Community Event / Creation DIY Controller and Throttle

Sanderson

Sanderson
I've been wanting to build button boxes and some day my own HOTAS for ever. If only I knew how [cry]

Amazing, IMO, most excellent. If you and the other amazing thread (CP-1) got together, it would be miraculously delicious.


Question: Would it be possible to make a button box (or HOTAS for that matter) Bluetooth and with a rechargeable battery? I'm sure it could be done? A button box, Bluetooth and rechargeable would be awesome, IMO, no to mention a complete HOTAS system/

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Cataclysm274 said:
You are most welcome!

On that topic of the API, I very much doubt that Frontier will ever come up with a real-time feedback API (reporting states like 'lights currently on/off, inertia vectors etc.) for us builders to respond upon. In contrast to proper simulators like the outdated Microsoft Flight Simulator, there are very very very few people playing the game with full immersion. Implementing such API would give Frontier Development not much more $$$, while adding the feature will no doubt cost a significant sum. To me, FD has proven that it'll focus on adding new features rather than fixing existing important bugs/playability/OSX support/force feedback/etc., which I why I stopped preparing my setup for such feedback systems.

In the rare case that other developers surprise me with a new space sim combat game that they've been working on for several years, (other that the vaporwarian Star Citizen), i very much doubt them to include a simulation API as well.
Click to expand...

FD was supposed to be working on an API, not sure if it was of this nature though but, I do remember an API mentioned a couple years or so ago.....it seems that long ago anyway.
 

Cataclysm72

Cataclysm72
Sanderson said:
I've been wanting to build button boxes and some day my own HOTAS for ever. If only I knew how [cry]
Click to expand...
Start at the beginning, improve in the middle, and stop when you reach the end.

Do some research on Arduino and DIY joysticks and you are already halfway there. Making a button-box with switches that acts as a USB controller? 2 days work.
Question: Would it be possible to make a button box (or HOTAS for that matter) Bluetooth and with a rechargeable battery? I'm sure it could be done? A button box, Bluetooth and rechargeable would be awesome, IMO, no to mention a complete HOTAS system
Click to expand...
You'd have to virtualize the USB support through a virtual USB device that reads the data of a Bluetooth device, because as far as I know bluetooth joysticks aren't standardised devices. A waste of time and material if you ask me.
 

Cataclysm72

Cataclysm72
After a unfortunate series of bad days, i climbed in the seat for a short gaming session. It felt good. I should be proud.

still thinking on what to do next.
 

Darmach

D
Hi Cat,

Great job on the whole setup. Do you plan to release your cad models, and code, or its closed source? I'm thinking about building my hotas setup aswell, not the full chair though :D

I already made a printer ,) (www.darmach.ovh) So I can print parts, have also some knowledge as for electronics/programming.

I found Thrustmaster HOTAS X to be quite unprecise, (huge deadzone) and started looking into improving it - but when I saw your creation... Great job.

How do you mount magnets around the hall sensors? I cant see that on the pictures. What magnets do you use?
 

BigF

BigF
I had a Thrustmaster for all of 4 sessions on ED but didn't notice the dead zone. I did notice how comfortable it was to use until it fried itself. Going back to my Microsoft Sidewinder 2 did make me think how much I liked the TMs design, and how I could mod the Sidewinder to be as good. So much so as I bought a "spare".

That said a programe called Joycurves has banished the dead zones and after some minor playing with the set up made the 15+ year old stick silky smooth to use even with its lack of buttons compared to newer items.

I'm planning on building a throttle to replace the silly little flap paddle thing that MS made. Once done I plan on modding the head on it for more buttons and eventually making metal parts and hall sensor innards for it.
 
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Cataclysm72

Cataclysm72
Darmach said:
Hi Cat,

Great job on the whole setup. Do you plan to release your cad models, and code, or its closed source? I'm thinking about building my hotas setup aswell, not the full chair though :D

I already made a printer ,) (www.darmach.ovh) So I can print parts, have also some knowledge as for electronics/programming.

I found Thrustmaster HOTAS X to be quite unprecise, (huge deadzone) and started looking into improving it - but when I saw your creation... Great job.

How do you mount magnets around the hall sensors? I cant see that on the pictures. What magnets do you use?
Click to expand...
That's a load of questions for my tired mind, i'll try to answer them one at a time.

Thank you for your compliments. I have no intention of producing more of these, so I will (eventually) put the designs into public domain. Don't expect my designs to work for you because all the dimensions were made exactly to fit my tooling (3d printer, laser cutter, etc) which all have their annoying little inaccuracies (for example, 4.2mm in SketchUp is 4.05mm after 3d-printing). It took me many (many) iterations to get it right. The software is simply too easy (there's really tons and tons of examples on Joystick and Arduino) but i will also open up the source code as some point in time.

