DIY - Force Feedback Yoke

[@cptairwolf]

Honestly I would love it if someone bought this design from you and manufactured it using an affordable materials. There's a massive demand for something of this quality out there.

[@Voltomess]

sure you could expect $5k for this

[@cayenne7792]

Recognized the Skymaster sound immediately! Love that thing, wish someone would update it!!!

[@XFlight69]

Even got it to shake... Now I am impressed!

[@vrflightsimUK]

Marry Christmas everyone!! Here's a little late present for all of you following this project. Check out the links in description above, I added 3D preview of the yoke assembly containing nearly all components (no PCB's yet and few other minor bits still to come). However you can study individual components and it's layout within the assembly, use measuring tool to read out dimensions, positions etc. Look under the hood to begin with... - open up the preview (takes a while to load) - left mouse click on the "cover" to highlight it. - right click and select: Hide selected This preview has very helpful tools, try them all to get your head around it ;) Basic manipulation goes like this: Left mouse click & drag = Rotate Right mouse click & drag = Pan Mouse wheel = Zoom Enjoy and Happy New Year 2018 :0) Jay

[@these.are.my.things]

Just finished mine it's amazing. Modded a little to meet my application. Eg under desk mount without box etc. Thanks so much for all your hard work. Im using xpforce with fs2020 works excellent.

[@Arvidje]

maybe a stupid question u can answer for me: are the two parts units (roll and pitch) physical connected to each other on the rods?

[@these.are.my.things]

@@Arvidje Yes all the assemblies are held together on the main shaft with grub screws. The pitch and roll are independent until you install the main shaft where you mount you yoke handle. The yoke shaft is what links everything.

[@Arvidje]

@@these.are.my.things thanks for the answer... forgotten that steel tube! Make sense now

[@these.are.my.things]

@@Arvidje I used carbon fiber tube for mine works excellent no bending at all and very light weight.

[@Arvidje]

@@these.are.my.things nice idea.. will take a look on that

[@kylerobinson2723]

I love this. and the fact you are flying the 337. i may have to build one of these. i know i have a old sidewinder somewhere in the basement.

[@Hoekstes]

Maybe you should sell your design to Logitech/Saitek so I can stop drooling and buy the thing! Awesome project - well done!

[@vrflightsimUK]

Thanks. Maybe you'll get lucky and when the Microsoft's FFB patent expires, some other companies make their own version :)

[@MerLaw]

@@vrflightsimUK Microsoft adds 60,000 patents to the Open Invention Network. ... “We know Microsoft's decision to join OIN may be viewed as surprising to some,” EVP Erich Andersen writes in a blog post, “it is no secret that there has been friction in the past between Microsoft and the open source community over the issue of patents. - maybe they did?

[@vrflightsimUK]

Hey all The wait is over. I published first files so you can start building your own:) Forum: vrflightsim.forumotion.com/t9-ffb-yoke-v1-beta Web: vrflightsim.wixsite.com/mysite/finished-stuff More updates coming soon!

[@RiderRickMaker]

I accidently stumbled upon this. . I will try to make my own based on your designs!! Awesome work!!!

[@jtdownes]

This is legendary. I’m thinking about building it myself. You should finish your website!

[@captainbob2727]

I love your work VR FlightSim, Thank you for sharing. I want to make something like this too!

[@kingjamez80]

I'm sorry this failed on Kickstarter. A FFB yoke is literally game changing. I think any system based on the microsoft joystick is just not viable today. If this was designed around the VPForce motor kit it could have a real future. I also didn't consider backing because I was very confused about the gap (5 years) between when these videos went up and the kickstarter seemed like (as described) a cash grab which kickstarter is famous for. If you still have any interest in making this real, then VPForce + selling the STL's could get you at least some return if you need value beyond the fact that you get to use it yourself. I like the design, its something the opensource world could really run with.

[@aydenowens9522]

That's cool af

[@calpilotmike]

Awesome work!! I'd gladly buy you a couple cases worth in donation for sharing your creation with the sim world!

