Starwars Yoke - DIY

[Xiaou2]

 Ive decided to finally pull the camera out and take pics of the Updated innards
of my Custom built Starwars Yoke.

 Here you will see my first attempt at a Starwars Yoke.  I got inspired to try to build
one, after seeing the TwistyGrip design.  (thanks Ricky)   I didnt plan anything.  I simply
started to cut shapes and place things together until things worked out.  Surprisingly,
it turned out much better than I expected... and is Incredibly durable.


 * Descriptions of Pics coming soon*





















 The main site is a bit broken.  Text color changed on me when they updated
their systems (as well as placements..etc) . Press Ctrl+A to highlight text.
It contains some more info on the rear assembly I believe...

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


 This post was edited by 'Mr Nice Guy'.   May others follow suit and 'Be Nice'
and respectful to others.

[Xiaou2]

Pic 1

 Seen here are two Gears.

 The small gear is directly mounted to the pot.  A hole was carefully drilled to match the diameter of the pots shaft.  Then, to attach it firmly... I had to drill a Tiny MM diameter hole in-between the gears teeth, and through the Pots shaft.  A tiny "watch-pin" was then
inserted into the hole, which ties the two together.  The fit was tight, and I also added some glue just in case of slippage. It has not failed, and does not restrict
gear movement at all.

 
 The larger gear was different.  This time, I had used a wooden dowel to brace the shaft.

 I believe I:

1) Marked perfect center on a
wooden dowel
2) Drilled a 3mm hole thru the dowel that matched the diameter of the gear hole.
3) Placed a 3mm shaft thru the dowel & gear center.
4) Screwed 2 tiny screws into the gears side, above and below the center axis... to mount it to the dowel.
5) Then, drilled a 1/2"?  diameter hole thru the dowel, that went right thru the gear side... making the gears center hole go from 3mm to 1/2".
6) Drilled a hole thru the dowels
top, which went thru the 1/2" shaft.
7) Put a long machine screw thru the dowels hole, which connected it to the main drive shaft... The screw is also much longer, so that it sticks out nearly 1cm below the bottom of the dowel.
The screw is double nutted at the bottom. Small dab of hot glue should keep it from ever slipping.
 

 The shaft itself has a nibble out of it.  Was simply a drilled hole that was rounded out, sanded down, and de-burred.

 There is also a screw eye that goes into the shaft which is used for spring-centering.

 
 Most importantly... To make the yoke handles limited in Travel... I used the Large Gears long mounting screw. 

 Seen in the 2nd pic.. the small block of wood has a piece of rubber strapping glued to it.  This is the forwards limited.  The screw hanging from the dowel will slam into this heavily.. and the rubber will absorb the shock, keeping the thing from breaking apart... as well as stopping the axis from over-turning.

 Also note.. that there is a bolt
that is mounted on the bottom of the shell.  It sticks up into the unit.  It has some thick hot glue over the threads.. but was ment to have rubber  on it as well.  It absorbs and stops the shaft-screw from going too far the other direction.

 Currently, this was a single spring design, and uses the wrong type of springs.  However, it works good enough.  You simply have to manually center it by hand to do the calibration properly, before you can use it.
 
 An advantage to single spring, is ease of complexity, as well as the fact that there is no 'sticky spot' . Only one direction has a moment of heavy initial friction to get past.  The disadvantage is needing to have to manually keep it centered...  which isnt too bad at all actually.

[TPB]

Steve,

Mate, you can't take a trick.

Some punk has edited your post.

« Last Edit: Today at 09:01:41 AM by saint »

[Mauzy]

I would have liked to have seen the before version.

At any rate, that thing is pretty cool. My hat is off to you. I couldn't have done it, thats for sure!

[Xiaou2]

 Heya Mauzy,  Thanks!    

 But really,  dont sell yourself too short.  You never know what you are capable of,
until you fall on your butt trying   

 Ive had many protos fail in some way or another... which is why this has turned out semi-decently.  Simple experience, and dedication to positive results.


 As for the Gears, which are the most vital to this project...  they were found at a local
hobby shop with the label of  "Stevens International"  on them.   
 
