Yoke elavation and linear potensiometer

[kurt-olsson]

Hi

Sorry for always "spamming" the forum everytime i face a new challange but often there are smarter people than me in the forum that has the best solution.

I am thinking of a good way to implement elevation reading with my yokes.
Because the crosstube metalpin that moves in an arc shape i cannot translate it direct to linear motion.

I have seen some people use nylon thread together with a slidepot.

Whats your take and setup on this one?

[navymustang]

Do a Google search for linear potentiometer.
And as an example look at:
https://www.famaengineering.com/en/products-catalog/potentiometers/mls130/

They are expensive, but you can put a rotating pivot joint on either end, tie one down to the frame of your sim, and the other pivot end point to your yoke cam plate, or however you want to mount it.

[mikeybear]

I agree with Jim's suggestion , but the cost of those potentiometers has put me off in the past.

How about using a rotary potentiometer with a lever attached that has a slot in it so the metal pin you refer to , can slide up and down as it rotates,
this would compensate for it not being a true circle and the pot. would not have to be exactly and the center of the arc.

See Diagram

[ifeliciano]

Do a Google search for linear potentiometer.
And as an example look at:
https://www.famaengineering.com/en/products-catalog/potentiometers/mls130/

They are expensive, but you can put a rotating pivot joint on either end, tie one down to the frame of your sim, and the other pivot end point to your yoke cam plate, or however you want to mount it.

Jim,


Would a slide potentiometer along with some linkages not work here?

[navymustang]

Yes - possibly. But without seeing the mechanical configuration it is difficult to determine.

You could also use a string pot.

[ifeliciano]

Yes - possibly. But without seeing the mechanical configuration it is difficult to determine.

You could also use a string pot.

OK, thanks. I asked only because I have several slider pots laying around from car sim racing rigs I built in the past . I wasn't questioning your methods or suggestions. 

[kurt-olsson]

Sorry. I will make a video of the mechanics and post here.

[kurt-olsson]

Man that linear potentiometer will be a clean and sweet setup! Will prob go for this despite the price, any other solution will cost half anyway.

Thanks Jim!

[mikeybear]

Would a slide potentiometer along with some linkages not work here?

I'm pretty sure this could work , I've recently done this for an inertial separator control http://www.cockpitbuilders.com/community/index.php?topic=6978.msg50282#msg50282

I used a low profile ? slider pot to make it smaller , and the longest travel I could find was 100mm/ 4 inches.

@Peter  how long a travel do you need here ?

[mikeybear]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/222878863516?clk_rvr_id=1477894420763&rmvSB=true

is this of interest ?

[kurt-olsson]

Wow thanks! Think i will buy this and give it a try. Only need 6-10cm travel for full range.

[jackpilot]

I used these for my 4 axix TQ and they worked flawlessly for years...and still do !
https://www.phidgets.com/?tier=3&catid=12&pcid=10&prodid=83

[kurt-olsson]

Thanks everyone! Seems i have lots ofnoptions to try out. Thanks

[jackpilot]

Do not hesitate to invest in industrial grade pots as the yoke pots are probably the mostly abused pots in a sim. 

[kurt-olsson]

Yeah, thinking the same!
If it is one thing that needs good resolution and feedback it is the yoke and throttles.

[Flying_Fox]

This is how mine works:





60 mm travel sliding potentiometer from Phidgets (same one as Jack mentioned), swinging on one end attached.
Working flawlessly for over 4 years.

See also http://elephantair737.blogspot.ca/p/control-columns.html for more details on my control columns.



Nick

[kurt-olsson]

Thanks Nick!
Will start with the same setup as yours and evaluate.
I need 10 cm of length but i have found these on ebay.

Once again, thanks for all your solutions and input.