So ive got some pots... Now for rudders?

[machineman9]

After finally tearing apart my old Xbox steering wheel pedals I finally have some pots: 2x B1000k 90 pots to be exact.

Now then, where should I go from here? What would be a good way to get the pedals to work, and they must work on Vista so it cant just be a D-sub.

Any thoughts? I am going to the recycling centre tommorow anyway hopefully to salvage old computer parts, but is there anything else I should look out for? What bits are neccisary to make this project work? I am sure I can fabricate a housing for it all out of wood when the time comes, so it is just getting it working for starters.

Cheers

[JBaymore]

You need a machanical linkage that translates the movements of the pedals into an action that turns / slides the pots.  THEN the bog part, you need a device that reads the resistance that each pot is showing, and translates that information into a position on the X, Y, Z coordinates that Windows can see.

The EASIEST way is to hack up (physical removal of the plastic parts) a usb joystick........ but KEEP all the electronics intact and use THOSE pots.

With your pots the easiest way ios to BUY an interface board that can read pots and concert them to signals that the computer can read.

By the way ..... I have pots too   :  http://www.JohnBaymore.com

best,

..............john

[machineman9]

Yeh well ive been growing pumpkins in mine  ;D


Thanks though. Yeh I thought I might need one of those USB controllers.

So for sake of cheapness, so just getting a five finger discount on a USB joystick and then modifying it to how I want it is okay? (Just remove the ergonomics of it)

[JBaymore]

So for sake of cheapness, so just getting a five finger discount on a USB joystick and then modifying it to how I want it is okay?

Well....... NO.

[beaky]

So for sake of cheapness, so just getting a five finger discount on a USB joystick and then modifying it to how I want it is okay?

Why risk the consequences of stealing one when they're so cheap? even a crummy joystick has the same pots and switches as a good one... I got two Saitek ST290s on sale for $10 each. I'm going to use the guts from one for a joystick I will make myself... one of these days...

[machineman9]

Since it has caused some troubles, I meant getting one for free at the recycling centre.

It was a joke that turned horribly wrong  :(

Sorry that that caused some bother  :-/