 Turns out that there is now a website for that company:

 http://www2.stevenshobby.com:5641/

The gears I used are:

SVM-MR8 Assorted Large Plastic Motor Gears & Metal Shafts (27pcs) $21.95


 While you could use any gears... remember that the gears need to be both durable
and easy to work with.   These gears are not brittle like some other gears, so wont
break easily when machining them.   They are thick, so even if you are off on your
alignments, they will still mesh well - not slipping gears, jamming, etc.   The thickness
also helps for mounting screws to hold them in place much better, to the dowel
adapters.

 
 Ive never ordered directly from them, so I can not vouch for them.  However,
to save on shipping... check the local  RC/Hobby/Craft shops, as they just may stock
these.


 PS: Thanks Saint, for taking out the garbage.

[pinballwizard79]

wah wah wah.

Whatev Xiaou2

I think you started this thread & rant not because you wanted to talk yokes but had more to say regarding the locked thread from a day or two back.

Congrats on building a great machine, sorry you made it on that one rude website & just do what makes you happy.

Now can you maybe edit & clean up your first post & I will delete this one?

Like maybe just remove the self rightous:

"A bunch of brown tossing punks have took it upon themselves to mock others
creations,  including my own.  What is sad... is how pathetic they are, and how they
couldnt even come close to creating something on this level... especially without a
person like me... who has done all the hard prototype/design leg work beforehand.

 Its funny how they probably think I posted my stuff as a means of bragging.
When in fact... my website costs me like $60 a year.  I dont make very much money,
and Ive been out of work a few times for long durations of time.  Not to mention... I
could always put the money to better use towards more parts.

 Ohh, and they probably dont like the fact that I was and Am very proud of what I
have done.  Im sure it Kills them inside knowing how little they think of themselves...
that I could accept myself and be proud of my abilities and creations."



Wah wah wah dude, "show some class".

Congrats on the yoke though, good job man.




edited because of teh messpeliin of yolk :-)

[Ginsu Victim]

Edited to remove anything that might cause the Five Deadly Venoms to kung-fu me to death.

Fear the seagull's shadow fist....

[Xiaou2]

 This isnt about me, so much as it is about the general state of being here.

 Im sick of the constant dark clouds that roam here, throwing stones at people.

 If such things go on persisting... nobody is going to want to hang here...
post anything,  nor put up any pics.

 People seem to think that just cause this is the Internet... that they should
be able to behave 10times worse than in real life.  And that Should not be the
case.

 And yes, I have to Lower myself to a certain level to get the point across...
cause these people dont understand any other way.

 As for the edit... If it was anything... it was a single word of sentence.  I tend not to
use curse words if at all possible.  However, that does not mean that the words
do not lack teeth.  But, for everyone else's sake, I will edit them after class...

 If you really think Im deeply hurt, then you are mistaken.  However, it just goes to show
the gratitude of these people.  You try to be nice, giving...etc.. and you get rocks
thrown at you from coward punks hiding behind bushes.

 The point here is that everyone should be treated with decent levels of respect.

 In case you didnt notice... plenty of posts not written by myself were removed
rather than edited.   I think that says it all right there.
 
 The yoke was completed years ago, and pics have been up for over all of
those years.  I just never got around to posting the final modifications of the internal gearing that was done about 3 weeks after the failure of the zip-cord gear.

 Yup, it was a good time to pull it out of the hat.   But make no mistake... Ive helped
plenty here with ideas, artwork, and much more for longer than I can remember.

 Theres a big difference between someone who throws rocks... and someone who
helps a person cross a river.   Both in moral decency, and in the effect it has on the
community and people all around that person.

 Im not perfect.. .never claimed to be.  But at least Im a decent person trying to be
the best I can be... not out to hurt others, to boost an ego, or gain satisfaction use out
of people... cause I empty inside and nothing really satisfies me...

[Kevin Mullins]

People seem to think that just cause this is the Internet... that they should
be able to behave 10times worse than in real life.  And that Should not be the
case.

I was just having the great ol' "anonymous identity effect" conversation the other day when it comes to internet posting.

Which is why I don't use one. 
(take it or leave it)

Nice work on the yoke and on the control panel in general. Constructive ingenuity is always welcome.

