If you could make your own...

[lukevanoort]

If you could make you own gameport joystick for FIRST, out of whatever you want, what would it be? (Within reason)

[JamesBrown]

Originally Posted by lukevanoort

If you could make you own gameport joystick for FIRST, out of whatever you want, what would it be? (Within reason)

Ive always been a fan of lexan (or clear resin) so you could see all of the inner workings as you used it, then throw in leds so it would glow, that would be cool.

[Elgin Clock]

A bowling pin. But.. I can't seem to find a scaled down one that can be easily modified to fit ergonomically within one hand.

Maybe a duck pin bowling pin? Or a candle stick pin? Hmm..

Runs to ebay to look for (new or used) bowling pins.

[Andy A.]

I'm a huge fan of the CH flightstick. When you start with the best, its hard to think of a way to improve upon it. Still, there are some things I would change...

I suppose I would prefer a stiffer plastic throughout such as nylon. Some components should be steel, such as the stick it's self. A grippy rubber hand hold, such as those on some guns, would be lovely. Stronger springs (perhaps something like adjustable gas springs) for a heavy precise feel and better return to center. Perhaps a non linear pull? I'm not certain how that would feel. Higher quality pots to cut down on that annoying center drift we have to trim out so often. I'd also like to have trim wheels recessed and covered, to cut down on accidental loss of trim. Nothing is worse then starting a match with your 'bot spinning around in circles. I prefer to hold the stick low, so a shorter stick hight would put the top buttons in easy access. I would also duplicate the stick buttons onto the base, in case I would rather trigger them with my left hand. Perhaps a modular system to give options between momentary and positional switches?

For drivers who like having two sticks, having a game port on each stick that would allow you to daisy chain two sticks onto one port with out any additional wiring would be nice.

Overall, I would like a stick that has a heavy, solid feel with high quality internals and easily accessed buttons. If anyone knows of one already out there, I'd like to know about it.

[Bill_Hancoc]

i made a metal control stick that could be mounted to the regular controlers and would have a button on the top. If i realy wanted to i could add momre buttons elsewhere but i havnt had the time

tell me if you like it

[Jeff Rodriguez]

CH flightstick with 1) slightly stronger springs that don't wear out, 2) one more button on the left side, and 3) rudder control (so the joystick can twist side to side).

Now if I can only get my MS sidewinder 3D pro to work.

[Greg Marra]

I want buttons lowers on the joysticks. I hold the sticks right around the base, instead of way up at the top. It gives me a lot finer control and makes it easier on my hands. If I had some sort of trigger down there or maybe buttons my fingers could reach up at the "front" area of the base of the stick, that would give me a lot more control.

But still, I <3 my CH Flightsticks.

[sanddrag]

Old style CH flightstick with slightly stiffer springs and a two position rocker switch in the handle on the side closest to the operator.

[Alex Burman]

I'll take this as my dream controls:


I'll I'd have to due is figure out some way to rig them up to a game port

[Cuog]

i would want a flight stick that isnt too hard too move like the old flightsticks from first since i also hold down toward the base, i would use that with one hand then have a nice switchboard with linear pots for other adjustments on my left hand.

[TopRamen1138]

Well, as much as I'd hate to admit it:

Our FORMER presidente Jordan decided that it was possible to hook up some USB Cyborg Joysticks (well, wire up the buttons and POTS)

(the cool ones with the folding base)

up to some serial cable and bam: some gameport cyborgs!

Nope; they were linear pots that self adjusted using drivers... so we never got a good reading off of them.

Solution: Take the cyborg joystick part (sans base) and screw them on to the kit joystick bases (POTS inside, no worries). It worked, but it took him a week to do a job I told him had to be done in two days...

Lots a whining, but a cool end result. The piece-de-resistance (Im in french III) was a custom bent aluminum switchplate:

heres a pic of me and our CURRENT presidente Jeff, who was VP so took Jordan's place:

Old school distressed plastic labeling:

[anna~marie]

when I was waiting behind the field I saw the greatest thing...an old NES controller! that would be so awesome
program the buttons and the keypad... so dueable

[Morgan Gillespie]

Originally Posted by Grayswandir-75

I'll take this as my dream controls:


I'll I'd have to due is figure out some way to rig them up to a game port

I was just about to post this. But honestly do you have one?