NEW PRODUCT: Ultimarc ServoStik. 4-8 way joystick with powered restrictor.

[AndyWarne]

Now Available!

Joystick with motor-driven restrictor. USB controlled with full software support using GUI, hotkeys, command line or API.

Full details can be found on http://www.ultimarc.com/servostik.html

[Nephasth]

 

ETA: Will you be offering "retrofit kits" to upgrade already purchased J-Stiks?

[BobA]

Nice addition to your joysticks. 

[DaveMMR]

You are a madman Andy - that's awesome! 
Any way of being able to manually fire the motor to switch for JAMMA setup (i.e. via an outside button)?

[AndyWarne]

You are a madman Andy - that's awesome! 
Any way of being able to manually fire the motor to switch for JAMMA setup (i.e. via an outside button)?

Yes we have alternative firmware which enables the USB cable wires to be connected to a buttons instead, to control switching.

[Le Chuck]

I have been designing this exact thing in my garage for the last 6 months.  Looks like you hit it out of the park though.  This fills a great niche and it's nice to see. Do you know if the servo is compatible with 3rd party servo controllers like the pololu micro maestro?  I was just getting ready to redo my CP and upgrade to a dual system.  Would be great to reuse my servo controller.

Also, what shafts fit that stick?  Any hollows available?   

[sharpfork]

This is a sweet solution.  Adding the button option for those of us that don't use PC's is cool.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

[JoeB]

OMG!!!

Andy, are you planning on selling upgrade kits for existing joystick installations? I'd love to add this ability to a JLF joystick.

[RetroBorg]

I am so happy I didn't order joysticks last week, this looks awesome Andy, they are going to sell like hotcakes! 

[Bender]

HELLS YEAH!!!!

[darthpaul]

I have been designing this exact thing in my garage for the last 6 months.  Looks like you hit it out of the park though.  This fills a great niche and it's nice to see. Do you know if the servo is compatible with 3rd party servo controllers like the pololu micro maestro?  I was just getting ready to redo my CP and upgrade to a dual system.  Would be great to reuse my servo controller.

Also, what shafts fit that stick?  Any hollows available?

I could be wrong but by looking at the pictures, it doesn't appear to be controlled by a servo but by a small motor. Anyway, it doesn't matter how it is controlled, as long as it works. 

[Le Chuck]

I have been designing this exact thing in my garage for the last 6 months.  Looks like you hit it out of the park though.  This fills a great niche and it's nice to see. Do you know if the servo is compatible with 3rd party servo controllers like the pololu micro maestro?  I was just getting ready to redo my CP and upgrade to a dual system.  Would be great to reuse my servo controller.

Also, what shafts fit that stick?  Any hollows available?

I could be wrong but by looking at the pictures, it doesn't appear to be controlled by a servo but by a small motor. Anyway, it doesn't matter how it is controlled, as long as it works.

Yeah I guess the part where Andy says motor driven shoulda been a give-away.  Anyway, same question, third party controller boards a go?  I'm also interested in retro fit kit and measurements.

[mgb]

 
 I guess I'll be making another purchase soon.
I'm assuming its still a JLW right?

[sharpfork]

I'd be interested in a retrofit kit too.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

[millercentral]

THIS = Awesome.

Andy, do you have a measurements PDF, is the joystick a drop-in replacement for a J-Stick? How far does the motor stick out the side?

[Koolbrez67]

Thank you this is so cool. I really want want one now.

[NIVO]

 I guess I'll be making another purchase soon.
I'm assuming its still a JLW right?

this is along my line of thoughts too. Andy, compared to other sticks you sell, could you tell us the feel and travel of the stick? Is it like a JLW feel? thx.

also could you give us overall dimension on the underside(width and depth)? Im curious if I even have space to fit these on my panels. thx.

[Ravenger]

These look sweet! Might well replace my magsticks with these. 

The dimensions would be handy. My CP is wood and the joysticks are in a recessed section, so I may not have the room for the servo mechanism without routing out a bigger recess.

[AndyWarne]

Some answers:

Whether or not it uses a servo motor depends on how you define a servo. Its a small geared motor so essentially the same thing. But it wont work with other servo controllers. The requirements are much simpler, ie it does not need any positional control, just needs to move from one end to the other.

