Possible Solution for DIY Star Wars Yoke?

[rbarr110]

I haven't been here for a long time, but when I was here and in my absence, I have always been trying to figure out a decent DIY Star Wars yoke.

I happened to come across this, and thought it may work if mounted in a DIY yoke housing.  I have some ideas on how to do it, but wanted thoughts/opinions about the controller itself before putting my CNC to work and buying the parts.

http://www.instructables.com/id/USB-Game-Pad-With-Tilt-accelerometer-Mouse/?ALLSTEPS

[Generic Eric]

You need to get on that KADE hype train!
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,134781.msg1390657.html#msg1390657

[lamprey]

I think there are many better options than a accelerometer for this application. If it were me I'd using something analog(ish) like a U360 or something similar. I was doing some research for a mini-cabinet and found these guys:
https://www.sparkfun.com/products/9032

They have potentiometers in them so, in theory, they'd act like a real yoke. I could easily conceive of a way to use this type of joystick with a yoke to achieve similar results to that of a real yoke.

[lamprey]

Another option is to get 2 5k pots and minic a real yoke and might even be the easiest option. 

[rbarr110]

Another option is to get 2 5k pots and minic a real yoke and might even be the easiest option. 

I thought about that, gave it a go years ago, and ended up with gear problems.

[rbarr110]

You need to get on that KADE hype train!
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,134781.msg1390657.html#msg1390657

I dont see how this works for X-Y axis motion, great for regular gamepad/cp controls, but the addition of an accelerometer is what may work for Star Wars Yoke.  Can an accelerometer be added to the KADE?

[rbarr110]

I think there are many better options than a accelerometer for this application. If it were me I'd using something analog(ish) like a U360 or something similar. I was doing some research for a mini-cabinet and found these guys:
https://www.sparkfun.com/products/9032

They have potentiometers in them so, in theory, they'd act like a real yoke. I could easily conceive of a way to use this type of joystick with a yoke to achieve similar results to that of a real yoke.

I don't want to use a thumbstick to play Star Wars, I want to recreate the look and feel of the Flight Yoke without dropping $600 for a reproduction yoke.

I don't think my initial post clearly states what I am thinking.  Using the keyboard/mouse encoder in the gamepad project with the accelermoter mounted in a yoke like housing to mimic the original controller movement.  I am not intending on using the cheesy SNES USB controller itself.

[Generic Eric]

You need to get on that KADE hype train!
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,134781.msg1390657.html#msg1390657

I dont see how this works for X-Y axis motion, great for regular gamepad/cp controls, but the addition of an accelerometer is what may work for Star Wars Yoke.  Can an accelerometer be added to the KADE?

In that link is a post of the 2 pots connected to the stick.  But if you are against using gears.  I don't think this is a solution for you.  I don't have a reply regarding the accelerometer. 

I will follow your Star Wars Yoke project with interest .

[PL1]

You need to get on that KADE hype train!
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,134781.msg1390657.html#msg1390657

I dont see how this works for X-Y axis motion, great for regular gamepad/cp controls, but the addition of an accelerometer is what may work for Star Wars Yoke.  Can an accelerometer be added to the KADE?

KADESTICK is an analog joystick encoder.

Electrically it is the same as any other analog encoder/SW yoke adapter, providing absolute X/Y values rather than relative position changes like a mouse/accelerometer.

You can use an Atari yoke from Firefox or several other games (there's a list somewhere around here IIRC) -- you might be able to find a yoke from that list for sale on KLOV.

I don't think the KADE team is planning on including an accelerometer in any of their encoders in the forseeable future.   


Scott

[lamprey]

I think there are many better options than a accelerometer for this application. If it were me I'd using something analog(ish) like a U360 or something similar. I was doing some research for a mini-cabinet and found these guys:
https://www.sparkfun.com/products/9032

They have potentiometers in them so, in theory, they'd act like a real yoke. I could easily conceive of a way to use this type of joystick with a yoke to achieve similar results to that of a real yoke.

I don't want to use a thumbstick to play Star Wars, I want to recreate the look and feel of the Flight Yoke without dropping $600 for a reproduction yoke.

I don't think my initial post clearly states what I am thinking.  Using the keyboard/mouse encoder in the gamepad project with the accelermoter mounted in a yoke like housing to mimic the original controller movement.  I am not intending on using the cheesy SNES USB controller itself.

I wouldn't use the thumb stick as it is. Rather, I'd put it in a controller and use the thumb stick as a means to mimic the pots on a real controller. If I ever get around to making a mini-yoke I'll post info on it.

Honestly, if you want to mimic the real thing, I'd try to get a used yoke from star wars or other machine. They can be had for a reasonable amount of money and you won't have to sacrifice too much.

[rbarr110]

I wouldn't use the thumb stick as it is. Rather, I'd put it in a controller and use the thumb stick as a means to mimic the pots on a real controller. If I ever get around to making a mini-yoke I'll post info on it.

Honestly, if you want to mimic the real thing, I'd try to get a used yoke from star wars or other machine. They can be had for a reasonable amount of money and you won't have to sacrifice too much.

I havent seen a used star wars yoke on sale for a while, granted I havently actively been looking in the last year or so, but they were rarely under $350.  I have seen some refurbs and/or reproduction yokes for about $600 recently.

The parts for the encoder and accelerometer are $30.  Worth a shot for that price, I have alot of the other parts laying around that would be needed to make an attempt at a yoke.  So very little expense for an experiment at this time.  Will give it a go I think, it will probably take me a few months to actually do anything.  Always lots of projects I want to do, time is usually the problem.

[ark_ader]

What about RAM Controls?