Flight Simulator Force Feedback Yoke

Description

A DIY force feedback yoke for flight for X-Plane flight simulator (later also for Microsoft flight sim).

My aim was to try and keep it as simple and easy to build as possible. However, you will need to have basic mechanical and electronics skills.

In final design and beta testing. About half the components are easily available on the web, the other half will need to be 3D printed so you will need a decent 3D printer or have a printer service make them for you. I will be posting the 3D print files here.
I am using a Teensy (Arduino compatible) controller and my own firmware which I will be also posting here.
I am also writing a software application in VB.Net that needs to run on the flight sim computer (Windows only) that will be the interface between the flight simulator and the yoke (USB). I will be also posting that application here.

I opened the public chat feature here. It would be great to hear from anyone that is interested to build this.

Details

General Specs

Pitch axis:
Range = 10 inches
Max force = 8 lbs

Roll axis:
Range = 180 deg
Max force = 4 lbs

_______________________________________________________________________________

The prototype is already built and generally working with X-Plane although refinements continue.

Demonstration of auto homing

Demonstration of positioning to X-Plane

Demonstration feedback from X-Plane

The build instructions and related documentation are work in progress. I hope to complete them by mid to end May 2022.

The build instructions will not specify each and every fasteners (screws, washers, nuts, etc) needed to mount components. I recommended buying a kit of assorted length M5 fasteners like this one:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08HXLQ7K5?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details
I will call out specially fasteners in the instructions.

3D printed objects: The dimensional tolerance for these parts needs to be about +/- 250um (.25mm). If your printer cannot achieve that, I would recommend using a print service than can.
Know the material shrinkage for your printer and apply it to the print objects to achieve the best dimensional accuracy. For example, I know that objects shrink by about 2% after they cool on my printer, so I scale all objects by +2% (X, Y and Z) before printing. The STL files I am providing are NOT scaled.
I recommend ABS material, not PLA.
I designed the parts to require as little "support" material as possible, however some parts will require it. Make sure you are orienting the object correctly on your print bed to limit support material.

Files

Build Instructions

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1

Frame

Materials:
1600 linear mm of 2020 V Slot Channel
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09DYMCBYF?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1

Qty 10, 90 Degree Angle Brackets Interior Joint Corner Bracket for 2020 V (or T) slot
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PJ8H5ZQ?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1

Cut the V channel into the follow pieces:

Qty 4, 148mm length
Qty 2, 480mm length
Qty 3, 220mm length

Position and assemble as show.
2

Elevator axis gantry

Materials:
Qty 1, 210mm 2020 V Slot Channel
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09DYMCBYF?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1

Qty 2, 2020 Aluminum Profile Pulley V-Slot Build Gantry Plate with V wheels
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08NDMVM42?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

Qty 2, 90 Degree Angle Brackets Interior Joint Corner Bracket for 2020 V (or T) slot
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PJ8H5ZQ?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1

Qty 4, 2020 V (or T) slot Series Corner Brackets
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B095JSJTPX?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

Qty 4, M5 T-Slot Nuts
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B095JSJTPX?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

Assemble as shown
3

Elevator axis motor assembly

Materials:
Qty 1, 5202 Series Yellow Jacket Planetary Gear Motor (13.7:1 Ratio, 435 RPM, 3.3 - 5V Encoder)
https://www.servocity.com/5202-series-yellow-jacket-planetary-gear-motor-13-7-1-ratio-435-rpm-3-3-5v-encoder/

Qty 1, 3417 Series 5mm HTD Pitch Set Screw Pinion Timing Belt Pulley (6mm D-Bore, 16 Tooth)
https://www.servocity.com/3417-series-5mm-htd-pitch-set-screw-pinion-timing-belt-pulley-6mm-d-bore-16-tooth/

Qty 1, 3412 Series 5mm HTD Pitch Timing Belt (9mm Width, 890mm Pitch Length, 178 Tooth)
https://www.servocity.com/3412-series-5mm-htd-pitch-timing-belt-9mm-width-890mm-pitch-length-178-tooth/

Qty 1, Flanged Ball Bearing 6x15x5mm
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Z3F1MR5?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1

Qty 4, M5 T-Slot Nuts
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B095JSJTPX?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

Qty 1, Elevator axis motor assembly left mount (3D Printed)
See 3D print files

Qty 1, Elevator axis motor assembly right mount (3D printed)
See 3D print files

Assemble

Mount to V Rail with the belt (not shown here)

With belt shown here

View all 5 instructions

Discussions

dpruitt429 wrote 03/08/2023 at 19:38

pardon my mistakes I am new to all of this. I ment to say I don't understand the pin descriptions

Are you sure? yes | no

dpruitt429 wrote 03/08/2023 at 19:36

is there going to be a wiring diagram, I don't under where the pins go. Have gooled P_R etc and I dont' know what they mean

Are you sure? yes | no

dpruitt429 wrote 03/08/2023 at 19:34

are you going to add a wiring diagram, I don't know what the pin description refer to thanks Dave

Are you sure? yes | no

robe.maurice wrote 06/27/2022 at 15:00

Wonderful project. Really interested. Finally a real FFB. Congratulations.

Are you sure? yes | no

Daniele wrote 06/27/2022 at 13:01

Hello Tim, this is a great project and I am very interested in eventually building this.

Do you have an ETA for publishing the rest of the project including your Firmware and software?

I am using Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 so I would like to know when eventually you add support for this? Currently I am using XPForce https://www.fsmissioneditor.com/product/xpforce/ and I was wondering if your VB.NET is compatible with XPForce given that MSFS 2020 does not have native support for force feedback.

I hope you will be able to complete this project soon. I am looking forward to it.

Once again, congratulations for what you have done.

Are you sure? yes | no

Tim wrote 01/08/2023 at 13:41

Hi Daniele, Look like XPForce would be good way to it working with MS Flight Sim. I need to look into further, but first I need to get the yoke project fully documented for XPlane.

Are you sure? yes | no

mcclxvii wrote 06/03/2022 at 12:13

Hello Tim, I am very interested in force feedback yoke. Do you know when you might post the teensy code and the VB.NET software application?

Are you sure? yes | no

Tim wrote 01/08/2023 at 13:42

I just posted the Teensy firmware version 1.0.

Are you sure? yes | no

eric.dozi wrote 04/05/2022 at 17:10

good project, interested

Are you sure? yes | no

Teensy main V1.0.cpp plain - 16.62 kB - 01/08/2023 at 13:31		Download
Elevator axis front pulley.stl Standard Tesselated Geometry - 1020.31 kB - 04/07/2022 at 23:28		Download
Elevator axis front right pulley mount.stl Standard Tesselated Geometry - 194.25 kB - 04/07/2022 at 23:28		Download
Elevator axis front left pulley mount.stl Standard Tesselated Geometry - 194.68 kB - 04/07/2022 at 23:28		Download
Elevator axis motor assembly left mount.stl Standard Tesselated Geometry - 209.59 kB - 04/07/2022 at 22:01		Download

Flight Simulator Force Feedback Yoke

Description

Details

Files

Teensy main V1.0.cpp

Elevator axis front pulley.stl

Elevator axis front right pulley mount.stl

Elevator axis front left pulley mount.stl

Elevator axis motor assembly left mount.stl

Build Instructions

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Discussions

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