Ship Simulator
English forum => Small talk => Topic started by: Sam on August 24, 2007, 16:14:29
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Beceaus I had some PM's of people who where interested in building a ship sim control unit I start this topic.
I will keep the whole building log in the first message.
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In this topic I will explain everything about building your own ship sim control unit (SSCU).
Elektronics
Firstly I will start with elektronics, I have researched a while and I discovered that the most easy and cheap way to do this is via the gameport.
Most modern computers don't have gameports, but I have a gameport to USB converter.
Mine is from sitecom (http://wwwSpambotcom.com/product.php?productname=USB+to+gameport+adapter&productcode=CN-108&productid=34&subgroupid=20), but any other brand will allso do the job.
Be carefull when experimenting with the gameport, if anything goes wrong then I am not responcible for the causes. It may damage your computer!
But, first lets go to the basics.
To detect the movement, I use a potmeter.
This is what wikipedia sais about a potmeter:A potentiometer is constructed using a flat graphite annulus (ring) as the resistive element, with a sliding contact (wiper) sliding around this annulus. The wiper is connected to an axle and, via another rotating contact, is brought out as the third terminal.
So, if you turn the potmeter, the resistance changes. And the gameport works on resistance.
There can be connected 4 potmeters on the gameport.
2 for the throttle
1 for the rudder
1 for the bowthruster
And there allso can be connected 4 switches.
1 for the horn
1 for mooring
2 for sternthruster (wich will be added in the future)
Here's a picture:
(http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/6425/img3553wh2.jpg)
from left to right: switch, potmeter, gameport to USB converter
More about the gameport in here (http://www.epanorama.net/documents/joystick/pc_joystick.html#connector).
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Lets start building!
(http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/1980/dsc1097mp1.jpg)
The left is the upper throttle lever structure, the right is the throttle and bowtruster base.
(http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/5185/img3342vn0.jpg)
The throttle levers and bowthruster part finished raw.
(http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/3935/img3346bg1.jpg)
The rudder finished.
All this parts still need some filler and primer.
(http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/5220/img3556pt8.jpg)
Left: Throttle and bowtruster part allmost in last layer of primer. Right: Rudder an switch part in first layer of primer.
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update!
Ive sprayed both parts and it looks great, but I am not completely sattisfied.
The end is in sight.
The bowthruster lever is glued on. I allso want to glue a boll on top.
(http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/6778/dsc1484un8.jpg)
The throttle levers, one assembeled and one disassembeled.
(http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/4645/dsc1487oh9.jpg)
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Last update!
Everything is finnished and it works great!
I have been soldering the whole morning but is was worth the efford.
(http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/3498/img3630ur8.jpg)
I looks like I didn't paint it well, but that is just dust.
(http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/5392/img3631mh0.jpg)
(http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/1692/img3633ql1.jpg)
You can see I glued a lot of lead in the consoles, I did that for extra stability.
(http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/6938/img3637pw3.jpg)
(http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/9621/img3635yq0.jpg)
To all who are interrested, I am not going to start this as a commercial product and mass produce this (I am only 16 years old ;D)
THE END
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This will be a GREAT post, I was trying to see if there was one to buy but this will be the best. Keep up the work.
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VERY INTERESTING! Sorry for shouting, but I was very excited.
I am waiting to see the full results. :P
WW
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Well, be patient. ;D
Biceaus I am verry patient in building it and I don't expect it to be ready within a month. :-[
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if this also works smooth in the end, you are a real prof then ;D
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Killer, I can wait !!!
Well I hope I can wait ???
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That looks quite nice!! Have thought about realizing a control unit by using an old joystick. But if this version works fine in the end I will try my best to built it that way. :)
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looks great, cant wait to see the result. Started building already
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Great Job.
what are the costs to make one for me?
Greetz,
Eelkon
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@Eelkon
I am sorry, but I am not going to build any consoles for other people.
I allready have to many projects going on.
