custom xbox controller

[Moriarty]

I posted earlier today but no one responded (probably because I posted in the wrong forum, oops). Anyway  I want to rellocate to two new buttons elsewhere on the controller, but could use some advice before i start soldering. Thanks!

[orntar]

that sound like quit an undertaking.

what exactly do you want to do?

[Moriarty]

Thank you responding to my post. For a second I thought nobody was interested. Anyway my motivation for rellocating  the x and y buttons underneath where your ring finger sits intuitively is that you never have remove your thumb from the right joystick. The advantage is in games like halo you can jump and wield deadly blows while retaining full control of your character. This would give anyone playing with this style controller a huge advantage. So far I have completely dismantled a controller, but I am still unsure exactly where to solder my leads on the board. So if anyone knows where I could find a schematic of the board it could save me some experimenting. Also there is thin tape like barrier over the board where the buttons make contact. What is it made of? Is it solely for providing contact? I have other questions like what are the best quality push button switches, and where do I get them? (I got some from radioshack and they suck) Also I have to remove the rumble motors to make room, but thought it would be a good idea to use the existing connection to wire in l.e.d.s that would communicate the force feedback information, but I don't know what voltage the motors run on. Thanks again for taking time to help the newb. Hopefully the experience i gain from this project i can pay it back and help someone else.

[orntar]

do you know if those buttons are analog? if so, i am not sure what to do.

if they are standard contact switches, then you can solder little wires right to where the original contacts the board. the "tape" you described sounds like the contact film they put over buttons for extending life (i assume). you can gently scrape off the film and see the copper below, and then soldering is a breeze.

as for buttons to now use, i would probably use micro contact switches. the same kind that are in tv remotes. i think they are 5mm square. very small, but maybe you could mount the original xbox button above it. would be fun to do, but difficult. if you locate he microswitches just right, you may not need a larger button over it.

now for the motor voltage, do you have a voltmeter? the only way i know of finding the max voltage to the motor, is to put your meter on it, plug it in, turn on the xbox, start a game, get whaled on, and look at the meter. it shouldn't be more than 5v, but unless someone else can chime in, i don't know the voltage, but that would be easy to do as well.

have fun. if i had an xbox controller i would take it appart to help further, but alas, its the only console i don't have. 

[Moriarty]

Thank you so much for the advice. I really appreciate it I plan on tracking down the microswitches tomorrow, and hopefully having the whole thing wired up by the end of the weekend. I'll keep you posted on my progress.

[orntar]

http://www.mouser.com/catalog/621/1001.pdf

letter d1. i have used them before. very small, but i like the feel and the little legs make it easy to solder to.

wen you find the mounting place you want, you may need to put something behind it to hold it in place, since you will be pushing inward to activate it. woudnt want it to shoot into the body of the controller.

[tmasman]

http://www.mouser.com/catalog/621/1001.pdf

heh...
You just barely beat me to the punch...
That's the exact page I was just looking at.

You'll need to ask for tactile switches.

You might even be able to mount it on the outside of the controller for testing purposes...
Wouldn'y be the most comfortable thing for starters, but it would be your proof of concept & you could always super-glue a more comfortable cap on the buttons.

Just a thought.

[orntar]

yea, couldnt remeber the word tactile. and i was thinking the same thing about putting a cover on it.

maybe even the shoulder r2 and l2 from a dualshock pad, i like those.