Repro Joystick Project

[Searcher7]

Does anyone here still make reproduction joysticks, and possibly some of the associated parts that usually go with them?

I need are joysticks made to non-standard specs, for a
unique project that I'm working on.

I suppose that I could use standard joysticks, but I'd have to
cut(shorten) the shafts, find cover plates/disks, and C-clips, as well as find a way to cut the slot in the shafts for the C-clips. Not to mention finding rubber grommets.

Thanks.

Darren

[grueinthebox]

Perhaps if you were to tell us what kind of joystick...?  There are an awful lot of different joysticks out there...

[Buddabing]

Does anyone here still make reproduction joysticks, and possibly some of the associated parts that usually go with them?

I need are joysticks made to non-standard specs, for a
unique project that I'm working on.

I suppose that I could use standard joysticks, but I'd have to
cut(shorten) the shafts, find cover plates/disks, and C-clips, as well as find a way to cut the slot in the shafts for the C-clips. Not to mention finding rubber grommets.

Thanks.

Darren

Arcadeshop.com has (or had at one time) repro Defender and Pacman joysticks. I'm not sure what you are looking for, though.

[MinerAl]

your local high school probably has a lathe in its metals shop.  Call them up and ask them if they have some students who could modify your joystick shafts for you.  You'd be willing to pay $5 each for their trouble...

Any machine shop should have what you require and be able to do it.

[RayB]

your local high school probably has a lathe in its metals shop.

[Franco]

Eh? A lathe does remove metal stock. Though you do use the term 'turn off'. I.e you turn a component on a lathe.

[Jess--]

Common misconception that a "lathe" is what you use to remove metal on a shaft. The term shops actually use is "turn off".

Worked in engineering for quite a few years (a lot of lathe / milling work) can honestly say we NEVER used that phrase. although did use the phrase turn / turning in relation to lathes (uk based)

[Franco]

Im turning some Nimonic aerospace componets as im typing this 

[RayB]

Last year when I had my top-fire joysticks to modify, I called a few places. I used the term "lathe". I spoke to a guy at Strite Industries, who do large volume machining (ie: they ended up way out of my budget for my little job) told me that the correct term was "turn off".

So, call it whatever you want. Some places might not know what you're talking about. The gentleman I spoke to sounded brittish. Maybe that's what they call it over there (though Strite is Canadian). Who knows...

[jcoleman]

A lathe is a tool.  A turn-off is performed with that tool.

[Avery]

For a simple job like a joystick (where 1/64th of an inch is close enough) you can turn metal on a wood lathe!  Lindsay technical books has something on it in their catalog.

That being said, it wouldn't be that hard to rig up a little jig that would let you do this in a drill press.  I've used a drill press and a hack saw to cut c-clip slots before.

[RayB]

For a simple job like a joystick (where 1/64th of an inch is close enough) you can turn metal on a wood lathe!

[Jess--]

this has to be the only place you can find grown men playing with arcade machines and lego all day


EDIT :
well that seems to have brought this thread to a complete standstill

[Searcher7]

Can anyone tell me where I might get c-clips or more importantly rubber grommets that may have to be made to non-standard specs?

Thanks a lot.

Darren

[JustMichael]

To quote grueinthebox:

Perhaps if you were to tell us what kind of joystick...?

Simply put we need to know what joystick these parts are supposed to fit on.

[daywane]

Does anyone here still make reproduction joysticks, and possibly some of the associated parts that usually go with them?

I need are joysticks made to non-standard specs, for a
unique project that I'm working on.

I suppose that I could use standard joysticks, but I'd have to
cut(shorten) the shafts, find cover plates/disks, and C-clips, as well as find a way to cut the slot in the shafts for the C-clips. Not to mention finding rubber grommets.

Thanks.

Darren

Nintendo joysticks are very short.

[Searcher7]

To quote grueinthebox:

Perhaps if you were to tell us what kind of joystick...?

Simply put we need to know what joystick these parts are supposed to fit on.

Well, since I said non-staandard specs and that this is a unique joystick project, that means there is no "kind of joystick".

These things have to be made from scratch since they don't exist in the sizes I may need them, and I am looking for someone who can do this kind of thing.

Darren

[MinerAl]

If you are in the US...

Find yourself an ACE (or other old fashioned) hardware store.  Not a home depot/lowes, but a real life hardware store.  They have all kinds of e-clips and grommets and knobs and fasteners, and so on.

[subcriminal]

What ho chaps.. I'm British and I prefer to use the term 'skim' being of an engineering background, anyway cheerio I'm off for a cuppa!