Joystick and Foot Pedals

This controller is supper simple to make and is super adaptable. The pedals can be placed where ever the user likes and they don't take much force to connect. The joystick is also great for anyone who doesn't have fine motor control because it doesn't require precise movement to get the desired output. My goal was to create a relatively cheap and very customizable controller and I think the joystick and pedal pair very well. This controller is also super easy to use and set up is also very easy. This is a demo video to show the set up process. (Video)

Supplies

4mm Foam Core (can also be found at your local dollar general)

Exacto Knife

Rubber Bands

Hot Glue Gun

Pencils

2 Wooden Ruler

Aligator Clips

MakeyMakey

Masking Tape

Copper/Aluminum Tape

Optional: Computer adaptor if the computer doesn't have a USB port

Optional: Scissors

Joystick Fusion

Controller Tester Game

Remapping Makey Makey Video

Step 1: Starting Foot Pedals

1. Draw cut lines for the foot pedal.
2. The bottom part measurements: 16 cm by 17.3 cm (5 cm + 4 mm + 6.5 cm + 4 mm + 5 cm).
3. Adjust the 4mm value if the foam core thickness differs.
4. Begin by cutting out the main shape.
5. Cut the inside measurement, ensuring not to cut through the foam core entirely.
6. Repeat the process for the top part, measuring 17.5 cm by 18.3 cm (6 cm + 4 mm + 5.5 cm + 4 mm + 6 cm)

Step 2: Gluing the Pedals

1. Ensure the top and bottom parts of the foot pedal fit snugly together.
2. Prior to gluing, conduct a test to confirm the correct fitting of the parts.
3. Hold shape while glue dries (hot glue works best because it dried quickly)

Step 3: Pencils and Rubber Banding

1. Top section:
2. Position the pencil hole approximately 6.5 cm from the side edge and 1.5 cm from the open bottom edge.
3. Bottom section:
4. Place the pencil hole around 2.5 cm from the side edge and 3 cm from the closed bottom edge.
5. Add a rubber end to the back half of the pedal.

Tip: If the front corners of the pedal touch the table, consider cutting them off to allow for proper connections.

Step 4: Tape and Rulers

1. Identify Contact Side:
2. Determine which side of the pedal makes more contact when pressed down.
3. Application of Copper/Aluminum Tape:
4. Top part:Apply one piece of tape from the front edge to the back edge.
5. Bottom section:Wrap a piece of tape around the front lip/contact point.
6. Apply another piece of tape running down the main section to the back.
7. Consider positioning the tape off to one side to prevent interference from the ruler.
8. Securing the Ruler:
9. Bottom half of the pedal:
10. Use masking tape or hot glue to attach the ruler inside the bottom.
11. If the ruler has a metal edge, ensure it faces a wall and stays away from the copper/aluminum tape.

Note: In some cases, connections with aluminum tape might fail if only the adhesive side is relied upon for the connection. To address this issue, fold the tape back on itself, creating a folded end, and firmly press this folded section onto the area requiring the connection.

Step 5: Wiring

1. Tape Setup:
2. The tape direction simplifies wiring.
3. Alligator Clips:
4. Attach one clip to the bottom section.
5. Connect another clip to the top section.
6. Makey Makey Connection:
7. Bottom clip links to "earth."
8. Top clip can be connected to either "click" or "space" on the Makey Makey.

Step 6: The Box

1. Box Layout:
2. Create 6 squares measuring 15 cm by 15 cm according to the designed layout.
3. Cutting Process:
4. Cut along the outer edge of the layout.
5. Cut inner channels without slicing entirely through to allow folding space for the edges.
6. Box Folding:
7. If the box doesn’t fold perfectly, this provides an exit for wiring.
8. If the box folds completely, trim one side slightly shorter to create a gap for the wiring cores to feed through.

Step 7: Adding the Joystick

1. Cut a hole in the box's top to accommodate the joystick.
2. Start with a hole slightly smaller than required for the joystick.
3. Assemble the joystick and gradually enlarge the hole by moving it around until it fits comfortably.

Step 8: Making Connections

1. Box Assembly:
2. Use masking tape to secure the box, leaving one side untaped.
3. Note the points where the joystick contacts the box walls.
4. Joystick Adjustment:
5. If the joystick doesn’t touch the box walls, add a bit of foam core for contact.
6. Connective Tape Application:
7. Ensure the joystick connects with all box walls.
8. Add a piece of tape to each wall that is at the height that the joystick connects at, then
9. Apply a continuous piece of connective tape around the entire “X” shaped part.
10. Use another piece of connective tape to wrap around the closest connection point to the wall where the cores will run underneath. Extend the tape to accommodate attaching an alligator clip.

Step 9: Wiring the Box

When wiring, the wall are very quick.

1. For the three wall that connect to the wire opening, make sure the connective tape can connect the alligator clip attached to the wall closest to the opening.
2. Either using tape or aluminum fold, attach the alligator clip to the far wall and feed the wire to opening.
3. Attach the final alligator clip to the piece of tape extending off the joystick.

Note: you may want to label the wires with masking tape so set up much quicker.

1. Attach the other end of the joystick alligator clip to the earth connection on the MakeyMakey.
2. When wiring the walls, wire the left wall to the left arrow and follow that pattern for all of those connections.