It is a J-Stik (JLW type) essentially, with other parts added. So this means we will be able to supply retro-fit kits. But this will be down the line. Also all accessories for this type of stick can be used.

Something else, this will also work with the Ultrastik 360 giving a fully contactless joystick with mapping AND mechanical restriction. Again, thats down the line.

I will try to get some diagrams done. Its unlikely there will be any clearance issues as the motor can be mounted top/bottom/left/right of the joystick.

Andy

[NIVO]

thx for the update Andy, I await your drawings.

[tony.silveira]

Something else, this will also work with the Ultrastik 360 giving a fully contactless joystick with mapping AND mechanical restriction. Again, thats down the line.

Andy

andy, you tease!  looks liek my updated panel is on hold again!  i was patiently waiting for the ultra rotary stick mod that i heard you were working on but now i'll have to wait for rotary mod AND this fine addition.  with those two mods to the ultra, you could very well have the king of all joysticks ever made.

keep up the excellent work!

[AndyWarne]

thx for the update Andy, I await your drawings.

I have added a drawing and a PDF downloadable template.

[NIVO]

thank you sir, im off for a look.

[Gray_Area]

I love the round restrictor, so I wouldn't need it for the U360. But I may upgrade my P360s for this model (and maybe put a dedicated 45-degree stick in my 4-way - currently U360 - spot) .

[RetroBorg]

Just some questions for you Andy:

How long does it take to switch from 4-way to 8-way?

In this picture of the joystick the edge of the cut outs within the restrictor look a bit jagged, is this wear and tear caused from the auto switching?

I will try to get some diagrams done. Its unlikely there will be any clearance issues as the motor can be mounted top/bottom/left/right of the joystick.

The joystick plate is 78 by 95 and in the picture the motor is fitted to the side of the joystick that is 95, is it possible to mount the motor to the side that is 78?

Cheers.

[PL1]

How long does it take to switch from 4-way to 8-way?

"Motor-driven restrictor plate switches between 4 and 8 way in less than a second"


Scott

[Brian74]

Great, I just bought some mag stick plus joy last week.. 

[cammada]

What is exact JLW shaft type does this joystick use? JLW-TP-8YT?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[MacGyver]

That is so cool, and it looks great.   It's so great that you engineered and built a solution like this. 

Any shots of one attached to a wood or metal CPO?

I would love to know how long they will last.  No matter, I'd buy a set for JLFs if they were available today.  I may still have to buy them as JLWs anyway.    So. Much. Want.   

[Ginsu Victim]

Any chance we could see a video of this switching?

[AndyWarne]

Just some questions for you Andy:

How long does it take to switch from 4-way to 8-way?

In this picture of the joystick the edge of the cut outs within the restrictor look a bit jagged, is this wear and tear caused from the auto switching?

I will try to get some diagrams done. Its unlikely there will be any clearance issues as the motor can be mounted top/bottom/left/right of the joystick.

The joystick plate is 78 by 95 and in the picture the motor is fitted to the side of the joystick that is 95, is it possible to mount the motor to the side that is 78?

Cheers.

Its about 1 second to switch.
No there is no wear and tear on this, these nylon restrictors will last for years and likely thousands of switches.
Its not possible to mount the motoe on the shorter side but I am not sure why you would want to do this? It would not save any space because the motor still has to clear the switch connectors.

Andy

[MacGyver]

I just looked at the JLFs, I'm thinking we won't be seeing anything like this for those for awhile?

So it looks like I'm going to be switching my JLFs for these JLWs, the only reason I was hesitant (short of the extra money) was because of all the accessories I bought already for the JLFs. 

So I guess I'm asking that if I buy these, can I swap my hollow shafts and colored balls from my JLFs to these? 

[AndyWarne]

I just looked at the JLFs, I'm thinking we won't be seeing anything like this for those for awhile?

So it looks like I'm going to be switching my JLFs for these JLWs, the only reason I was hesitant (short of the extra money) was because of all the accessories I bought already for the JLFs. 