[@vrflightsimUK]

Thanks, you might just have a chance to do that ;) I'll be back soon with an update Jay

[@vrflightsimUK]

Thanks The project will go public eventually but I do need to speed things up a little.. watch for an upcoming update :)

[@EdzVloGs]

hi! can you upload the files? maybe could be more easy to get the software if you up in ypur page or here! and more information about the connections please! :)

[@coreyscott1601]

JAy I have all the parts and I am trying to assemble it but the brackets in the Sidewinder FFB 2 for the motors look different than yours in the 3d preview and it does not align with the holes in the 3d printed parts. Did you cut and modify these, and drill new holes if so can you provide a template for this. Also the replacement potentiometer with the red gear in your video how did you mount this is it epoxied on to shaft? it is a cylindrical shaft not a d shaft just curious how you did this one.

[@coreyscott1601]

also do you have wiring tips on the switch you added up front

[@sfonseca16]

Is it possible to order one of it from you? You have a website?

[@nuclearpenguin3790]

they preceeded DAS On f1 mercedes

[@gavink42]

Thanks for the videos... I'd like to give this a try!!!

[@KamrulArifin]

Bookmarked your website! Hope you will post more there. I just bought the sidewinder and now gathering info on how to.proceed. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[@bailey2624]

i still have my ffb2 flight stick. this gives me ideas ill prop never get around to doing lol

[@wolfgangjr74]

And I had to be the genius to throw mine away after not finding anything to play with years ago! Arggggg!

[@tonytor5346]

I'm working on one based on Saitek, not only force feedback but dual yokes linked. Using stepper motors... I need time , something I currently don't have much of!

[@vrflightsimUK]

Great stuff. How are you planing to interface the steppers?

[@benjaminblocksom4927]

Wow! Nice work.

[@vrflightsimUK]

thank you

[@tarikb.2352]

Awesome! Did u have some plans? tutorial? Maybe my next project 😅

[@vrflightsimUK]

New "assembly" video uploaded here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i3S7eKh8bdmSbck

[@avidflyer4]

please share youre 3d models - thanks. will it work with xplane 11?

[@cj691]

Wow, that is impressive!

[@vrflightsimUK]

thanks

[@veberathos]

Thats amazing man!, i have a Logitech Wingman Force 3D and i'm planning to do the same as you did, but i have a concern due to the dc motors on the logitech, they are not as robust as the MS Sidewinder ones as well as the whole controller board, non the less i'll try!, Greetings!

[@acirinelli]

Can you run two of these at the same time or should dual yokes be mechanically connected?

[@dhruvbhatt2942]

How did you achieve communication between the yoke and the flight simulator software?

[@vrflightsimUK]

Read the build instructions. The electronics used in this yoke, including DC motors, are "harvested" from MS Sidewinder FFB 2 joystick.

[@MrEthanhines]

nice buffeting effects!

[@jackrzhai5516]

Hi. Buddy, can you share your Diy force feedback steering wheel drawings?

[@mro9466]

Amazing

[@vrflightsimUK]

hey guys.. thanks for your comments so far. Because It's little tricky to monitor them all around different forums along with this channel I opened dedicated forum for VR FlightSim projects. Here's the link vrflightsim.forumotion.com/

[@sergiogonzales6452]

Excellent, there is nothing like this on the market, where can I buy it? I can't do it at home, thanks, regards!

[@vrflightsimUK]

Thanks This is purely a DIY project. I only provide design and instructions. The user has to source and print all necessary parts, then put it together.

[@sergiogonzales6452]

VR FlightSim Thank you, please send me a message when you have to sale the exelent product, greetings mi friend 👍🏻

[@marcincetera]

Hi! Great idea! Could you please share complete assembly 3D model?

[@vrflightsimUK]

Yes, I'm currently porting the model into Fusion 360 but it's a lot of work though. Well the good news is that about 90% of the task is done and I'm dedicating great portion of my holiday time to this. Thanks for your patience guys, public 3D model in great detail is coming really soon!!

[@eugenecheung7190]

Hello, I am planning to get a yoke (probably a HoneyComb one) and to upgrade it to a force feedback yoke. Are the steps/tools and materials still the same? This is my first time working on it, so it's a bit difficult, hope that you can kindly give me some tips or steps as to how to upgrade it. Thanks :)

[@vrflightsimUK]

Hi Eugene If you're planning to build my version of FFB yoke, there is no need for purchase of the whole new controller. Although you need to source your own yoke handle/wheel, the rest of the parts come from Microsoft Sidewinder FFB 2 joystick, 3d printed components and other items available on eBay. Check out the project web: vrflightsim.wixsite.com/mysite/finished-stuff Jay

[@eugenecheung7190]

Thank you for your reply.

