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Anyone made a auto 4way/8way switching joystick?
RandyT:
--- Quote from: Bender on August 17, 2010, 12:16:58 pm ---That's awesome!
I bet you could do 4way diagonal (Q*bert) too?
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A squarish restrictor in 8-way pretty much already is ;)
ranma:
--- Quote from: bkenobi on August 17, 2010, 11:38:45 am ---I guess I'm a little confused why you need complicated software to control this. Seems like you could just set the position to 4- or 8- way and leave the signal on. I'm thinking the limit switch would then turn off the servo for you, kinda like those "useless toys" that are on youtube.
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A servo doesn't rotate continuously when you apply a signal (although they could be modified to do so), they go to a predetermined position according to the input signal. The good thing about a servo is that it's very precise, even with cheap ones, and on the other hand, it will correct it's position as long as you apply an input signal. This means that if any external force makes them move, they will go back to the same predetermined position.
As for the software, it's not complicated at all, I use the scroll lock connector of the keyboard encoder to send a signal to my circuit, led off is 8way position for the servo and led on is 4way position. And some additional scripting to check what the game needs before launching the game.
Epyx:
What about a 2-way system via a pull? That way you could use a loose restrictor and 4 way and 8 way both pull as opposed to any push action. You could then spring load them so that if the restrictor were to get stuck the spring would activate and prevent any damage.
RandyT:
--- Quote from: Epyx on August 17, 2010, 01:22:10 pm ---You could then spring load them so that if the restrictor were to get stuck the spring would activate and prevent any damage.
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If you look up something called a "servo saver" you'll see that they already make something like that for servos. A spring loaded switching system with solenoid would be ok too, but also be a little complicated. The best approach would be something along the lines of the way a pinball flipper works. Full power at first activation, and then half power to hold it in place, so it doesn't cook the solenoid coil. Probably need a dedicated power supply as well. You can get more torque out of a geared motor with lower power requirements.
If you mean a pull attached to a servo, it would make more sense to just use the servo to move the restrictor to both positions.
RandyT
BadMouth:
Pretty cool!
That's it, I'm ordering a cheap door lock actuator so I can tinker too :laugh: