Rudder pedal project resumes!! (part 4)

[beaky]

Now for the springs: got lucky again; just enough space. I'd originally planned to use torsion springs, but... too complicated. These work fine.





There's a problem, though: when the pedals are moved, the springs go "boing". I want this whole device to be as quiet as possible, so...
An old sock becomes boots. No more noise.








These clothesline pulleys worked out well as part of the bungee system; again I opted for K.I.S.S.: instead of hardware to adjust the tension, I got a bungee with clever adjustable hooks. Perfect. Loosened things a bit, and now the pedals "want" to return to center.











Here's my "pit" as it is now, complete with pedals (Yay!!). Eventually there will be a couple of small monitors for map, radio, etc... and I think now that I have a bunc of usable buttons and pots available for hacking, the next phase will be to build some sort of quadrant, and maybe a switch panel.
The challenges will be meeting the following criteria:
The setup must work comfortably for any aircraft,
and I still need to use this as a regular workstation (until the projector, if and when that happens).





I already have some improvements in mind for the pedals, but I'll shake them down first. Total cost (not including Logitech stick): about $40 worth of hardware. Totally overbuilt because of the (free!) hardwood... but what the heck. It's so damn heavy, it won't creep. Total time spent on it: about 20 hrs, give or take.

[JBaymore]

Way to go, Rottydaddy.

[zeberdee]

Now looking very good. I like the bungee system. The CH Products usb pedals have a center "notch" which just doesn't feel right, it takes too much pressure to move from center.

[beaky]

Thanks for the comments; it's a pretty successful prototype, I think.
The bungee is not quite doing the job yet, but I have some issues to work out with the various pivot points. With better hardware (including proper bearings) it could be really sweet.

[flyboy 28]

I'll buy it from you for a hundred bucks.

[beaky]

I'll buy it from you for a hundred bucks.

Aren't the good factory-made ones about the same price?
I assume you're kidding...but go ahead and laugh; I had fun making these, and they work great.
Actually, I've been toying with the idea of starting a little cottage industry making stuff like this... but most likely custom units, for those who want, say, a Cessna rudder pedal rig that looks and feels like the real thing, or something like that (construction would be quite different from this crude prototype). Might start building quadrants, switch panels, yokes and sticks, or even incorporate real salvaged parts, I dunno.
Only thing I need to research is the nasty legal roadblocks: can I hack pre-manufactured sticks, etc. and re-sell them (rather not get too involved in the electronics, although I'm sure I could figure it out)? And what about UL approval?
Anyway, that's just a vague idea at this point; still "shaking down" this unit. The bungee=centering thing is not cutting it- you should see me try to taxi with this sucker!!
 It needs a detent: in real planes, there's no detent, but the friction of the nosewheel or (steerable) tailwheel sort of helps things center up when you're not pushing.
also I didn't quite figure the pivot point for braking correctly: need to move the footrests forward so the pivot is centered better with  my ankle, which is where the foot pivots.
Otherwise, all is well- still haven't secured the controller housing; it just sits there quite happily. And those cheap doorbell switches are holding up very well so far.
Only trouble with this wireless unit is that to conserve batteries, it'll go into standby after a few minutes with no control input... so in cruise, i have to remember to tap the brakes every now and then to "wake it up"... I may rig a DC power supply for it later...

[legoalex2000]

Aren't the good factory-made ones about the same price?
I assume you're kidding...but go ahead and laugh; I had fun making these, and they work great.
Actually, I've been toying with the idea of starting a little cottage industry making stuff like this... but most likely custom units, for those who want, say, a Cessna rudder pedal rig that looks and feels like the real thing, or something like that (construction would be quite different from this crude prototype). Might start building quadrants, switch panels, yokes and sticks, or even incorporate real salvaged parts, I dunno.
Only thing I need to research is the nasty legal roadblocks: can I hack pre-manufactured sticks, etc. and re-sell them (rather not get too involved in the electronics, although I'm sure I could figure it out)? And what about UL approval?
Anyway, that's just a vague idea at this point; still "shaking down" this unit. The bungee=centering thing is not cutting it- you should see me try to taxi with this sucker!!
 It needs a detent: in real planes, there's no detent, but the friction of the nosewheel or (steerable) tailwheel sort of helps things center up when you're not pushing.
also I didn't quite figure the pivot point for braking correctly: need to move the footrests forward so the pivot is centered better with  my ankle, which is where the foot pivots.
Otherwise, all is well- still haven't secured the controller housing; it just sits there quite happily. And those cheap doorbell switches are holding up very well so far.
Only trouble with this wireless unit is that to conserve batteries, it'll go into standby after a few minutes with no control input... so in cruise, i have to remember to tap the brakes every now and then to "wake it up"... I may rig a DC power supply for it later...

i suspect since you used a joystick for rotation, there is a rudder dead zone and a center lock point, did you counter these at all?

this is looking great, i might do the same if i get the X45...

ramos

[beaky]

Not exactly sure what you mean, Ramos, but the Saitek twist-stick I used did have a torsion spring and a tab on the shaft to return it to center... couldn't use them as it wouldn't all fit right, and that little spring wouldn't resist my legs very much (or even be able to move this massive pedal assemble at all!). So the pot, although held in such away that it's null point is aligned with center, is basically free.

I've played with the settings a little, but the problem is feel. Real aircraft usually have a spring-loaded or hydraulic mechanism to return the rudder controls to center... I guess I could program a button to lock it (although in the DC3, I like clicking that virtual handle), but I really want more realistic feel.
But I'll get it... I just have to properly anchor the whole controller, especially the plastic shaft holding the pot (tight friction fit but it should be glued), then re-think the bungee tensioning so it's more effective without making the whole deal too tight. I may also install some sort of rocking latch so I can "lock" it at center in cruise.