So I guess I'm asking that if I buy these, can I swap my hollow shafts and colored balls from my JLFs to these? 

The ball tops will fit but the shafts wont unfortunately.

[RetroBorg]

Its about 1 second to switch.
No there is no wear and tear on this, these nylon restrictors will last for years and likely thousands of switches.
Its not possible to mount the motoe on the shorter side but I am not sure why you would want to do this? It would not save any space because the motor still has to clear the switch connectors.

Andy

Thanks Andy

[millercentral]

I've ordered mine, and while I wait for them I'm fretting over the fit in my tight cocktail control panels. Here's a question.. would it would be possible to mount motor upside down (with standoffs)? I have more room under my sticks then next to them...

[NIVO]

here is a pic of the underside of my panel. Its for reference only just for folks to gauge the idea of how things will fit. The stick is a JLF, andy's is based from JLW. But you get the idea, very tight fit indeed but will work, thanks to the motor and board being able to be mounted left/right/up/down. As you can see from the pic, very close to button nuts for sure.

[MacGyver]

The ball tops will fit but the shafts wont unfortunately.

I have a lot of time and money invested in the lighting, if you have a source for hollow JLW shafts I'd buy 2 ServoStiks today. 
I looked at Ultimarc, Paradise, Arcade.de, GGG, and that place with all the Chinese language PDFs (sorry at work, can't recall the name).  Some have JLF shafts, but I have found none for the JLW. (discontinued in 2009) 

[Nephasth]

The ball tops will fit but the shafts wont unfortunately.

I have a lot of time and money invested in the lighting, if you have a source for hollow JLW shafts I'd buy 2 ServoStiks today. 
I looked at Ultimarc, Paradise, Arcade.de, GGG, and that place with all the Chinese language PDFs (sorry at work, can't recall the name).  Some have JLF shafts, but I have found none for the JLW. (discontinued in 2009) 

Right under your nose (a few threads below this at this time)...

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,114677.msg1292148.html#msg1292148

Also, if you can't light the balltops, light the dustwashers!

[AndyWarne]

I've ordered mine, and while I wait for them I'm fretting over the fit in my tight cocktail control panels. Here's a question.. would it would be possible to mount motor upside down (with standoffs)? I have more room under my sticks then next to them...

The motor can be located under the stick by simply mounting the stick in that orientation, with the motor at the bottom.

Andy

[Mysterioii]

You are a madman Andy - that's awesome! 
Any way of being able to manually fire the motor to switch for JAMMA setup (i.e. via an outside button)?

Yes we have alternative firmware which enables the USB cable wires to be connected to a buttons instead, to control switching.

This looks really cool Andy, but I don't suppose it's configurable for both USB and button control simultaneously?  I have several console emulators in my cabinet, I can envision wanting to have my MAME frontend set up to automatically toggle the controller using the controller info but still might (occasionally) want to manually toggle to 4-way mode if I'm playing some old console game that I think it might be better suited for.  (I know, I could start a big discussion with people that don't think console games are fitting for an arcade cab and should only be played with a gamepad etc., but it is what it is).

I don't know what uC you're using and if you have free GPIO, but here are some features I can see being of use.  If the hardware doesn't support it now perhaps you'd consider it for a future rev.

Software control to command it to 4-way or 8-way (already present) as well as a "soft toggle" to invert the current state.
A software means to query the current state.
GPIO pins configured as input to command it to 4-way, 8-way or toggle whatever the current state is...  available concurrent with the USB control, not instead of it.
GPIO pins configured as output to indicate the current state.

With these features I could for example have MAME automatically set it to 4-way or 8-way as it believes is correct for the current game.  Then I could have a hidden (or not-so-hidden) button on my CP to toggle the state, in case I for example want to try a game with the "incorrect" setup to see how it feels, or if I want to toggle things for a console game.  With the 2 output pins I could for example use a hollow shaft (if/when they're available for this stick) and perhaps have the joystick illuminated blue when in 8-way mode and red when in 4-way mode.  Alternately, indicator lighting could be built into the CP if that's the user's preference or in the absence of hollow shafts.

Just some thoughts sir.  This is very interesting.