X65F Movement Mod

[walker450]

I have a X-65F force sensing stick and I want to modify it to move slightly like the actual F-16 stick does... approximately 1/4" deflection in each direction I believe. 

Has anyone done this? I have some ideas... they may not be good ones but I have them

1. Place small springs between the desk and X-65F base. Build a bracket that prevents the top of the base from moving up, so that when you move the stick only the side that is being pushed down goes down against the springs, the opposite side stays in place.

2. Use rubber in some manner instead of springs. 

Imagine the whole stick base resting on a circle of vertical standing springs... they would have to be very stiff because you would be aiming for the full deflection point of ~1/4" (measured at the top of the stick) to equal full or near full output from the stick.... so when you first start to move the stick you are only "fighting" the stick resistance itself, so the controls may move slightly, then you deflect further, the springs start compressing, you get more control movement, then you reach full compression of the springs and if you are not at full control movement then you are only pushing against the sensors more... 

My gut feeling is that this will destroy accuracy and it will be much too sloppy... but I have to try it. 

However, if it works well, I may disassemble the base and package it all into a smaller assembly instead of the rather large base that it has.

NOTE: This will all be mounted to a dedicated "desk pit" so I will be able to appropriately tighten down, screw to, clamp, etc. 

Any ideas? Any suggestions? 

Buying a new force sensing stick of any kind is not possible right now...  so this is all I have to work with. 

 

[walker450]

They say a picture is worth a thousand words... here is a sketch I made... basically two metal plates with 10 springs between them with a means to keep tension on them and also prevent too much deflection. If adjustment is correct, when you reach 1/4" of deflection the stick would also be maxed out on the axis output.