XBOX 360 D-Pad fix

thingiverse

While waiting to play Dragon Ball FighterZ on PC, I decided to tackle something that had long vexed me - improving the XBOX 360 direction pad. After going through seven iterations of this design, I finally found what I believe is the perfect solution for this issue. The XBOX 360 controller is well-known for its subpar direction pad, which is a real disappointment since it's an otherwise great controller. One common "fix" found online involves cutting up a piece of plastic to use as a shim between the D-Pad and the button membrane (http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Fix-the-d-pad-on-the-Xbox-360-control-pad-mor/ or https://c0d3h4x0r.wordpress.com/2008/12/22/xbox360-d-pad-design-flaws-and-fix/). However, I've found this method to be unreliable, often causing incorrect input on adjacent directions (pressing left+down instead of just left) and requiring awkward sanding of the well where the D-Pad sits. Maybe I've outgrown my MacGyver phase, but I believe we can come up with a more elegant solution. **Please note that preparation for this fix requires removing the small protrusions/rails on the underside of the D-Pad. You are doing this at your own risk, and we take no responsibility for the results of your modifications.** The only way this fix works is by sanding down the existing rails that press the button membrane so that the bottom of the D-Pad makes total contact with the button rubber. The problem I've found with the 360 controller is that the distance between the bottom of the D-Pad and the button membrane is rather sloppy, allowing for a very slippery button press that often misses contact or only catches on the outer edges. Our fix fine-tunes this spacing to ensure the button presses register on the innermost area of the button contacts. In all our tests, this fix has immediately improved the responsiveness of the XBOX 360 Direction Pad, bringing a more tactile "Super Nintendo" feeling to the once mushy and unreliable D-pad. Ditch your makeshift fixes, such as using Pringles lids or takeout containers - this is *THE* solution!