Building a Star wars yoke from scratch

[Tiger-Heli]

I imagine this was posted on the main page, but for those that don't go there, the write-up is posted at:

http://www.arcadecontrols.com/hosted/yoke/

Thanks again to Menace for this very useful addition to the community.

[Chris]

This looks incredible!  Well done!

D'ya think it would it be too much of a sacrilege if I put a rectangular illuminated button in the middle of the yoke for the van in Spy Hunter?  (For those with yokes already, does Spy Hunter play well with a yoke?)

--Chris

[menace]

That was one of my future plans--although i don't know how well the yoke works with spy hunter as of yet--post back if you do it first!

[Tiger-Heli]

This looks incredible!  Well done!

D'ya think it would it be too much of a sacrilege if I put a rectangular illuminated button in the middle of the yoke for the van in Spy Hunter?  (For those with yokes already, does Spy Hunter play well with a yoke?)

--Chris

Can't say how the yoke works in Spy Hunter.  I like the idea, however:

The VAN light, if it functions in MAME, is probably driven off one of the Keyboard LED's.  The dual Strike joystick could care less about the keyboard LED settings, so you would probably have to run a feed off the I-PAC or hack a USB keyboard, just to get the yoke button to illuminate . . .

Not that it's not a cool idea, or wouldn't be worth it.

[Brax]

Looks great Menace.

It's funny, I wasn't keeping an eye on this thread very closely but I'd check in periodically, but it reminded me about the ROTJ yoke overlay I downloaded somewhere and I meant to upload it to the library. I uploaded it last night! Imagine my surprise when I see it on your yoke! (I guess I wasn't the only one to find it hehe) Funny coincidences.
Did you use Krylon Fusion paint for the handles? I just tried the stuff (last night) on a computer case and I'm really impressed with it. It takes a week to fully cure though so if that's the same stuff you used try to take it easy on the handles for a week or so.........yeah, right.

[GamingGreg]

Thanks for your awsome yoke and writeup!  It's so cool.

You've inspired me to "build my own yoke" as well.  

[froggerman]

Brax: where did you upload the ROTJ yoke overlay? I couldn't find it in the Arcade Art Library. Am I looking in the wrong place?  

[wj2k3]

http://www.localarcade.com/4images/details.php?image_id=172

[froggerman]

Thanks wj2k3. That is the Star Wars yoke overlay. I was looking for the Return of the Jedi yoke overlay that is shown on the yoke earlier in this thread.

[Generic Eric]

D'ya think it would it be too much of a sacrilege if I put a rectangular illuminated button in the middle of the yoke for the van in Spy Hunter?  (For those with yokes already, does Spy Hunter play well with a yoke?)
--Chris

As long as the yoke cover was "scratch built."  The sacrilege comes when you destroy a collectibe control.  The only other caveat would be that it should not contradict the star wars theme(if you choose to have one.)

[Generic Eric]

Menace, who long do you think it would take to build the yoke from scratch?

Has anyone built a yoke based on this guide? Geez...I am crazy...the guide was posted for less than a day, and I am asking if anyone has built one yet...

Call me a wanker.

[Tiger-Heli]

Thanks wj2k3. That is the Star Wars yoke overlay. I was looking for the Return of the Jedi yoke overlay that is shown on the yoke earlier in this thread.

There's a very high-res one here:

http://www.arcadecollecting.com/caga/unclean/

It was there before Brax posted his, though, I'm pretty sure.

[Brax]

Thanks wj2k3. That is the Star Wars yoke overlay. I was looking for the Return of the Jedi yoke overlay that is shown on the yoke earlier in this thread.

There's a very high-res one here:

http://www.arcadecollecting.com/caga/unclean/

Hmmm, it didn't seem to upload. But, yes thats where I found it quite some time ago. I was trying to post it to the non-vector category, hoping someone might vectorize it.

It was there before Brax posted his, though, I'm pretty sure.

[menace]

Menace, who long do you think it would take to build the yoke from scratch?

hmmm.. hard to say.  I built it over the course of a few weeks with an hour here and there.  there were also pauses so that the construction didn't get ahead of the write-up.  If you have all the parts on hand, i can't imagine it would take that long.

As far as the art goes, I liked the look of the jedi one better just cause it had a bit more color.  Either way it will have to be deformed in photoshop since my yoke isn't the exact same size or shape as the original.

