If you have any contributions, corrections, requests, or other suggestions, feel free to contact me at joystick@slagcoin.com.
If you have any controller questions not associated with specific subjects in this site, unfortunately you will probably not receive a response as I have given about all my knowledge of arcade joystick controllers in this document.
2008.06.17
The layout section has been strongly refined and expanded. I invested a lot of time in measuring, studying, and understanding various standard layouts. I also got a new photo editing program so I could make many images throughout the site look much better, especially the PCB diagrams which looked like they were labeled with crayon before.
It's funny how these refinements of my site keep delaying my work on controllers...
* Pictures touched-up throughout.
* Icon added for page (might be changed or removed, mainly just trying it out).
* Attributes & Brands - Small notes on a looser spring and smaller handle allowing for more styles of play; slightly more information and image on lubing; added name to chart; mention of shaft cover for the JLF; note on using Seimitsu nuts on Sanwa buttons.
* Restrictors - Added name to linked images.
* Layout - Layout section overhauled; row shaping subsection rearranged; angle subsection expanded with more information; more information on slanting added; information about standards in relative joystick placement added; button quantity subsection slightly expanded; standard layouts subsection completely changed and expanded with new images and descriptions; mention of studying technique before deciding layout.
* Tools - Note on the strength of pilot holes; mention of pliers for tweaking joysticks; better image of wire mounts.
* Mounting - Mention of getting Seimitsu nuts for installation; mention of the S-plate used on arcade panels; mention of cutting away some of the arcade panel.
* PCB & Wiring - A few small tweaks to PCB components made; image of soldering station added; mention of alligator clips and helping hands; small mention of cheap PCBs maybe needing hot glue; image of outdoor wires added; description and image of PS3 solderless added; much better quality PCB diagram images used; added name to PCB diagrams; diagram of a later version of the PS1 DS H added; a little more information about my style for labeling diagrams added.
* Example Ingredients - Removed big spool of wire and added some outdoor wire.
* Brand Controllers - Note on modding brand controllers.
* References - Some tweaking of the special thanks; added an additional thanks area.
2008.06.03
I felt my PCB and Wiring section lacked some information, so I went on a tangent and worked on getting that section reorganized and expanded to my liking. I added more information on the electronics of PCBs and now have a total of 27 PCB diagrams and counting, as well as a lot of other various information. Some other sections got some smaller updates that are noted below. I also noticed how I could edit some of the images to look better, so that will probably also be in the next update. Now I really need to get a couple controllers done too.
* Joystick Components - Note of other names for the e-clip.
* Attributes & Brands - Note about the size of Seimitsu octagonal gate added; Components Mixing subsection renamed to Joystick Components Mixing; Button Components Mixing subsection added (updated slightly 06.04).
* Layout - Other joystick spacing of 6cm changed more accurately to 5.9cm; 5.9 lines and points added to many layout images; layout links set to open in new window; note about some close spacing in the first layout; standard Japanese layout tweaked with more accurate measurements with an extra note; non-slanted Japanese layout added; 36mm-spaced clustered layout added.
* Tools - Fixed a caption error.
* Mounting - Note about joystick mounting hole size straying a little; Sanwa small button radius changed to 29mm and depth to 10mm; Seimitsu small button radius changed to 28mm; note about small nuts not being compatible added.
* PCB & Wiring - Subsections reorganized; Grounds and Signals and Circuits subsection added; more information about the use of a PCB; overhaul of the PCB Attributes section; more information on some PCB components; images and information on analog sticks added; note about Xbox 360 and PS3 controllers working on PCs; Extracted PCB Soldering Diagrams subsection renamed to PCB Diagrams; better example PCB images used; more description of wire like AWG ratings and multi-color wire added; better description of using a brand or cheap controller PCB; note about solder being hot glue; note about cleaning and replacing the head on an iron; note about treating a burn; note about station helping the iron; hot glue moved to soldering subsection; some downplaying in the significance of hot glue in soldering; PCB mapping and soldering subsection refined; PCB solderless subsection refined; PCB Diagrams subsection very expanded; removed All link because it is no longer practical; small note on attaching joystick with wire harness.
