F-18 grip, WARTHOG compatible

[hegykc]

Throttle grips are not finished yet, but they will have all the required inputs.

 

There's testing to be done still. For the antenna to be an axis, I can disable the slider on the throttle base and wire it to that

[RogueSqdn]

An axis sounds good, but the obvious question is: would doing that disable it if we wanted to use the base slider while using Warthog grips? Probably a worthy sacrifice if that's the case.

Edited February 19, 2015 by RogueSqdn

[amigastar]

All of the DCS planes will be covered. I already have 80% of the models ready. Just need to produce the F-18 ones as proof of concept first.

I can tell you one thing, you are surely a talented and versatile person. Respect.This is so exciting, Keep us updated, please.

[SkipperSMG]

Its simply amazing what you are doing here :)

 

Btw. will you ship to europe too? Dont think i have seen that being confirmed, just want to make sure. And will you offer each part seperatly too? So maybe i buy the grip and thrust levers first for the TM base and 3 months later i want to buy the base? Would be interessting in its possible, gives Customer way more options. And have you throught about some kind of warranty? Few questions i know, im just interessted :D

[Scoggs]

Looking great man! I can't wait to get my hands on these!

[rajdary]

Bump.

Im sure you are getting ready for the F14 now?

So now i am going to need 3 grips, Eurofighter,F18 and F14, oh and throttles?, i think i wont be able to afford the throttles! Only grips:joystick:

[GodsPrototype]

Bump.

Im sure you are getting ready for the F14 now?

So now i am going to need 3 grips, Eurofighter,F18 and F14, oh and throttles?, i think i wont be able to afford the throttles! Only grips:joystick:

 

Wow, isn't it a little early to start thinking about the F-14. They just announced it, so isn't it a couple of years away?

[rajdary]

Wow, isn't it a little early to start thinking about the F-14. They just announced it, so isn't it a couple of years away?

 

I read LN will have a beta F14 by the end of 2015.

 

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=140017

You can read it here near the end

Edited March 8, 2015 by rajdary

[hegykc]

Its simply amazing what you are doing here

 

Btw. will you ship to europe too? Dont think i have seen that being confirmed, just want to make sure. And will you offer each part seperatly too? So maybe i buy the grip and thrust levers first for the TM base and 3 months later i want to buy the base? Would be interessting in its possible, gives Customer way more options. And have you throught about some kind of warranty? Few questions i know, im just interessted

 

I am from europe

All the parts will be available separately

Warranty is one of the major reasons why I am working on the production process more than the grips themselves. When you're able to manufacture thousands per week, replacing a few dozen bad apples is no problem.

 

Bump.

Im sure you are getting ready for the F14 now?

 

Oh I was ready way before LN announcement

 

I'm sure they already have it. I would not be surprised if they weren't prototyping a set now. WIth this much lead-in time.? Fuggedaboutit. I can't imagine they would do the A-10C HOTAS control suite and then not do the Hornet, as highly anticipated as it is.

 

I wouldn't count on it. Warthog didn't prove to be a success (in the eyes of accountants and financial decision makers, not ours), I can say that because if it did, we would have seen rudder pedals or replacement grips the very next year. You can see for yourself that TM shifted it's attention to racing/driving segment.

 

As to my update, the first prototype turned out so good that I went straight to building a larger 3d printer that will allow me to manufacture plastic resin grips by the thousands per week.

So good in fact, that I have to keep it by my bed, so when I wake up thinking it was all just a good dream, I can grab it and confirm it's real :)

 

I'll post pictures of the first few dozen grips as soon as their out of the oven

Edited March 8, 2015 by hegykc

[REDEYE_CVW-66]

Sign me up on this. Great stuff:)

[T_A]

Great news , thanks for the update hegykc.

[GodsPrototype]

I read LN will have a beta F14 by the end of 2015.

 

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=140017

You can read it here near the end

 

Did not know that. That's pretty cool!

[Dikigonzo]

It looks OK, but is not it better to get Suncom F-15 joystick on e-bay and just replace electronics and hats and triggers with Warthog ones and that's it. If this product would be made of metal (like warthog) it would make it an attractive product, but in this case its just plastic printed on 3 D printer I think F-15 Suncom would be much better plastic quality. No offence just would like to hear opinions , why this product is better then Suncom F-15 joystick grip which we can buy on ebay for 20~40$.

[cichlidfan]

It looks OK, but is not it better to get Suncom F-15 joystick on e-bay and just replace electronics and hats and triggers with Warthog ones and that's it.

 

:lol:

[Dikigonzo]

:lol:

 

why?

[cichlidfan]

Well, first you have to buy all of the 'Warthog' electronics. Then you have to make them fit inside the Suncom. The devil is in the details.

[SilentGun]

Hey hegykc, when do you think the first aluminum prototype will be started?

[SpeedStick]

Sounds awesome!

[turkeydriver]

I'd really like an F-14A stick, I just wonder if the thumb wheel for flaps should function as an axis or multi position switch. If it can be made to work accurately, awesome! If not, an F-14D stick might be easier as the Gun/SW/SP/PH select switch is replaced by a weapon select Hat.

[SilentGun]

I'd really like an F-14A stick, I just wonder if the thumb wheel for flaps should function as an axis or multi position switch. If it can be made to work accurately, awesome! If not, an F-14D stick might be easier as the Gun/SW/SP/PH select switch is replaced by a weapon select Hat.

 

same here. I would buy an F-14A,B, or D stick

[hegykc]

get Suncom F-15 joystick on e-bay and just replace electronics and hats and triggers with Warthog ones and that's it.

