Dual Stick gimble

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

My dual stick spectrum mod has been going through it's paces, and has had a couple failures. The first was a ratchet tension piece installed as extension of the bottom of the gimble. The base of the gimble cracked and the tensioning piece fell out. This was solved by drilling out the base for the stainless steel stick, and inserting a brass rod to reattach and support the custom ratchet piece.

After running yesterday, one of the self centering pins broke off the side of the gimble. I could have glued it back on, but I didn't feel it would hold up under the tension of the sping and lever.
I proceded to drill a 1/16" hole in to the side of the gimble and insert a metal pin as a replacement. Well as I inserted the pin, the whole gimble piece cracked three ways. I managed to hold it together and plastic weld the gimble, but there was no way it would hold up under any sort of stress.

What to do?

Being resourceful, I taped over the open end of the cut gimble. With the stick still in place, I poured some polyurethane resin into the semi circular basin. I then drilled and replaced the broken centering pin, and then removed the stick. Stronger, yes, but not a homogenous piece plastic you want to be reefing back and forth with a stainless steel rod. So I proceded to make a quick silicone mold over the piece.

This morning i pulled the part free of the rubber. not great, but servicable.
I proceded to place two 45 degree bent metal pins into the mold. The clean end would protrude and add strength where the self centering lever would contact the new gimble, the other end would end up cast into the meat of the new piece. So a little talcum into the mold, verify the pin locations, mix up some polyurethane resin, add some black paint, mix well, and into the vacuum chamber. De air the resin, pour the mold fifty percent back into the vaduum chamber, de air the mold, break, pour the mold full, and then pressure cast at 45psi.... let cook for two to four hours.

Voila!! :cool:
New gimble installed, a little cyanoacrylate to lock the stick tight and everything reinstalls nicely.

[LtDoc]

Umi,
I think you just talked me out of converting my radio. I'm going to cry...
- 'Doc

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

The casting is a nice solid replacement for the stock gimbles provided by Spectrum/JR.
With the metal pins cast directly into the gimbles, I don't forsee any future structural problems with the gimbles.

;)

[LtDoc]

...wonder if I can talk her into putting one in my radio? I mean, she's already got the lathe and can do casting. Maybe if I cry real loud? ...

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

At this point, I would be confident to do my own mod, and make it work.

However if I did someone elses radio, and it didn't work... Hoo boy... :(

[LtDoc]

{Well, guess she isn't quite 'blonde' enough for that 'con' to work...rats!}

[wingnut163]

hay Doc, if i can put one in my radio you can too. 6 wires to unsolder and resolder. then depending on the radio. fit it to the spot the single came out of.

mine i had to do magure surgy to, yours may be a round opening. no sweat.

skip

[Ghost 2501]

looking good umi. the F14Navy has a similar set up, did that provide the inspiration for this?

[LtDoc]

Ghost',
I'm not too worried about the electrical aspects of it, I've done that sort of stuff before. What does worry me is that I'm a total 'clutz' when it comes to the mechanical aspects of it. What's even worse is that I wouldn't have anyone to blame it one except me, if I did the conversion! LOL
- 'Doc

PS - Doing a 'dual stick' conversion really is on my list of things to do. Right now, it just isn't very high on that list. (Thinking maybe the prices will come down. Cheap, you know? And to be really honest, it would mean getting another ESC! That just really chaps my 'cheap' to no end.) And if you can't laugh at yourself you're taking all this stuff too seriously...

[Ghost 2501]

well with me, I am also a little bit on the cheap, as all of my boats are on one tx, all on the same frequency within the 40mhz wave band, so to go twin stick would not be ideal, especially as I like to have throttle and rudder on the same stick, the only exceptions to this are Espirit, (because of dual rates) and Southampton, (because of a mixer), sydney star has two thrusters, which are on the right stick.

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

looking good umi. the F14Navy has a similar set up, did that provide the inspiration for this?


Actually my ACE transmitters were the reason I wanted to continue with the dual sticks.

