Building a joystick from ground up

[leafer]

I want to build myself a set of Hotas and have been searching the net for an in dept tutorial on mold making. Something along the line of mold making for idiots because I haven't got a clue.

 

For example, if I want to make a replica of F-35 stick but don't have one handy to cast, how do I go about building one? I don't need it to be an exact replica since I know it's almost impossible to do so. All the tutorials that I've found, those people have the necessary parts to cast.

 

I know it will be cheaper to buy one but I don't like the look and feel of CH stick and throttle and I will never buy a Cougar again.

 

Any help or advice is greatly appreciated. I badly need a project to keep my mind off series of unpleasant events in my life.

[VMFA117_Poko]

Talk to TriggerHappy or urze. They mastered such "enterprises".

[leafer]

Thanks, Poko but never mind. I have found a way to do so. My sister is buying me a digital camera for Christmas and will post some pics. Anyone who has access to hardware store can tackle this project; it's that easy. And it's all metal. ;)

 

I'm trying to learn Minos 3D CAD program and will draw some pics with instructions. Let's put TM out of business for good. hehe

[VMFA117_Poko]

Good Luck. If You make MiG's stick and throttle I will buy it for sure ;). I hope You won't be so expensive like ThrustMaster.

[leafer]

No no... it'll be free! I'll have a step-by-step guide on the how-tos and the whatnots up when I finish the prototype. It won't be an exact replica but for people who, like me, likes to build stuff, it should be a good project.

 

I'm building everything from aluminum tubings. I know that sounded yucky but let's see what the end result will yield.

[VMFA117_Poko]

Oh, ok. I keep my fingers crossed then.

[Joe Kurr]

Hmm, sounds interesting.

Have you also thought about buttons and rotaries/sliders, etc?

I would like to know what kind of interface you're using.

 

Although it's a bit quiet of late, our project is still going as well :)

[leafer]

Joe Kurr,

 

I have been trying to find source(s) that offers buttons, rotaries and hat switches at reasonable price. I may end up buying used or even new CH Hotas for the interface cards cuz I heard nothing but greatness abput Control manager.

 

Then wouldn't using CH Hotas be more sensible? Yes. But then I'll be like all the other CH Hotas owners and where is the cool factor in that.

 

I'll be getting the material to experiment with as soon as stores are opened on the 2nd: Some aluminum tubes and plates are all I need. What I'll be building isn't elaborate nor will it look as good as what you guys are doing. It's more of a poor man's stick and throttle for people who likes to build things themselves.

[Joe Kurr]

You might take a look here.

It's a joystick interface using the AVR AtMega8 microcontroller.

With this you can have up to eight analog axis, and up to 28 buttons.

If you're into electronics, it'll take about two hours to assemble and program, and the parts cost about 25 euros in total (here in the Netherlands, that is)

[leafer]

Thx. but Im no electronics handyman. I'll buy the BU0836 usb interface and save myself a heart attack. :D

[sreeja]

Microswitches are pretty universal, most having 3 terminals they must be included.Good luck.

 

[leafer]

lil' update.

 

Bought some aluminum tubes to make the stick handle and throttle grip last week but had to leave them alone cuz of work. Today I had the tube bent to form the grip but it didn't turn out the way I had hoped. I worked a little on the switch box today and I should have some pics in about a week.

[Triggerhappy69]

I have been trying to find source(s) that offers buttons, rotaries and hat switches at reasonable price.

 

 

Hey mate did you get the e-mail address for Thrustmasters Support? I have ordered thrre cooliehat's from them (They're situated in Canada), and the price was reasonable..? But most important they always respond to my questions quickly, and give out an impression of being a VERY customer focused organisation..!

 

 

 

BTW.. I am a Cougar owner and you might have to actually have a Thrustmaster to buy spareparts from them. But I would still ask..?

 

Ps. Dunno what happened to the Quote function here..?

[leafer]

There are two reasons why I haven't sent them an inquiry: One as u stated, they probably sell spare parts only to Cougar owners. Two, I'm not ready to buy if they said I could. Don't want them to feel like they wasted their time by responding to me.

 

But the best price I've so far was from otto engineering. They ain't cheap, 50 usd and up, but they looked like high quality products.

 

Also, my attempt at building the stick from tubes yielded disappointing result. Meaning. It looked like sheeit. lol So, I'm on plan B at the moment. Which is sculpting the stick from wood. Gonna try to make a mold with that sucker. My original intention was to build a poorman's HOTAS that looks somewhat like the real thing. But that obviously not gonna happen and plan B will end up costing me more than if I had bought a CH or Cougar, but the point here is I want a Russian stick and an Eagle twin throttle and a cool looking collective. So pray for me, brother, cuz I really don't know what the hell I'm doing. lol

[Triggerhappy69]

So pray for me, brother, cuz I really don't know what the hell I'm doing. lol

 

 

LMAO..! :lol:

 

Well that makes two of us mate..!