r/HotasDIY • u/racoon-pit • 5d ago

Complete Beginner Tips

Hey guys, I just got my 3d printer and I desperately want to start printing stuff for a F16 simpit. The problem is with the hardest parts of them all, the HOTAS setup.

What resources / 3d files / tips do you have for building my first HOTAS, as I'm having trouble finding some files with clear instructions / part lists or anything else of that sort.

Thanks in advance!

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u/Loose_Ad2791 5d ago

Here a few projects you may find interesting
TQS https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6081598
Pedals (look for mods) with the most detailed manual you can find https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3475445
I recommend these mods for F16 style and improvements

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4828869

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4840037

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4835686

For the stick here are a few, gimbal version (all the details are included)

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5976575

Force sensing options
https://github.com/RSailer16/LoadSensingBase

https://github.com/schnoog/joystick_F16_sidestick

Good luck!

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u/polopolo05 4d ago

oh... I like that throttle. Though I wish it used magnetic sensors over the pots.and I see it has a step file

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u/Loose_Ad2791 4d ago

The main sensor is TLE, the best precision for DIY, and those knobs are not that really important. I modified the layout of switches per my needs, added a slap button and pretty much happy with that.

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u/polopolo05 4d ago

I was thinking about the AS5600 Magnetic Encoder. I am building the astro nav v2.1s doing dual omni throttles for some pod racing fun. But I would like some normal throttle fell.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256812447718347.html

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u/Loose_Ad2791 4d ago

Are you going to use FreeJoy or something else? The problem with these sensors, they’re I2C and have the same address so you can’t connect two of those to a single board

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u/Loose_Ad2791 5d ago

Congrats! It's a great and rewarding journey. Knowledge is transferable, there are a lot of project with the details you need. Check hall of fame first, and then prepare the list of requirements: do you want a gimball or force sensing stick, etc? This is going to give you some direction where to dig and what to ask. Search in this subreddit contains a ton of brilliant topics.

For now I would recommend checking FreeJoy firmware. It's the best for starting with. Combining it with 3d printer you can do anything you want.

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u/ToMorrowsEnd 4d ago

learn electronics. get the parts needed to create freejoy boards. Learn soldering. also start learning some basic CAD so you can modify stl files and make things you need like mounts. 4040 and 4080 extrusions are your friend it's like giant adult sized tinker toys to build frames and even whole cockpits. they can get expensive so buy small amounts at a time. read everything you can find. look for the warthog project for one of the best how to's for advanced self build parts. and read and watch everything you can get your hands on.