:)

When I get around to building one of the Dockwise ships, I will probably have to use the ACE, as I could use the gun control buttons or the side slider for a bow thruster. ;)

[Ghost 2501]

umi, if spektrum see that, they may start marketing it, get ur patents in :)

as for the bow thruster, cant uou use the elevator axis on the right stick??

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

umi, if spektrum see that, they may start marketing it, get ur patents in :)

as for the bow thruster, cant uou use the elevator axis on the right stick??

:D :D :rolleyes: :p

You're right, I can... Currently the right stick is my throttle, and the left sticks are for thrust/blade pitch...

If I am not using voith schneider drives, then the left sticks become throttles, and the right stick can be used for bow thruster... :p

I am pretty sure that the NW RC Shipmodelers in Seattle are already trying to influence Spektrum/Horizon Hobbies to produce for ship.
The took an photo of their entire club at the Bellevue Regatta holding up their Spektrum transmitters. I think everyone is hoping for the best... ;)

[Ghost 2501]

:D :D :rolleyes: :p
...The took an photo of their entire club at the Bellevue Regatta holding up their Spektrum transmitters. I think everyone is hoping for the best... ;)
lets see it :)

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

lets see it :)

I don't have a copy, and they didn't post the photo in their July Newsletter.
Maybe Keith or Jerry have a copy of the photo.

[Shaun Hendricks]

What I don't get is why doesn't someone make a computer transmitter that can hook to standard USB devices, like computer joysticks and keyboards, heck, even a mouse! How about a PCI transmitter card to go in a PC or laptop? Data is data! I'd love to see transmitters enter the 21st century... :D LOL!

[LtDoc]

Shaun,
Primary reason is cost. Cost of developement, then production. Then you start getting into the fact that computers do not 'like' RF, so you get to contend with the interference stuff (developement part). I know it's certainly possible, just not sure how profitable it would be for such a limited market.
- 'Doc

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

We haven't done computers yet because everyone would end up running;

WASD for forward,left, reverse, and right
Number keys across top for quick speed access
Z for forward turrent selection
X for all turrent selection
C for rear turrent selections
Space bar to fire
F for gun elevation
V for gun depression
R to select gun turrets
T to select torpedos
Y to switch magazines from HE artillary to AAC
H to select torpedos high/low speed
N to select torpedo wide/narrow spread
< to ready aircraft on the catapult/carrier deck
> to launch ready aircraft scout catapult/ carrier air wing
/ to toggel aircraft ship control

Right click to select heading

F1 for help
ENTER to select chat mode
F2 to select all or team chat
F11 to activate zoom features
[,] keys to zoom in/out on the google map an watch your RC vehicle from current
satellite.
Arrow keys to pan view if available
F4 for selecting all fire or gradual fire from turrets
Shift F1 to see Alpha ship count
Shift F2 to see Bravo ship count
F9 to shut off the annoying music

Submarines would;
page up blow ballast
page down to flood ballast
Home to periscope depth
End to crash dive

Number keys to set GPS way points


I think there a few keys left that can be custom assigned.
Wireless networking is all done on the GHZ band so there is no reason why RC can't be done on computers. Its really a matter of getting your HAM liscense and the proper transmitting and recieving equipment. Police robots, UAV and other high end equipment packages already use computer interfaces to provide control and feedback.

;)

[Ghost 2501]

.....Submarines would;
page up blow ballast
page down to flood ballast
Home to periscope depth
End to crash dive.....

"END" to crash dive, how very true.
wander what control + alt + delete would do?

[LtDoc]

...'blue screen of death'...

[Shaun Hendricks]

Yeah... but I could get REALTIME updates on all my vehicles and write cool macros for that 'awesome' aerobatic routine, or fire control mission... :D

Actually, I'd be happy with a 'standard' transmitter that let me hook up a joystick like a Sidewinder or HOTAS setup... that would we way cool. No need for sticks, just let me use USB devices! LOL!