[@AlexAugustinex]

To make something like this from scratch with Arduino boards, potentiometers and some motors is not possible/easy...right?

[@davidkecskemeti7717]

i'm craving for some good ffb joy. since the ultimate g940 is so unavailable and if you can find one it is in diamond price and there is no other option and if were i couldn't buy it because reasons, i'm really thinking to make something diy. first problem is what sensors/motors or combination of those to use, second is the most hard i think is the code/driver for it. so it is possible, there are diy joystick videos out there, there is this video about ffb yoke. its not impossible but if you don't use parts of already existing joystick parts for it its even more hard i think because the code/driver. simple joystick code is out there even maybe multiple but about ffb more than just self centering might be the hardest thing of it all. might be just me looking at a code and seeing only jibberish and nonsense stuff. but there are a lot of nice people to help with that in the arduino community, i hear and hope.

[@marcdraco2189]

It's possible but it's not easy. The hardest bit (for me) is figuring out how to get the FFB data OUT of the sim. The rest is fairly day-to-day design and coding, but without the data to drive it, it might as well be dead weight.

[@Kingsize001100]

It's for sure possible. I don't know what programs are available to extract the sim data but in the comment section it seems that there are options. I know the sim racing side a bit better and there are lots of options that deliver you that data. If you have the force data, it's just a matter of transfering it to the arduino and write a code to make the motors behave accordingly.

[@Kingsize001100]

For the input side there is a gamepad library for Arduino Nano that can simulate several axis and buttons.

[@atoum6638]

nice video can i do it with microsoft force feedback pro

[@rudygreen12]

I’ve been wondering the same thing, I recently bought a ffb since it’s way cheaper than the only ffb 2’s on eBay. The internals are completely different but I’m gonna see if i can possibly get it working with an arduino instead and 3D print the metal brackets that were in th2 ffb2

[@Socks3657]

Hello! Does this modification has any DeadZones? (Saitek yoke problem), I'll build one but I'm afraid of this having some source of deadzone, Thank you so much for sharing this also!

[@vrflightsimUK]

Hi Saitek yoke has nothing to do with this setup. Please read decsription or visit my web. Jay

[@Socks3657]

VR FlightSim hello jay! I'm aware they are 2 different things, I just wanted to know if the firmware on the Side Winder 2 joystick has any deadzones problem, I will check the website, thanks for sharing this amazing project!

[@vrflightsimUK]

Hi Rick Unfortunately, Sidewinder doesn't have dedicated driver for win7 and above so you have no adjustments as on earlier windows, however, as far as I'm concerned there is no dead zone issue. Both axes transform linearly in full range without any drop-off. Jay

[@vrflightsimUK]

Good news everybody. I managed to draft simple website for all my upcoming projects. Check it out ;) vrflightsim.wixsite.com/mysite

[@feldon27]

I've looked at this thing many times and would love to build it for a friend but I feel like an idiot. I cannot find or figure out where you get the metal enclosure or yoke.

[@vrflightsimUK]

The enclosure is made of 9mm MDF. Unfortunately I don't have much time to finish building tutorial but if you head over to the project forum, there is few people already building the yoke and they can explain some stuff. The yoke "wheel" was taken from Saitek's controller.

[@avaflightsimulator3982]

Hi. I bought xpforce for p3d but something is not right during the installation. I have tried to contact the developer several times without success. How did you get it working with p3d? Thanks

[@vrflightsimUK]

It is still Sidewinder FFB 2 joystick (or just its guts) so it should be seen by xpforce as that..

[@MozTS]

Sucks they are all still MS FFB2 based. Whats holding back a 100% arduino based force feedback?

[@vrflightsimUK]

Lack of dedicated coders willing to spend hundreds of hours writing and tuning the script.

[@JeremyMcMillan]

Only your self doubt.

[@vrflightsimUK]

@@JeremyMcMillan really?

[@haykodjan]

What a greate yoke!!!

[@deputycmdrforseniorssescap1217]

Is there a way to make that dual..???

[@imonchakraborty]

Love it! Got three questions: (1) Do you sell built models? (2) approx what magnitude of feedback force/moment can be generated? (3) Do you have any plans to do a force feedback stick (joystick) design?

[@vrflightsimUK]

Have a look at the web, you'll find all the details there..

[@alessandrocarvai2699]

wonderful i like to built all your console (trimmer, engine, etc); on you site i find only the feedback yoke.

