VKB-SIM

First of all, big shoutout to support for being super fast/helpful in directing me here.

Looking at the extensions on the VKB website, I see there's a warning for using them with the gladiator series due to weaker internals/housing. My understanding is that the extensions are incompatible on a technical level with the NXT (please correct me if I'm wrong).

My question is whether building a custom gate, such as a hole in the top of a wooden box, to limit the extremes of the gimbal would solve these concerns if I were to build a custom extension? Based on the warning on the extension page, it seems like it should, but I wanted to see if anyone could think of other likely issues this could generate. The only other issue I can see is snapping the springs, but that can be solved easily enough by using hooks and rubber bands higher up the extension instead of the stock springs.

Thanks for your help!

The custom gate doesn't really eliminate the excess force on the gimbal. It ends up being a fulcrum for the entire extension assembly when you hit full extension, transmitting additional force into the plastic components. Adding rubber bands or springs along the extension does the same thing, adding additional force that needs to be reacted by the gimbal parts. Your hand placement creates the mechanical advantage and force multiplication, and the only complete solution is to totally replace all the motion constraints provided by the gimbal entirely with a DIY mechanism, not just at the end of travel.

To avoid creating a system that's more fragile than the stock NXT, you'd basically end up engineering your own (presumably much larger) gunfighter base with the electronic guts of an NXT, which could be fun but probably won't save you time or money.

Just my perspective as an engineer who doesn't work for VKB, so I'm not trying to sell you something here.

Yeah, you need to be really carefull about leverage. Best case scenario, you would want your gate to sit on top of the grip, so gimbal is not taking any leverage upon itself.

Thanks for the input! The plan would be to put the fulcrum as high as possible (ideally coming up to the base of a chair) to limit the force applied on the gimbal. Similarly, I would put the bands at the top of the gate. Roll would naturally be limited by my legs, but pitch would be a concern. I'm not gorilla yanking on the stick either, FWIW.

Quite frankly I just don't know how fragile the parts are. If a good yank is enough to break them without an extension, I wouldn't dare try something like this. I imagine they're fairly sturdy at the price point, but I just don't have a frame of reference. I'm also not going to be devastated if it's not a practical solution - just something I want to consider!