[Generic Eric]

Menace

Do you have an estimate on the materials (not including "prototyping cost) to make a yoke based on your design?  I know that you said not any part over $10.  
Good Stuff!

[Tiger-Heli]

Thanks wj2k3. That is the Star Wars yoke overlay. I was looking for the Return of the Jedi yoke overlay that is shown on the yoke earlier in this thread.

There's a very high-res one here:

http://www.arcadecollecting.com/caga/unclean/

Hmmm, it didn't seem to upload. But, yes thats where I found it quite some time ago. I was trying to post it to the non-vector category, hoping someone might vectorize it.

It was there before Brax posted his, though, I'm pretty sure.

Just some more details - The link works for me http://www.arcadecollecting.com/caga/unclean/
Once there, click on RotJ-yoke-overlay.zip
It should download however - 4.8M zip file, 6.2M image.
Image itself is 850x2538 pixels and is a .psd (photoshop) file (can be read by Qucktime, Gimp, and PaintShop Pro.)

[Tiger-Heli]

Menace

Do you have an estimate on the materials (not including "prototyping cost) to make a yoke based on your design?  I know that you said not any part over $10.  
Good Stuff!

I could rough it out for you -
Dual Strike - (E-bay $10.00 ?)
Sheetmetal ($2.00 - ??)
Screws and cotter pins and washers, L-brackets ($8.00, approx)
LampRod and nuts (approx $8.00)
2 Spinning light thing-a-majigs (approx $4.00)
Wood (roughly $5.00 )
Lazy Susan bearing (couldn't find a small one, but a 5" one was about $5.00)
Pair of Leaf swithces ($6.00 from bobroberts ($4.50 if you use Radio Shack buttons
4 Gears - (I'm gonna guess $10.00) I saw a similar set at a model train show for $1.99 a pair, but don't know if they're identical
Project Board ($3.00 ??)
Plate Hangers ($5.00)
Pots ($6.00, based on #271-1714)
Wire ($3.00)
Paint ($6.00)

TOTAL - $73.00, give or take probably $10 either way.  This assumes you don't have ANY of these parts lying around somewhere.  Not bad, especially given the end result, but it does add up . . .

[menace]

Here's what I spent: $0 means I had it on hand

dual strike $5.00 (got 2 for $10.00 on ebay)
leaf springs $0
screws, cotter pins etc $0
lamp rod and nuts $7.50 (CDN)
gears  $0
3" lazy susan bearing $2.99 (CDN-home depot)
project board $1.99 (CDN)
pots $2 ($5.00 for metal ones --what I should have used) (CDN)
plate hanger $3.00 Rona (CDN building box place)
spinning light things $1.50 ea. CDN Zellers (walmart wanna be store)
wire $0 taken from same tv as case material
wood $0
sheet metal $0--spare furnace duct

total for me was about 30-40$ CDN--In my particular case I had alot of stuff laying around that was begging to be used as a yoke-but from scratch it could be a bit more.  I would scavenge your basement/attic for parts before buying anything as some parts could be substituted for something you have on hand.

[Stormy151]

So how many people are building SW yokes based on this tutorial right now?  I know I am.

Here's an idea- someone should figure out how to add a set of pedals to this, so it could double as a steering wheel...

[Tiger-Heli]

So how many people are building SW yokes based on this tutorial right now?  I know I am.

Here's an idea- someone should figure out how to add a set of pedals to this, so it could double as a steering wheel...

Problem - yoke is limited to 60 degrees of travel - most steering wheels have 270 - but it it possible.

Can't do that with a Dual Strike, as a dual strike only supports two pots.

You could interface the yoke and a set of pedals to the gameport (if your PC still has one) and not use the dual strike.

You could separately interface the pedals using a second dual strike and MAME analog plus.

You could interface both the yoke and pedals to daveb's interface (when available) instead of using dualstrikes - http://dave.bit2000.com/

[Chris]

So how many people are building SW yokes based on this tutorial right now?  I know I am.

Here's an idea- someone should figure out how to add a set of pedals to this, so it could double as a steering wheel...

ACT-LABS has standalone USB pedals.  http://www.act-labs.com/Products/pedal.htm

[Tiger-Heli]

So how many people are building SW yokes based on this tutorial right now?  I know I am.

Here's an idea- someone should figure out how to add a set of pedals to this, so it could double as a steering wheel...

