X-55 Revamp with ProMicro.

[Brewnix]

Ok so got a little project with t a X-55 I bought on eBay that was reported that the USB device is not recognized when plugged in. My goal was to get a dual throttle system much cheaper then the working warthog. So I found a broken X55 on eBay which there are more then a few of these babies floating around. And I got to thinking with all the talk about the outstanding program of MMJOY2 and Promicro chip build your own peripherals I would find something broken or old and revamp it and make it work. So I am at the beginning stages and I already got the 2 throttles and one knob that turns out to be a pots tied to the chip and working to the throttle of mmjoy2.

 

So I got it to work and calibrated thru windows and the axis are working good. So this is just a test so far for the axis and my next venture is to create a buttons matrix with the toggles on the base and maybe rewire a few of the buttons on the throttle. So my dilemma is, I want to utilize the connecters that some of the switches are already connected to. And was wondering what would you call these connectors and maybe a vendor that has them for sale. I have found a few but they differ form mine on the x55. Plus some of my connectors female and male are double rows anywhere from 4 to 7 pin across.

 

 

 

My next step if I cant find the name of these or buy them is I am going to have to de solder the ones off the boards in the throttle I am not using with my own board or splice setup. I would prefer not to de solder Its just my solder skills are extremely new and tend to forgot about the heat and melt stuff. Any help on the name or a vendor would be great. Thanks..

[cichlidfan]

I am not sure which connector you meant but this might be a starting point.

 

http://www.digikey.com/product-search/en/connectors-interconnects/rectangular-connectors-headers-male-pins/1442547

 

Whichever it is, Digikey will have it.

[Sokol1_br]

Looks JST connectors, a kind of double row, what certainly require a specific (and not cheap) crimping tool.

 

But tracing this connections in original joystick circuit is very tedious and time consuming - I did this with CH Figfhterstick, Suncom SFS and F-15.

 

Is more easy and practical replace all wires and do a matrix board if need - today is easy and cheap order PCB from some online shop, e.g. Fritizing.

 

With MMjoy2 firmware you have option to use matrix or shift register board with CD4021B (like in Cougar/Warthog).

Edited March 28, 2016 by Sokol1_br

[MilesD]

Hi Brewnix

As Sokol they look like JST and standard .1 pitch spacing, There are many diferent standards of the JST. It seem the joysticks use either JST-XH or JST-XZH, Yours look like the ZH, same as the Thrustmaster

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/10-Sets-X-ZH-1-5mm-3-pin-JST-Connector-Plug-With-Wire-Cables-150MM-YG-/121805303470?hash=item1c5c296eae:g:tuUAAOSwwbdWOB8F

 

I have the board mounts for your 3 pin JST XZH I could send you for free.

 

While it wont lock you should be able to plug the double row into these.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/5PCS-2-Row-20-Pin-2-54mm-Pitch-Straight-Pin-Header-/182045871891?hash=item2a62c78f13:g:FBUAAOSwh-1W3Iik

or just double up these

http://www.ebay.com/itm/15pcs-Single-Row-2-54mm-Pitch-40-Pins-Straight-Connector-Header-/321294100519?hash=item4ace9ee827:g:PBoAAOSwPcVVlZRR

 

I did the same arduino pro micro thing with the Thrustmaster TQS and F22Pro and just had them recognized as USB 32 button HID joysticks. No drivers or mmjoy to mess with.

 

 

[Brewnix]

Looks JST connectors, a kind of double row, what certainly require a specific (and not cheap) crimping tool.

 

But tracing this connections in original joystick circuit is very tedious and time consuming - I did this with CH Figfhterstick, Suncom SFS and F-15.

 

Is more easy and practical replace all wires and do a matrix board if need - today is easy and cheap order PCB from some online shop, e.g. Fritizing.

 

With MMjoy2 firmware you have option to use matrix or shift register board with CD4021B (like in Cougar/Warthog).

