Bergisons Making-Of

Rudder Pedals (for my GA/VR Simpit)

Just to proove that it was easily doable and because I didn't want to buy an extra set of pedals for my GA/VR simpit, I made myself some custom rudder pedals:

Making two sliders the pedals are going to be placed upon. The notch in the middle is going to hold the centering spring. Making two sliders the pedals are going to be placed upon. The notch in the middle is going to hold the centering spring.
Aluminium brackets for the pedals. Aluminium brackets for the pedals.
The actual pedals rotate on ball bearings embedded in the base tube. The actual pedals rotate on ball bearings embedded in the base tube.

Added plastic gears to the pedals and some 10kOhm linear potentiometers for left and right brake deflection pickup. Added plastic gears to the pedals and some 10kOhm linear potentiometers for left and right brake deflection pickup.
Mounted the pedals, brackets and potis onto the sliders. Mounted the pedals, brackets and potis onto the sliders.
I use 50 N extension gas springs from Febrotec (link) to push the pedals up into their neutral position. I use 50 N extension gas springs from Febrotec (link) to push the pedals up into their neutral position.

The brackets where the pedals are going to slide back and forth in. The brackets where the pedals are going to slide back and forth in.
Mounted pedals with sliders onto a base plate. Mounted pedals with sliders onto a base plate.
The link that is going to connect the left and right pedal. The link that is going to connect the left and right pedal.

Potentiometer with gears on the center axis for rudder position pickup. Potentiometer with gears on the center axis for rudder position pickup.
Extension gas springs in each pedal are pushing them into the neutral position. Done! Extension gas springs in each pedal are pushing them into the neutral position. Done!

 

Rômolo posted on 12.2.2024 at 15:15

Oh man! Thank you for attention. I asked you about it because I\\\\\\\'m trying to understand the size relationship between the gears to be able to reach the limits...I\\\\\\\'m a beginner of course! And good to know about your update with sensors...I might consider too. 


 

Rômolo posted on 10.2.2024 at 20:29

Hi! You did a beautiful rudder, very nice! Tell me something, if you can...The potentiometer with gears on the center axis, the movement of pedals reach the all value (0 -10k) of the component?  

Bergison

Hi Rômolo,thank you! Yes, the potentiometer almost reaches its limits. I have later replaced the mechanical pot with a hall effect sensor for better accuracy. It has such a big resolution, it wouldn't matter much if it didn't reach full travel.