ACT-LABS has standalone USB pedals.  http://www.act-labs.com/Products/pedal.htm

For anyone who has these - are the gas and brake single axis - dual axis, or selectable.

In otherwords, does mashing the brake make the cursor move up and mashing the gas makes it go down, or does the gas move up and down and the brake moves side to side.

Thanks in advance.

[patrickl]

That's weird. On my set the gas and brake use a different axis. I have the Performance set with the 3 pedals (with a seperate clutch) The clutch is a third axis.

I have not been able to get this to work with Mame btw. So maybe you can configure it to have the gas and brake to work on the same axis?

[Tiger-Heli]

That's weird. On my set the gas and brake use a different axis. I have the Performance set with the 3 pedals (with a seperate clutch) The clutch is a third axis.

I have not been able to get this to work with Mame btw. So maybe you can configure it to have the gas and brake to work on the same axis?

That's actually what I was hoping - separate axis.  Outrun needs this (actually, I think the brake is just a switch, not a pot in the real game), but you don't get brake lights if you use a single axis pedal set.

Patrickl, have you tried using MAME analog plus for this.  I think it allows you to remap joystick axes, and I'm not sure vanilla MAME does.

[patrickl]

That's weird. On my set the gas and brake use a different axis. I have the Performance set with the 3 pedals (with a seperate clutch) The clutch is a third axis.

I have not been able to get this to work with Mame btw. So maybe you can configure it to have the gas and brake to work on the same axis?

That's actually what I was hoping - separate axis.  Outrun needs this (actually, I think the brake is just a switch, not a pot in the real game), but you don't get brake lights if you use a single axis pedal set.

Patrickl, have you tried using MAME analog plus for this.  I think it allows you to remap joystick axes, and I'm not sure vanilla MAME does.

I might have to try MAME Analog plus then. The pedal set I have is actually a seperate 3 axis joystick from the steering wheel. It's not like the standard pedals that come with the wheel (where the axis of the pedals are integrated whith the wheel). I have been unable to get both controllers to work at the same time, but I haven't tried very hard either.

There was some discussion about Out Run earlier. I thought PaigeOliver said that Outrun was supposed to have a pot gas and brake. I even saw something about people hacking MAME to change this. Can't remember where I saw it though. I'm really hoping it will be a pot controlled pedal one day.

[Danny R]

So how many people are building SW yokes based on this tutorial right now?  I know I am.

Purchased my Dual Strike yesterday on ebay... $9 and change.  If I bid against anyone here, sorry.

[Tiger-Heli]

That's weird. On my set the gas and brake use a different axis. I have the Performance set with the 3 pedals (with a seperate clutch) The clutch is a third axis.

I have not been able to get this to work with Mame btw. So maybe you can configure it to have the gas and brake to work on the same axis?

That's actually what I was hoping - separate axis.  Outrun needs this (actually, I think the brake is just a switch, not a pot in the real game), but you don't get brake lights if you use a single axis pedal set.

Patrickl, have you tried using MAME analog plus for this.  I think it allows you to remap joystick axes, and I'm not sure vanilla MAME does.

I might have to try MAME Analog plus then. The pedal set I have is actually a seperate 3 axis joystick from the steering wheel. It's not like the standard pedals that come with the wheel (where the axis of the pedals are integrated whith the wheel). I have been unable to get both controllers to work at the same time, but I haven't tried very hard either.

There was some discussion about Out Run earlier. I thought PaigeOliver said that Outrun was supposed to have a pot gas and brake. I even saw something about people hacking MAME to change this. Can't remember where I saw it though. I'm really hoping it will be a pot controlled pedal one day.

If it's set up as a three-axis stick, I might want to pick a set up.

I saw the Outrun thread.  I just checked the owner's manual on KLOV.  Definitely separate brake and accel pots.

Of course all the system16 games in MAME are still being re-written so maybe this will get fixed then.

[Stormy151]

I just got my Dual Strike yesterday too.  Got it off Half.com for 15 bucks shipped.

I wonder, if you had the yoke interfaced as a joystick- would a mouse still function?  Because you have 2 axes right there- they wouldn't be pots, but I bet they'd still work.

Also a question, how would I upgrade to MameAnalog from vanilla Mame?  Do you just change the executable?

[Tiger-Heli]

I just got my Dual Strike yesterday too.  Got it off Half.com for 15 bucks shipped.

