83 replies to this topic

[mreibman]

You know what they say about slot racers with big hands? They use big controller handles.
 
My suggestion, wherever the hole is for the wire at the bottom, have someplace to attach a cable tie to carry the weight of the wires and relieve strain (or make a strain relief boot that can fit in and accommodate the wires). I see that as a weak point on most controllers I have ever used.

[Jim Difalco]

Mike,

The two different exit holes on the bottom of the handle have a nice big radius both on the outside and inside edges of the handles. Sometimes racers jam their controllers into tight spaces and the cable can get cut leaving the handle.
 
Thanks,

Jim

[Shiggy]

Jim, can we pre-order handles?

[Jim Difalco]

There will be plenty of handles when they are done. I don't have a cost or even a part number yet.

But thanks for your interest. I will post here when they are available.

[iv_man]

Good to see this.  Longer handle much needed and motivated me to modify some time ago.

 

[Jim Difalco]

Nice, looks like you extended it about as much as mine will be.

[Jim Difalco]

Here is a 3D print of the handle with my current frame/circuit board design installed. The previous view was a computer render of the handle. It will give you a better idea of the proportions and how things will fit together.

 

 

[tonyp]

Looks great. If you are planing to OEM them to other controller builders you might consider not having the name so big on the handle.

[B.C.]

is this trigger going to be offered separate or is it a trimmed parma?

[boxerdog]

Looks great. If you are planing to OEM them to other controller builders you might consider not having the name so big on the handle.

Or not! 

[Jim Difalco]

B.C., I will be making all new triggers and hardware for my controllers. I will have a traditional flat trigger (Parma), curved trigger and a two finger trigger.

 

The triggers, handles and hardware will be available separately. The new triggers will work with the original hardware on your controller so racers can switch to a curved or two finger design very easily.

 

The geometry of the trigger, the relationship between the pivot, the surfaces that hit the power contact and the curve of the finger surface will feel very familiar.

[Jim Difalco]

Tony, other manufacturers would be smart to switch to my new handle. They will save a lot of money on labor and parts.

 

I am going to save 5 1/2 hours of work on every 72 handles since I do not have to cut the handle, snip off the posts, grind holes, trim the flash and then vacuum all those handles. I also made the rear handle so manufacturers with one level circuit boards will not have to trim anything to clear the handle. I modified the posts so 1/16" washers are not needed to space the circuit board correctly in the handle.

 

The handle will also feel very solid in your hands because of the extra alignment tabs and the frame mounting design.

[brnursebmt]

Jim,

 

I'm wondering about those slight horizontal lines on the handles above the trigger area.  Will those be on the finished product?  Just thinking that might make it difficult for hand lettering.....not that many people do that anymore.

[Bill from NH]

Bobby, I don't know how big you might want lettering, but there is a good size area above the screw heads to the bottom of the slots you mentiond.

[W. J. Dougherty]

Jim, You mentioned 3 trigger designs. Could you please post a picture of the three for comparison? Thanks...

[Jim Difalco]

No, No, No. There will not be any horizontal lines. The red handle pictured is a 3D print of the design in standard definition. If you look at the picture on page one of this post the controller will be smooth as a babies butt. I took out all the Parma ribs that were in the sides of the handles so it can be painted, lettered or have a wrap added very easily.

[Jim Difalco]

If I did not lose my camera in NY then I could show you a comparison. For now this is all I have to show for the two finger type. The top one was the first attempt and the bottom trigger is close to the new version.

 

 

[Bucky]

I use two fingers to drive, but I've avoided buying a longer trigger in the past because I read they tend to cause the wiper to lift off the board. Have you tested the trigger to confirm the little bit of extra length doesn't cause any contact issues? If so and everything works, do you have an anticipated release date? Any chance you can load Tony P. up with some of the new products to show off when he comes to the Southern Retro Rumble in Pinellas Park on 9/28 and 9/29?

[Mad Mexican]

Very Nice!

[Jim Difalco]

Aaron, I will try to be at Fast Eddies that weekend and bring some 3D samples to show.

 

The reason why wiper buttons lift off circuit boards is because of a sloppy trigger pivot and not an extra long trigger. My trigger pivot is screwed down to my frame then I use ball bearings and an adjustable nyloc nut to remove any side play in the ball bearings. This design makes it very hard to induce enough side force on the trigger to lift the wiper button.

 

Other manufacturers just use oilites and you naturally need to have side play so the trigger does not bind up. Ball bearings installed in a trigger using a standard Parma trigger pivot means you really can't eliminate the side play because that style pivot is not fastened to the frame first, it kind of floats.

 

There are also some curved triggers out there that have too much play in the nylon hole and the ball bearings slide back and forth in the hole.

[Jim Difalco]

Jim, You mentioned 3 trigger designs. Could you please post a picture of the three for comparison? Thanks...

 

 

Here is your picture of the final version for the 3 trigger designs. The center peak height has been shaved down and shaped a bit more on the sides than the red version above.

 

A big thanks goes out to Chad Langlois for making these trigger and handle 3D prints for me. Chad makes the very nice 3D printed pit boxes in the parts counter forum. It turns out he lives only about 6 miles away and contacted me to see if I needed any prototypes made, all free of charge. It has made the process much easier and faster for me. Thanks Chad!

 

 

[Jim Difalco]

 Any chance you can load Tony P. up with some of the new products to show off when he comes to the Southern Retro Rumble in Pinellas Park on 9/28 and 9/29?

 

 

Bucky, see you this weekend at Fast Eddie's, I will be there Saturday.

[Revtor]

Jim I got a controller recently and the trigger was very nicely rounded on the front surface. That was new to me but I quickly realized how nice it was compared to the standard Parma. Perhaps round some triggers and give it a shot, you may want to put that into production. Or not.
Steve

[Jim Difalco]

Steve, both the curved and two finger triggers above will have more rounded sides than the Parma style, but not a completely curved finger surface like I think you are talking about.

[Bucky]

I'm drooling looking at that two-finger trigger. I usually end up with a blister on my middle finger after a long weekend of racing.