[DeLuSioNal29]

What bothers me is that I don't know Xiaou2 and I could care less what he was griping about.  What made me click on this topic was the Starwars Yoke info.  Period.

I just hope this topic can stick to the subject.  Can't we all just get along?  We're all in this together folks, to help each other with building some really cool stuff.  Isn't that what BYOAC is about?  Sheesh!

~ DeLuSioNaL

[pinballwizard79]

Kevin: I thought your screen name was due to lack of creativity, not some deep psychological strategy to personalize the internet & police anonymity.

Xiaou2: Lets make this a yoke thread, not a "wah" thread & I intentionally didn't read your reply btw.

Feel free to look at my previous posts if you consider me a troll, I never throw mud unless someone says some anti-American comment & personally that damn Amy Whinehoouse had it coming  . Except for that one arcade of splitting plywood with 5 steering wheels & leftover crown molding............my apologies for not saying "great job" but at least I didn't type a 3 paragraph rant.

Check all 360+ of my posts if you have the time.

Sometimes I joke with pinballjim or Frizzle too btw (steelers suck) so those do not count 

Lets start another thread called "the real star wars yoke" & call it a truce, after you two get your last words in of course 





edited because of teh messpeliin of yolk :-)

[TOK]

pbwizard:

Yolk

Yoke

No big deal among the commoners, but here its nearly as reprehensible as calling a single game an arcade. 




PS: Xaiou, this is a joke, please don't kung-fu me.

[pinballwizard79]

damn, & I flew/rode in cessna's with my dad since I was like 7 years old too (well I held the YOKE a time or two)

lol, thanks for correcting me

[TelcoLou]

What kind of paint was used for the handles? I'd worry about it wearing off from many sweaty Star Wars sessions.

[Turnarcades]

Did I miss somethin here?

[HaRuMaN]

Did I miss somethin here?

Nope, move along...

[Kevin Mullins]

Kevin: I thought your screen name was due to lack of creativity, not some deep psychological strategy to personalize the internet & police anonymity.

 

























(I couldn't think of anything to say)

[Xiaou2]

 lol @ Tok.  Good one man.      Trust me, I can take a joke.   Just tired of attacks,
bad tudes..etc.


-------

Kevin: I thought your screen name was due to lack of creativity, not some deep psychological strategy to personalize the internet & police anonymity.

 ***  So,  you really want to clean things up... and then you insult someone in
my thread?   

Xiaou2: Lets make this a yolk thread, not a "wah" thread & I intentionally didn't read your reply btw.

*** So, you are now TELLING ME WHAT TO DO?   AND you are Admitting how you
dont read my reply... yet seem to know what is best?   Get real man.  I dont work
for you.  I dont even take orders from my parents.. and Im certainly not going to take
them from You!  Especially considering your attempts at calling Me a crybaby...
(and how could you know, considering you have not read anything... ?!)

 No Mr Hitler...  I cleaned up my thread for Other people.  Not for You.  In fact, its
This exact type of attiutude that will keep me posting the exact opposite.
Keep it up...

....my apologies for not saying "great job" but at least I didn't type a 3 paragraph rant.

*** Woah.  Arnt you the Best?!  Im sure Someone thinks that?!      


----

 Btw - Thanks for the other Positive comments guys.
Glad you like the works.

[FrizzleFried]

[Xiaou2]

 Paint:

 I believe I used that High Gloss spray paint that is said is great for washing machines.
I think its an epoxy type spray paint.  Very great stuff.  Several coats.  Goes on thick.
Dries level, silky smooth, and great shine to it.

[HaRuMaN]

And how is building a Star Wars yoke "pushing the envelope"?  This is a BYOAC site, after all... 

 


jus' sayin'

[Hoopz]

Do you have video of the controller in use so we can see you playing Star Wars with it?

[SavannahLion]

And how is building a Star Wars yoke "pushing the envelope"?  This is a BYOAC site, after all... 

 

jus' sayin'

He built his original version a while ago. It's one of those "short on funds and limited resources" designs.

[patrickl]

Just tired of attacks, bad tudes..etc.

