Joystick overhaul

[loska]

As i'm waiting for my Pimax 5k+ RMA to arrive it was a perfect time to do a ten years:) overhaul for my joystick. Some of the buttons have recently started to function unreliably and finally didn't respond.

After some measuring and troubleshooting the fault was hiding in the cover bushing. The cable insulation was broken and a few wires were in poor condition or broken.

 

 

 

 

I also changed the rod motion limiters to rubber and got a slightly softer feel in the extreme positions.

 

 

I had a couple of inspection hatches on the shelf and had long been planning to put one of them on the joystick. It’s more of a bling but there’s also some benefit to it if one of the centering rubber rings breaks I can see right away which side needs to be opened.

 

 

 

Edited November 22, 2020 by loska

[Sokol1]

Seems that you are using Lan cables, a bit rigid, may if make a "coil" (like in vintage telefone cables) in the part subject to movement, will stress less.

 

BTW - This is based on  "Julian U-joint gimbal", is not?

[loska]

Hi Sokol!

 

Yes it should be multicore stranded wire which is way more flexible and durable in places like that. I was thinking about it but felt a little lazy and didn't have it at that moment. I will replace that part in the next overhaul Luckily it's quite easy to do. 

 

You are right about the gimbal design, i think you linked it years ago. It's Julian U-joint gimbal which IMHO is the best and most durable design for a simulator joystick. In addition you can use ready-made and inexpensive components for construction. I didn't like springs so i replaced them with O-rings because in my opinion they give a more authentic feel for flying an aircraft.