Having great fun with MSFS helicopters. I wish to construct a collective from scratch. I have the material and construction skills but I would like to have a pointer to the best hardware interface and how to create software drivers. I actually enjoy research but I find so many different paths to take. I welcome any input, especially with respect to difficulty and cost.
I realize that this has probably been asked many times but perhaps it’s time for some definitive answers for beginners collected in one place.
Thanks! One does not always know which magical search term unlocks the information, i.e. I used the term “homemade” rather than “build”.
BTW, the first three (at least) entries in your search result are for mechanical designs with little to no interfacing. Also, as I said above, there are so many that I asked for suggestions about which is BEST.
[EDIT] Looking through the list generated by your search, I see only commercial products.
Thanks for your input, in any case. Happy holidays.
You could check out this device: BU0836X 12-bit joystick interface from Leo Bodnar
It allows you to connect potentiometers, rotary encoders, switches & push buttons.
I used it to connect two mini joysticks (X,Y) to move cockpit/camera views. Also I added some rotary encoders and normal switches. You can experiment easily as all connections are through the spring terminals. The best thing though is that is needs no drivers and can be setup directly from MSFS just like any other USB flight control device. If you do use rotary encoders you first need to remember to configure it using the encoder config software from the vendors site (took me a while to realize this). The only slight downside is that there are no outputs for driving LEDs. Also it may seem a little expensive but I think it’s worth it as it is so versitile.
Leo Bodnar is the expensive option. It’s ok i suppose if you can’t do your own but making your own on an appropriate Arduino for much cheaper and being able to customise to exactly what you want is more satisfying.
There you go. I ain’t no rich kid. My peripherals are all 15+ years old. I can construct complex projects in my garage, but there’s also a fun/tedium threshold.
Recently, I added a couple of cheap WalMart tablets for switches and indicators. I use SimDashboard on one and TouchPortal on the other. SDb is solid, inexpensive but limited. TP is much more programable but a bit touchy. Anyway, I don’t need HW switch input.
The key to a good collective/throttle is translating the limited rotation angle to a maximal rotation of the pot shaft. I’m thinking gears or pulleys. This means much more resolution than a direct on-axis connection.
I have a spare Raspberry around here somewhere. I have some old surplus mil-spec pots as well. There is no need for feedback from simConnect. Leo’s 12-bit joystick interface may be overkill but with my parts bin, Leo’s is all I would need purchase. OTOH, if I find or create the right firmware, the Raspberry might be all I need. Of course, in either case I’d need a power supply.
Do you have any specific suggestions? If I can construct a collective that works, I may move on to a cyclic.
The data includes the printer files and having the files printed commercially is fairly cheap. It only needs a basic home printer, I used a Creality Ender 3, so you may be able to find someone local, or a friend.
It’s more than just a printer for me. The Hall effect sensor is a special component that I don’t have in my parts bin and I may be the cheapest man on the planet.
After finding that my spare Raspberry has no A/D convertors, my fun/tedium threshold was exceeded and I ordered a 12-bit converter from Leo’s. (see above) I have everything else I need, so a working collective may be ready when the board arrives.
I should note here that the fun part for me is figuring out a way to produce something and then actually producing it. I like designing and fabricating machines but soldering wires and components tends to get tedious (and toxic), especially point2point. I do not need to design something that lasts forever, so I can take shortcuts fabricating my one-off particular “something”.
But wow, thanks for all of the helpful info. If I get this all working, perhaps I’ll post a pic or 2.
