Joystick Potentiometers

[Gussy]

Hey,

Was wondering if anyone had a source for a joystick type potentiometer in Australia, like the ones on a radio control transmitter, i was toying with the idea of using one of these and 2 servo's to work as a pan/tilt for a remote camera. Failing the potentiometer, i suppose i could use a disital pot?

Also, i was looking for a source for MOSFET's in australia, a good range of them, all the places i know of who sell components are jaycar, dse and altronics, yet they dont have too many choices for thigns...

Cheers,
Gussy

[Hooter]

Try www.futurlec.com

[Gussy]

Im in Australia... Ah, good to see they have an outlet in Australia,

They have *sort* of the right MOSFET im looking for, but they dont seem to have, as far as i can see, a jokstick type potentiometer... i was thinking i could maybe use one from a playstation controller (easially scrounged!) but would love a proper new one...

[Wesley]

Try www.farnell.com

[D n T]

I have looked for good quality joy sticks, no good. Dick Smith used to sell the RC type but that was twenty years ago.

I found that the best source of descent joysitcks is a Playstation 2 controller.

If you un solder the two joysticks carefully and cut off the chassis mounting tags, they solder directly into the square Dick Smith prototype board.
If you want you can just use one channel/ pot per stick.
There is is also the bonus of the push button switch.
Dont buy sony ones, too expensive, buy the cheaper copies.

EXTRA TECHNICAL BIT....
If you open the controller housing and extract the main board, (2 minute job) the remove the microcontroller ( a non PICAXE) you can use all the switches and the joysticks.
By remove the controller I mean use a large diameter drill bit and drill through the contrlloer and the surrounding area( Butcher ). Be carefull not to damage thwe select of start button contacts. Using an engraver or a razor blade scrape the track away, back to were it is thick enough to solder on to.
With skill, daring and a bit of luck, you can mount a 28 inside the case on a piece proto board. The joysticks, mounted on the previously discussed prototype board can be positioned to fit and trim the protoype board to fit.
I have done this so I know it works, mine doesn't have a cable, it has a 433mhz transmitter, although it does have an external battery box, I'm trying to work out how to fit the batteries into the places where the vibration motors come from.

Edited by - D n T on 1/19/2006 4:19:21 AM

Edited by - D n T on 1/19/2006 4:21:46 AM

[Gussy]

Hey, thanks, i have found a few joysticks but there VERY expensive like 50-100AU each, and i have a few old PSX/1 type controllers laying around so again thanks i will probably end up using one of them.

What do you use the "hacked" controller for? Would you be able to post any pictures?

[Gussy]

Hey, Just finished getting all the goodies out of the "Dual Shock blah blah" PlayStation controller, it didnt work so it was better than trashing it...

I decided to use my (extreamly cheepo) desoldering sucker thing, at first it was a pain, but once you get the hang of it, its quite good... i know you can use a heat gun but thats better for larger components i think.

I was surprised at the quality of the joysticks, and there little pushbutton things, if your ever looking for a joystick, a cheeop PS controller is great, and you also get cool little motors :)

I will post abit later on how i go with my panning/tilting camera thingo... im not going to spend ~AU$400 on one!

[Rickharris]

all the RC joysticks I have seen have been standard 10K pots. they are connected to a yoke mechanism 2 per stick to give NS EW movement.

[Garfield007]

have a look at this lot

http://www.phidgetsusa.com/cat/viewsubcategory.asp?category=5000&subcategory=5220

[MurrayJ]

I have been looking in Australia for the exact same thing for some time. The only supplier I could find was:

http://www.tenrod.com.au/

click on "joystick+pots"
then "potentiometers" (not joysticks these are large industrial joysticks)
then "multi control devices"

But it seems to be a business to business supply, dont know if they would supply in small numbers to individuals, and the web page does not list prices either.