@seegurke
I allso wanted to try it with an old joystick, but that wasn't possible beceaus it didn't work on potmeters.
If you still have an old joystick, you could first try that.
I just started it with the gameport beceaus I still had one lying around.
@Klaas
Well, don't forget to show yours to the forum ;)
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Still, can hardly wait to see how you make out & get some specs in pot resistance used. Question, how will thsi work when you change ships. I would be able to get the answer if I had a joystick to try it but I do not, any idea. May have to zero with the keyboard?
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I use a SideWinder joystick, it doens't have to be reset when you change ships. I've never known of any type joystick or controller that needs to be adjusted or reset since the old DOS days before Windows and USB.
WW
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So what happens if you are on say a tug with 100% ahead / 25% starboard thruster & swithch to a ship you had left 75% ahead PORT & 65% astern STARBOARD / 0% thruster?
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So what happens if you are on say a tug with 100% ahead / 25% starboard thruster & swithch to a ship you had left 75% ahead PORT & 65% astern STARBOARD / 0% thruster?
I would expect that the tug would stay with your current settings and the ship you switched to would then take the values that the controlls are at (i.e. the same as the tugs) [I have not tested this tho].
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Thought so, looking forward to trials.
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Not to hijack your thread, but, I'v also made a controller. I used some parts removed from a couple real ships, instead of making the throttle lever myself, and panel used to control the trawl-equipment on a trawler. and i made the USB-interface myself :) but here comes the pictures :)
the front:
(http://home.no.net/alekoy/konsoll2.jpg)
And the rear:
(http://home.no.net/alekoy/konsoll2bak2.jpg)
just backlite in the lever, and a case thats left to do :)
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Nice one.....what chip is that you are using?
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Nice one.....what chip is that you are using?
Atmel ATmega16 16PU
gives me 8 analog inputs and 32 digital inputs. used to be a site to the guy that designed this interface, but it has been removed :(
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Greetings,
This is what i call "creativity"!!
That's realy a great job.
Are they any more creative people on this forum,who made some thing like this.
Maybe contact vstep about this,you can get a contract,and become rich??
:)
Regards
Marc
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Sorry,i forgot
Are you able to send the drawning,of this module to the members,with the specifications of what you need,to build this.
Maybe some more members are very interested in this.
It's just a question??
Regards
Marc
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my controller continues here (http://www.shipsim.com/ShipSimForum/index.php/topic,2033.msg21041.html#msg21041)
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Atmel ATmega16 16PU
gives me 8 analog inputs and 32 digital inputs. used to be a site to the guy that designed this interface, but it has been removed :(
My electronics guy is working on a design that uses a PIC microprocessor. Watch his space for some concept designs.....
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UPDATE!
Look at my first message for the update.
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ayay lookin brill make drawing after finish and spread the design or start ur own producing.. :P
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Update!
Check my first post for the update.
In the beginning:
(http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/1980/dsc1097mp1.jpg)
In the end:
(http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/1692/img3633ql1.jpg)
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Nice one Sam.
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Nice one Sam ;D
Can u tell more about the electric part? Like what kind of potmeters u used and how u connecter all that to the game port.
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Ok, here is everything I used to connect the potmeters and switches.
The potmeters I used where 100Kohm linear, and the switches just push/release buttons.
If you would like the whole story.
http://www.epanorama.net/documents/joystick/pc_circuits.html (http://www.epanorama.net/documents/joystick/pc_circuits.html)
Or just the vital information.
I used the data in the picture below to connect the cables to the 15 pins sub-D connector.
I allso found a great product for computer interfacing wich has a capacity of 8 potmeters and 32 switches!
I havent tried it but if I start another project, I will be using this.
http://www.lbodnar.dsl.pipex.com/joystick/ (http://www.lbodnar.dsl.pipex.com/joystick/)
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Thank you Sam.
Im gonna try to make my own if you don't mind :)
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Offcourse I don't mind.
If you need help, just ask it.
Alvast veel succes, as they say it in dutch.
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Very cool, great job!
WW