Dual-Stage Trigger Design

[snomhf]

This is my second design of a dual-stage trigger for the CH FighterStick. My first attempt at this consisted of placing two switches together and trimming the internal posts of the trigger to cause one switch to be pressed before the other. The problem was you couldn't feel the clicks and because the trigger didn't move, you didn't get a very good feel for when the switches were pressed. This new design allows the trigger to move about 1/4" before it reaches the second stage. When the first stage bottoms out, you feel and hear a definite click when the second stage switch fires. Very nice.
Unless you want to install another joystick circuit board to provide the secondary switch, one easy method is to move the pinky button (which I tend not to use because it's too easy to hit it by accident) and use it for the secondary stage. Here is a step-by-step on how to build this trigger.

Here are the parts you need to complete this project. I pulled the micro-button out of a Logitech circuit I had laying around. My daughter donated the hair clip.
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n199/snomhf/Parts.jpg

Other than the changes made to the trigger, the only other modification to the FighterStick involves cutting down the pinky button which will be used as the second stage of the trigger.
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n199/snomhf/Modifications.gif

Next, you solder two wires to the micro-button. I desoldered my button from an old Logitech joystick.
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n199/snomhf/MicroButtonComplete.jpg

The rear internal post of the trigger must be removed to make room for the installation of the micro-button.
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n199/snomhf/TriggerPostRemoved.jpg

Now we have to cut a notch away in the back of the trigger to allow it to pass the stop correctly inside the FighterStick so the second stage button can be reached.
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n199/snomhf/TriggerTrim.jpg

A slot is cut on the hinge end of the trigger to make way for the spring which will give the trigger the tension and movement as well as depressing the first stage button.
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n199/snomhf/TriggerSlotCut.jpg

A small machine screw will serve as a stop for the trigger. The head is cut half way off to provide the proper movement of the trigger. The screw can be turned slightly to adjust that movement.
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n199/snomhf/ScrewHeadCutoff.jpg

The screw is installed at the end of the trigger and will fit nicely in the crevice of the FigherStick at the bottom of the trigger.
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n199/snomhf/ScrewDrilling.jpg

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n199/snomhf/ScrewInstalled.jpg

A lady's hair clip provides for the spring that gives the trigger its tension as well as pressing the primary trigger button. Here I'm sawing out a 2cm section of it which will be glued into the slot cut out in the hinge end of the trigger.
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n199/snomhf/SpringMeasure.jpg
----
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n199/snomhf/SpringCutting.jpg


Next, mix up some epoxy putty and mash it down into the trigger then set the micro-button in the putty leaving just the top portion of the button extending above the surface of the trigger. The putty will also secure the spring into position.
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n199/snomhf/EpoxyPutty.jpg
---
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n199/snomhf/EpoxyPuttyInstall.jpg
---
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n199/snomhf/EpoxySwitchInstall.jpg
---
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n199/snomhf/SpringInstall.jpg

Here is the trigger after all the mods have been made.
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n199/snomhf/FinalProduct.jpg

When installing the trigger, the spring will lock against the mounting bracket for the original trigger switch (now the secondary trigger button) and the screw fits neatly between the outer wall of the FighterStick and the stop post.
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n199/snomhf/Installation.jpg

The last mod to do is to trim the pinky button switch down to provide the trigger the 1/4" of movement it needs in this new configuration.
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n199/snomhf/PinkySwitchMod.jpg

This picture shows how much of the button is cut away.
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n199/snomhf/PinkyBeforeAfter.jpg

Finally, the wires on the original trigger switch must be removed and rewired to the micro-button inside the trigger. The two green wires are soldered to the green wire on the trigger switch and the blue wire is soldered to the other lead.
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n199/snomhf/TriggerWiring.gif

Since I play Aces High WWII combat game almost exclusively, I use the primary trigger for my primary guns (the side button [mode button] is my secondary fire button) and the second stage to fire "all" guns. This works great as I pull to the "stop" when I putting my guns on the target and squeeze it all the way to give him all I've got!

Hope you find this useful. Let us know if you try this mod and what you think. I'm very happy with how it works myself.

[snomhf]

Continuing the thought on this, it is not necessary to sacrifice the pinky button (B4) for this mod. You can actually have them both at the same time. Thanks to Bob for this idea! :thumbsup:

After removing the original trigger wires and relocating them to the micro-button in the trigger, you would simply solder wires from the pinky button to the (now) secondary stage trigger button as follows.
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n199/snomhf/dualstagetrigger.gif

This means, of course, that pressing the pinky button (B4) is exactly the same as pressing the secondary trigger. However, because of the dual-stage trigger design, you cannot press the secondary trigger without the primary trigger (B1) being held down at the same time. Using script, we can exploit that behavior. Here's how to do that:



// In the GUI, assign a CMS button to be the action you want the
// secondary trigger to perform. For example:
// CMS.B1 <= Fire_All_Guns

%DEFINE Primary_Trigger JS1.B1
%DEFINE Secondary_Trigger CMS.B1
%DEFINE Pinky_Button JS1.B4

Secondary_Trigger = ( Primary_Trigger AND Pinky_Button);


Since the Pinky button and the secondary trigger button are electrically the same button, our script can tell the difference between the pinky button being pressed by itself and when it's pressed in concert with the primary trigger (B1). The other nice side effect of this arrangement is if you don't want to use the dual stage trigger for a particular game, you simply don't include a script to handle the secondary trigger and everything functions as before (except that if you pull the trigger all the way until the secondary trigger is pressed, it will be like pressing the pinky button).

[DonULFonso]

Brilliant and excellent :thumbsup: ! Want one... wait: NEED one :D , too! Such a shame I've got 2 left feet as hands :rolleyes: ...

[Condor]

I want one too!:) I followed the explanation of using the script so pressing the pinky button will not fire all guns. Am I correct in concluding that the pinky button can then be assigned a shifted function?

[snomhf]

If you were to pull and hold the trigger (first stage) and then press the pinky button then all guns would fire because that would be the same thing as pulling the trigger into the second stage.

Yes, the pinky button can be independently assigned anything including a shift function.

[VFS-22_SPaRX]

You are really starting to scare me bud. :). Nice work and nice design. I can imagine that your workshop is starting to look alot like mine now. Like a Joystick scrap yard. Handle here. Circuit boards there. Bases over there. :)

SPaRX

[chshrkt]

Brilliant!

[icoz]

I wonder if a CH force feedback with a 2 stage trigger could be in the works one day????

[Aceweepop]

Hi snomhf,

I have just done this mod on my fighterstick hoping to be able to have a two stage trigger where 1st turns on lazer and 2nd fires gun, for use in Falcon FF5.
I have added the extra script with the define statements exactly as shown but I cannot get a secondary output from cms.b1.
All that happens is I get primary followed by pinky.
Can you or Bob help please.
Regards David

[Aceweepop]

OK snomhf and Bob solved by posting in CMS scripting forum.
Cheers David

[snomhf]

Glad you got it worked out.

[bobmacans]

Very nice