The elusive TRON restrictor for Happ 8-way joystick

[Doverben]

Hey guys, I know I'm a little late to the game in building my first cabinet, but my goal is to add all of the necessary parts to mimic the original controllers.

I recently purchased a new Happ 8-way joystick from Divemaster >> https://na.suzohapp.com/products/joysticks/50-9980-00, and now I'm trying to track down the compatible TRON 4-way restrictor plate. I know that I missed the boat when Encryptor was selling these back in '08, and the latest source I can find is apparently sold out as well >> https://www.arcadefixit.com/product.sc?productId=2384&categoryId=-1.

So does anyone know if there is a new source to purchase these, or even the 3D printer coordinates to have it produced?

Thanks in advance for any guidance with this.

-Ben

[PL1]

So does anyone know if there is a new source to purchase these, or even the 3D printer coordinates to have it produced?

    Not-so-good news:
Don't know any sources currently selling them.   

The restrictor needs to be flexible enough to hit diagonals with a little extra pressure on the 8-way levels, hard enough to not accidently hit diagonals on the 4-way levels, and durable enough to not wear out or fatigue during repeated deformations.

3d printing them would require using flexible filament of a particular durometer. (hardness)
- Probably hard to find.
- Many 3d printers run into feed problems with flexible filaments.

    Good news:
If someone can provide the measurements, it shouldn't be hard to design a 3d printable 2-piece mold.

A printable mold combined with the correct durometer casting material (urethane?) seems like a relatively simple DIY project, based on watching a few YouTube videos on the subject.   


Scott

[jennifer]

You are not wrong...Been messing with them for years, Milled some out of high impact acrillic but not enough give and eventually gave out. Urathane wouldn't be hard enough....BUT, There is a new product on the market Jenn is quite excited to try, Flexible boat epoxy  (in a tube), and according to the pdf, aparently meets the requirements.

[PL1]

What is the name of this new flexible boat epoxy?   


Scott

[jennifer]

What is the name of this new flexible boat epoxy?   


Scott

https://www.jamestowndistributors.com/userportal/show_product.do?pid=336174

[daywane]

I took both my Tron and Ms PAC-Man joysticks to work a few years back
looked at each and measured each in angels in millimeters 
these 2 restrictors are identical

[daywane]

trying to send pics.
BYOAC hates my camera?!
I have not figured out how to email saint a pic from email

[Arroyo]

Are you planning on using this just for Tron, or are you considering other games (Discs of Tron , Gorf, Zenophobe, Satans Hollow, etc.)?  I ask because with that restrictor in place it will limit your game options.  One thing a few folks have done (myself included), is attach a U360 to the bottom.  This allows your restriction to happen on the software and therefore you aren’t limited in game play.  It also gets rid of the clicky microswitches, AND because it’s analog allows you to play games like Star Wars which actually is really fun.

Here’s links:

Orginal

My Version

[daywane]

the knife is pointing to what I call a restrictor

[Arroyo]

trying to send pics.
BYOAC hates my camera?!
I have not figured out how to email saint a pic from email

It’s actually unique to this joystick:

[daywane]

nope. my tron stick does not look like that

starting to think I got ripped off.... LOL

[Arroyo]

nope. my tron stick does not look like that

The bottom restrictor is like the one you posted, but the top (there are two) is that one I assure you.

[daywane]

thanks.
I will check later. deep in attic

[daywane]

is it stiff or spongy?
stiff. I can mill it.
spongy ? silicon mold it? now I am curious

[Arroyo]

Jenn, says otherwise but when I had done research on it as I was looking to do exactly as Scott suggested, I had read it was made of urethane.  It’s hard but has elasticity to it.  Something like Acrylic or Polycarbonate are too hard, you might even get away with a softer wood, but I think that would break down over time. 

Original poster, I actually have the 4 way restrictor, and might part with it after I’ve attempted to build a mold and try out the above home mod.

EDIT:

I remember now where I got the idea it was Urethane.  The replacement part on Suzo Happs website says as much:



Also I had done some lookups on Urethane casting and the color appeared correct as well (although I’m not sure that matters):
https://www.fibreglast.com/product/introduction-to-urethane-casting-resins/Learning_Center

[Arroyo]

thanks.
I will check later. deep in attic

BTW, here’s some good pics of the different top restrictor from Benders posts:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=78233.0

[coasterlvr]

does that happ joystick even have a place to install the restrictor like Tron?  why not get a Tron control panel?  i have two myself that i've bought over the years and see them come up on ebay and klov from time to time.   

