about the "throw", well i looked at the angle of deflection betwen both joysticks, and calculated the ratio need to turn the pots the same amount relative to the size of the shaft...
the
CH Products combatstick has like a 60 degree +/-5 angle of deflection. but because my modded combatstick has a 30" shaft, the deflection became about 45 degrees, with the grip being able to be push forawrd or back 6" inches from the center.
some how i figured a 3:4 gear ratio needed to turned the pot the same amount as if there was no long shaft.
if i didnt use gears, then the long shaft would have reduced the resolution of the pots, but it even it were the case, the calibration would have compensated, (via
CH Products ch utility control manager) the "too large of a throw". You can do it through windows game controllers control panel snap in, but calibration will still be limited to the driver of the controller...
as long as you dont exceed the resolution of the pot, you are ok...I kinda wish i used a 4:5 gear ratio, would have been nice to have a small additional deflection. oh well, it wasnt like im going to push or pull past 6 inches from the center. i was already hitting the chair at the pulling back of the grip 6 1/2" back with the grip ending up on my nuts...
*** NOTE***, if you are going to mod a controller, GET A CONTROLLER THAT HAS A DESCENT MAPPING/CALIBRATING capability!!! because ultimately , ou going to need some flexiblity in programming and mapping functions, so you going to need to do that through what ever manufacturer avalible program utility that the controller has.
So far I like
CH Products Control Manager and Thrustmasters' Thrustmapper utility.
When i was building the foot pedals, i used the
Saitek Aviator. This controller did the job, but I was NOT crazy about the
Saitek SST software. SST software maps keyboard controls ok, but it was limited when it came to AXISES ( WHICH IS PRETTY MUCH THE MAJOR FUNCTIONS OF AN ANALOG DEVICE i.e mouse X, mouse Y, Z axis, X axis, etc...)...I was not able to adjust the response curve of the pots, which the CH control manager allow, and thrustmapper allowed.
(my experience with thrustmaster was with the Firestorm Dual analog 3...nice of someone to share the calibration/mapping utility of the Cougar...)
so, again, the important thing i found about modding these controllers were ratio of pots to be turned relative to flight stick deflection, AND getting a controller with a good mapping/calibration ability.
will post pictures of my gimbal mechanism which i take my next round of pics...
i am currently working on Helicopter collective...just waiting on parts.. my pro throttle is all apart ...im planning to use one of its "hat switches"...wish me luck, ill have photos of it soon 2!