I think there are more people tired of your attacks and bad tudes. If you're tired also, then why not just stop with those?

[pinballwizard79]

LOL @ Kevin, that was good I like your style! 

I will now permanently exit this thread with one last simple statement:

Xiaou2 = 

[Xiaou2]

"And how is building a Star Wars yoke "pushing the envelope"?  This is a BYOAC site, after all..."

 Ever try it?  While its not rocket science... its not exactly a cinch.  Its quite easy to
say something.. yet to Do something is not so easy.

 Plenty of people built  "boxes"  here.  Not actual controllers.. especially people
without CNC machines and a machine shop behind them.

  Designing and building an actual controller that uses gearing requires a good deal of precision.   Its not quite as easy as it would appear.   Mostly due to not having
access to gears that have the correct shaft diameters.

 If a gear isnt centered precisely, it will either slip teeth, break them, and or stop the
shaft from turning.  IF you dont use gearing... the resolution is too low to be
accurate and useful.

 And building buttons that feel and respond good... while maintaining durability is
also a challenge. The housing has to be precise... and the buttons can not bind
and stick.. nor have too much sloppy play.

 And finally, if the design isnt just right... the forces exerted on it will easily tear it
to pieces in a very short time.

Do you have video of the controller in use so we can see you playing Star Wars with it?

 No... and I have no idea what that would accomplish?   The thing works.  Anyone
Should be able to see that from the layout of the parts.   Operation wise, it
works the same way the Original controller does.  Dual gears on each axis, one
larger driving a smaller.
 
 Also, the base is disconnected from the yoke currently.  The base was mounted to the
actual control panel.. which does not exist anymore.

[DaveMMR]

Do you have video of the controller in use so we can see you playing Star Wars with it?

No... and I have no idea what that would accomplish?   The thing works.  Anyone
Should be able to see that from the layout of the parts. 

Funny you said that.  I went to buy a car the other day and I asked to test drive it and the guy was like, "Why?  Look at the motor and the wheels.  It drives!  Anything could tell from the way they're connected!"      

Sorry, not picking on you but it seemed like a bit of an odd explanation.  "No" would have sufficed.  I still would have trusted that it worked as you described. 

[TPB]

As for the edit... If it was anything... it was a single word of sentence.  I tend not to use curse words if at all possible.

If you choose to comment on what was removed, then please do so truthfully.

You made a reference to a BYOAC member, who's had the integrity to avoid responding to your provocation.

Having said that, you've done a great job with the yoke - well done.

[CheffoJeffo]

Lest I be credited for more integrity than deserved, I did respond privately.

[Hoopz]

Do you have video of the controller in use so we can see you playing Star Wars with it?

 No... and I have no idea what that would accomplish?   The thing works.  Anyone
Should be able to see that from the layout of the parts.   Operation wise, it
works the same way the Original controller does.  Dual gears on each axis, one
larger driving a smaller.
 
 Also, the base is disconnected from the yoke currently.  The base was mounted to the
actual control panel.. which does not exist anymore.

It would prove, for once and for all, that you aren't pulling stuff out of your arse about whether or not this "contraption" actually works.  Anyone can say it does, just like anyone can attempt to argue about scanlines.  Just because some person posts a few pictures, includes some rants with poor grammar, and finishes her diatribe with an unsubstantiated claim that it works, doesn't mean it actually does.

Ask any scientist, but until you can prove what you claim AND others can duplicate it, you're just talking.   I really hope it does, or did, work at some time.  I think you have some interesting ideas and could add value to some discussions here.  So I'd be glad if you can prove me wrong by showing all of us that it works.

I'll await your intelligent but crazy as bat ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- rebuttal.

[Turnarcades]

but crazy as bat ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---

Discreet lol. 

[Xiaou2]

 Well Hoopz,

  As Ive said,  with Intelligence,  I believe anyone can see clearly that the device
works.

 You can believe whatever you wish,  As I dont have time to re-assemble the
holder & rewire the pots/buttons to a joyhack currently.

 Also, I dont think a person who can not see it , has much of a chance building
something like this.

