Build your own joystick?

[Serpent]

Do you know of any project that involves the building of custom sticks, I mean, not installing already manufactured arcade sticks, but creating own sticks from scratch?

[SirPoonga]

Do you mean the joystick itself or a control panel (buttons and all)?  If the latter then you are in the right place.

If you meant he joystick itself that would just be some plastics molding, you can easily find someone to do that but maybe not for cheap.

[Serpent]

I mean the sticks themselves, not cps (I know thousands of projects of custom made cps). A stick, after all, is not a very complicated piece of hardware. I would be great to know someone how has been able to create a working stick using home tools.

[NoOne=NBA=]

I carved a Tron-style handle awhile back with a Dremel tool.
I've also built 2-ways using copper pipe and leaf switches.

The 2-ways are really easy to build.
Basically all you need is a pipe, two switches, and something to make the pipe pivot in the middle (a bolt, or pin).
Once you have a stick that pivots in the middle, you put the switches in the path of travel on one end, and hold on to the other end.

The 4-way and 8-way bases are more complicated than it's worth spending time on IMO though.
It's easier to do hacks when you get to those, and you get better results.

[patrickl]

I build a 2-way joystick from 2 microswitches, a nail, some small pieces of wood and a bead. But that was for a 1:6 scale microcab  




But seriously ... I only have seen people build their own joystick handles. I agree with NoOne=NBA= that building the base would probably not even be that easy and probably not wworth the effort since you can buy them reasonably cheap anyway. Or are you looking for a special joystick type that is not readily available?

[Tailgunner]

I think Xiaou2 holds the record for the most custom built controllers.

http://www.xiaou2.homestead.com/arcade.html

[Stingray]

It's not rocket science, building one from scratch certainly wouldn't be difficult just time consuming. Still there's hardly any point to it when you can buy a new stick for probably the same cost or less than the cost of the parts to make your own. Considerably less if you consider that your time is worth anything.

-S

[Brad Lee]

I think Xiaou2 holds the record for the most custom built controllers.

http://www.xiaou2.homestead.com/arcade.html

http://www.xiaou2.homestead.com/files/shifter.jpg
Man, this is just frickin BRILLIANT for a 2way shifter

back on topic- building a stick shouldnt be too tough, just time consuming and the need to track down or fabricate what you need.

You need a shaft, probably just steel rod- threaded, hollow, solid? whatever
A Pivot Point in the middle somewhere. Im sure you could get some kinda pivot at McMaster, Home Depot or an AutoZone
Some kinda frame to use to mount the whole thing to the CP, as well as steady the pivot and sensors
Some switches to detect your movement. As long as they're fixed and whatever is at the end of the shaft can successfully actuate them, youre golden

In the end though, I think that if youre looking for a one-off stick, youre gonna be better off with something already assembled and available, due to time and possible costs.

[patrickl]

I think you'd be in for a surprise if you tried to build a joystick yourself. I really doubt it will be as easy as (some of) you think. Well ... building a joystick might not be a problem per se, but one that "works good" will.

If I see how poorly a stick like the dreaded clone of wico "leaf style" works, it's pretty apparent that building a good stick is not an easy job. Allthough, it could be fun to try

You'd also need to be really accurate to make sure the joystick is equal in operation in all directions. Hell, I even had trouble getting my 2-way stick to work evenly. But then that might also be the result of the fact that I suck at woodworking  

and then think of making the stick switch between 4-way and 8-way or adding some other trickery ...

[SNAAAKE]

I think Xiaou2 holds the record for the most custom built controllers.

http://www.xiaou2.homestead.com/arcade.html

What you talking about I build over 50 singles  
(not kidding but they are all same,for friends and stuff)  

[patrickl]

I think he is talking about controllers as in joysticks, spinners, steering wheels, gear shifters, yokes, motor cycle steering etc ...

[Xiaou2]

 heh - thanks guys ^_^

    I actually did build a joystick once long ago.  It was before I had a computer I think!  I hacked a snes controller... and made a wood base (poorly cause had very few tools).   I filled 2 liter soda caps with hot glue and popped some wooden dowls in them.  Popped microswitches under them (got some used ones from a local arcade manager).

  For the joystick - i used a screwdriver and another pop bottle cap i think.  I cant recall now cause its been so long.

  The thing was better than a gamepad... but it didnt last long!  It just wasnt quality built!  heh   It is possible tho!

  If I were to do it again... id probably do much better.  Tho - it would probably be easier to hack an existing joy and mod it slightly to how you want it.
 
  At 10 to 15$ a joystick... its definitely cheaper to just buy one.  However... would be a fun challenge to design and build one...   maybe ill try again someday when time permits!
 
 ^_^