2008.05.18
I just got done refining quite a few things throughout the site. This update mainly centers on this refining and some decent additions to the Tools and PCB sections. I also just got started on some new controllers which will probably be the bulk of the next update. But my list of to-do's remains pretty long.
* Attributes & Brands - Changed LS-33 and LS-55 pivot quality to medium in the chart; fixed kowal link and removed translation note.
* Layout - Small note that 6cm is sometimes the spacing for the joystick; note about drawing your own layout.
* Tools - General Safety and Safety Gear subsection consolidated; files and rasps noted; better noting of forstner bits; Drill Press subsection added; drill press use like a router noted; Wrench and Pliers pictures made smaller and relocated; note of the danger level of the table saw; miter saw use better noted; small detail about plunging and fixed routers noted; router tips consolidated; more details about wires noted; fork name noted for spade terminals; Wire Mounts and Clips combined; wire mounts image added; better note on using flux; better note on soldering iron wattage; mention of soldering station.
* Mounting - Note of drill press being used in mounting.
* Box - Slant numbers changed from 4-8 degrees to 4-10 degrees; note about contouring easily and accurately for slanting.
* PCB & Wiring - Solderless Extracted PCB subsection added (05.13); better description of the choices in wire; more accurate "usually" require soldering in extracted PCBs; mention of converter lag and interference; small added note on allowing the soldering iron to warm; note on not needing rosin-core solder and using flux paste; better iron wattage numbers; noting of the soldering station; better converter image; small mention of the components in many PCBs; PCB Soldering renamed to PCB Mapping and Soldering; mention that I use tapping of wires to map all my PCBs; note of why some soldering points can be difficult); diagrams of PS3 Mad Catz (omitted 5.19 for poor quality), PS1 (Malaysia), and PS2 DS A added; better crimping images; soldering diagrams consolidated to single comprehensive images; note of why soldering may be preferred over crimping; note on the value of converging with terminal strips; more accurate stripping length noted for European terminal strips; note of D-sub connectors for the cord.
* Materials & Decoration - Note of the availability of many images at many sites; note about lung protection under finishing; finishing image added.
* Example Ingredients - Better multicolor wire product.
* Brand Controllers - Arcade-in-a-box added; fixed small note about the HRAP.
* Links - Slight spacing adjustment; Arcade-in-a-box added.
2008.05.07
I made a post about this site on the Shoryuken forums, and it got a nice response, thanks to the users there. I mainly tweaked a lot of things (a few of which were suggested in the post), but also came of up some new ideas. I have some ideas now how to make a panel that can support a variety of non-standard joysticks. I have not started on any new joysticks yet, but hopefully will have some time soon. I also still have a list of many to-do's for the future.
* Joystick Components - Better use of the term "retaining ring"; better retaining rings image; note on using pliers on rings.
* Joystick Attributes & Brands - Better springs image; Deflection subsection added; notes on pivot shapes; explode images of the joystick models added; note about messing with the LS-32 C-ring and using an E-ring on it; more comparing of the LS-32 gates to other gates; notes about LS-40 and LS-55 shaft covers; note of the LS-33 using a PCB; Components Mixing subsection added; small note about Sanwa button quality.
* Restrictors - Note about joysticks not being precise to the diagrams.
* Tools - More noting of the drill press; note about washers being used in adjusting joystick height; the more accurate term "masking tape" used; note on the power of a circular saw; router transitioning better described; router table safety noted.
* Mounting & Layering - Note about using washers to adjust the height of the joystick; general notes on mounting using saws; notes about switching joysticks in some designs; top, triple, routed design added.
* Box - Note on mixing the design of the sides of a box; mention of sloping done by trimming the bottom of a box.
