Opal 4-1 Posted July 5, 2021 Posted July 5, 2021 Hi all, Need a few pieces of info from you lovely people! I am planning to extend my T16000M and have a plan in mind. It will end up losing the rotation axis (which I do not use so no loss). Basically, all I need is an metal tube, a wiring loom and some terminal blocks. The tube is sorted and fits nicely, but for the life of me, finding wiring and terminal blocks has become very confusing. So for the short version!! 1. What gauge wiring should I use? 2. Any help in finding appropriate connectors/terminal blocks? I am in the UK and as Maplin is no longer around, its quite hard to find anywhere that deals in electronics for the hobbyist. Either that the choice is so great online I have no idea what I should be looking at!!!! TVM
Grennymaster Posted July 5, 2021 Posted July 5, 2021 (edited) Hey there, i ordert my electronics from here: http://www.leobodnar.com/shop/index.php?main_page=shopping_cart nicley sortet an good quality. but honestly, im very conserned about your plan, i also got the t 1600 for Star Citizen. i will sell it, the setup with to sticks is not my thing im not sure if an extenten T1600 will hold on for long, its very thin plastik, and a relativ poros one too. Im thinking it will break relativ fast in case that the force you apply via the metal tube is too high. maybe you could strengthen the whole stick via 3D printed parts. i would mention, better save your money and buy a solid stick. I think this will be the better solution for long time. but if you build it, let us see some pics pls sry for my english, its rosti like i am Edited July 11, 2021 by BIGNEWY 1.1 profanity
Opal 4-1 Posted July 6, 2021 Author Posted July 6, 2021 (edited) Thanks Grenny, I'm not concerned with the strength of the joystick, it has a stiff spring and the extension is only 8 inches. Removed the rudder axis control and dry fitted, it fits the grip extremely well! Edited July 6, 2021 by Lloyd80
Sokol1_br Posted July 6, 2021 Posted July 6, 2021 Wires gauge is not relevant, use the more thin you find. Sample. A good wire is silicone insulated used in telephony, but I don't know the technical name. Will be good if add some buttons in T.16000M grip, more four is easy to place, wired in parallel with the buttons in base - now without practical use. Another reason for use the more thin wire you find, since is need pass all in the realtivele small hole ot T.16000M gimbal pole. Sample: Other: Spoiler Video adding buttons: Spoiler Similar project, with extension. 1
Grennymaster Posted July 6, 2021 Posted July 6, 2021 vor 5 Stunden schrieb Lloyd80: Thanks Grenny, I'm not concerned with the strength of the joystick, it has a stiff spring and the extension is only 8 inches. Removed the rudder axis control and dry fitted, it fits the grip extremely well! Wow thats looks way better than i expectet very nice work 1
Opal 4-1 Posted July 6, 2021 Author Posted July 6, 2021 1 hour ago, Sokol1_br said: Wires gauge is not relevant, use the more thin you find. Sample. A good wire is silicone insulated used in telephony, but I don't know the technical name. Will be good if add some buttons in T.16000M grip, more four is easy to place, wired in parallel with the buttons in base - now without practical use. Another reason for use the more thin wire you find, since is need pass all in the realtivele small hole ot T.16000M gimbal pole. Sample: Other: Reveal hidden contents Video adding buttons: Reveal hidden contents Similar project, with extension. Thanks for the info! I was considering extra buttons, but with my inexperience in electronics or soldering (read here no experience!! ) I decided against the extra buttons. The link with the extension is one that I seen when doing my research! Everything properly dry fitted; 1 hour ago, Grennymaster said: Wow thats looks way better than i expectet very nice work I know, its blown away my expectations too!!!!!
Opal 4-1 Posted July 6, 2021 Author Posted July 6, 2021 (edited) So its all done! All in all, it turned out quite a simple task, as long as you plan it out. That's saying a lot as I have zero electronic/electrical skills! I had the soldering iron and solder already, but only used it once before. A little practice really helps as I fond out today! So after the deconstruction, I decided against extra buttons, due to my experience level. But I did plan the wiring. I had ordered some wiring, but as I was getting impatient I decided to have a look around around the house. Tucked away in one of those "drawers" we all have, an HDMI cable that was dodgy. Quick google later, about the internal wiring, I stripped it and yes, the wiring appeared suitable. The aluminium extension, was an old curtain pole, (I have seen the same extension somewhere done with 1inch PVC pipe. Lastly was some heat shrink tubing. (Found some in a fishing tackle box, not that I fish anymore!!!) So somehow without leaving the house, I have found everything I needed at home. That is def a first for me. So I stripped the joystick grip down into its component parts. I had to watch a video on how to to remove the trigger, easy to find on youtube. After that, I dry fitted everything, to see what modifications I would need. I Removed the twist grip axis sensor and pulled the wires back into the base. I then decided to test the wire, by only clipping one wire from the PCB about midway from the PCB and the shaft that's attached to the gimble. Soldered on the section of wire to use as the extension (The dodgy HDMI cable wire lol) and tested it on the PC, success!!!!! It works. Next was the most nerve wracking part, I cut all the wires about the same midway point. Soldered on the wire extensions to the wires protruding from the base shaft. Slipped the wires through the new extension. This lead to the first mod. The housing that the rudder rotation axis sensor sets on top of, needed to have the edges of the forward facing section rounded off. The extension slid cover the housing but was tight. I then noticed a gap at the front which allowed a small amount of movement of the extension, this was solved by some hard foam pushed into the gap. Next was soldering all the extension wires to the wires still attached to the PCB. I did one and the when to test it on the PCB, nothing! It was a moment of panic, before I thought, maybe all the wires need to be attached (Yeah I did mention my lack of experience.....) and after a couple of hours of soldering, everything was working! . Started putting the grip back together, those little rubber pads that activate the switches on the PCB, aren't they a pain in the ***!!!!! Drop one and they seem to travel miles! SO grip together, now time to mount it, it slipped on easily, but i felt it could be better. So using the tapered end of a few zip ties cut and superglued to the grip base, it now stays, on twist, and is still removable. Everything tidied up and first test. What they hell!!!! Why why why didn't I try this sooner!!!!!!! I mean, I am not a great pilot by any means (I have around 15 hours in gliders from around 2 years ago, that's not what what I would call experience!! ). But in DCS I was def wasn't average, somewhere below, but the control this extension has given me is amazing! I came back to DCS after an 18 month gap, and I had previously bought the Huey, but never flew it. 3 weeks ago, I picked up DCS again, started slowly with the F5 and then moved onto the Mirage (also previous models), then tried the huey, after about 30mins still couldn't really control or hover, thought I would try a warbird. P51, man its hard to fly!!! Struggled through lots to try and learn the modules again. So many curve adjustments!!!! Now no curves, and I was hovering the huey after a couple of mins, pulling great turns and barrel rolls in the P51 and no issues and with jets its awesome too. Just general flying is easy, trimming is easier. And with all aircraft, the precision truly amazed me. So for anyone who wants to make flying in DCS easier, ty an extension!!! And I did this and posted the above huge amount of drival, to show that it doesnt cost much. Nor does it take too long or require any expertise !!! All completed and right at home!!!! Edited July 6, 2021 by Lloyd80 Spelling
Grennymaster Posted July 10, 2021 Posted July 10, 2021 looks very unique reminds a bit of an old Warbird stick great work
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