Using the force feedback on BOX

[IRRE_Axurit]

Hi everybody.

 

Some people using a FFB joystick explained to me that this function was pretty good for BOX. I am making a "cockpit" dedicated to BOX, and in a warbird the handle is long, so I wanted to respect this aspect.

But my handle is soft, and I have space to invent a system that will animate the stick (warthog + homemade extension)

 

Does anyone know how to exploit BOX information and turn it into engine movement?

 

VJOY >>>> arduino or other >>>> electric motor ???

 

Do you know the list of events that are translated into FFB? Thank you in advance for your answers.

[[DBS]Browning]

BOX does not support any telemetry out at the moment.

Keep an eye open here for the open FFB project for native hardware force feedback.

The current best way to extract FFB signals for use in DIY projects is through hardware hacks on existing FFB sticks. You can find help with that here, however I do not recommend building your own H-Bridge; there are suitable boards commercial available for that. 

Electric motors are tricky for joystick forcefeedback as cogging is a much bigger issue than it is for, say a FFB steering wheel. This is due to the relatively small travel of the stick. Cogging issues must either be solved by finding a good twisted rotor dc motor or by use of mechanical advantage to cause the motor to turn much more than it otherwise would. A mix of both approaches may be necessary if you want high torque. 

At any rate, you should focus on making a working gimbal before you spend any time looking at motors or electronics.

[E_Davjack]

I'm a fan of really simple kludge builds, and I've wondered if there is just an easy way to extend the handle on a FFB2.  Take handle apart, remove from the rod it mounts on, cut the wires and terminate to connectors, extend the wires to desired length, using epoxy and clamps connect the handle to the base with a metal pipe.  Probably ruins the Z-axis twist, but anybody modding a long handle will be using pedals anyway.  It would be interesting to see how the motors could cope with that longer lever arm.  Maybe somebody out there has done something like this.

 

Another adorably kludgey idea would be to graft the handle of the Warthog onto the pipe instead of the FFB2 handle, and extend the wires from the Warthog handle to the Warthog base, then use both controllers when binding.  The base of the Warthog unit would have to sit separately, perhaps under your chair. 

[[DBS]Browning]

The MSSWFFB2 does not do well with a full length mod. I've seen it modded with dual motors on each axis, but even that has plenty of problems. The sidewinder's own cogging issues are also more pronounced with a full stick.

Edited February 25, 2019 by [DBS]Browning

[IRRE_Axurit]

12 hours ago, [DBS]Browning said:

BOX does not support any telemetry out at the moment.

 

At any rate, you should focus on making a working gimbal before you spend any time looking at motors or electronics.

 

I do not understand that.

I know that telemetering remains to be done on BOX, but I do not want to move needles.

I would like to make my realteus move, but that's another story.

 

I would like to reproduce what a jostick FFB already does. 

 

I asked to leobodnar and arduino, i will see.

 

For the mechanical aspect, I do not intend to attack the stick directly with the engines.

It is not I think that can best represent the wind that flows on surfaces.

But I have my idea on it.

[BornToBattle]

I didn’t even know they still made force feedback sticks anymore.

[kissklas]

On 2/25/2019 at 7:47 PM, II./JG1_EmerlistDavjack said:

I'm a fan of really simple kludge builds, and I've wondered if there is just an easy way to extend the handle on a FFB2.  Take handle apart, remove from the rod it mounts on, cut the wires and terminate to connectors, extend the wires to desired length, using epoxy and clamps connect the handle to the base with a metal pipe.  Probably ruins the Z-axis twist, but anybody modding a long handle will be using pedals anyway.  It would be interesting to see how the motors could cope with that longer lever arm.  Maybe somebody out there has done something like this.

 

Another adorably kludgey idea would be to graft the handle of the Warthog onto the pipe instead of the FFB2 handle, and extend the wires from the Warthog handle to the Warthog base, then use both controllers when binding.  The base of the Warthog unit would have to sit separately, perhaps under your chair. 

 

If you are interested I made a FFB2 extension a while back. You can order a print from https://www.shapeways.com/product/LR82L9GST/msffb2-joystick-extension, or you can self print it for free at https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2120328

[JonRedcorn]

14 hours ago, BornToBattle said:

I didn’t even know they still made force feedback sticks anymore.

They don't.

[[DBS]Browning]

Well, they do, they are just either very cheap and low quality or very expensive and high quality.

Nothing has come to replace the MSSWFFB2.

[Voyager]

Wouldn't there be some personal safety issues to consider with a force feedback floor stick? Some of those are listed at 40lbs+ force. That might hurt if it hit something. 

[IRRE_Axurit]

I do not care, I already have children !! ?

 

I do not want to reproduce efforts near the real, indeed it would be dangerous for the driver, but also for the joystick.

Just 1 to 2 kg of pressure on the hand, and the regulation of the speed of movement is planned.

[JonRedcorn]

On 2/26/2019 at 5:10 PM, [DBS]Browning said:

Well, they do, they are just either very cheap and low quality or very expensive and high quality.

Nothing has come to replace the MSSWFFB2.

You can't even get that first stick, and really that second joystick is about what a proper direct force feedback racing wheel costs, the problem is they have racing wheels with forcefeedback all the way down to the mid 100s in regards to price. We don't have that option.

 

I am definitely thinking about grabbing a microsoft sidewinder 2 off ebay, they are freaking expensive though 80 bucks for an ancient joystick with no idea of actual quality. Little sketchy. I saw some for cheaper but they were the older original model not the 2.

Edited February 28, 2019 by JonRedcorn

[NiiranenVR]

Yes , be care about the older ones without usb-stick ffb Microsoft 

You can get a convert to them .... But they are not combitabel with newer windows - as 10 I got

I have the ffb 2 with usb stick and it works fine