Hi,I just couldn't resist :-) Just build it for a B777 (7 flaps positions, so a switch with 7 positions), and it works great.The transition is no problem at all: even if FSUIPC would detect the transition, it would send a FLAPS_SET (MAX) command to FS2K2, immediately (within tenths of seconds) followed by the FLAPS_SET (intended value) command.But even with the default B777 panel (where the Flaps lever on the Throttle quadrant immediately follows a FLAPS-SET command)I couldnot see a 'spike' of the lever going to Full Flaps. Rob

>I just couldn't resist :-) >Just build it for a B777 (7 flaps positions, so a switch >with 7 positions), and it works great. Really good! :D>But even with the default B777 panel (where the Flaps lever >on the Throttle quadrant immediately follows a FLAPS-SET >command)I couldnot see a 'spike' of the lever going to Full >Flaps. Well that depends on how fast you change the flaps ;)Anyway, that shouldn't be really a problem, at least on liners: flaps are slow enough not to suddenly jump to max or zero setting ;)Just planning a real flaps lever with this setup :D

He is what I have discovered regarding flap "slot jumping".The problem appears related to the angle of throw on the pot. With the flap lever connected to the pot, going from 0 flaps to full (5 detents for an Airbus) only moved the pot maybe 30 degrees out of the full 200 + degrees. This meant a small variation in resistance. The value FSUIPC/FS2002 uses.A full sweep should go from 0 - 100k ohms. Thirty degrees of sweep, meant 0 - 10k ohms (I'm guessing since I don't remember what I actually measured months ago). 10k divided by five stops means a change of around 2k per stop. Add in a sloppy pot tolerance, and you can see where slot jumping might occur.How did I minimize the problem; using the joystick sensitivity setting in the FS2002 Options/Control/Sensitivity section. This gave me the added range I needed, while FSUIPC did the actual calibration of stops. I still get periodic slot jumping. At some point I may need to look at purchasing higher quality potentiometer. Richard

On the throttle quadrant I'm building, I don't have the pot on the flap lever itself. The lever will travel about 90 degrees. I'm using a pot with about 300 degrees travel, so in order to use its total sweep, I have a large gear on the lever itself meshing with a small gear on the pot shaft. I don't have pictures yet of my setup, but it's based on the arrangement pictured here:http://www.flightsim.com/howto/throt/throt4.jpgI also did the math a few months ago, so I don't remember exactly ;-), but the gearing ratio is about 3.2 to 1, so a 90 degree rotation of the flap lever produces 300 degrees of rotation on the pot. That way, the range for each detent position should be sufficient that when the lever is placed in the center of that range, any "jittering" would not be sufficient to cause slot jumping.Another thing that helped me with jittering is using electrical shielding tape on the wiring, which has greatly reduced it.Mike A.

Thanks for the pic Mike. Nice work!My flap lever is from AGT, so gearing would require re-working the complete lever system. The pot connects directly to the flap lever, no gears. I do like the gearing system for utilizing the complete pots range. I used CAT-5 wire to connect from the pot to the joystick board. The twisted pairs appear to provide adequate shielding. I also changed out all high voltage (110v) electrical cords for three prong shielded cords. I also try to keep 110v wires at least 12 inches away from the joystick USB wires. Richard

He Mike ....That Picture looks very familiar to me :-) :-) Actually, the ratio of the K'NEX wheels (if you use those) is 1:2.5.And maybe one tip, if you haven't found that out yourself yet: don't use the full rotation of the pot, but only 250 degrees or so.Reason: most potmeters have a deadzone at the beginning and end of the resistance taper, so any rotation in that area doesn't have any effect.And another advantage of the gear construction is, that there's no force on the potmeter shaft.Cheers,Rob Barendregt

Hi Rob,Yes, that's from your article at http://www.flightsim.com/cgi/kds?$=main/howto/throt.htm . A thousand thanks for posting it, as I knew nothing about electronics, & it inspired me to create my own replica of a 727 throttle quadrant.Since I have some drawings from some 727 manuals I have, I thought I'd make it as close to the original as possible. I got my gears from here: http://www.servolink.com/ Yes, there are deadzones at either end. On the reverse thrust end, it's not critical in my design.In the real 727, the throttle is pulled all the way back to idle, then reverse thrust is engaged by lifting the reverse thrust levers. In my design, I have a gate mechanism that holds the throttle at idle. Lifting the reverse thrust levers rotates the control arm, which is held in place by a spring, which then allows the throttle to continue travel backwards into the reverse thrust zone as calibrated through FSUIPC.http://home.att.net/~bigmikea/Throttle1.jpgThanks once again for posting your how to article; I'm really having a blast building it!! :-yellow1Mike A.P.S. Oops, after posting, I remembered that this thread is on FLAP lever, not throttle *:-*

Hi Mike,Looks great.I love to see some pictures of it when they are finished...Maybe an article on your work ?? :-) :-)mode>"P.S. Oops, after posting, I remembered that this thread is on FLAP lever, not throttle"Never mind, it's interresting enough, and the original question was answered allready (and in private by EMail as well).Cheers, Rob

Brilliant way to apply thrust reverse! I'd like to see some details pix too if not to much trouble.Thanks.Smokintodd out.Operating out of CYXU.Athlon 1.4Asus A7M512MB DDRGF3 Ti200SB LiveWin98SE

I'll start taking some pictures. I've got quite a bit still to do, but will post when finished.Mike A.

How are you making out with the throttle/pix Mike? Do you have the gate mechanism finished?Thanks.Smokintodd out.Athlon 1.4Asus A7M512MB DDRGF3 Ti200SB LiveWin98SE

Hi Smokintodd,I'm not sure how long it'll take me to put it all together. I would guesstimate at least a month. I did have the mechanism I sketched working on a prototype throttle lever, so now it's a matter of installing it on the 3 actual levers.Unfortunately, I don't have a digital camera, so I can't post anything as I go along, but I am taking pictures. There's other stuff I have to make, especially the fuel cutoff levers, so I can't say how long it will take exactly. A lot also depends on getting the time to do it. However, I'm really itching to complete it, as I'm sacrificing sim flying time & eagerly awaiting the imminent release of Captain Sim's 727, so it has my highest priority ;)Mike A.

An easy mechanical solution would be to use two microswitches with flip wheels which only actuate in one direction. One switch lowers flap in single increments the other raises in single incrementshope this helpsFloydP.S. microswitch depicted in drawing is an omron #z-15gw2277-b7-k

thats a nice design... i think it needs a debouncing circuit...fly high...