I wonder, if you had the yoke interfaced as a joystick- would a mouse still function?  Because you have 2 axes right there- they wouldn't be pots, but I bet they'd still work.

Also a question, how would I upgrade to MameAnalog from vanilla Mame?  Do you just change the executable?

The mouse should still work.

Upgrading - There are a couple of ways, mainly depending if you still want to use vanilla MAME or if you only want to use analog plus.

I would recommend only using analog plus.

In this case, rename your regular MAME.exe to mamestd.exe or sth.  Rename your mame.ini (if you have one) to mamestd.ini

Copy the mameanalog.exe file to your mame directory and rename it mame.exe

run 'mame.exe -cc' from the command prompt to create a new mame.ini

Edit mame.ini to enable the options that you want to use.

[patrickl]

That's weird. On my set the gas and brake use a different axis. I have the Performance set with the 3 pedals (with a seperate clutch) The clutch is a third axis.

I have not been able to get this to work with Mame btw. So maybe you can configure it to have the gas and brake to work on the same axis?

That's actually what I was hoping - separate axis.  Outrun needs this (actually, I think the brake is just a switch, not a pot in the real game), but you don't get brake lights if you use a single axis pedal set.

Patrickl, have you tried using MAME analog plus for this.  I think it allows you to remap joystick axes, and I'm not sure vanilla MAME does.

I might have to try MAME Analog plus then. The pedal set I have is actually a seperate 3 axis joystick from the steering wheel. It's not like the standard pedals that come with the wheel (where the axis of the pedals are integrated whith the wheel). I have been unable to get both controllers to work at the same time, but I haven't tried very hard either.

There was some discussion about Out Run earlier. I thought PaigeOliver said that Outrun was supposed to have a pot gas and brake. I even saw something about people hacking MAME to change this. Can't remember where I saw it though. I'm really hoping it will be a pot controlled pedal one day.

If it's set up as a three-axis stick, I might want to pick a set up.

I saw the Outrun thread.  I just checked the owner's manual on KLOV.  Definitely separate brake and accel pots.

Of course all the system16 games in MAME are still being re-written so maybe this will get fixed then.

OK just once more OT. I just tried setting up the Act-LABS stuff in mame32+ and I guess I was just sleeping the previous time I tried. The wheel + 3 pedal (well 2 of them anyway)  both work fine in Out Run. I guess a single brake/gas pedal would work fine too btw.

[Tiger-Heli]

That's weird. On my set the gas and brake use a different axis. I have the Performance set with the 3 pedals (with a seperate clutch) The clutch is a third axis.

I have not been able to get this to work with Mame btw. So maybe you can configure it to have the gas and brake to work on the same axis?

That's actually what I was hoping - separate axis.  Outrun needs this (actually, I think the brake is just a switch, not a pot in the real game), but you don't get brake lights if you use a single axis pedal set.

Patrickl, have you tried using MAME analog plus for this.  I think it allows you to remap joystick axes, and I'm not sure vanilla MAME does.

I might have to try MAME Analog plus then. The pedal set I have is actually a seperate 3 axis joystick from the steering wheel. It's not like the standard pedals that come with the wheel (where the axis of the pedals are integrated whith the wheel). I have been unable to get both controllers to work at the same time, but I haven't tried very hard either.

There was some discussion about Out Run earlier. I thought PaigeOliver said that Outrun was supposed to have a pot gas and brake. I even saw something about people hacking MAME to change this. Can't remember where I saw it though. I'm really hoping it will be a pot controlled pedal one day.

If it's set up as a three-axis stick, I might want to pick a set up.

I saw the Outrun thread.  I just checked the owner's manual on KLOV.  Definitely separate brake and accel pots.

Of course all the system16 games in MAME are still being re-written so maybe this will get fixed then.

OK just once more OT. I just tried setting up the Act-LABS stuff in mame32+ and I guess I was just sleeping the previous time I tried. The wheel + 3 pedal (well 2 of them anyway)  both work fine in Out Run. I guess a single brake/gas pedal would work fine too btw.

My method of driving OutRun was "Floor the gas, and occasionally downshift through the curves, and ignore the brakes", so a single brake/gas pedal would work.

However, my current pedal is single axis and the brake lights don't come on and they should.

That's the info that I needed, though.  The pedals are all dual axis (one pot per pedal).

Thanks!

[MUKid]

I wonder if anyone will find this question buried way in this thread.....