Here's a closeup of the design (the pattern is simply copied to the other axes and rudder). The 4x4x4mm magnets fit into the 3d-printed housing (brown object for X, blue bracket for Y). I printed a small bracket to hold the hall effect sensor (red).

Gimbal_v2_explode.jpg
 

Arty Marty

A
Inspiring stuff.

I have a spare room in my house that I'm going to build a full interior of a spaceship, planning a big 180+ degree fov curved/dome screen with three projectors.

As far as I can tell, there is no support to have the whole "view" as just the outside with no controls, scanners, interior spaceship hull window support struts etc and then have the scanner, computer etc on different monitors??
If it is possible I'll build a raised seat with a dome projection so that you can see "above" and "below" a bit like a helicopter cockpit. If I can't get a view with no internal cockpit controls I'll have to go for a more fighter jet design, which would be a shame.
I'd like to do something like this:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bw7bueTkStuHOVZYQVNobVZUajg/view?usp=docslist_api

I'll be making hardware switch panels etc backlit like yours. They look amazing by the way. I wasn't planning to diy throttle / joystick, but after seeing yours I might have to..
 

Sanderson

Sanderson
Arty Marty said:
Inspiring stuff.

I have a spare room in my house that I'm going to build a full interior of a spaceship, planning a big 180+ degree fov curved/dome screen with three projectors.

As far as I can tell, there is no support to have the whole "view" as just the outside with no controls, scanners, interior spaceship hull window support struts etc and then have the scanner, computer etc on different monitors??
If it is possible I'll build a raised seat with a dome projection so that you can see "above" and "below" a bit like a helicopter cockpit. If I can't get a view with no internal cockpit controls I'll have to go for a more fighter jet design, which would be a shame.
I'd like to do something like this:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bw7bueTkStuHOVZYQVNobVZUajg/view?usp=docslist_api

I'll be making hardware switch panels etc backlit like yours. They look amazing by the way. I wasn't planning to diy throttle / joystick, but after seeing yours I might have to..
Click to expand...

If you start a build thread let me know! Always wanted to do that! ....and unfortunately ED doesn't support that sort of "other monitor" stuff.
 
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BigF

BigF
Arty Marty said:
Inspiring stuff.

I have a spare room in my house that I'm going to build a full interior of a spaceship, planning a big 180+ degree fov curved/dome screen with three projectors.

As far as I can tell, there is no support to have the whole "view" as just the outside with no controls, scanners, interior spaceship hull window support struts etc and then have the scanner, computer etc on different monitors??
If it is possible I'll build a raised seat with a dome projection so that you can see "above" and "below" a bit like a helicopter cockpit. If I can't get a view with no internal cockpit controls I'll have to go for a more fighter jet design, which would be a shame.
I'd like to do something like this:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bw7bueTkStuHOVZYQVNobVZUajg/view?usp=docslist_api
Click to expand...

Having worked supporting one of those simulators I can only say it's a shame ED doesn't have support for that type of view.
 

Sanderson

Sanderson
Do any of you know of a product that requires no programming (I know zero about code) that would allow me to solder or plug in my own switches, hats, pots, etc so I could make my own custom controller?

I've always wanted to do it but, the programming part has always held me back. I currently use an X52pro with a DK2 and I'd like to make an additional "feel" friendly controller for VR use. I can use the x52pro like an extension of my own body but, I still want more options, especially for Horizons and absolutely refuse to use clutch. My funds are limited otherwise I'd give programming a go. As it is I can't afford to experiment in order to learn the code required for adrino and the like.

If I had a clue how to do the programming the rest I can do.
 
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Sanderson

Sanderson
Hey mods, it would be spectacular if there was a DIY section (specific to simulation apparatuses) on the forum. Please?
 
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Cataclysm72

Cataclysm72
Check out the flight sim forums, they do loads of stuff like this,but usually they are expensive little boards. And believe me, the programming is only 5-10% of the entire build with an Arduino Leonardo (or compatible 32u4 cpu). You can get a Pro Micro for as low as $3.50. Sorry to blow your argument, lol.
 

Sanderson

Sanderson
Cataclysm274 said:
Check out the flight sim forums, they do loads of stuff like this,but usually they are expensive little boards. And believe me, the programming is only 5-10% of the entire build with an Arduino Leonardo (or compatible 32u4 cpu). You can get a Pro Micro for as low as $3.50. Sorry to blow your argument, lol.
Click to expand...

I was thinking something like this that would work with pots and 8 position hat switches but, thanks I'll ask on a flight sim forum. http://www.derekspearedesigns.com/32-button-no-matrix-controller.html

Apologies for hijacking the thread.
 
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Cataclysm72

Cataclysm72
Small update: today i ordered a batch of 100 tactile switches with leds, to make my own keyboard for the setup. Instead of a QUERTY setup, it will be a bloody irritating A-Z panel. Something you would expect in a plane or a space shuttle. I rarely chat, and i only need the pad to enter navigation data (system names). Designs following.
 
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