 

but that is what I'm doing Just replacing warthog electronics, hats and triggers, and just manufacturing an F-18 shell

 

By the way, this cannot really be called "plastic". It's not heat melted ABS, that cheap 1mm thick crap you get from the store shelf.

 

It's a liquid resin, cold hardened by a chemical reaction. Just like the real F-18 grip.

 

It is NOT 3D printed plastic. That 1.500$ hobby ABS 3d printers have nothing at all to do with my machine. Not even the 3-6.000$ SLA commercial 3d printers are close to mine.

I started with a 10.000$ machine, and printed this first prototype grip on a 2nd generation machine which will probably be 15-20.000$ when it comes out.

Final products will be manufactured on a large, industrial 2x3m 3d station which will probably be 300.000$ - 500.000$ from the manufacturer.

These are machines used by Mercedes, General electric, Boeing and alike. I am part of the development team, and it just so happens I am a simulation buff, and will be using my example to produce simulation gear.

 

My shell is 4-5 mm thick now, and it will probably be completely solid on the final product. Before I put it on for sale, I will post videos of me running the grips over with my car, and then plugging them back in and continuing like nothing happened. Try that with your saitek or suncom...

 

Hey hegykc, when do you think the first aluminum prototype will be started?

 

You know, I started all of this only because I wanted metal grips for my self. Now that I have the hardened resin grip in my hands, a very logical question presents itself.

 

This thing is indestructible. As it's 4-5mm thick, or completely solid, it weighs the same or more than warthog grip. It feels nothing like the cheap, squeaky and thin cheap Chinese plastic. It has that colder metal feel to it. And the surface texture is not glossy and shiny, but has a slightly rough texture to it, just like something military/stealth like.

 

So here's the thing that concerns me (keep in mind, I am the biggest fan of hardcore, realistic, metal replicas you will ever find):

 

 

Process for manufacturing the cold hardened resin grips:

1) 5-10 days CAD designing and printing preparation

2) straight to manufacturing and sales

 

• no paining, no additional treatment whatsoever
  
• so from concept to production of 10.000 pieces in 1 month
  
• no additional equipment to further drain me financially and time wise
  
• product price 120$, down to 60$ (and less!) as I start ordering electronics and materials in bulk
  
• no waiting lists! Sell today, ship tomorrow!
  
• that's it! 2 steps, bam! done!
  

Now, here's the process for manufacturing the aluminum cast grips:

 

1) 5-10 days CAD designing the grip

2) 5-10 days CAD designing the master molds

3) 5-10 days CAD designing the sand molds

4) Build a home made aluminum melting pot

5) Melt and cast first examples, look at mistakes

6) return and re-do steps 2 and 3

7) Melt and cast again

8 )repeat as many times until I get good castings

9) Cut and sand leftovers

10) Drilling and tapping all the screw holes

11) Painting

 

 

 

• casting requires silicon master molds, $$$ in equipment
  
• additional treatment requires painting equipment, more $$$
  
• drilling and tapping requires even more $$$
  
• from concept to final product in 3-6 months for each new model
  
• product price 120$ - 200$ regardless of quantity, less than 100 pieces/month
  
• waiting lists / I. Hate. Waiting lists.
  

So, with the cold hardened resin F-18 grip (like the real one!) being so good, is it worth it to go the metal route just to get something that might be 25% bettter in terms of a more metal "feel"? That will also be 300% more expensive, 600% more time consuming and can be produced in 1000% less quantities?

And will be less realistic than the real thing ??

*that's the fact that bothers me the most. All that extra work to make it less realistic :doh:

 

 

I am all for metal grips, that's why I started this, but I need to start selling the resin ones first as they are literally 95% less work to manufacture, and at the same time being more true to the real thing than the aluminum one would be.

 

As I said, I'll post some torture tests first, so you can see just how amazing and tough this stuff is. Like throwing them form a building, and running them over with my car. Then on to sending samples to some reviewers and testers to get their opinion. Then releasing the resin grips for sale and making the whole project self sustainable financially.

 

Then, moving on to aluminum casting.

Edited March 10, 2015 by hegykc

[SpeedStick]

If you're calculations are right, and I have no doubt that they are, it's a no-brainer.

I mean cheaper, more realistic, less time consuming, less work load, no waiting and still have an extremly good quality and feel to it? It's a given choice.

Not that my opinion matters since I have zero experience and knowledge in the field. Just wanted to give you some positive feed back on your thought!

[DTWD]

I can't remember if I have chimed up in this thread before, but I have been keeping an eye on it for weeks now. I am loving what you are doing and that last message has sold it for me, definitely going to be purchasing a set.

 

Now my question is, and I may have missed this, would it be feasible to completely rebuild the Warthog? I am thinking specifically the throttle, I mean a whole new shell and internals, but yet still be a Warthog as far as the software goes?

 

The reason I am thinking this is that my throttle has just started playing up. Within a few hours I have lost the push button facility on the thumb hat, the slider (big grey thing) has started spiking and not reaching 100% and the pinkie toggle switch has gone all floppy and no longer works.

 

In short, if you are using better switches in what you are doing, maybe extending that to a full retrofit would be worth looking at?

 

I believe, although I have never had a problem in that area, the ball in the bottom of the joystick that everything pivots on can crack/break. Maybe a few well made/strong versions of those would sell as well?

[tintifaxl]

It's a liquid, cold hardened by a chemical reaction. Just like the real F-18 grip.

 

Best choice in my opinion :thumbup:

[T_A]

hegykc , can we get some more grip porn shots? would love to see more of the process , maybe a timelapse video.