 This isnt a complete step by step How to.  Nor is it the best way to make such a
device... hence, I have never made a step by step.   That said... it Does work,
and works quite very well despite its flaws.

 The post, was to give people the Ideas on how to make these.  If they chose to
copy... then, thats up to them.  However, Id think that someone could gain inspiration,
and modify it to be better in their own version. 

 Finding the gears, as well as trying to construct them on to shafts are probably the
biggest hurdles that turn a person away from even trying...  (Its what turned ME
away for some time)  So the post takes away that Huge problem, and lays the
foundation for a path to success.

 The biggest problem here, is the rear of the system.   As there is no bumpers
to cushion left to right steering movement.   The pipe can come loose if its not
glued in with something like Epoxy... or Pinned together with a few machine
screws tapped into the flange.  There was also a little more play in the tube than
what I would have wanted...  Yet, it still worked fine as Ive noted.  Modifying the
rear holder unit wouldnt be very hard, should one use wood instead... which is
easier to work with anyways.

If you choose to comment on what was removed, then please do so truthfully.

You made a reference to a BYOAC member, who's had the integrity to avoid responding to your provocation.

  I didnt remember what exactly was removed... and I didnt sit there and re-read to
compare.

 As for the responding part... you are wrong.   The said member had responded... and
his responses were removed.  Yeah, I did see them before such time.


 As for private response... Its a complete Joke filled with holes, excuses and lies.
Its pathetic, and childish.


 As for the comments on grammar/spelling, thats just more BS coming from the
Nazi camps.  If you are so bent out of shape over misspelled words, then you really
have issues.

 As for the Scanline crud... Most of those people somehow think the Shadowmask
doesnt have any play in how the picture looks... which is completely wrong.  The
line in a scan is faster than the eye can see... and yet, the Shadowmask IS visible
all the time.   Im not going to get into this further.  Grab a magnifier glass and Look for
yourself... then make your own conclusions.

[RayB]

Personally, I have no doubt his yoke works. (Why wouldn't it?)

And shadow masks DO have a visible effect. That's why I've always preferred Trinitron screens. (though you do get 2 faint lines on such screens, from the wires holding the "aperture grill" in place).

(wow, agreeing with Xiau!) 

[Xiaou2]

 
Thanks Ray.

 And since you egged me on..   

 Arcade monitors used much larger / Thicker Shadowmasks.   They are much more
visible at "arcade viewing distances"... and thus most of the lined you see are in fact
nothing more than the Shadowmasks, and the effects of the light that happen at
the shadowmask level.

 Yes, there is a slight optical illusion effect from scans.  However, its much less
prevalent than what you see with the shadowmasks.

[Ginsu Victim]

  As Ive said,  with Intelligence,  I believe anyone can see clearly that the device
works.

So what if you popped off the side of a computer case and said, "Look, all the parts are there. I don't have to turn it on for you to know it works," do you expect us to believe that as well?

Where's the PROOF?

Take a picture of a bowl of wax fruit, then say, "My fruit is the freshest!" We'll ask for a picture of you eating it, and you'll decline while questioning our intelligence. "Look, it's obviously a bowl of real fruit! Anybody with a preschool education can see that!"

[CheffoJeffo]

As for the responding part... you are wrong.   The said member had responded... and
his responses were removed.  Yeah, I did see them before such time.

 As for private response... Its a complete Joke filled with holes, excuses and lies.
Its pathetic, and childish.

It's always nice to meet a fan ... 

[Ummon]

I thought I was the first to respond to the thread, it was fairly innocuous, and it ain't there now. Hmmm.

[Ginsu Victim]

I thought I was the first to respond to the thread, it was fairly innocuous, and it ain't there now. Hmmm.

That thread flew away like a flock of seagulls....

[Hoopz]

I thought I was the first to respond to the thread, it was fairly innocuous, and it ain't there now. Hmmm.

That thread flew away like a flock of seagulls....

Subtle....   

[Xiaou2]

 
 The little Jealous children will do anything they can to attack.

 So funny they think that my old Pics will effect me... considering that " I "
was the one who posted them, and put them online... and they are Still online.

 Quite laughable.  Quite Pathetic.

 Try finding something Constructive to do.   Your wasting your time.