ThePCGuy
12-05-06, 04:41 PM
Well I have a tendency to find old keyboards that are still useable but very dirty. Typically (gasp) I put them in the dishwasher without soap, and have them cleaned very thoroughly. Well I filled the dishwasher a bit too much this time, and one of the keyboards was too close to the heater, and it deformed just a bit. It just so happens that I'm looking to build a Mame arcade machine, and had been playing with the idea (have seen previously) of using a keyboard controller. SURGERY TIME. I opened up the keyboard and removed the controller from the mylar matrix that is in the keyboard. I then went through the process of trying to solder to the metal pads on the controller. After the 5th time, I got it right, and each soldering job was much much stronger, and better than the previous 5. I used a 6' CAT5 patch cord that had a broken jack on one end (I keep all junk wire) and used that to create 6" leads that I could solder to these connections. I then coated everything that was exposed in a nice layer of Hot Glue. Have I mentioned how much I like hot glue? I then went about the task of figuring out the matrix by jumping all necessary connections. This keyboard has a setup of 19 rows by 8 columns (so 19 wires on one side, 8 on the other), so that means that each of the 8 individual wires had to be jumpered to each of the 19 wires to see what the output would be. Simple math shows us that 19 x 8 = 152. So after a few more than 152 connections (my eyes started to get a little off after awhile) I had the matrix labeled, and mostly complete. This particular keyboard has a few extra keys that I won't be using such as the internet/email/etc. keys. Basically I will be creating a control panel with the following:
1 player start
1 player coin
2 player start
2 player coin
1 player joystick (2 positions, left/right, up/down
2 player joystick (2 positions, left/right, up/down
1 player - 6 buttons (typical high/mid/low kick, high/mid/low punch)
2 player - 6 buttons (typical high/mid/low kick, high/mid/low punch)
I believe that is all for now, so that leaves me with 20 connections I'll need. The thing to see will be the limit with simultaneous key strokes and such. I believe there are ways around the problem (short of going to an I-pac setup), and that is half of the fun. The idea of my first cabinet will be low cost. I could go out and purchase an I-pac and be done, but I like recycling what I've got lying around, and I think this will work just fine for this machine.
On to the pictures: Many are a bit blurry because of a lack of light in my room at the time I took the pictures.
http://thepcguy.myvnc.com/jim/mame
Anyone else build a Mame cabinet? How'd your system turn out?
- Jim
1 player start
1 player coin
2 player start
2 player coin
1 player joystick (2 positions, left/right, up/down
2 player joystick (2 positions, left/right, up/down
1 player - 6 buttons (typical high/mid/low kick, high/mid/low punch)
2 player - 6 buttons (typical high/mid/low kick, high/mid/low punch)
I believe that is all for now, so that leaves me with 20 connections I'll need. The thing to see will be the limit with simultaneous key strokes and such. I believe there are ways around the problem (short of going to an I-pac setup), and that is half of the fun. The idea of my first cabinet will be low cost. I could go out and purchase an I-pac and be done, but I like recycling what I've got lying around, and I think this will work just fine for this machine.
On to the pictures: Many are a bit blurry because of a lack of light in my room at the time I took the pictures.
http://thepcguy.myvnc.com/jim/mame
Anyone else build a Mame cabinet? How'd your system turn out?
- Jim