 

Thanks for the reply. I mapped out the base of the throttle was semi easy. But its when i got to the right throttle handle is when i realize i might just using some of the buttons and redoing my

Own config like you are talking about. The toggles down on base look like all one set of post were tied to ground like gp40 wiz cause i had continuity between all the center post which on board was labeled ground and the other post were individual. Is that the shift register system your talking about. I also think the right throttle might have its own matrix board. It had a board that looked like it had abunch of diodes or resister. They are really small. Cant see em without magnifying glass.. Thanks

[Brewnix]

Hi Brewnix

As Sokol they look like JST and standard .1 pitch spacing, There are many diferent standards of the JST. It seem the joysticks use either JST-XH or JST-XZH, Yours look like the ZH, same as the Thrustmaster

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/10-Sets-X-ZH-1-5mm-3-pin-JST-Connector-Plug-With-Wire-Cables-150MM-YG-/121805303470?hash=item1c5c296eae:g:tuUAAOSwwbdWOB8F

 

I have the board mounts for your 3 pin JST XZH I could send you for free.

 

While it wont lock you should be able to plug the double row into these.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/5PCS-2-Row-20-Pin-2-54mm-Pitch-Straight-Pin-Header-/182045871891?hash=item2a62c78f13:g:FBUAAOSwh-1W3Iik

or just double up these

http://www.ebay.com/itm/15pcs-Single-Row-2-54mm-Pitch-40-Pins-Straight-Connector-Header-/321294100519?hash=item4ace9ee827:g:PBoAAOSwPcVVlZRR

 

I did the same arduino pro micro thing with the Thrustmaster TQS and F22Pro and just had them recognized as USB 32 button HID joysticks. No drivers or mmjoy to mess with.

 

 

 

 

Thanks for that links and pic that gives me good ideas on this project. I guess it would be good to get a standard set of connectors. My coneectors look like i would looking for days to find the right ones.

[Sokol1_br]

The toggles down on base look like all one set of post were tied to ground like gp40 wiz cause i had continuity between all the center post which on board was labeled ground and the other post were individual. Is that the shift register system your talking about.

 

Think no, Shift Register is a small PCB with one or more CD4021B mc, each handle 8 buttons trough a common +5V wire and one individual wire per button.

 

Additional CD4021B can be chained in the previous for control more buttons.

 

https://www.arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/ShiftIn

 

The first mc is connected to USB controller (e.g. MMjoy2) through a 5 wires* connections and serial protocol.

 

The advantage in use Shift Register circuit is less wires between the grip and base of joy or throttle.

 

For example in Cougar/Warthog is used 3 CD4021B, this allow plug up to 24 buttons - is used 19 or 20.

 

In Cougar/Warthog if instead Shift Register was used diode matrix will be need 9 wires (5x4 matrix) requiring a more expensive connector (than used PS2) for remove the grip.

 

In Saitek, at least in previous models like X-45 was used diode matrix.

 

 

 

* In VKB Black Mamba this connection with USB Controller is done with only 3 wires.

Edited March 29, 2016 by Sokol1_br

[Brewnix]

Ok I read the ardiuno link. That sounds like a good idea cause the path from the right throttle handle to the base is kind of small, least amount of wires would be better. So where do you get your shift registers. I found some on amazon http://www.amazon.com/CD4021-CD4021BE-STATIC-Integrated-Circuit/dp/B00I6ICNNA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1459226933&sr=8-2&keywords=cd4021b

 

or this on Ebay

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CD4021B-Original-New-Goldstar-Integrated-Circuit-replaces-NTE4021B-/121069839775?hash=item1c3053259f:g:zQ0AAOxyD5pRJPCa

 

I did find a shift register on Sparkfun with a breakout.

https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10680

not for sure if its the same thing. Or does MMjoy only uses the CD4021?

I have visited the Fritizing once I'll check it out again cause I got a lot to work with here thanks!

[Sokol1_br]

This from Sparkfun is not compatible.

 

MMJoy2 firmware support CD4021B and 74HC165.

 

CD4021B is more practical for DIY as are available in pass through pins format (PDIP-16), the other only in SMD.

 

BTW - A matrix PCB is very simple to do, see this example in SimHQ, draw in Fritizing.

 

http://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/4241575/Re:_MMJoy/MMjoy2_-_Build_your_#Post4241575

 

But the inconvenient of matrix board sitting in joy/throttle base is increase the number of wires there to grips, if Cougar/Warthog use similar matrix will be need ~40 wires through grip pole!

Edited March 29, 2016 by Sokol1_br

[Brewnix]

This from Sparkfun is not compatible.

