I need some BIG buttons

[davidbrit2]

Like these:
http://www.happcontrols.com/pushbuttons/954002xxxxz.htm

I need 9 of them. But Happ controls is a damned ripoff for these things. I'm not paying $25 each for 9 buttons. Can anyone recommend a place to get some cheaper, or a suitable alternative? They don't have to be domed, but should be roughly the same diameter.

[ZackWIU]

Like these:
http://www.happcontrols.com/pushbuttons/954002xxxxz.htm

I need 9 of them. But Happ controls is a damned ripoff for these things. I'm not paying $25 each for 9 buttons. Can anyone recommend a place to get some cheaper, or a suitable alternative? They don't have to be domed, but should be roughly the same diameter.

What are you making? Radioshack.com has push buttons for like $2.50, but they don't light up like that and I don't think you can get them that big, although you probably could use a small switch and make some kind of big button to go on top.

[Raccoon Lad]

What on earth would those be used for exept for in redemption games like "Spider Stompin'"?

U could always go the McGuyver route and use some mini-dome lights and microswitches :/

[davidbrit2]

It's for Pop'n Music. And I've already tried using normal arcade buttons from Happ and attaching a big wafer to the top of the plungers, but the concept of leverage comes into play way more than you might expect. The buttons don't push down well at all near the edges, and they get loosened very easily with the torque caused by the elongated lever arm. So I'm going to need something a lot better than this.

Tap light were actually my original idea from the start, but I can't find any of the mini ones that are about 4 inches in diameter. They would probably work really well with some clever microswitch mounting.

[WiseSalesman]

Wait.....you're.....BUILDING A POP 'n' MUSIC CONTROLLER?

You, my friend, are hardcore.

[ZackWIU]

It's for Pop'n Music. And I've already tried using normal arcade buttons from Happ and attaching a big wafer to the top of the plungers, but the concept of leverage comes into play way more than you might expect. The buttons don't push down well at all near the edges, and they get loosened very easily with the torque caused by the elongated lever arm. So I'm going to need something a lot better than this.

Tap light were actually my original idea from the start, but I can't find any of the mini ones that are about 4 inches in diameter. They would probably work really well with some clever microswitch mounting.

Steal some petri dishes and cut a grove in the wood then put little push buttons underneath or something. Pop'n Music arcade buttons are more flat and round instead of domed aren't they?

[davidbrit2]

No, I think they're the domes. But that's of little consequence to me, since I just want some damned buttons.

And WiseSalesman: correction - I've already built a Pop'n Music controller. The buttons just suck. They don't push down well at all near the edges, and the buttons were coming loose after every song. But if you think this is hardcore, you should see my homemade DDR mat, Beatmania console with joystick "turnrables," and the modified Topway guitar that died not long ago.

[sidgoop]

http://www.therealbobroberts.com/

This guy's got a lot of good stuff. Most of it is used, but in great shape, and great prices. I work for company that sells arcade machines and stuff, and his prices were actually cheaper than what I could get with an employee discount. His stock is always changing, so check back often.

[ZackWIU]

http://www.therealbobroberts.com/



Look in the klearance korner on that site.. he has some large light up buttons that are $4..

[kingpong]

I was just thinking of building a Pop'n controller myself last night. Anyways, looks like Betson has the same buttons as Happ for $18, at least according to their 2002 catalog. Beyond that, another option might be the ball launch button from pinball machines, though I can't find a place selling them online. I remember some vendor at an annual pinball show I go to having them last fall, but can't recall who it was. I was going to pick up a few to use for selecting songs with my homemade DDR pad, but then went with smaller buttons.

[davidbrit2]

Hmm, that guy's got some good stuff... Maybe I'll order the pack of 8 slot machine buttons for $10 and make a Beatmania IIDX controller, too. Heh.

I've also got a different idea for building the buttons. Rather than screw the top wafer onto the button plunger, I'm going to try using some bits of weather stripping to hold it up just at the level of the plunger. The padding will give it some extra spring, and since the two pieces aren't physically attached, I won't get screwed by the leverage issue. I'll give it a shot later.

[WiseSalesman]

I've already built a Pop'n Music controller. The buttons just suck. They don't push down well at all near the edges, and the buttons were coming loose after every song. But if you think this is hardcore, you should see my homemade DDR mat, Beatmania console with joystick "turnrables," and the modified Topway guitar that died not long ago.

Holy crap! Can you post pictures of all this stuff? Would you be willing to give me some direction into how I might learn to begin doing stuff like this myself? (maybe in the thump and stomp forum?)

[Kroogah]

FIRST! Heh.

Here's Dave's Pop'n site so far (AFAIK):
http://www2.gvsu.edu/~brittedg/PNMController/

I'd put this in the Dance, Strum, Thump forum but it's being rotated out in a few days. And dammit I'm gonna build one of these too. ^_^

[ZackWIU]

FIRST! Heh.

Here's Dave's Pop'n site so far (AFAIK):
http://www2.gvsu.edu/~brittedg/PNMController/


Unfortunately, it just shows a wooden box with rubber feet.

[davidbrit2]

Yeah, the wooden box is all that's in the page so far. I've mounted buttons like I described, but as I said, they suck. Mounting them basically involves just drilling holes in shelf board, and screwing them in. It's nothing fancy. If you can use a drill, and you have a 1 1/8" hole boring bit, you can do it. Then you just solder wires around the contact points on a gamepad. My IIDX console is basically the same thing.

http://www2.gvsu.edu/~brittedg/photos/BeatmaniaOrgy.jpg

The console will be deconstructed before long, since it won't fit conveniently in a dorm room. I've ordered an official IIDX controller, and I'm going to use 9 buttons in a smaller box for a PNM controller. That should do nicely.

And if you want to see it, here's my DDR mat:
http://www2.gvsu.edu/~brittedg/photos/DDRMat.jpg