So... I made some rudder pedals...

[Slansickness]

Sorry for the fuzzyness in the pic, my wife wasn't here to help me, and aluminum is very reflective. I have been working on these for the last 2 weeks, finished programming the microcontroller today and have it working as a USB HID in windows.

Mostly aluminum construction with a few bits of steel for reinforcement and a couple bits of plasic to hold the sensors. I used magnetoresistive sensors for all 3 axes, nice and smooth response with no jitter. All I have left to do is improve the cable management, and I want to add some heel stops on the bottom of the pedals.

 

[Halvix]

Sorry for the fuzzyness in the pic

This is Test Squadron, everything looks fuzzy...

Good looking build there.. looks sturdy

 

[Farasalt]

Those are glorious.
I'll take a set please.

 

[honcho12]

Very nice! How much did it cost overall?

 

[CitizenDad]

Freaking awesome man.

 

[Slansickness]

Very nice! How much did it cost overall?

Only about $40 (and my lunch breaks for a week and a half), but almost all of the material came out of the scrap bin and I designed around what I had on hand. I bought the microcontroller for $16 , 3 sensors at $5ish each, and the magnets, which were like $.30 each but the shipping is expensive. The bearings and fasteners I had on hand.

 

[Groundstain]

What you did is beautiful.
SOB. :( I wish I had a CNC mini mill at my disposal.

 

[CaptainRichard]

Not pictured: $500,000 CNC metal cutter. ;)

 

[Groundstain]

Not pictured: $500,000 CNC metal cutter. ;)

Mini is only $11,500. :D

 

[Gearen]

I'll get 3 please

 

[honcho12]

Only about $40 (and my lunch breaks for a week and a half), but almost all of the material came out of the scrap bin and I designed around what I had on hand. I bought the microcontroller for $16 , 3 sensors at $5ish each, and the magnets, which were like $.30 each but the shipping is expensive. The bearings and fasteners I had on hand.

How do you think the magnetoresistive sensors compare to hall effect sensors?

 

[Jhonon1]

11.5? That'd buy you a manual, or something desktop sized. Gotta shell out at least 30 for something approaching 'proper' size.

 

[Slansickness]

Not pictured: $500,000 CNC metal cutter. ;)

Fortuneatly they don't cost quite that much anymore.
https://www.haascnc.com/we_spec1.asp?id=MINIMILL&sizeID=8_20INCH_VMC#gsc.tab=0
this one only costs $34k and could make these parts. Of course, you will have to add a few thousand in tooling to that, and a $8000 a seat CAM package if you want it to be easy to program, or you could learn to hand code G & M code.

 

[Groundstain]

11.5? That'd buy you a manual, or something desktop sized. Gotta shell out at least 30 for something approaching 'proper' size.

http://www.cncmasters.com/index.php/cnc-supra-vertical-knee-mill?gclid=CjwKEAjwuoOpBRCSy6yQm66J1g8SJABrXW48ggiakGhIDcRQXdHo7yFJqKcQ9OFgcLYA3UHjjP-r7hoCC7Tw_wcB

perfect size for the job.

[edit] hit the Master Software tab on the web page. Watch vid.

 

[Slansickness]

How do you think the magnetoresistive sensors compare to hall effect sensors?

I used NXP's KMA210's which are really easy to use. They have an integrated processor to read the MR sensor and filter it, The package is 3 lead through-hole, so its easy to use without a PCB. Leads are Vcc, GND, and 0-5V out, so in practice its just like using a pot. They MR sensors are more susceptible to stray magnetic fields than Hall effects, but I used neodyminm magnets in very close proximity, so in practice this wont be an issue. The center values repeat within 1 on the 10 bit ADC and the sensors resolution is listed at .04 degrees. I am very pleased with these sensors.

 

[Jhonon1]

... or you could learn to hand code G & M code.

Bah that's not so bad at all, whats great is getting something NOT a Haas and doing it conversationally.
I'm working on controls older than I am, and even 23 years ago Mazak had some pretty useable software

 

[Slansickness]

http://www.cncmasters.com/index.php/cnc-supra-vertical-knee-mill?gclid=CjwKEAjwuoOpBRCSy6yQm66J1g8SJABrXW48ggiakGhIDcRQXdHo7yFJqKcQ9OFgcLYA3UHjjP-r7hoCC7Tw_wcB

perfect size for the job.

Oh, a knock-off EZ Trak, i used to use those! You have to put a rubber band around the Y-axis handle to keep the folding handle recessed when in auto mode. The springs break after like 2 days and then they fall out and hit you in the nuts with enough force to make your unborn children weep. Memories...

 

[Slansickness]

Bah that's not so bad at all, whats great is getting something NOT a Haas and doing it conversationally.
I'm working on controls older than I am, and even 23 years ago Mazak had some pretty useable software

At my shop we have an old Bridgeport with a Heidenhein control and some unique version of what the Germans thought was good conversational code 30 years ago. I prefer G&M to that. I spend most of my time running a DX-32 though, they are super easy to run.

 

[PhosphorusForFun]

Perfect for Space Bicycles!
But in all seriousness, some of you people and your personal manufacturing abilities awe me.

 

[Jhonon1]

I haven't had the misfortune of either such terror, 30yr old German code or Ball-smashing, but i'm pretty new to the field.

Plenty of other stuff I've had to do is pretty terrifying though. Right now its Boeing wanting a bunch 4130/40 parts... uugghhh. Took 2 weeks to finish Roughing, and now I wait for them to return from heat-treating...