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Daviea:
DK,  regarding the 720 controller.  The project is alive, albeit slow-going. I have two minor concerns and one major concern with the project which is holding me up for the time being.

The two minor concerns:

- I'm having trouble locating a source for the chain used in the controller.  This is only a matter of continued searching.

- I don't have the lower mechanical half of a 720 controller to size up for reproducing (encoder wheel, centering disc, centering disc spacer, encoder disc shield and the pcb bracket).  I have a possible source for these components, however.  I just need to take the time to find out if I can get them from this possible source.  If not, I need to either purchase a complete controller or find someone willing to share their spare long enough for me to draw up the parts.

The Major concern:

- I absolutely cannot find the opto devices used in the encoder board.  This means I would have to completely redesign the entire board.  This means that I need a 720 machine to randomly test prototypes on.  Reproducing this part isn't impossible.  Not even close, just going to be a lot of work.  If anyone wants to team up with me on this project to create a new encoder board, I can source the parts and provide the funding for PCB manf. and final assembly.

As for the remainder of the 720 controller, I've got almost all of the components manufactured.  So, yeah, this project is still alive and close to completion.  Just a matter of getting over the above listed hurdles.  No biggie, it just pushes back the completion date.


Cheffo, regarding the MH topic.  I'm going to produce a SpaceDuel/Gravitar/Blackwidow and a Tempest conversion control panel which will accept the MH roller on the conversion games.  I'm only waiting for word on the artwork for the CPO.  Once I have a commitment, it's only a matter of days to crank out these panels.  This will make the MH Roller look more appealing to a larger group of people, I think.

Thanks for all the input, guys.

David Adams
RAM Controls
Donkey_Kong:
Daviea,

Tell me you need some parts off of a 720 machine so I finally get off my but and go check on something...just up the road a ways.

I think I got that out of your post, that you ARE CURRENTLY in need of parts?

EDIT: never mind, you are...Road trip for me Monday.

tranq:
Okay, I admit I had a little piss an vinegar in me, earlier.  The aforementioned company that does yokes refabs original equipment.  $200 is VERY reasonable.

720: I'm curious to see how it was connected inside an all; anyone know of an pictures of this?  Still, a crank - similar to a hand-cranked drill - would be optimal.  I don't know why they came up with that funky tilted stick, cos it's weird on the wrist.

Wait.  After .69, Mame doesn't recognise an optical device properly; it flips one way or the other, instantly, and stops; it has to be an AD stick, or mapped accordingly for digital sticks.  There was something nagging at me at first mention of this control in the thread.
Havok:
Thanks for the response David, I'm VERY glad to see that you will be offering this sometime soon, and $200 is a very reasonable price. I will definitely be on the lookout for when you release the final product, I need a yoke to complete the arcade experience on my cab, and I feel much better about not taking an original yoke away from a Star Wars machine.

Any chance of you offering the buttons/switches to compliment the button cones you are selling?
Daviea:
I'm glad we're all good with the $200 pricetag for the SW yokes.  This is a part I've needed time and time again for many several years.  I've come across stripped out SW cabs and couldn't find the parts to restore them.  What a sad situation.  More recently, I started up a few cabinet reproduction projects, all of which will require my repro controllers.  To be more specific, they'll require MH rollers and SW yokes.  I've got no set timeframe, but I intend to release reproduction SW upright, SW cockpit and MH dedicated cabinets.  Wordworking isn't my specialty, but being in the business of manufacturing, I have many friendly contacts with wordworking shops.  It's only a matter of time before I have these completed.  Some of the repro projects I've got under lid will blow you away.  2007 is going to be a good year for reproduction parts.

Since my earlier posting today, several people have offered to help with the 720 controller project.  Namely, offering parts for me to sample.  Thank you, everyone.  I'll be taking up someone on the offer if my other solution doesn't pan out. Thank you.  Also, I decided to do a little Saturday afternoon research on the controller.  I was able to source the chain and possibly the opto device.  I won't know for sure on the opto coupler until early in the week.  If this source works out, the 720 project is back in full swing immediately.

As for the buttons, are you talking about the buttons that mate up with the cones?  I have these available and they're currently listed on my website.  Here:  http://www.ram-controls.com/order-cones.html  way down at the bottom of the page.  I have the LED and the non-LED versions available.

As you can imagine, I've got a pile of repro projects on my plate.  Are there any other Atari or non-Atari repros I should start considering?

David Adams
RAM Controls
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