[simpits-tech] FTP down?

[Matt Bailey]

I'm pretty open to ideas right now. I've experimented with helo style 
("lever", pivots at base) pedals, and old fashioned rudder bar. Both failed. 
I'm now leaning towards the cabinet-track idea, as it would allow plenty of 
force on the pedals without much danger of structural problems. I worked on a 
rudder bar assembly a bit tonight, and thought about picking up some hardware 
tomorrow so I could build a box to mount the shaft, but I really don't think 
this setup will be robust enough. It would be a shaft tapped into a scrap of 
lumber, with the shaft going down into the base of the unit. I think the 
mounts for the shaft would wear quickly (wood base), as would the point where 
the bar connects to the shaft. I've seen a few examples of the slide type and 
I think with some modifications it might be the best route for me to take.

I've seen slide units that use a cable or wire of some sort to interconnect 
the two pedals.....I think I'll pick up some old bike parts and use a chain 
and some sprockets. This will allow me to smoothly interconnect the pedals, 
connect them to a pot, and wouldn't require a lot of tension in the system 
for a tight and precise feel.

I really don't like the pedals that sit almost flat on the floor, very 
unrealistic. I'll probably make a U-shaped structure for each pedal out of 
wood, then close the U at the top with a piece of metal tubing. Then I could 
mount a pedal vertically in this structure (or slight tilted up), and have it 
rotate about the tubing for braking.

I'd like to explore the possibility of mounting a rudder bar on a shaft with a 
sprocket on it, and mount pedals on the ends of the bars with sprockets on 
their mount shafts. By running a chain to connect the two pedals and center 
shaft, the pedals would always face forward as the bar moved. But I don't 
really have suitable materials for this.

Rather frustrating....I don't have access to the tools and materials I really 
need. A CNC shop would make this so much nicer! :) At least the rest of the 
stuff is going ok...my PC-case joystick is working beautifully, the throttle 
box works nice, and I've got a promising start on a simple gear/flaps/
parking-brake/tuning control panel. And I've got some stuff lined up for a 
helo collective, with twist throttle.

	-Matt Bailey

On Monday 24 January 2005 21:06, John Miguez wrote:
> Matt,
>
> What are you looking for by way of rudder pedal ideas?  I have finish
> building my T-38 pedals.  The design could easily be used for other
> fighter jet types, with the notable exception of the F-16.
>
> John
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Matt Bailey [mailto:mattb at rtccom.net]
> Sent: Monday, January 24, 2005 5:43 PM
> To: Simulator Cockpit tech list
> Subject: [simpits-tech] FTP down?
>
> Hum, just tried accessing ftp.simpits.org and I'm getting no response. I
> was
> thinking of the files section actually, but the FTP site might have
> something
> of interest too (looking for ideas for rudder pedals).
>
> 	-Matt Bailey