DIY collective

[Crash]

Dennis, what pins are you using? I might have to pinch your sketch and mod it.

[Crash]

I have found a great video which explains stuff and has the sketch I was looking for.

 

[wingflyr]

Crash here is an example of what mine is based on

 

[wingflyr]

 I don't think it matters whether you fit the diodes on the row or column connections as long as they are round the right way.

As long as the columns and rows are defined properly in the sketch the Arduino should be OK. You don't want a column as an output being connected to a row which is also an output. Both inputs would not work but wouldn't do any harm.

Connection to your PC is via the USB so it should be safe enough.

 The sketch. It is pretty straightforward. The biggest thing is setting the pins and ports to either input or output, but it is very logical.

There are tons of tutorials on the internet if you get stuck.

 

[FoolTrottel]

(..) should be OK. You don't want a column as an output being connected to a row which is also an output. Both inputs would not work but wouldn't do any harm.

Connection to your PC is via the USB so it should be safe enough.

 The sketch. It is pretty straightforward. The biggest thing is setting the pins and ports to either input or output, but it is very logical. (...)

Hm... there's a number of words in there that makes me think it's all a bit .... sketchy - but what do I know!

[Crash]

such is the way of Arduino

[wingflyr]

3 hours ago, FoolTrottel said:

(..) should be OK. You don't want a column as an output being connected to a row which is also an output. Both inputs would not work but wouldn't do any harm.

Connection to your PC is via the USB so it should be safe enough.

 The sketch. It is pretty straightforward. The biggest thing is setting the pins and ports to either input or output, but it is very logical. (...)

Hm... there's a number of words in there that makes me think it's all a bit .... sketchy - but what do I know!

I'm a sketchy guy, what can I say.😜

[Crash]

Using the sketch from the video I THINK I have now got the sketch sorted. More soldering and then a test. It is finally on the last lap.

[Crash]

Soldering is hopefully all done. We will see tomorrow. IF it all works as planned then I will finish the build thread.

All boxed up. Hope it all works!

[Crash]

Not much luck. Sketch is fine but 1 axis and 12 buttons have gone missing. Oh well I will take it apart tomorrow.

Z axis no show due to coding error Buttons probably due to power pin not in properly

[Crash]

Z axis now sorted due to code error. Daisy chained buttons still no show. button 10 works, so the code must be OK. I will swap the power pin to 5v tomorrow.

[Crash]

Seems that I should have connected the switches to ground. A little knowledge is dangerous. I will sort it out on Monday.

[Crash]

All buttons and axis now show up and I have renamed the Arduino to Collective. I had to strip the box  so that I could do continuity tests as not all buttons were working as they should. I found a programming error but its now sorted. Should be finished next week.

[Crash]

All boxed up, tested and calibrated. I will update the build thread next week. I will have to move my seat over a bit to give some room for the controller and while I am at it I will clean and tidy up the cabling as it is a bit of a mess.

[Friar]

Pictures or it never happened.....