Building my own star wars yoke

[ArcadeDunce]

has anyone else ever done it?

http://arcadecontrols.com/hosted/yoke/  This is the only instruction page that I've seen so far, and I'm wondering how many of the materials are easy to get.  everything
always seems so daunting when you start out.

I bought a logitech attack 3 controller to play The arcade game on mame, but the response time is no where near as good as the real controller, and lots of lag.
So now it's on to trying to recreate the original article

[Nephasth]

LeChuck just did... 1/6th of one anyway.

[ArcadeDunce]

LeChuck just did... 1/6th of one anyway.

saw that... more accurate than my joystick .  But a tad small

[Xiaou2]

Ive done it, but no detailed pics up online currently.

  The most important thing are the gears.  You can get them from stevens international.  Check the local hobby shops, as they may carry them in stock. (mine did)

 Unlike the design posted, i used a gear collar method:  I popped a wooden dowel with a hole drilled in the center, to the side of each gear. Screwed on with some small woodscrews.  Then drilled a small hole in the wood collar, and inserted a set-screw into it, to hold it to the shaft securely.

 The hardest part is the centering.  I probably should have used torsion springs like the original.. but opted for the easy way out.

 The unit also needs rubber bumpers, and a very strong shell.. because a good slam could rip it apart pretty easily.

[PL1]

The easiest way is to find an original on e-bay, craigslist, or KLOV Forums.

To set up an account on KLOV you need either (1) a $2+ paypal donation to the International Arcade Museum Library, Inc. (tax deductible), or (2) simply the recommendation of an existing forum member.

KLOV access FAQ: http://forums.arcade-museum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=77

KLOV forum where a SW yoke would be listed: http://forums.arcade-museum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=11&order=desc

To land one from KLOV, keep your eyes open and check regularly.  They show up about once or twice a week and are usually bought in less than 36 hours.

A USB adapter is available at http://www.thisoldgame.com/products/usb-adaptor-for-atari-yoke-controller . (They also have replacement yoke overlays.)

Source for yoke parts: http://www.arcadefixit.com

Mounting hardware for 5/8" board: http://www.menards.com/main/tools-hardware/fasteners/bolts/connector/1-4-20-x-1-2-joint-connector-bolts-1-pcs/p-1445506-c-8733.htm

Let me know if you need a mounting template.


Scott
EDIT: VideoGameParts.com is now arcadefixit.com

[ArcadeDunce]

The easiest way is to find an original on e-bay, craigslist, or KLOV Forums.

To set up an account on KLOV you need either (1) a $2+ paypal donation to the International Arcade Museum Library, Inc. (tax deductible), or (2) simply the recommendation of an existing forum member.

KLOV access FAQ: http://forums.arcade-museum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=77

KLOV forum where a SW yoke would be listed: http://forums.arcade-museum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=11&order=desc

To land one from KLOV, keep your eyes open and check regularly.  They show up about once or twice a week and are usually bought in less than 36 hours.

A USB adapter is available at http://www.thisoldgame.com/products/usb-adaptor-for-atari-yoke-controller. (They also have replacement yoke overlays.)

Source for yoke parts: http://www.videogameparts.com/category.sc?categoryId=16

Mounting hardware for 5/8" board: http://www.menards.com/main/tools-hardware/fasteners/bolts/connector/1-4-20-x-1-2-joint-connector-bolts-1-pcs/p-1445506-c-8733.htm

Let me know if you need a mounting template.


Scott

thanks for that.   will be getting the control handle, covers and steering shaft to start things off.  It looks like the controller might be tougher to build than a life sized R2D2 is starting out to be ;o)...and possibly just as expensive ;o)

[PL1]

thanks for that.   will be getting the control handle, covers and steering shaft to start things off.  It looks like the controller might be tougher to build than a life sized R2D2 is starting out to be ;o)...and possibly just as expensive ;o)

If expense is even remotely a concern, definitely buy the whole controller at once--they usually go for $150 - $250 depending on condition + seller.

Getting the parts individually will cost WAY more, if you can find all of them.  I've been looking for a trigger every day for several months.  I'll probably have to fabricate one myself, rather than dealing with RAM Controls.

[AGarv]

Another custom-made star wars yoke was posted at BYOAC over a decade ago. "Joey's Arcade Project" is one of my favorite panels of all-time.  It's what might be called a "frankenpanel" by today's standards, but I believe it's the perfect balance of game support and convenience:

http://arcadecontrols.com/arcade_joey.htm

[Le Chuck]

Another custom-made star wars yoke was posted at BYOAC over a decade ago. "Joey's Arcade Project" is one of my favorite panels of all-time.  It's what might be called a "frankenpanel" by today's standards, but I believe it's the perfect balance of game support and convenience:

http://arcadecontrols.com/arcade_joey.htm

Sweet find man.  I hadn't seen that one before.  His yoke construction looks really well executed and I like the use of optical encoders rather than pots.  Not necessarily better, just different. 