[Arroyo]

does that happ joystick even have a place to install the restrictor like Tron?

Yes check out the previous link to Benders post, it gives good visuals.

In my experience buying a panel these days is very difficult to come by and very expensive.

[coasterlvr]

oh, i see it now, it's off to the side.

i've paid 100 bucks 20 years ago, and just a little under a year ago, $145 shipped for a fully populated control panel.  controls needed nothing, not even a grommet.   then used an ipac2, and old oscar optical board to interface the controls on my 3/4 Tron.

does that happ joystick even have a place to install the restrictor like Tron?

Yes check out the previous link to Benders post, it gives good visuals.

In my experience buying a panel these days is very difficult to come by and very expensive.

[jennifer]

Truth be told... These restrictors are most likely not made with a catalyzed epoxy originally but rather a urethane composite as PL1 said back at the beginning,Since It was injection molded as evidenced by the cast. They are rather stiff but give almost nothing even as NOS, (Yes Jennifer has a few but don't ask), as used they tend to get a bit brittle by comparison. Although I am not a 3d printer I would have to be quite skeptical as to its mold making capacity, and would have to lean more towards sand casting for small runs, or EDM (Electrical Discharge Machining) for larger runs. although it could be said there is only a small niche market for either of these restrictors and the former would be more cost effective.

[Doverben]

Are you planning on using this just for Tron, or are you considering other games (Discs of Tron , Gorf, Zenophobe, Satans Hollow, etc.)?  I ask because with that restrictor in place it will limit your game options.  One thing a few folks have done (myself included), is attach a U360 to the bottom.

Arroyo, that's genius! I certainly did hope to use the stick for other games, and knew I was physically limiting it for DOT, Gorf, SH, etc.

I think you make a really good point, and I'll definitely consider converting my new Happ 8-way to a more versatile solution like your suggestion.

Question: How is the U360 able to limit or restrict movement to 2-way, 4-way, 8-way, or 45 degree, without a physical restrictor? Or is the physical movement still present, but the stick will "ignore" any direction that was de-programmed. I've read the description on Ulitmarc's site, but can't grasp exactly how it works.

Thank you to everyone for their input on my question.

[Arroyo]

Question: How is the U360 able to limit or restrict movement to 2-way, 4-way, 8-way, or 45 degree, without a physical restrictor? Or is the physical movement still present, but the stick will "ignore" any direction that was de-programmed. I've read the description on Ulitmarc's site, but can't grasp exactly how it works.

The latter.

There’s a magnet on the bottom of the joystick.  The magnetic field created is detected by a sensor on a PCB below the magnet:


The magnet is the disc and the PCB is off to the right.

The sensor can tell what direction you are moving the stick.  Ultimarc provides the software that allows you to “restrict” which directions send an input and which ones don’t.

Keep in mind that this will still allow you to physically move the stick towards the diagonals, whereas the physical restrictor would prevent this.  When you move the stick in the diagonal in a game like Tron the diagonals are ignored (although you can adjust the sensitivity to still allow some input if you were to push hard enough and reach the edges of the corners.

This visual of the software might help:

[ajaxer]

Arroyo, joining this late, but montivated to add a Tron joystick to my MAME cabinet.

Looks like Ultimarc has released a new flightstick version of the the Ultrastik with a fire button.  Would this work with Tron? Seems to have both the fire button and magnetic restrictor for 4 way movement

http://www.ultimarc.com/ultrastik_info.html

[Arroyo]

Would this work with Tron? Seems to have both the fire button and magnetic restrictor for 4 way movement

I’m sure it would work as it’s electronically the same thing.  The biggest difference would be in the feel of it.  The Happ stick is longer which changes the throw distance/fulcrum point, and it uses a grommet for centering, where as that flight stick (although I haven’t used it) I’m pretty sure uses a spring.  Not to say one is better than the other, but if you want a more authentic feel then you’d probably want to go with the Happ.

[Mr. Peabody]

The original stick sucked/sucks so bad it doesn't matter. Use anything.

[Arroyo]

The original stick sucked/sucks so bad it doesn't matter. Use anything.

Probably my favorite arcade control......

[Mike A]

The original stick sucked/sucks so bad it doesn't matter. Use anything.

Probably my favorite arcade control......

Liar.

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

[Arroyo]

Ok I gotta ask, what the hell is that?

[Mike A]

Only a few of those were actually distributed. Opt2not owns three of them.