has anyone made their pwn rudder pedals??

[SAG]

Hello, i want to start with "im a student so i dont really have the money needed to buy expensive hardware" :D

 

so i wanted to build my own rudder pedals, i can (and will be) make the electronics to interface with the PC via USB, but i was wondering a few things...

 

how useful do you find rudder pedals to be when aiming in a dogfight compared to a twist-stick?

 

has anyone made their own rudder pedals? if so, can you tell the drawbacks/advantages i has compared to bought pedals? say from Saitek.

 

what features or improvements would you add/remove from your current pedals? (commercial pedals or DIY)

 

i would really appreciate some input from the community on this since laser cutting stainless steel (or MDF) isnt going to be cheap for me either. so i hope to get them right on the first attempt (by putting a lot of thought into the design before i actually make a first prototype).

 

thanks for your time and hopefully ill get some nice feedback!

 

see you up there!!

 

S!

 

SAG

 

 

[chris455]

I had a 17 year design patent on a set of very authentic-looking pedals that I was going to market as "The Dogfighter".

Still have 'em in my garage.

Analog, potentiometer D-Sub connector type- no software.

Still look like a million bucks after all these years.

Nowadays it's strictly Hall-effect - but I'd still enter mine in a "rudder-pedal beaty contest " and they'd win! 

[SAG]

I had a 17 year design patent on a set of very authentic-looking pedals that I was going to market as "The Dogfighter".

Still have 'em in my garage.

Analog, potentiometer D-Sub connector type- no software.

Still look like a million bucks after all these years.

Nowadays it's strictly Hall-effect - but I'd still enter mine in a "rudder-pedal beaty contest " and they'd win! 

 

 

well if you feel like giving them a go, the USB interfacing/electronics to the computer are not at all complicated via GENERIC HID device class (given the right tools), so i you feel like boosting your million dollar idea, PM me and we could actually bring your design into 2014+. hall effect VS pots (potentiometers) isnt very different when it comes to coding, they would differ mainly in price, reliability.

[Sokol1]

Actually USB controllers can be cheap, eg ARDUINO PRO Micro + MMJOY firware. HALL Sensor may cost less than a good quality potentiometer (the only disavantage of the last is relatively limited life span) - the ones used in Warthog cost 3$ (unprogrammed).

 

The pedal "per si" depends on builder DIY skill, sample: http://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/2647885/1.html  (links may dead now).

[SAG]

thanks Sokol, i already had the baloo plans though. i go with microchip for this one since its waaaay cheaper and make al the electronics myself.

 

i am looking for availabilty where i live and local vendors only seems to have hall effect swithces

[Sokol1]

Take a look "Mag Rez" sensor - need build a small PCB (easy).

 

http://avia-sim.ru/forum/viewtopic.php?t=572&start=0

[SAG]

Thanks again, ill take a look at it when i have the time, for now im going to go with pots (since availability is scarce for magnectic field sensors where i live), after that i might move on to hall effect or your "magrez" sensor, thank you!

 

i think ill just go with the baloo pedals for now and make the electronics myself to connect it via USB, hopefully that would save me some (expensive) trial and error.

[SYN_Skydance]

I made my first set of rudder pedals using the potentiometer (pot) from an old joystick and some rails from IKEA draw runners.

 

I used them for a very long time and the were very sturdy. They were fun to build too. I would definitely recommend giving it a go.

 

I'll see if I can find some old pictures of them.

[-TBC-AeroAce]

If u are ok at programming using an ardwino or similar is a good way to do it 

[SAG]

If u are ok at programming using an ardwino or similar is a good way to do it

I wil be usign Microchips 18f2550 an do a little programing. I was asking more along the lines of the hardware itself (pedals) and your experiences

 

Thanks!

[Sokol1]

Just in case, here has "joystick" firmware for PIC 18f2550, the 4 axis version is ideally, you can make a pedal with toe brakes for German planes and use the 4th axis for "bicycle" like brakes in stick pole for Russian planes.

 

http://www.xtremeracers.info/forums/viewtopic.php?f=45&t=5696

 

Not wrong in use potentiometers, just put them in a manner that facilitates the replacement.

Edited November 12, 2014 by Sokol1

[SAG]

Just in case, here has "joystick" firmware for PIC 18f1550, the 4 axis version is ideally, you can make a pedal with toe brakes for German planes and use the 4th axis for "bicycle" like brakes in stick pole for Russian planes.

 

http://www.xtremeracers.info/forums/viewtopic.php?f=45&t=5696

 

Not wrong in use potentiometers, just put them in a manner that facilitates the replacement.

Thanks sokol, i already have made several firmwares for different devices i will be using.

 

Also, im building the Baloo pedals you showed me, but im wodering if should make them from stainless steel or iron sheets( iron is cheaper)

 

Thanks

 

S!

Edited November 12, 2014 by jsags

[SAG]

I made my first set of rudder pedals using the potentiometer (pot) from an old joystick and some rails from IKEA draw runners.

 

I used them for a very long time and the were very sturdy. They were fun to build too. I would definitely recommend giving it a go.

 

I'll see if I can find some old pictures of them.

 

Thanks skydance i hope you find them :D

 

S!

[-TBC-AeroAce]

if ur ok at electronics and programming there are many ways u can do this manly depends on how much u want to spend on sensors

[SAG]

if ur ok at electronics and programming there are many ways u can do this manly depends on how much u want to spend on sensors

 

yeah, im ok there.

 

im just going for cheap POT. in fact all the electronics and programming are already done and teste. all i hhave to do now is the pedals themselves.

 

thats where my current problem comes in....

 

iron (cheaper) or stainless steel (prettier)???

[Dakpilot]

How about Aluminium, there are various types some harder and more durable/stiffer than others, much easier to work with.

 

Powder coating is an incredibly durable and good looking cheap method of protection for steel which is much cheaper and easier to work with than stainless steel

 

Or get down to your Airport junkyard and salvage a real set of rudder pedals to use as a starting point

 

Cheers Dakpilot

[SAG]

How about Aluminium, there are various types some harder and more durable/stiffer than others, much easier to work with.

 

Powder coating is an incredibly durable and good looking cheap method of protection for steel which is much cheaper and easier to work with than stainless steel

 

Or get down to your Airport junkyard and salvage a real set of rudder pedals to use as a starting point

 

Cheers Dakpilot

 

Aluminin is too expensive here and there is no aircraft junkyatd here so unlucky me i will however look into regular steel. Thanks!!

[Sokol1]

 stainless steel or iron sheets( iron is cheaper)

 

 

Look at Bauer Pedals kits, they are done in laser cut iron ~3mm and powder coating.

 

http://avia-sim.ru/forum/viewtopic.php?t=634&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=135

Edited November 14, 2014 by Sokol1

[SAG]

Look at Bauer Pedals kits, they are done in laser cut iron ~3mm and powder coating.

 

http://avia-sim.ru/forum/viewtopic.php?t=634&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=135

 Beautiful pedals!! im drooling now XD

 

ill give more thought to my project now.....