[@vrflightsimUK]

these are just Saitek modules though. I've eventually replaced them all to build more authentic layout of real C172 and wired everything to Leo Bodnar's joystick board.

[@jarisipilainen3875]

98% knight industries two thousand simulator. i wonder where that come lol

[@MrPouHan]

Is there still a way to get the STL files for this build? Thanks.

[@vrflightsimUK]

There were some issues with the access but I will publish an update soon. Stay tuned, Jay

[@smeghead666]

"Slightly Modified"

[@slammer7520]

Great idea! Will you be introducing the same system for Saitek's Yoke ?

[@vrflightsimUK]

I don't quite understand what u're asking. This is fully custom build mechanism based on MSFFB2 electronics.

[@vrflightsimUK]

no, I'm not building "force feedback system for a cessna yoke". This yoke was build from scratch, using 3D printer, microsoft sidewinder stick and few items from ebay. Don't you people ever read the descriptions? REPLY 1

[@vrflightsimUK]

I made it mate:) 9mm MDF, few screws, glue, wood filler and spray paint.

[@PeterBevington]

Has anyone any idea where I can buy a TPM that's being used here - cannot find them anywhere.

[@vrflightsimUK]

it's a "Saitek TPM module". Not sure if still in production but plenty on ebay hough..

[@ItaloSouzaK]

Very nice, please, share your 3D models. Thanks.

[@vrflightsimUK]

keep an eye on my web, everything will be published eventually.

[@vrflightsimUK]

Is there anybody capable of writing a little plugin for Aerofly FS2 ? Something very similar to FS Force, just AFS2 compatible. Ipacs (AFS2 developers) released SDK with telemetry data extraction possibility, so it is definitely doable. I'm willing to compensate your time and effort ;) Jay

[@tobyngenn9826]

what will you compensate with? my twin may be able to

[@vrflightsimUK]

well, money or apple pie. Your choice Morty ;)

[@tobyngenn9826]

Okay I will talk to him Thanks

[@tobyngenn9826]

nah fam

[@tobyngenn9826]

- The Twin

[@HotrunVideo]

Hope it's okay to post here. The second (rearmost) potentiometer isn't on your parts list. Is that one taken from the original joystick?

[@vrflightsimUK]

yes, it is the original pot. I actually spent hours and hours trying to figure out how to keep them both in the design. However, as the pitch axis travels 15cm back a forth, it was impossible to reduce the motion in a simple way that would be easy to manufacture.

[@HotrunVideo]

Thanks so much for your response, and major appreciation for making your design public, I'm really looking forward to attempting to build it! Can I ask which components were bending/warping in Ver.1? I'm not looking to apply olympic-level strength to my yoke, just want a little 'feel' in the simulator. Massive respect for what you've achieved!

[@vrflightsimUK]

Thank you. The current design takes the force load really well. It was after I changed reduction ratios on the first two gears to test it under much bigger stresses when the roll motor bracket started to deform eventually pushing the whole assembly out of the alignment with the linear rails. I'm already working on the version 2. If all goes well I'll publish the concept relatively soon. Jay

[@HotrunVideo]

Perfect, I'll make Ver.1 my winter project then :) Many thanks again, already ordered the sidewinder 2 :)

[@MrPharmer2012]

In your parts list it does not show what bolds screws are needed can you update, i have purchased all parts and already 3d printed all files just waiting on slow air mail on some parts

[@davidprilutsky6318]

Do you have the F3D files you could share?

[@vrflightsimUK]

you mean Fusion files? I don't share those, sorry.

[@frangagn22]

Does this work with FS2020?

[@vrflightsimUK]

Yes, there are few programs making the Sidewinder FFB 2 guts compatible with FS2020

[@PacoElMapache]

could this be adapted to a joystick?

[@willminion4593]

See video description. This DIY yoke utilizes parts from the MS Sidewinder FFB Joystick

[@vrflightsimUK]

Yes, Will is right. This is an actual MS Sidewinder 2 joystick conversion.

[@A5tr0101]

@@vrflightsimUK How do you mean by that, looks nothing like it? Did you melt it down and print something else out aha? Very impressed with the creation though!

[@vrflightsimUK]

@@A5tr0101 Thanks The DC motors with brackets, gears and circuit boards are "harvested" from MS Sidewinder 2 joystick.

[@VKS_RU]

А усилие на перегрузках показать, ума не хватило?

[@emmanuelsheshi961]

omg!!!!