HOW TO MAKE A REAL DRIVER'S JOYSTICK ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Anyone who has attempted to attain the skills required to be even half-way competitive whilst participating in that great race game "GRID START" will understand my reason for constructing "ACEDRIVE". Basically, it is a joystick, but with the controls housed in a separate unit, and laid out so the various functions are activated by a STEERING WHEEL, A BRAKE, A GEAR LEVER and ACCELERATOR. The first evening of "trying out" this device blew me right out. After a few practise runs, I decided to get serious, and \/\/(_)\/\/! I led all the way, to win on the Mexico circuit. Reason being is that AceDrive gives virtually TOTAL CONTROL. The prototype is under development patent, but as a believer in the concept of computer nuts sharing knowledge, those who wish to build an "ACEDRIVE' are welcome to "GO FOR IT"! I'll give the details briefly & concisely, so that those who are good with the hands, and enjoy fiddling about, should not have too much difficulty. Right, Let's go: 1 Take a joystick apart, and you will see quite clearly how it works. (Go on; do it now. --I'll wait.) 2 As can be seen, the functions are activated by bridging a circuit (in other words, a switch). 3 Microswitches are what we need to duplicate these functions. (Dick Smith has 'em, or similar emporium also). We need one for each function, five in all. 4 We have to make a facia panel, or consol to house all this stuff in. A box with a sloping front in other words. 5 The accelerator sits on the floor, (where else?). This gives true representation of "pedal to the metal" for all you leadfoots. 6 I'll give you a few sketches: | | | | \| |/ ___ \ / ( ) \/ | | | | <-GEARLEVER Lever has return spring, so after | | activating switch it pulls away | | --|o|-- <-Pivot This is the same set up for ALL | | the controls | | _________ 같같같같같| | | /\ |_|o=| Switch Spring |__________ ACCELERATOR :: _______________________________:: < Spring to either o_______________________________| | Pull or Push up,so accelerator is /\ o (_) < clear of switch Pivot ____|___ (_) | | (_) | | (_) _ | Switch (_) / / / / / / / / \ / / \ \ STEERING /_/ \ \ | | \ \ | Switch \ \ |_ __| \ \ � \ \ / / \ \/ \-Arm on base of STEERING column to activate \_\ each switch when wheel is turned / ___/___ I used piece of brass tube set into the | � | wood, with brass shaft, but anything | Switch similar will do the trick | TO WIRE IT UP: The wiring in your joystick will be color coded, so it is only a matter of tracing them to see what colour wire, goes to what function. There is one main wire which is common to all switches. Lets say for example, we are wiring the BRAKE switch, � Brake Lever � � |