Share tips and tricks to keep people from throwing out that broken item. Repair before replace!
Hello everyone! I need some help.
While I was playing a game on my Xbox, my favorite FightPad broke. (See pictures for more details.) I would like to know if any of you know if and where I can find a replacement directional button for it. Or alternatively, if someone already made a 3D model of said button I could print.
In advance, thanks!
Do not try to print this. I've done button interface design in prints before. There is a ton of actual engineering in that pad. The shape is tuned beyond the scope of anything a hobby printer is capable of functionally recreating in resolution even with resin printers. When I tried making my own buttons and button actuators, I learned this the hard way. Even the textures are super important.
When you mess with this, you will find that the tiniest of inconsistencies will be extremely frustrating because your brain expects the timing of button pushes to be the same for each direction, and rolling motions to be the same in different directions.
If you can't find replacement parts, then look for someone selling a for-parts broken model elsewhere or cut your losses. You'll save more money that way.
Alternatively, drill a hole in the center. Then mate up the two halves. In the plumbing section of a big box home improvement store you will find ABS cement. This is more than a glue or epoxy. There is no telling if this is fully ABS, or PC-ABS. It might say somewhere but probably not on the buttons. If it is ABS and you use cement the bond will be chemical and not just mechanical. I would not do this unless I have very good control over the potential mess, and as a last resort.
Thanks for the information, I will take it into account.
I still have the box of the controller, but I doubt it got the information of what plastic is used to make its elements, alas.
While there is no stock left of the Xbox version, Amazon still have some units of the Switch one. But the way that button is made, I risk bending, if not outright breaking, its stem, while trying to take it from one controller to put it in the second. (And I’m not comfortable destroying a brand-new controller to repair another one, especially when it’s “old new stock”.)
Since that controller is based on the Saturn one, I can search and see if the 8BitDo use the same directional pad. (It looks the same from the outside, but that doesn’t guaranty anything for the rest.)
By the way, I looked inside to see how the plastic part of said button was made. Here is a link with 2 pictures (plus the one you already saw with my initial post): https://social.marud.fr/notes/a24xiiatpqy6q6lg
That looks like the recycling number 3. That means it is likely PVC. Here in the USA PVC is used for water piping in homes. I don't know if that is the case elsewhere. I presume you are in France or Europe, not that that matters. There is a PVC glue that is a chemical bond too.
PVC cement comes in cans like this typically, random chosen image has no significance:
Thanks for the information, I will take it into account.
I still have the box of the controller, but I doubt it got the information of what plastic is used to make its elements, alas.
While there is no stock left of the Xbox version, Amazon still have some units of the Switch one. But the way that button is made, I risk bending, if not outright breaking, its stem, while trying to take it from one controller to put it in the second. (And I'm not comfortable destroying a brand-new controller to repair another one, especially when it's "old new stock".)
Since that controller is based on the Saturn one, I can search and see if the 8BitDo use the same directional pad. (It looks the same from the outside, but that doesn't guaranty anything for the rest.)
By the way, I looked inside to see how the plastic part of said button was made. Here is a link with 2 pictures (plus the one you already saw with my initial post): https://social.marud.fr/notes/a24xiiatpqy6q6lg
My brain still hurts for you, I hope you get your controller fixed somehow or another.
Just spit balling another idea (might be a cringe idea though) would be to Dremel a really small hole through the center of both parts and use a tiny screw to literally screw the parts back together. 🤷♂️
Again, not exactly the best idea, but with a small enough screw, very carefully drilled tiny hole, and some reinforcing glue, you might have another option there.
Seriously though, unless you're super confident in your skills and happen to have proper parts and tools, you should probably ignore my comment here.
Still, best of luck 🤞
Hope to see a post someday soon showing you got it fixed...
Again, not exactly the best idea, but with a small enough screw, very carefully drilled tiny hole, and some reinforcing glue, you might have another option there.
There already IS a hole in the bottom "half", but I’m not sure having a screw head or a nut here wouldn’t mess with the membrane under it, nor how the button is sitting. Might still try it if I don’t find any other solutions.
Indeed, if you tried that route, you'd want the screw to be about as small and short as is necessary to get the job done, even if that means cutting whatever screw you find down in length.
Always use your own common sense, and best of luck. Happy Holidays!
An alternate option you might consider could be plastic epoxy. You should be able to find some at Lowes or Home Depot.
I've used specialized plastic epoxy before, its actually surprisingly strong. Heads up though, when you mix the two parts together, the fumes are also extremely strong, so its best to apply it and let it cure outdoors.
Of course, if you can get a proper replacement part, that would be the best option, just tossing another idea in the hat for ya. Good luck 👍
Thanks for the suggestion. I don't live in a country with the particular stores you mentioned, but I'm sure I can find equivalent shops which might have it.
That said, I will still search for a replacement. (Can't replace the whole controller, since it's not made anymore. And it would be a waste to put working electronics into the trash, anyway.)