goteron Posted December 10, 2016 Posted December 10, 2016 (edited) I have been flying SA-342, Huey, and MI-8 on a ghetto setup for the last few months, and while it works, I cannot leave well enough alone. I am currently using an X-55 setup. But I would like something more heli-centric. After looking around at the various options online I figured I would just build one myself.... I am working on the collective system now. I plan on using a linear guide instead of a pivot. It has 4" of travel and I will be using Hall sensors. I have also incorporated a pivot that allows me to configure it as a collective, or rotate it for a fixed wing throttle. I am designing just about everything from the ground up, starting with the grip itself. Since I will be using the Vive, I wanted something with a lot of buttons handy. I did a bunch of searching on the web for various grips and found these: http://www.aviaavtomatika.com/production/019/ Which really caught my eye. I decided to base my design heavily on those. I made a few changes and am not fully done yet, but I think its a good start. I was going to make something similar to the apache dual gunner grip, but I don't think I need all of that at this point. There will also be: 2x dual rotary encoders (for radios) 2x Pots (For fuel, throttle, brake, etc levers) And a variety of switches on the top of the box.. I am not fully settled on that yet. The box will be made of MDF with a solid aluminum backer to support the guide rail. Standard 1" tubing will make up the shaft. I intend to cut the grip out of acetal or similar and am planning on using a Leo Bodnar USB board. I still need to find a dampening solution that will work, I am thinking a motorcycle steering damper, but if anyone has additional suggestions I am all ears. I am cutting a collective grip now out of renshape to see how ergonomic it is and make any final changes before I cut the final one. After everything here is finalized I will start working on the cyclic. I may end up just buying a pre-made gimbal and make my own grip, as the gimbal is a more time consuming project, but we will see.... Anyway. Pics... Edited December 10, 2016 by goteron
RAZBAM_ELMO Posted December 10, 2016 Posted December 10, 2016 Just putting this out there but I think the linear action would work great but in the vertical with such a long axis tip I would think that it would be uncanny and cumbersome. However if you test it and it works all the power to you. Sent from my SM-G900W8 using Tapatalk Know and use all the capabilities in your airplane. If you don't, sooner or later, some guy who does use them all will kick your ass. — Dave 'Preacher' Pace, USN.
goteron Posted December 10, 2016 Author Posted December 10, 2016 I'm going to rough it out with a broom stick in the coming days. I have the same concern. But I think if I angle it back at 15 degrees or so it will be comfortable. I definitely have the same concern. Thanks!
RAZBAM_ELMO Posted December 10, 2016 Posted December 10, 2016 A HALL sensor would be just as easy to do if it doesn't end up working Sent from my SM-G900W8 using Tapatalk Know and use all the capabilities in your airplane. If you don't, sooner or later, some guy who does use them all will kick your ass. — Dave 'Preacher' Pace, USN.
goteron Posted December 11, 2016 Author Posted December 11, 2016 I'll be using a hall sensor in this design. I just need a bracket for the magnets and then will be putting the sensor on the carriage. At least I think that's how I'll be doing it.
goteron Posted December 11, 2016 Author Posted December 11, 2016 Here is my sample collective grip to check ergonomics... Definitely some things I need to move around and adjust. Next cut will be out of Acetal for the final product
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