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Sunday, November 25, 2007
DIY FoF Guitar Controller - Part V "Controller Install"
Testing switches
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Controller 'installed'. The switches I directly wired to individual row-col circuits of the keyboard controller. The four wires are the USB cord.
FoF Guitar Controller - Part IV 'Assembly'
Fret switches snap into groves I cut into MDF body. The common wire is pinched between the contact and the grove walls.
Guitar Head - Fret switches assembly complete
Wire routed to controller recess. Tested switches with continuity tester.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
DIY Frets on Fire Guitar Controller - Part III Bill of Materials
Last spring, In the best of engineering tradition I procrastinated and did not finish my FoF guitar.. something about the idea of 'this is as clever as it will ever be'. Something many hobbiest suffer from I think. (my ratio of projects started, to being completed is about 10:1).
In the interim we moved to a new area into a new, albeit smaller house, with far less room for 'bits'.
Ok, I guess I'll finish what I start.
- the whole 'kit' left over from last Spring. The Guitar body is made of 1/2 inch MDF. The front panel/cover I cut from plexiglass.
Last spring I initialy used a breadboarded circuit with a Max USB integrated controller and a PIC microcontroller as the proc. Twelve bugs latter I decided to run to Circuit City and buy a USB keyboard and 're-task' the circuit board.
One of my complaints about the 'Guitar Hero' controllers is the plastic tactile switches they use for frets. I thought there are many better, slightly more expensive, choices.
I picked out a industrial lever action switch designed for god knows what. (probably mechanical gate/material sensors)
Close up of the kit.
Bill of Materials (draft)
Item Desc Desc Source Price Qty
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Keyboard Controller USB Keyboard Circuit City $15 1
Fret Switches 'Big' lever things BG Micro $3.5 5
Alt Strum Switch 'little' lever BG Micro $1.25 1
Primary Strum Switch Reed Switch BG Micro $2 1
Conductive Wire 28 AWG Radio Shack $6 2
Guitar Body 1/2" MDF Home Depot $5 1
Scratch guard Plexiglass Home Depot $5 1
Misc hardware wood screws,etc. Home Depot $3 N/A
Strap TBD
In the interim we moved to a new area into a new, albeit smaller house, with far less room for 'bits'.
Ok, I guess I'll finish what I start.
- the whole 'kit' left over from last Spring. The Guitar body is made of 1/2 inch MDF. The front panel/cover I cut from plexiglass.
Last spring I initialy used a breadboarded circuit with a Max USB integrated controller and a PIC microcontroller as the proc. Twelve bugs latter I decided to run to Circuit City and buy a USB keyboard and 're-task' the circuit board.
One of my complaints about the 'Guitar Hero' controllers is the plastic tactile switches they use for frets. I thought there are many better, slightly more expensive, choices.
I picked out a industrial lever action switch designed for god knows what. (probably mechanical gate/material sensors)
Close up of the kit.
Bill of Materials (draft)
Item Desc Desc Source Price Qty
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Keyboard Controller USB Keyboard Circuit City $15 1
Fret Switches 'Big' lever things BG Micro $3.5 5
Alt Strum Switch 'little' lever BG Micro $1.25 1
Primary Strum Switch Reed Switch BG Micro $2 1
Conductive Wire 28 AWG Radio Shack $6 2
Guitar Body 1/2" MDF Home Depot $5 1
Scratch guard Plexiglass Home Depot $5 1
Misc hardware wood screws,etc. Home Depot $3 N/A
Strap TBD
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