Have you guys found a source for the little spinning light handle things?  I know exactly what they are, but I can't find them anywhere.  Someplace on the net maybe?

Really, really cool project, by the way.

[menace]

I'll check the store where I got mine and see if there's any left--I was thinking dollar stores or walmart or something along that line would carry them.  I'll get back to you--If they have some do you want me to pick you up a set?  Anyone else?

[Stormy151]

I'm actually making my own grips in cast polyurethane.  I was planning to mold and cast original grips, but I couldn't get a hold of any- so I've made my own master from wood based on pics of originals and some rough measurements.

If it works out I may offer them if anyone's interested...

[MUKid]

I'll check the store where I got mine and see if there's any left--I was thinking dollar stores or walmart or something along that line would carry them.  I'll get back to you--If they have some do you want me to pick you up a set?  Anyone else?

Yes, I would be interested!  Check your PMs.  Thanks!

[Minwah]

The pedals are all dual axis (one pot per pedal).

How did you figure this out?  I noticed while poking around in the MAME source that the analog pedal code is based on a dual axis system...but knowing MAME it isn't usually very accurate on inputs.  Just wondered if the original was actually dual axis (I should look at a wiring diagram I guess...)

[patrickl]

The pedals are all dual axis (one pot per pedal).

How did you figure this out?  I noticed while poking around in the MAME source that the analog pedal code is based on a dual axis system...but knowing MAME it isn't usually very accurate on inputs.  Just wondered if the original was actually dual axis (I should look at a wiring diagram I guess...)

That was about Out Run and you can see it in the ownersmanual on KLOV (in the disassembly of the brake/accelerator unit page).

[Tiger-Heli]

The pedals are all dual axis (one pot per pedal).

How did you figure this out?  I noticed while poking around in the MAME source that the analog pedal code is based on a dual axis system...but knowing MAME it isn't usually very accurate on inputs.  Just wondered if the original was actually dual axis (I should look at a wiring diagram I guess...)

This is about OutRun, actually, I misspoke, but you can tell from the way MAME is set-up that it it dual axis.

I based my statement on the KLOV write-up that shows separated pots for the brake and gas, but these COULD be wired in a single axis config.  My current racing pedals are set up this way - two pots, but single axis.

However, in MAME, (I think the Brakes are P1B2), if I map P1B2 to L Alt, I get brake lights (on the screen).  If I map P2B2 to J1 X-Axis -, my brake pedal works, but no brake lights.  This tells me the actual game is looking for an input from the brake pedal, either a switch/button or a separate pot, and since the assembly breakdown shows two pots in the pedal assembly . . .

[Minwah]

This is about OutRun, actually, I misspoke, but you can tell from the way MAME is set-up that it it dual axis.

I based my statement on the KLOV write-up that shows separated pots for the brake and gas, but these COULD be wired in a single axis config.  My current racing pedals are set up this way - two pots, but single axis.

However, in MAME, (I think the Brakes are P1B2), if I map P1B2 to L Alt, I get brake lights (on the screen).  If I map P2B2 to J1 X-Axis -, my brake pedal works, but no brake lights.  This tells me the actual game is looking for an input from the brake pedal, either a switch/button or a separate pot, and since the assembly breakdown shows two pots in the pedal assembly . . .

Cool, I just wondered if you'd assumed 2 pots or MAME's input method was arcade acurate...your last description is very helpful tho, I hadn't thought of the brake light & separate switch/pot before, thanks

[Tiger-Heli]

This is about OutRun, actually, I misspoke, but you can tell from the way MAME is set-up that it it dual axis.

I based my statement on the KLOV write-up that shows separated pots for the brake and gas, but these COULD be wired in a single axis config.  My current racing pedals are set up this way - two pots, but single axis.

However, in MAME, (I think the Brakes are P1B2), if I map P1B2 to L Alt, I get brake lights (on the screen).  If I map P2B2 to J1 X-Axis -, my brake pedal works, but no brake lights.  This tells me the actual game is looking for an input from the brake pedal, either a switch/button or a separate pot, and since the assembly breakdown shows two pots in the pedal assembly . . .

Cool, I just wondered if you'd assumed 2 pots or MAME's input method was arcade acurate...your last description is very helpful tho, I hadn't thought of the brake light & separate switch/pot before, thanks

I just posted in the software thread that R37B16 was the last working System 16 build, FWIW!