Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: dudedog on October 18, 2000, 07:13:00 PM
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I'd like to build my own stick, all metal, ball bearings, military spec pots, etc... I know how to wire a standard stick, and gameport to usb converters are available. I'm looking for a usb programmable board that will accept 2-4 analog inputs and several 8 way hats. If anyone know's how to wire a joystick to get more functions on a standard gameport please lemme know. thanx (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/tongue.gif)
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I'm using a homemade throttle. The throttle pot and 4 functions run into the joystick, a Logitech Interceptor. I added 18 functions through buttons, knobs and levers and tied them to the keyboard.
I understand the want or need to run the pot output through USB.
But does it help to have a USB trigger switch?
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Oh ya, need a source for good micro switches? Some even look identical to the ones used in my Interceptor.
VCR's have some nice ones in the control panels. If you have or can get a busted 1 or 2, you'll have more than enough.
I also used a few springs, spindles and bearing from a vcr in my contraption.
I didn't bother unsoldering the switches. I took a die grinder with a cutoff wheel in it and ground all the electronics off the board from around the switches. Then cut the pc board to the size I wanted and epoxied the switch into position.
[This message has been edited by Rock (edited 10-18-2000).]
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How did you get the functions tied to the keyboard?
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Basically I hard wired right to the keyboard.
I have a couple of 36 inch printer extension flat ribbon cables(25 conductor), so I took 1 and cut it about 18 inches from one end. The other piece is hooked to the throttle. This allows me to unplug from the keyboard.
Using an ohm meter I mapped the key presses. I didn't map a few of the keys like "Print Screen" "Scroll Lock" and "Pause". I ended up with about 20 of the 25 wires being used. Now I'm using a Pre-Win95 keyboard, no stinkin windows key here. And it uses switches for each key, not one of the newfangled membrane keyboards. From what info I found on the web, it only takes 24 wires to get every key function on a normal keyboard.
Here's one link that shows this. http://www.geocities.com/~prohm/Simulation/Config.htm (http://www.geocities.com/~prohm/Simulation/Config.htm)
Here's another that shows a simple circuit to run 2 keyboards at the same time. http://home.t-online.de/home/stephan.hans/tricks.htm (http://home.t-online.de/home/stephan.hans/tricks.htm)
There is a company that makes programmable keyboard chips. Instead of rewiring a switch to a different key, you just tell the chip to emulate another key press. Think they had 3 models, $70 to $100. Sorry I don't have the link handy. I wanted this to be a low-buck project, so I didn't pay them much attention.
My whole project cost me less than 50 cents. Had to buy 2 carriage bolts to hold knobs on 2 levers. Sigh, so much for low buck. (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)
If I find my other links I'll post them.
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dudedog,
See http://www.ftdi.co.uk/ (http://www.ftdi.co.uk/) and follow from there. You may be able to find what you need.
miko