Community Event / Creation DIY Controller and Throttle

Cataclysm72 · Sep 4, 2015

Its working pretty good right now. There is one bug left where the software hangs at some random moments, but i solved that with an autoreset for now. It happens within 500mSecs so i realy dont notice it. It needs fixing, but no priority at the moment.

I've got wood for the frame, drawings for the foot rudder controls, the seat has arrived so i'm moving to build the simpit frame. It is all prototype to check dimensions and comfort. Nothing fancy like panels or lights yet.

Cataclysm72 · Sep 4, 2015

Step 1 completed. The 20 degree angle was spot on for thos chair. Nice inclination. Enough for today.

Cataclysm72 · Sep 5, 2015

I finally manage to get my own profile showing up in the controls configuration on the OS X Client! How cool is that!

What i did?

- Go to ~/Library/Application Support/Frontier Developments/Elite Dangerous/Options/Bindings
- Copy Custom.binds to YourCoolController.binds
- Open the .binds file in your favourite text editor
- Change the PresetName to whatever you want it to be
- Make sure the binding device ID matches your actual controller. In my case mu deviceId/vendorId show up as '80382342' so that's what i needs to be, so all the <Secondary Device="..."> should match up or else it won't work.

With a little work you may be able to construct a map for a multi-joystick setup.

Cataclysm72 · Sep 6, 2015

Foot controller designs. First picture is the design that went to the laser cutter, and the other two show the hall effect sensor for reading the position of the yaw control

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Unfortunately I haven't found a way to move the Autocad designs into SketchUp (i'm using the Free version) otherwise I could have made a nice mockup.

Cataclysm72 · Sep 11, 2015

Just a little update. I'm still struggling with the SimPit enclosure design, but the joystick itself is working pretty well. Progress has halted slowly because i'm waiting on parts for the rudder control and the display mounts. I hope the weather in the weekend is nice enough to do some sawing and cutting outside, because cutting wood inside the house isn't very good for my health!

Cataclysm72 · Sep 12, 2015

here is a picture of the rudder control. The hall sensor is working, but the auto centering mechanism needs improvement.

Cataclysm72 · Sep 13, 2015

Some more photos of the assembled rudder

Jacob Marshall · Sep 13, 2015

That looks like it's coming along nicely, eta on completion?

Footnote:
Been told I absolutely cannot buy another chair; trying to think of a way to sneak one in.

Cataclysm72 · Sep 13, 2015

Thanks. Unfortunately the ETA is T minus unknown, because my energy levels are swinging like apes on a rope. Yesterday i spent all day in bed and today i managed to tweak a few hours mounting some bolts to a 2x4. Hardly anything substantial in the eye of progress. I have a bit of a designers block and i'm trying to break the barrier by just making stuff instead of overthinking it to keep a momentum going. For example i just bought a panel of MDF wood without a real plan.

But at least i'm going forwards.

Lee Storm · Sep 13, 2015

Loving the simplicity of the rudder control.
Hope you don't mind if I ask if your able to share the design when its done

Cataclysm72 · Sep 13, 2015

The basic design is a shameless adaptation of a controller i saw on the internet. Just search 'flight sim foot controller' on google images and you'll find it no doubt. My personal additions are a few 3d printed parts which include the hall effect sensor. This prototype is a little flimsy in 5mm MDF. I need to double up the materials or cut it in aluminium, and press fit some better bearings before i can safely press on them confidentally with my feet.

Cataclysm72 · Sep 14, 2015

Progress pics and a movie of the foot controls. I'm not spending too much words on it, because most of the woodwork you see is build-for-scrap: only intended to find out the correct dimension and break through my 'engineers-block'.

[video=youtube;570gaoXnRuQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=570gaoXnRuQ[/video]

Cataclysm72 · Sep 14, 2015

Just did the unavoidable 'maiden flight' with all the new controls assembled and configured. Not entirely complete though, because the monitor was still up on my desk about 2m away from me. But nevertheless:

Man what a blast!!

The experience is so much better than sitting at a desk, especially now that I have the rudder controls working.

Enride · Sep 14, 2015

Cataclysm274 said:
Just did the unavoidable 'maiden flight' with all the new controls assembled and configured. Not entirely complete though, because the monitor was still up on my desk about 2m away from me. But nevertheless:

Man what a blast!!

The experience is so much better than sitting at a desk, especially now that I have the rudder controls working.

Great to hear, and nice progress!

Dont get too comfy tho, we dont want the build to slow too much

Cataclysm72 · Sep 14, 2015

Enride said:
Dont get too comfy tho, we dont want the build to slow too much

I've order a 24" monitor just now. I would have bought three, but my macbook isn't able to drive the three displays all at once. So I would need to buy a new PC and a capable GFX card to go with it and frankly I don't have the money for that now. So in the meantime i'll settle for one and hope that the display I just bought will still be available when I go for the full triple-display setup in a few months.

Blairvoyach · Sep 15, 2015

Cataclysm274 said:
So I would need to buy a new PC and a capable GFX card to go with it and frankly I don't have the money for that now.

Can't you get another job? We need our nightly Cataclysm Simpit fix!

Cataclysm72 · Sep 15, 2015

Blairvoyach said:
Can't you get another job? We need our nightly Cataclysm Simpit fix!

I am a recovering cancer patient. I have no job so I'm living on wellfare. I am building this with all the energy I have to keep myself busy. But the future looks bright! I may have found a part time employment which makes me very happy.

Cataclysm72 · Sep 16, 2015

I've finally worked out how to mount my display(s) in the simpit. I was aiming for an easy entry/exit, but wanted the display(s) to be within half a meter for best immersion. This LEGO mockup shows how the latch will work, the black thing should represent a seat and the grey thing should be the screen. The mechanism will be mirrored on the left and right of the screen for your legs and feet to fit in the middle.

Dr. Emmett Brown: "Let me show you my plan for sending you home. Please excuse the crudity of this model. I didn't have time to build it to scale or paint it."

[video=youtube;9Jvb8xnyvMQ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Jvb8xnyvMQ[/video]

Also check this @13:00 and onwards

[video=youtube;yEQrmDoIRO8]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEQrmDoIRO8[/video]

CMDR Pantsu · Sep 16, 2015

Awesome work commander! Smart solutions are the best ones.
And may you get well soon too!

Blairvoyach · Sep 17, 2015

Cataclysm274 said:
I am a recovering cancer patient. I have no job so I'm living on wellfare. I am building this with all the energy I have to keep myself busy. But the future looks bright! I may have found a part time employment which makes me very happy.

Jesus, when I put my foot in it, I do it in style

Best wishes for a full and speedy recovery CMDR. Just know that there are not many of us out here that haven't been touched in some way by that evil disease. Keep up the amazing work, good therapy for you and us too!

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