Building a Flight Stick

[BnZs]

I skimmed a PDF about doing this, but it was basically about taking a Sidewinder apart to turn it into a floor-mounted model. I'm not sure this would achieve what I want Basically, I am looking to build something with much more travel and a much more powerful spring than your typical desk-top joy stick to help smooth out my actions, AND more quality in the electronic motion sensing whatever, so I don't see constant fluctuations in the input even while holding the stick rock-steady. I just don't think I have the fine motor control to fly right with my entire control deflection defined by 4'' or so of stick travel and a weak spring.

Any ideas?

[Delirium]

I have a little experience with this, I hope I can help.

If the sidewinder has about 3" of travel at the joysticks current length, you will likely quadruple that if you add 2' or more worth of extension. I think your best bet is to build your own box to house the joystick guts, pot, and put in your own spring (which would probably an industrial one to boot).

I'd make sure the extension arm has a nice firm barrier, the amount of force you can apply with that much leverage will be a lot more than you'd normally see with a joystick. I'd even go with steel and cut out the area for the arm, I'd also do that aspect at the end of the build so you know how travel you want in the stick.

I'm curious what Homeboy would day, he is the closest thing we have to a stick expert on these forums.

[BluTrain]

Care to share that PDF BnZs?  I've got some interest in this as well for my X-52

[Ghosth]

I think you could put an extension handle on a Sidewinder fairly easily.

As to more quality in the sensing, you might have to go to Hall sensors to achieve that.

[BnZs]

Care to share that PDF BnZs?  I've got some interest in this as well for my X-52

http://www.hippouk.karoo.net/Joystick_Building.pdf

http://www.simprojects.nl/flight_stick.htm

[Delirium]

I think you could put an extension handle on a Sidewinder fairly easily.

If he simply puts an extender on it, the amount of leverage gained will make the sidewinder fairly easy to over stress and snap. I'd strongly urge him to build a new box for it...

[Ghosth]

I don't see how a new box is going to keep him from overstressing the handle shaft and snapping it.
Hardest part is going to be getting the spring pressure correct to return the new longer heavier handle to center. And if you release the handle will it snap it back hard enough to smack it into something and break it.

Interesting concept with the funnel, doing a new pivot point. This removes almost all handle stress from the original shaft.

Let us know how it goes please.

[Delirium]

I don't see how a new box is going to keep him from overstressing the handle shaft and snapping it.

A new box would limit the amount of travel the stick can perform, much like a gear shift box in a car. Even if he builds it so close that he loses some movement, the calibration in windows will overcome it, just like it did in the dual throttle I built.

[The Fugitive]

Well if the stick is about 30 inches tall, the pivot point would be about at the ten inch mark. The box would be about 12 inch cube, maybe more of a pyramid shape. 4 heavy duty springs attached to the base with positive tension to center stick. Squeeze clamp assembly with real strong springs to get some stiffness in the stick movement. Pots could be pretty much mounted any number of ways. Sounds do-able. 

[steely07]

There's a nice MIG-15 stick on ebay..

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Soviet-MIG-21-Plane-Joystick-grip-aviation_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ26436QQihZ002QQitemZ120401996670

Buy it now for 350 USD , there's your handle problem solved

Steely

[BnZs]

There's a nice MIG-15 stick on ebay..

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Soviet-MIG-21-Plane-Joystick-grip-aviation_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ26436QQihZ002QQitemZ120401996670

Buy it now for 350 USD , there's your handle problem solved

Steely

Yeah...not paying more for a flight stick than I payed for the last rifle I bought.