I'm in the midst of a total overhaul of a Tankstick. I already have replaced all the buttons and the trackball, gotten 5v LEDs working to illuminate specific controls with a PACLED64, and next up is joysticks.
The plan is a pair of UltraStik360s, with long shafts. I prefer oval tops, and dislike LED sticks with the light in the tops anyway -- more a fan of the subtler stuff like Flynn's Arcade. The buttons are already all black with clear bezels, for example. But it feels odd to use LEDBlinky and when the joystick is called out, not have anything to blink!
So, here's the crazy question! Normally when a U360 is installed in one of these, you slightly enlarge the routed-out space for the joystick plate, or you fill it in with wood and get the longer shafts. So, this, from top to bottom:
- Shaft top
- Dustwasher
- Panel
- Stick plate
- Stick base
I was thinking of not filling it in completely, to be able to run wires in there, and then instead doing this:
- Shaft top
- Clear acrylic dustwasher
- Panel
- Acrylic ring around the opening for the shaft (a poor man's Nephring)
- Pele ring around that
- Fill in with wood to ensure the stick is firm and won't crush the lighting (I thought about using standoffs, but that's probably not enough structural integrity)
- Stick plate
- Stick base
My questions are
* Pele ring driven as an RGB via PACLED64? It's two LEDs, not one, and the PACLED64 is constant current. ParadiseArcade's site doesn't say. I'd rather not end up with a whole new controller. I'm also running low on outputs already, so part of the attraction here is that I can drive light on both sides of the ring with just 3 outputs on the board.
* Enough space given stick throw to place a Pele ring and the slice of acrylic tube around the shaft? ParadiseArcade only seems to have the 24mm ones left -- which given we're talking about a 10-12mm shaft, fits fine, but the question of course is stick throw. I've seen recommendations for panel holes anywhere from 24mm to the usual 1 1/8I've heard I probably want a restrictor plate anyway, with a U360... correct?
* How tall is a Pele ring anyway?
* Will the long shafts, which are just another 10mm longer, going to add enough length given that I am already dealing with a Tankstick top panel? (I could route out a bit deeper just to make room for the leds, but I don't want to risk that the top is weakened).
Thoughts? Am I crazy?