 

MMJoy2 firmware support CD4021B and 74HC165.

 

CD4021B is more practical for DIY as are available in pass through pins format (PDIP-16), the other only in SMD.

 

BTW - A matrix PCB is very simple to do, see this example in SimHQ, draw in Fritizing.

 

http://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/4241575/Re:_MMJoy/MMjoy2_-_Build_your_#Post4241575

 

But the inconvenient of matrix board sitting in joy/throttle base is increase the number of wires there to grips, if Cougar/Warthog use similar matrix will be need ~40 wires through grip pole!

Ok cool im gonna try that shift register.also found and downloaded the fritzing gonna play around with it and see

[Brewnix]

Sokol1, Ok so I got the Shift Register and Promicro. I have read the tutorial a few times can't seem to grab the idea of in and out on the cd4021.So I'm thinking cause they use the Arduino NG as reference its throwing me off. I found the Arduino NG schematic but its says pin 8 and 7 are digital no reference to which one is in or out. Wire to and from CD4021b to Promicro should be, I am taking a stab here..

 

Q8,Pin 3---------------------------MOSI- B2

Parrel/Serial Control,Pin 9--------MISO- B1

Clock,Pin 10-----------------------SCLK- B3

And to conn multi shiftreg--Q8,Pin3 of second shiftreg to Serial In,Pin11 of first shiftreg. Appreciate the help there wasn't a exact diagram going to the Promicro and I am new to electronic building. Thanks again for input.

 

Edited April 2, 2016 by Brewnix

[Sokol1_br]

Your scheme looks OK, but maybe this schemes help (a bit confuse). :)

 

http://i.imgur.com/e7tBdzT.jpg

 

http://savepic.org/7759370.jpg

 

Layout for make PCB - dual layer - there of the last picture (open in SprintLayout Viewer):

 

https://yadi.sk/d/hDDKGh1UjjD3q

Edited April 3, 2016 by Sokol1_br

[Brewnix]

Your scheme looks OK, but maybe this schemes help (a bit confuse). :)

 

http://i.imgur.com/e7tBdzT.jpg

 

http://savepic.org/7759370.jpg

 

Layout for make PCB - dual layer - there of the last picture (open in SprintLayout Viewer):

 

https://yadi.sk/d/hDDKGh1UjjD3q

 

 

Thanks for those board designs those are nice and help out a lot. Got one more question. On this pic from your Adruino link tutorial.

On the out bound wire from switch to respective button pin out why is there a 10k ohm resistor to ground bus? They don't mention the resistor in the tutorial.

 

[Sokol1_br]

Yes, each switch have a 10k resistor between switch input leg and ground, the other leg is connect to a common +5v.

 

Can be used resistor net to make assembly more compact:

 

https://www.circuitspecialists.com/269-10k.html

[Brewnix]

This from Sparkfun is not compatible.

 

MMJoy2 firmware support CD4021B and 74HC165.

 

CD4021B is more practical for DIY as are available in pass through pins format (PDIP-16), the other only in SMD.

 

BTW - A matrix PCB is very simple to do, see this example in SimHQ, draw in Fritizing.

 

http://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/4241575/Re:_MMJoy/MMjoy2_-_Build_your_#Post4241575

 

But the inconvenient of matrix board sitting in joy/throttle base is increase the number of wires there to grips, if Cougar/Warthog use similar matrix will be need ~40 wires through grip pole!

 

Ok so I have been stewing over parts and direction to go with my throttle and stick so I found these and ended up ordering some parts I got 4 each.

I figured for the throttle I would put 2 shift registers in the right handle Use it for TMS and DMS. A second register for the 2 buttons on pots and red switch and those little sticks near the red switch is a funny setup and wiring. Gonna hold off on those till later. Then ill have 2 more shift registers for the toggles on the base.Those little hat switches were the cheapest here in the states. everywhere else they were $20. Then rewire the pots on the throttle and the ones on the grip. should be good. Still stuck on the pcb's but I got a lot of good pcb pic I can work on. Thanks!

 

4X http://www.onlinecomponents.com/national-semi-cd4021bcn.html?p=11979465

and

4X http://www.onlinecomponents.com/alps-electric-rkjxl100401v.html?p=10114290