* PCB & Wiring - Mention of a third soldering technique; Extracted PCB Soldering Diagrams subsection and links added; "Designed PCB" changed to "Custom PCB".
* Materials & Decoration - Various descriptions of types of wood refined; note about minimum MDF panel thickness; noting use of mask in cutting MDF; Hardboard subsection added; noting the term "tear out"; refined note on lexan; acrylic Drilling subsection made and a detail about drilling acrylic noted; acrylic Mounting subsection added; note about detailed painting; note on shellac for even staining; noting finishing of finishes; tracing for clear plunger heads.
* Example Ingredients - E-ring added.
* Detailed Example - List now used for devices and wiring.
* Summarized Example - List now used for devices and wiring; a few details about the first example added.
* References and Links - Changed Shoryuken link to front page of the site; more specific listing and thanking of some people.
2008.05.01
I finished making a joystick controller and made a detailed step-by-step of how it went, and then quickly made another. I decided the 1 section will stay as example ingredients, the 2 section will be a detailed example of this controller I just made, and the 3 section will be more summarized examples of joystick builds. I have a few ideas for joysticks a lot different from the two I made so far.
With many additions and changes, the site is about where it needs to be now. I think in the future updates will be a lot more detailed about changes since a lot fewer will occur. With only about 200 hits for this page so far, I need to try to get some notice for this site.
* Some text through-out tweaked.
* A few large pictures added throughout.
* Joystick Brand Parts - chart of joystick attributes added.
* Joystick Brand Parts - more models added.
* Tools - some more tools added.
* Mounting - more detailed and accurate measurements.
* Mounting - mention of arcade panels.
* Material - more details about wood and finishing.
* Example Ingredients - some purchases added.
* Example Detailed Controller Build added.
* Example Summarized Controller Build added (with more to come).
* Example Summarized Controller Build - The Idiot Box added.
* Brand Controllers - the HRAP mentioned.
* Links - a couple more links added.
Some lingering to-do's:
* At least four summarized controller builds.
* Maybe a brief description for how to illuminate buttons and joysticks (which I currently do not know how to do).
* More brand arcade controllers.
2008.03.23
I got around to soldering PCBs for the first time. Managed to ruin a couple cheap ones in the process. The PCB and Wiring section turned out to be much longer than I expected it would be. But decently comprehensive explanations of PCB extracted soldering are hard to find. Also got an example ingredients section started. The 123 sections may still be rethought. Still need to make and document making a new arcade controller.
* Photos of larger objects taken.
* Many photos retaken for better quality.
* Joystick Brand Parts - images of some models of joysticks added.
* Tools - stronger note on practicing using tools or techniques first.
* Tools - some more tools added.
* Mounting - mention of depth variation in Sanwa and Seimitsu models of joysticks.
* Mounting - better explanation of the utility of the S-plate.
* Mounting - couple new S-plate designs.
* Material - note on availabilities of and strange measurement standards for wood.
* Material - elaboration on acrylic glass.
* PCB and Wiring - section better completed, especially in regards to extracted PCBs.
* Example Ingredients - section started.
2008.03.09
Well, I've been working on this page using spare time for the past couple months. Took WAY longer than I thought it would. Time to launch it.
It's not anywhere near finished. (Can it ever even be finished?) But it can be used very practically at this point.
About all the general information I have for the time being has been written up for this document.
Most the pictures and diagrams have been made, including diagrams of restrictors/activators, layouts, panels, boxes, and many other things, and including pictures of instructions, joysticks, buttons, and a ton of other ingredients, and navigation images.
Some early to-do's:
* Finally getting to put together a new controller and images of doing it.
* Getting the examples for and maybe reassessing the 123 sections.
* Some actual first-hand soldering and images of doing it.
* A few stray photos of larger objects and models of joysticks.
* Some new-found errors that will inevitably exist.
And as things go, there will be new techniques, ideas, products, knowledge, etc that will come along and add to this page.
© 2008 slagcoin