Documenting building of switch boxes - GPWiz, Bodnar and DSD

[hansangb]

The purpose of this thread is to document my switch box building process. I already created the POC (proof of concept) and it seems to work well. What I found though, was the documentation in the "switch" thread is mostly out of date. Since ED/DCS changes directory structures and LUA files, I had to learn through the school of hard knocks. And I'm still learning. Next few posts will talk about board/switch stuff followed by LUA modifications.

 

Also, I'm providing exactly what I ordered (bill of materials) for those who want to compare.

 

Let's start with acrylic:

from www.eplastics.com

• PCCLR0.250AM24X48 (.250" X 24" X 48" Clear Polycarbonate) cut to size.
  
• ACRYCLR0.375PM24X48 (0.375" X 24" X 48" clear plexiglass acrylic) cut to size
  

The 3/8 inch is for base and sides. The 1/4 inch is for the top. The top piece is missing from the picture below. I went with the thicker sides and base for stability and ease of gluing. Took no more than 5 minutes to glue it using SuperGlue. One helpful hint. The acrylic comes with paper sheet on it. Use that as the base when you're gluing. The superglue doesn't stick to the paper (not immediately anyway) so you can take your time. Also, I ordered one as polycarb and the other as acrylic. For what I'm building, it really makes no difference, but I was curious.

 

 

Switches

From http://www.allelectronics.com/

 

 

• SPST N.O. PUSHBUTTON, BLACK (PB-139)
  
• HD METAL PUSHBUTTON, N.O. MOMENTARY (PB-143)
  
• DPDT MOMENTARY BOTH DIRECTIONS ROCKER SWITCH (RS-210)
  
• SPDT CENTER-OFF ROUND ROCKER SWITCH (RS-146)
  
• SPDT, ON-OFF-ON ROCKER SWITCH (RS-193)
  
• RED SWITCH COVER (SC-515)
  
• PUSH-ON MOMENTARY SWITCH (MPB-39)
  
• SPST ON-OFF HEAVY DUTY TOGGLE SWITCH (STS-56)
  

The SPST switches are good for on/off functions. SPDT switches can do ON/OFF/ON functions. Like AHCP on A10's MASTER : Arm(up), Safe(Middle), Train(Down). Others will be used for UFC and other functions. Most are self explanatory, I think.

 

 

 

Now the electronics that the switches will be connected to:

Leo Bodnar's boards from https://www.leobodnar.com/shop/

 

 

• BBI-32 Button Box Interface - With Connectors (BBI-32)
  
• BBI - 12 Position Rotary Switch (BBI-RSW)
  
• Rotary encoder CTS288V (CTS288V) + Accessories With Grey Knob
  

I'm lazy so I got the ones you don't have to solder. I also got the BBI-12 so I can add rotary encoders/switches (more on that later as the build goes along). Also, I opted for the CTS288V because you can use the encoder as a push button. CTS288 only supports rotaries and not push buttons.

 

 

GPWIZ from http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/

 

• GP-Wiz40 MAX USB Compatible Input Interface with Rotary Support
  

The above rotary support is *not* for rotary encoders. It only supports rotary switches (four positions I believe)

 

 

 

DSD from http://www.derekspearedesigns.com/64-button-no-matrix-controller.html

• DSD 64 Button Controller
  

 

 

 

 

For LED control:

Phidgets from http://www.phidgets.com

 

• 1032_0 US PhidgetLED-64 Advanced - US Power Supply
  
• 3021_0 LED64 Replacement Cable 4-Pack 60cm
  
• 3601_0 10mm Green LED (Bag of 10)
  

Other boards support lighting the LEDs, and you can easily make one yourself using the appropriate diodes. But I liked the idea of having total control (color, intensity) etc of Phidgets.

 

 

 

And here are the switch boxes being made. After the four sides have been glued:

 

 

 

 

After being spay painted matte black:

 

 

And the POC using SPDT switch with GP-WIZ board

 

 

And direct link in case the IMG embedding doesn't work:

 

http://i.imgur.com/xrDUAoL.gifv

Edited August 7, 2016 by hansangb

[hansangb]

reserved for board/switch.

[hansangb]

reserved for LUA modifications.

[hansangb]

reserved for misc stuff I forgot to address above.