How do I bottom mount a joystick and center the stick?

[javeryh]

I have a 1-1/8" hole that I need to center the joystick in.... any ideas?

[RandyT]

I have a 1-1/8" hole that I need to center the joystick in.... any ideas?

You didn't say which stick, but most can be off a "country mile" without worry about hitting the sides of the hole.

This is easy though.  With a 2D CAD (or drawing) program, make a paper template with a 1 1/8" circle centered on the mounting holes.  Cut out the circle and align it with your existing hole, making sure the mounting hole centers are square to the panel by measuring the distance to the edge to make sure they are equal.  Tape it in place and punch or mark the mounting holes.  Drill and mount...

RandyT

[Ginsu Victim]

I usually just eyeball it. I've never had a problem yet.

[1UP]

You can always just take a ruler and mark a cross on the underside of your panel, centered on the hole.  Use that to line up your stick while marking the screw holes.  Comps have a set of center marks on the underside that make aligning real easy.

[javeryh]

Thanks for the suggestions guys.  I should be more specific - I have a 1-1/8" hole with a plastic CP overlay on top (DK).  The holes don't line up perfectly but it is close.  I need to center the stick with the DK overlay (because of the art) and not the actual hole I drilled.  I think I'm just going to eyeball it but I really wish I could be more precise.  I at least want to make sure it is lined up so U, D, L and R are true...   

[vidmouse]

can you separate the plastic overlay from the (wood) with the 1-1/8 hole?

If so, consider:

1) Printing a joystick template with a button superimposed on top (most joystick templates
don't have a center crosshairs for the 1-1/8 hole, so I superimpose a button to give you one)
Print it on a transparancy sheet if possible, preferably one wider than the width of your panel.

2)  Affix the transparency sheet of the back of the plastic and line up the up/down/left right
directions with the footprint of the template by edges along the length.  Use only a little tape/glue
The 1-1/8 hole should also be centered

3)  Attach your (wood) control panel so that the transparency is sandwiched between
the plastic and wood

4)  Attach the transparency to the wood by edges along the width.  Hold it in place and
separate the wood and transparency from the plastic (if you used only a little glue as in
step 2 this should separate easily).  The transparency should now be in the correct spot
on your panel for drlling, albeit from the top of the wood.

5)  Drill smaller pilot holes through the top of the wood, then shoot through with your
final screws/bolts from the bottom, or however you planned to affix the joysticks.


I've never tried this procedure before, but just thinking it out, it seems like it should work...
Good luck

[Ummon]

I would try a template approach, if possible. I've eye-balled and been off enough that the stick shaft ran along a part of the hole. (That was before I modded my P360s to have a shorter throw.)