My pedals construction..

[tigert]

So, here are a few photos of my pedals-in-progress.Here's the first stage and basic idea: http://tigert.gimp.org/vatsim/cockpit-stuf...alien_jatko.jpgYou can see they are rather inspired by the Antonov AN-2 pedal mechanism (see airliners.net and search for "AN-2 cockpit" and you find a few pics) - and also PFC pedals share some ideas with them. So after a bit of pondering I decided to go ahead and see if the thing would work out. Everything is from the basic hardware store, some bolts, nuts, nylon washers (bread cutting board :)) and plywood, plus some aluminium profile.I think this might actually work well. I just need to figure out the centering mechanism. Probably metal springs or bungee cord somewhere. These definitely need to be bolted to the simulator base though - which means I need to build one first. Gah :-)Anyway, a few more pics of the more finished stage, still the electronics and such to be done..http://tigert.gimp.org/vatsim/cockpit-stuf...lien_jatko2.jpghttp://tigert.gimp.org/vatsim/cockpit-stuf...lien_jatko3.jpghttp://tigert.gimp.org/vatsim/cockpit-stuf...lien_jatko4.jpgThese could have toe brakes if I end up wiring pots there, the mechanism exists already, those springs are from those cheap "clamps" I found for EUR 1.50 - half of the clamp plus the spring is used on the above picture.Best,Tuomas

[Guest LeoL]

Very very nice. Thanks for sharing. It

[tigert]

>I take it that the white bushing stuff is from those cutting>boards everyone is using?You got it correct :-) The thick white stuff is that, and each joint in the U-profile also has a thin plastic washer that I basically took from a plastic can - cut out a sheet of the plastic, drilled some holes on it and cut around the holes to get some "washers" - those make the metal last longer and it feels smoother than two aluminium pieces grinding together.Glad that you found it useful. It feels *very good* when I tested it, though good ideas are accepted for the centering mechanism. One way is to just pull a bungee cord accross from left to right and attach it to the front horizontal bar so the bungee always pulls it straight. I also have two springs that might work somehow, got to ponder a bit.Tuomas

[jmig]

Just a note for anyone thinking of using plastic. U.S. Plastics has a complete range of plastics in sheets, tubes and rods. I bought some acrylic to make some replacement fan blades for a couple of outside fans. They sent me a catalog. They have PVC, Teflon, different polyethylene