I actually found this little guy 5-way Navigation Switch (seriously size of a tact switch) on Ada fruit.

I might try to print or build a joystick case around that. Its nice because it also has a switch when pressing down.

This guy has a good starting point (for printing one) Mini Joystick

You mentioned the Comp and screen are already covered, mind sharing the details?

[Slippyblade]

I'm just gonna use a Pi and there are tons of screens in small sizes that will take a composite video signal.  From 2" and up.  I'm actually gonna scrape a the screen out of a little portable DVD player I have.  Picked it up at Goodwill for $3 and it has a composite input plug already.  Very little hacking needed.

[05SRT4]

On the MK build I did I kind of wished I used tactical switches instead of the buttons I picked up from radio shack. The ones I had were harder to press down, and didn't provide any feedback. Tactical switches have a nice click sound and feedback. Tactical switches your still going to need some force to press down. I haven't found any super small (spring loaded) buttons yet.

I found these for my next build.

Colorful Round Tactile Button Switch

[Slippyblade]

Oh, those buttons are sexy!  Love the MK build, do you have a video by chance?

[05SRT4]

Unfortunately the MK build is a goner, hints why I am making a new one.

I had an issue with the video cable breaking on the screen/Wiz I was using. I ended up just giving the frame to my nephew.

Are you going to have it 2 players or just a single player?

[Slippyblade]

To be honest, and this is counter-intuitive as hell, I'd love to do a 4 player mini.  Probably won't happen though since those Greyhills are like $20 a pop.  Though I'm half tempted to grab a couple of those "Navigation switches" you linked and see how they work with a shaft attached.

[05SRT4]

Not going to lie a 4 player Micro TMNT would be sick. Play-a-bility will be rough though but having it as a visual piece it would look awesome.

Le Chuck's 4 player Gauntlet is amazing. Wonder if hes done anything new with it.

[PL1]

Check out Allied -- WAY better prices on these than Mouser or Digikey.

04A-B01 Bat-top (fixed)
http://www.alliedelec.com/grayhill-04a-b01/70216782/



04A-K01 Key-top (removable in case you want to 3D print handles like threedprof did for his Micro TRON build here - available at Shapeways)
http://www.alliedelec.com/grayhill-04a-k01/70217130/

 


Scott

[vwalbridge]

I used a great little joystick for my Micro Coleco DK build. (See link in my signature)

Here it is on Amazon:  uxcell AC 240V 5Amp 4NO 4NC Momentary 2.5mm Fixing Thread Joystick Switch  only $9

The best part is that you can replace the stock switches with micro leaf switches. The stock switches click way to loud:


I pulled off the stock rubber top and I drilled out a wood hobby ball and stuck it on top.


Here is the final result painted:

[PL1]

I used a great little joystick for my Micro Coleco DK build. (See link in my signature)

Here it is on Amazon:  uxcell AC 240V 5Amp 4NO 4NC Momentary 2.5mm Fixing Thread Joystick Switch  only $9

FTFY


Scott

[Slippyblade]

That looks like a great mid-size alternative!  Also, thanks for fixing the link, Scott.

[solar]

These will probably be too big (going from previous replies), but iirc i'm using the seimitsu 24mm buttons in the gas fire arcade (the three of those only taking up 8cm in width). They don't click but are really easy to use and take no effort to press.

[danny_galaga]

For my Space Invaders machine, because it was 1/4 scale, I made my own parts because otherwise it wouldn't be to scale. However, since it remains unfinished, I couldn't tell you how well my particular button and joystick designs would work! The next stage I was going to do though was make a Space Invaders themed USB control pad so that you could use that instead of the control panel.

[Howard_Casto]

Yeah to scale controls seem like a good idea... until you want to actually play the thing.  Gamepad is a good idea. 

[danny_galaga]

Yeah to scale controls seem like a good idea... until you want to actually play the thing.  Gamepad is a good idea.

Well, in for a penny, in for a pound. Playing anything arcade shaped only a few inches wide is a pain, so I would much rather it look realistic (",)

Surprisingly, when I play tested it, it wasn't too bad at all. The idea of the USB pad came later, but would definitely make it better not just for comfort, but to let my friends play it with their grubby mitts 

Not that I will ever finish it, I've lost the inertia on this...

[Le Chuck]

Yeah to scale controls seem like a good idea... until you want to actually play the thing.  Gamepad is a good idea.

Yeah and that doll house furniture is amazing until you try to sit on it.  Point missed completely. 

[Howard_Casto]

Yeah to scale controls seem like a good idea... until you want to actually play the thing.  Gamepad is a good idea.

Yeah and that doll house furniture is amazing until you try to sit on it.  Point missed completely.

Yes dollhouse furniture is equally pointless unless you are a 6 year old girl.  Is there something you are trying to tell us man?