As for building your own if you are going full size I whole heartidly recommend getting the gears and sticking as close to the original design as you can.  It's tried and true and the nice folks at atari already did a lot of the hard working figuring it all out. If you are trying for a smaller footprint then all bets are off, start ripping apart pots and have a great time because it is an adventure. 

[Xiaou2]

Actually, the Optical version is not very good from what Ive heard.  It can get out of calibration too easily... and doesnt perform anywhere near as good as a pot based yoke.

 Also, note that the handles are not angled.  This may seem fine.. until you actually start rotating them.  The wrists get very uncomfortable without the angled handles, depending on how far you bend them.  The angle relieves the stress.

 Atari's sw.yoke design is nearly flawless.

[Le Chuck]

Actually, the Optical version is not very good from what Ive heard.  It can get out of calibration too easily... and doesnt perform anywhere near as good as a pot based yoke.

 Also, note that the handles are not angled.  This may seem fine.. until you actually start rotating them.  The wrists get very uncomfortable without the angled handles, depending on how far you bend them.  The angle relieves the stress.

 Atari's sw.yoke design is nearly flawless.

Good catch on the angels, didn't notice that on the Jimmy build.  I think I was mesmerized by the guts.  Shame about the calibration issue, I guess you'd have to build a 720 style calibrating disc so it knows where middle is.

There is always room for new designs and new efforts but for classic play and functionality I'm with Xiaou2, you can't beat the atari design.     

[Xiaou2]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22593093@N05/sets/72157629572618866/




 *** First Pic was Before I realized I had to angle the handles.   Ugg...

[Xiaou2]

internal parts for the rear can be seen here...

[rockyrocket]

PL1 thanks for the link to yoke parts, I have never seen that site before and have been short a right handle for ages!.
Ps I can sort you out with a trigger, drop me a PM.

[Le Chuck]

Holy crap, they're not kidding around with those prices.  75 for a complete handle.  Cripes!

[PL1]

Holy crap, they're not kidding around with those prices.  75 for a complete handle.  Cripes!

Ah, yes. The joys of supply and demand.  Only other commercial source I know of is SCAM Controls, and they don't have the NOS style handles.

[rockyrocket]

$35 for a right handle cover is tempting me though.

[ArcadeDunce]

Holy crap, they're not kidding around with those prices.  75 for a complete handle.  Cripes!

If it's expensive to do it the right way, then do it the right way I shall.  This is a year of treating myself ... Like R2

[tommyinajar]

Not thread jumping per say, can you modify a "1 axis" (IE Road  Blasters) to  2 axis easily or are some of the parts even interchangeable?

[Le Chuck]

 I know that the S.T.U.N runners can be modified to two axis very easily but I don't know about the road blasters.  I thought the handles were fixed on those so you'd have to redo the axel area completely.  Do you have any pics with the cover off?

[PL1]

I know that the S.T.U.N runners can be modified to two axis very easily but I don't know about the road blasters.  I thought the handles were fixed on those so you'd have to redo the axel area completely.  Do you have any pics with the cover off?

Handles on Road Blasters are definitely fixed and not easily converted.

Page 44 has the Parts breakdown.

http://www.arcade-museum.com/manuals-videogames/R/Road%20BlastersReduced.pdf

Looks like the handles, switches, triggers, stop bumpers, and some other parts are the same as a SW yoke, but with the y-axis fixed and the x-axis using an optical encoder, converting this is WAY more effort than it is worth.

Here are the controllers that are compatible or can be easily converted AFAIK:
Star Wars
Empire Strikes Back
Return of the Jedi
Firefox
Hydra
Lock-On
Turbo Sub
S.T.U.N. Runner - Remove one plate add two thumb buttons. See page 32 for parts breakdown http://www.arcade-museum.com/manuals-videogames/S/StunRunner.pdf Happ sells the thumb buttons and handle parts.


Scott

[Paul Olson]

Not thread jumping per say, can you modify a "1 axis" (IE Road  Blasters) to  2 axis easily or are some of the parts even interchangeable?

Roadblasters is optical instead of analog, so that probably wouldn't be a good choice. It would be easier to rebuild a trashed SW yoke than try to convert the RB one I think.

[tommyinajar]

I was just curious because they look identical on the outside. I was hoping it might be a (cheaper) source for parts.

[Gray_Area]

A USB adapter is available at http://www.thisoldgame.com/products/usb-adaptor-for-atari-yoke-controller. (They also have replacement yoke overlays.)

Actually, it's here:

http://www.thisoldgame.com/categories/hardware

[PL1]

A USB adapter is available at http://www.thisoldgame.com/products/usb-adaptor-for-atari-yoke-controller. (They also have replacement yoke overlays.)

Actually, it's here:

http://www.thisoldgame.com/categories/hardware

Thanks, fixed original post. (Period was included on end of URL.)

[rockyrocket]

Another option is to use an ultimarc A-pac, I can personally confirm it works perfectly.