Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: millercentral on December 09, 2016, 12:37:35 pm

Title: Hack to prevent balltop shaft from turning?
Post by: millercentral on December 09, 2016, 12:37:35 pm
I'm using a pair of servosticks with balltop shafts in my setup and I am really happy with them. The one aspect I would improve if I could (and I don't believe this is unique to the servosticks) is that the joystick shaft can rotate.

Does anyone have any cleaver hacks (that don't involve serious machining ;) that can help prevent shaft rotation in a joystick?

Thanks for any advice!
Title: Re: Hack to prevent balltop shaft from turning?
Post by: Malenko on December 09, 2016, 01:02:42 pm
super glue the e clip to the actuator ?
Title: Re: Hack to prevent balltop shaft from turning?
Post by: Mike A on December 09, 2016, 01:28:42 pm
Sounds like a trip to the doctor is in order. Joystick shaft rotation sounds painful.
Title: Re: Hack to prevent balltop shaft from turning?
Post by: BadMouth on December 09, 2016, 02:46:37 pm
Most people don't consider it a problem unless they're trigger sticks.

I found this teardown of Ultimarc's Minigrip joystick.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/flightgeek/sets/72157632729561908/with/8458376189/ (https://www.flickr.com/photos/flightgeek/sets/72157632729561908/with/8458376189/)

It looks like the pivot is keyed.  I don't see where the shaft is keyed, but it must be.
I don't see a way to do this without both those parts being keyed.

Both joysticks look to be based on a Sanwa JLW.
Maybe parts are interchangeable or could be made to work...
Email Ultimarc and ask.  That is if you're willing to buy two more joysticks for the sake of having them not spin.

EDIT: looking at those pics again it looks like instead of being notched out, the stop made into the joystick shaft is flat on two sides instead of being round.
It looks like both that and the pivot would drop down into a hole with a corresponding shape.
Title: Re: Hack to prevent balltop shaft from turning?
Post by: mahuti on December 09, 2016, 02:50:19 pm
I once cut a groove in the joystick base's grommet. I then drilled a small hole through the joystick, then ran a screw through it and cut off the head. Once it's slotted into the base, it doesn't turn. I used this to make a custom tron trigger stick.

I wouldn't have called it "serious machining" but it was definitely a pain in the butt.