HORNETPITS.org
Hornet Builders => Flight Stick and Throttle => Topic started by: Propnut on April 07, 2013, 10:11:42 PM
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I picked up a Suncom F-15E Raptor stick and SFS throttle on Ebay the other day for 36.00.
Using a Teensy++2.0 controller board and GenericHID programming software I am upgrading the stick and throttle to USB.
Additionally I am resculpting the devices to better represent the F-18 controls, as well as adding buttons, 4-way switches (TMS) and a mini joystick for the throttle (for sweep).
I am already half way finished with the stick modification,
I have shaved the palm rest from the lower half of the stick.
I added a 4-way switch for the TMS which the Raptor had as a single push switch.
The two other 4-way switches worked but had the buttons switched (from what the full scale Hornet stick has) but that was an easy fix as I just had to pull off the button hats and switch them around. Done.
I removed the extra button below the hat switches and am re-purposing it for the extra switch on the trigger.
The trigger is giving me troubles as I do not have the same version of stick as Sokol (who I am copying for the double switch trigger) and I need to find a different place to mount the spring wire.
The trigger and other two push buttons are being painted to match the full scale colors.
The base was removed and the stick will be mounted on a PVC pipe which will travel down through a fake SFS box which will also contain the pinky trigger (functional).
The new base is a motor cycle U-joint with hall effect sensors. (re-purposing the stick base from my generic simpit project of a few years ago).
The progress so far:
(http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t79/Prop_Nut/IMG_0132_zpsd64c5f06.jpg)
(http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t79/Prop_Nut/IMG_0140_zpsb0ea92d7.jpg)
(http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t79/Prop_Nut/IMG_0143_zpseb6dbb40.jpg)
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Very nice Propnut! My stick is on it's way to you. :)
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My first F/A-18 stick for my simulator was a modified suncom F-15 stick with real switches and the grip filled with resin to make it heavier. The basic suncom was way too "toyish" for my taste. Nowadays I have a much better grip ;)
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My first F/A-18 stick for my simulator was a modified suncom F-15 stick with real switches and the grip filled with resin to make it heavier. The basic suncom was way too "toyish" for my taste. Nowadays I have a much better grip ;)
Hi Chain, thanks for posting.
Can you give me more information about your stick? What are you using now?
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Sent you a PM.
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Is that the same Chain I remember from the F/A-18 thread on Frugal's World all those years ago? Greetings.
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Same guy ;D
This forum was a great idea. Good job.
Chain
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It was Metro's brain child, and he is carrying the costs. We should all thank him. Thanks Metro! ;)
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My first F/A-18 stick for my simulator was a modified suncom F-15 stick with real switches and the grip filled with resin to make it heavier. The basic suncom was way too "toyish" for my taste. Nowadays I have a much better grip ;)
It is very true that the Suncom stick is pretty "light weight" after using my Warthog for so long, but it will do for now. Part of the fun is modding it anyway.
I was thinking of filling the stick with putty to add some weight but you mention that this doesn't help with the overall feel?
Further progress:
A few years ago I made a Generic Simpit, my first effort, and so I thought I would re-purpose some parts from that build. I plan on taking the lower half of this stick and using it for my Suncom stick.
It is made with a Yamaha motor cycle drive-line which has a handy flange on one end to bolt to the floor of the enclosure. I drilled out holes to accept a dowel and rare earth magnets to the end of the dowel. The hall effect sensor was attached to a bolt and centered over the magnet between the - and + fields which pointed to the sides.
It is pretty much a copy of this system:
http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/content/88-hall-effects-sensors-make-joystick.html
Here are pictures of the original:
(http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t79/Prop_Nut/DSC03495.jpg)
(http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t79/Prop_Nut/DSC03496.jpg)
(http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t79/Prop_Nut/DSC03498.jpg)
(http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t79/Prop_Nut/DSC03504.jpg)
(http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t79/Prop_Nut/DSC03506.jpg)
(http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t79/Prop_Nut/DSC03507.jpg)
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For anyone who plans to do a Suncom USB upgrade here is a pin-out for the buttons on the Raptor:
(http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t79/Prop_Nut/buttonpinout_zps812e71ab.jpg)
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Buttoned up (pun intended) the Suncom stick and connected it to the base.
I cut out a new design for the Teensy++2.0 PCB. Here is a video of the drilling process (for the heck of it and I thought it was cool):
[video:youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiDW59ht2iM&feature=youtu.be[/video]
All buttons are working and the hall effect axis are sweeeeeet.
(http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t79/Prop_Nut/IMG_0153_zps2d417a90.jpg)
(http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t79/Prop_Nut/IMG_0154_zpsb5b1399d.jpg)
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Pretty badass! Nice work. I was thinking about buy the F-15 stick and doing the same unless anybody knows if a better alternative?
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Pretty badass! Nice work. I was thinking about buy the F-15 stick and doing the same unless anybody knows if a better alternative?
I guess if you don't care much about spending a little money (Not sure what it would cost but am sure it is not cheap), you could look into this:
http://aerotronicsllc.com/f18FLCS.htm
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............ a little money..............
Lol, sure. ;)
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Thanks metro...... But I already talk to these guys and they are just slightly out of my price range. Although that reminds me to go buy a lottery ticket. 8)
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Someday I will get around to finishing this project....I have a long list of "someday"'s :D
The Shop and Garage (with apartment) are finished and we have a basement with deck ready for spring and the house walls/roof. My someday will come when all of that is done. :(
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Someday I will get around to finishing this project....I have a long list of "someday"'s :D
The Shop and Garage (with apartment) are finished and we have a basement with deck ready for spring and the house walls/roof. My someday will come when all of that is done. :(
I wish you would finish yours Propnut. You gotta start on mine. :)
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Well here is my progress on the stick. I took the Suncom and used just the grip and cannibalized the F-16. So far I have changed it about 3 times. I still need to figure out how to add the paddle switch but I have a few ideas I may go with.
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Bad news :(
It seems that my Suncom Raptor did not make the migration from the old house to the new. We are not sure what happened but it is not on this property nor is it at the old property (that the new owners are aware of anyway).
Looks like I will be using my Warthog stick for this project.
I do still have the box'o throttle parts that I hope to customize for the pit though.
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I just sold two of those suncoms on eBay in the last two weeks.