Build it like Ben: Modding an X-Box 360 Controller
New Tech Press: Ben, out of all the things you could have done, why did you choose to modify an X-Box 360 controller?
Ben Heck: A Viewer Challenge came in from Dan Bertholomey who was injured in a hit and run and left without the use of his right hand, which made it impossible to play his beloved X-Box 360. So,I opted to create a four-way pedal.
New Tech Press: What was the first step in the project?
Ben Heck: Well, I had to call call Dan and figure out exactly what his needs were. It turns out the left hand controls were not problematic so I concentrated on controls for the right trigger, right bumper, A, B, X, Y, and the right analog stick.
New Tech Press: Have you ever done a similar modification that would have helped you in this experience?
Ben Heck: In past mods, I’ve stuck a secondary analog stick to the bottom of the controller allowing the player to activate the other analog stick by pushing the controller against the left knee.
New Tech Press: So where did you begin?
Ben Heck: Well, the newer controllers are very simple. It’s just signal and ground per button. First thing to do was remove the little security screws. Pretty simple really. A small flathead screwdriver allows you to slip in the side of the security pin and remove the screws. There is a signal line and a ground for each one of the buttons. I use an X-Acto knife and go side-by-side using the flat of the blade on these little pads to reveal copper. You need just need enough to solder to.
Then I scratch off one of the bottom pads for a ground connection and add a little bit of solder to the points to disconnect, which helps the solder re-flow and then remove it with a 40 -watt de-soldering iron and a suction bulb. Push out all the air, put it down over the part, swirl it around – let it heat up, and, it sucks up all the solder.
A good sign that you have de-soldered something correctly is that you can see black expanse around the pins and you can move the pins with a screwdriver.
Repeat the procedure for the right analog stick,
Once you’ve got the piece de-soldered, stick the screwdriver in and pop it off. Connect the wires going to the pedals with a 0.1 inch header, a pretty common size. This header has 8 pins, which should be enough because we have A, B, X, Y, right bumper, ground, voltage and then trigger sense. Cut off enough of this ribbon cable so we can attach it to the header. Take the X-Acto knife and cut between them to get an accurate count.
Once the the header is connected stick it on the circuit board. Use a Dremel to scuff up the bottom use a little super glue.
With the header attached and all the wires to the buttons soldered in the order in which they came off the header it looks nicer and also makes it flatter and more compact. Write down what the pin-out is so we will remember it later after we have closed up the controller.
Complete XBox Teardown
http://www2.electronicproducts.com/Microsoft_Xbox_360-whatsinside-46.aspx
All articles on the Xbox 360
http://www2.electronicproducts.com/SearchArticle.aspx?Qry=xbox&aType=all
More Ben Heck Hacks
http://www2.electronicproducts.com/SearchArticle.aspx?Qry=ben heck&aType=all
Video of Ben building a single-handed X-Box Controller
See the Bill of Materials (BOM) Ben Used.
■
Advertisement
Learn more about Footwasher Media
