Joystick Hack

[JSpahn]

Just setup my work station so I can start on a more aggressive path to building my simpit. In the mean time I wanted to get some pratice with my new variable temp solder station.


I have an old Logitec Wingman gamepad USB. Basically I ripped it apart to get to the PCB.


The first step was to prep the PCB so the contacts will accept solder. Using a razor knife there are two points on each button that need to be cleaned up. Using rubbing alcohol I further clean up the contacts. Then I place a bead of solder on each contact. Next I tinned the wires and attach them to the contacts. The final step was to secure these wires to the PCB with hot glue( this keeps the wires from pulling off).




This gives me 15 momentary inputs, I dont know what use they will have yet. Im thinking maybe a view control setup.

Not my best solder work but those contacts were not meant to accept solder, not too bad in my opinion

You can also see the PCB has two holes which will be nice place to use standoffs to mount the PCB

[beaky]

Soldering to the board without a factory-type solder station... not fun.
Worked out OK, though, from the looks of it.

[JSpahn]

Yeah it was a bit tricky, not as bad as I thought. Having a good temp dialed in, the rite tip and a clean surface make all the difference.

[Mobius]

Nice, I was looking at doing that with my old X36, but all those PCBs and  soldering scared me.

[JSpahn]

yeah a wingman is one thing, an x-36 is a whole other can of worms