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Joystick Mechanics

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Woodshop Flunky:

Okay... this is not another, "What's the best joystick?", thread.

However, I'm using a U360 and recently went to an arcade and played a variety of machines.  One of the ones I played was the Ms Pacman / Galaga anniversary machines.  The joystick on that machine felt GREAT!  So, I tried to analyze the thing just by feel (they wouldn't let me crack the thing open).

Compared with the U360...
1. The movement was much stiffer.  I have the stiffer spring for the U360, but it still wasn't this stiff.
2. The force to move the joystick was VERY consistant.  With the U360, I can feel some sort of mechanical "events" going on as I move the stick at different speeds.  I'm not sure if it is the spring slipping around or what.

It is really difficult to describe the difference, but the stick on the Ms Pacman / Galaga machine just felt tighter and more secure.

What is going on?  I mean, what are the mechanics behind this joystick vs the U360?

Thanks everyone.

emphatic:

So, how did it look? Was it a balltop, a battop or something else entirely? Next time, take a picture. :cheers:

Woodshop Flunky:

It was a small ball top.  It looked just like what I'd expect on a Ms Pacman.  I just wish I knew how it worked internally (without buying a bunch of joysticks to reverse engineer)

I like the U360 just fine... only it feels like "things" are slipping around sometimes when I change speed or direction.  Which of course is constantly with something like Twin Cobra.

As much as anything... I'm getting scared! :)  I have a lathe and CNC milling machine, and I'm afraid this "curiosity" could turn into an unhealthy obsession to reinvent the joystick.

I should just play what I have and be content; my son is happy.

Gray_Area:

I don't think you need to 're-invent' anything....though I could think of some things I might want made.....but since you have the stuff, why not have some fun? In any case...

Some people have raved about the re-issue stick, some have not been impressed. There isn't a real 'exploded' view at Happ. You could ask those here who have them for pictures. The differences between designs are: the Sanwa design is a not completely round inverted dome pivoting inside a bowl; the Happ design is probably close to the Super (a common kind of design) :



Woodshop Flunky:

Thanks for the exploded view; very interesting.  Before I saw it, I was thinking a stiffer and wider spring might help.  The spring in the diagram seems quite a bit wider than the one in the U360.

It may just be that I've got muscle memory interfering with the U360 play.

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