Your analogy is completely flawed btw.  You can play with a tiny dollhouse, in fact they are made smaller specifically so children can play with them easier.  Arcade machines on the other hand are already the right size for adult play... so reducing them in size past a certain point, particularly the controls..... unless you are building a model it doesn't make sense so you might as well make it non-working. 

Cars are meant to be driven, arcade machines are meant to be played.  To make one for any other purpose doesn't make any sense and yet you accuse me of missing the point?

[dkersten]

Yeah to scale controls seem like a good idea... until you want to actually play the thing.  Gamepad is a good idea.

Yeah and that doll house furniture is amazing until you try to sit on it.  Point missed completely.

Yes dollhouse furniture is equally pointless unless you are a 6 year old girl.  Is there something you are trying to tell us man?

Your analogy is completely flawed btw.  You can play with a tiny dollhouse, in fact they are made smaller specifically so children can play with them easier.  Arcade machines on the other hand are already the right size for adult play... so reducing them in size past a certain point, particularly the controls..... unless you are building a model it doesn't make sense so you might as well make it non-working. 

Cars are meant to be driven, arcade machines are meant to be played.  To make one for any other purpose doesn't make any sense and yet you accuse me of missing the point?

Yet the scale model car market is HUGE, and almost exclusively adult.  Also, miniature figures, whether for display or just old toys is HUGE as well, and also an adult market.  One of my good friends just recently shifted his hobbies into collecting 1/6th scale figures from movies and comics.. it's pretty sweet stuff IMHO, but what's the point, right?  The answer is because people like it.  So yes, I would say you missed the point.  If mini arcade builds aren't your thing, I get that, they are not practical at all.  But that isn't why people make them. 

[Le Chuck]

Yeah to scale controls seem like a good idea... until you want to actually play the thing.  Gamepad is a good idea.

Yeah and that doll house furniture is amazing until you try to sit on it.  Point missed completely.

Yes dollhouse furniture is equally pointless unless you are a 6 year old girl.  Is there something you are trying to tell us man?

Your analogy is completely flawed btw.  You can play with a tiny dollhouse, in fact they are made smaller specifically so children can play with them easier.  Arcade machines on the other hand are already the right size for adult play... so reducing them in size past a certain point, particularly the controls..... unless you are building a model it doesn't make sense so you might as well make it non-working. 

Cars are meant to be driven, arcade machines are meant to be played.  To make one for any other purpose doesn't make any sense and yet you accuse me of missing the point?

The analogy is fine if you put yourself in the shoes of the person making the doll furniture.  From the hobbyist aspect there is a joy in the making of it.  Sure you can't sit at that bespoke doll desk, and there is no great reason for those drawers to work, to have finely machined slides, for the lights and sconces to turn on, dolls don't need light and there is plenty of light in the room where the model sits.  But it's a joy to make, it's fun.  It's fun to have and display - and shudder, it's even a bit of fun to play with.   

Yes, you missed the point.  It's okay tho, I still like you.  I still think you're an okey-dokey person.  I even think it's adorably ironic the way you got a manhood jab in there because somebody might have a hobby you consider best fit for young kids, without seemingly ever considering who the toy maker would be. 

[Howard_Casto]

I didn't make any jab what-so-ever and I'm sorry it's you that are missing the point. 

If you want to make a widget to sit on a shelf and look pretty for the purpose of it looking pretty then have at it, but soon as you say "I want it to be working" then you are limited in what you can do.  If a person actually wants to make it playable more than just as a novelty, I'm sorry, but you need controls that are actually useable, thus why I said just having a gamepad you can hook up to it is probably the best route.  Then you can look at it on a shelf and actually play it sometimes, it's the best, most practical compromise to the problem at hand.

You are forgetting who you are talking to... I take all perspectives and possibilities into account, or at least as many as humanly possible.  I don't feel that I need to explain it though, which is frustrating when someone chimes in and says "oh but you aren't looking at it like this" when, yes, I have looked at it like that.  It's me we are talking about here.  I assure you, I've thought of everything you thought of an then some and I'm just trying to give the best advice I possibly can.

Nice job resurrecting this necro-thread btw. 

[Ond]

[Le Chuck]

I didn't make any jab what-so-ever and I'm sorry it's you that are missing the point. 

Yes dollhouse furniture is equally pointless unless you are a 6 year old girl.  Is there something you are trying to tell us man?

I take all perspectives and possibilities into account, or at least as many as humanly possible.  I assure you, I've thought of everything you thought of

All perspectives except the one about that being a jab I guess. 

having a gamepad you can hook up to it is probably the best route.  Then you can look at it on a shelf and actually play it sometimes, it's the best, most practical compromise to the problem at hand.

Wildly practical.  Wildly.

You are forgetting who you are talking to...

Wow.  Did that sound good in your head when you said it?  Did you look in the mirror first?  Did you win an argument in the shower with that line? lol.

[danny_galaga]

You are forgetting who you are talking to...

Wow.  Did that sound good in your head when you said it?  Did you look in the mirror first?  Did you win an argument in the shower with that line? lol.