Looking for specific analog joystick

jean bender · Joined: Feb 21, 2010 Posts: 139 Location: france

Hi !
I'm looking for buying joysticks which could have the hability to control four different pots, one per axis.

It seems to be really difficult to find, but it seems to exist, and we can find schematics with this kind of joysticks sometimes...

If someone has an idea, a website... or these joysticks at home... well, thanks for sharing me the information !

Mongo1 · Joined: Aug 11, 2011 Posts: 411 Location: Raleigh NC

I'm looking for buying joysticks which could have the hability to control four different pots, one per axis.

I'm a little confused.

There's an X axis (side to side) and Y axis (up and down).
You could have a Z axis (rotate the stick CW or CCW)

What do see as the 4th axis?

Gary

jean bender · Joined: Feb 21, 2010 Posts: 139 Location: france

it would be a joystick with two pots for x and two pots for y ??

Look after the schematic you can find there : http://yusynth.net/archives/WirelessWorld/Chatterbox-1976.pdf
how would you wire the four pots from the two formant filter in the upper rght of the schéma ( page 5 or 6)

thanks !!

Mongo1 · Joined: Aug 11, 2011 Posts: 411 Location: Raleigh NC

Ah - I think I know what you want now.

I did search and couldn't find the dual pot type of joysticks at any of the vendors I use. I have seen them from time to time though, so I know they do exist.

One alternative approach (and it would take some work) would be to change the design a bit. You could substitute vactrols for the pots in the schematic. You could then drive the vactrols (two for each axis) with the joystick, Scott Deyo at www.bridechamber.com does sell some nice vactrols, and they aren't terribly expensive.

Another alternative would be to substitute digital pots for the pots in the schematic. You could then drive those with an Arduino processor. Let the Arduino read the real joystick pots, and then change the resistors under program control. I'm not sure how fast the system could respond to that though.

A third alternative is to find a joystick (and this would really require some DIY magic on your part), and replace the single pots it has on it with dual pot clusters. If you could do that, that would be the most cost effective solution.

I wish I could be of more help on this...

Gary

jean bender · Joined: Feb 21, 2010 Posts: 139 Location: france

yeah, thanks !! so many thanks !

lots of ideas, that's cool, so i gonna think about all this ! I also thought to change joysticks' pots for dual ones, but.. i need to find dual pots which could fit.

Your first idea seems to be really interesting, but i don't rellay see how to build that. Embarassed

i'm a beginner in this kind of design, normally, i play with cmos ... not so analogish stuff.

so, let's go on it.

And... if i can't do / build what you purpose, i'll try with two small joysticks.. we'll see if it's playable or not !

thanks !

Mongo1 · Joined: Aug 11, 2011 Posts: 411 Location: Raleigh NC

Your first idea seems to be really interesting, but i don't rellay see how to build that.

Well, a vactrol is a very simple device. It has two parts: A resistor that is sensative to light, and a light source.

When you change the voltage going to the light source, the light changes brightness, and that in turn changes the resistance of the other part.

So I think you would just have to wire the resistance elements in place of the pots in the schematic, and use an op-amp to drive the light sources. I'm not expert on it, but I'm sure there are people here that could give you a good start...

You could also just buy a vactrol and play around with it. Things like that can lead to a lot of good ideas.

Good luck

Gary

jean bender · Joined: Feb 21, 2010 Posts: 139 Location: france

yeah, thanks;

sorry, i was wondering how to use 4 vactrols with a dual axis joystick.

i need to think in an another way...

thanks, anyway !!! you gave me great ideas !

Mongo1 · Joined: Aug 11, 2011 Posts: 411 Location: Raleigh NC

AH - I was under the impression that the pots moved in pairs.

If thats the case you would just have to have a driver circuit for X, and another for Y. The X driver output would go to two vactrols, and the Y driver would connect to the other ones...

jean bender · Joined: Feb 21, 2010 Posts: 139 Location: france

Yap, they move in pair...
i should try to find some jyosticks which can accept dual gang pots ( stereos), it would be perfect...

thanks for your help !

rosch · Joined: Oct 03, 2009 Posts: 164 Location: germany

the ones i know can take mono or stereo, as the pots are mounted on the outside. might be required to mess around with pot housings or finding a solution to attach them.
also the joysticks are quite different, but i just know the ones i have found (ebay):

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