ds3 handbrake for GT5

[mikeonthebike]

Here is the aluminum ds3 handbrake I have been working on, it has modulation and a good feel to it with spring loaded handle and adjustable stops front and back. It will be drilled in a few places to be fairly universal install.

It still needs a little cleaning up and shaping with the grinder and a little wet sanding to bring out the nice aluminum luster and I plan on doing something to the top of the handle grip area, probably going to chuck it up in a lathe and knurl the top grip area, but it's a functioning unit and the DS3 can be left in it and a charge cable hooked up to it or it's easily removable for using as a game controller.

Will be busy for a few days but after I will finish the mount for my chassis to accept this and I'll get some video of it in use. . I've got to build another one for a friend which will be way faster and cleaner looking yet because I know what I'm doing now to build it. the first one is always the hardest thing to do because you are getting the design figured out.

 

[Schwartz]

Great design! my question is do you know how to program the DS3 to work with whatever wheel system you are using?

 

[mikeonthebike]

Great design! my question is do you know how to program the DS3 to work with whatever wheel system you are using?

Thank you. I use it with a Logitech G27 wheel. I go to controller 1 and map it to where e-brake is on the pull back analog and then once the game is started I turn this DS3 on and set it to controller 1 and everything on the wheel works great still and this operates the e-brake.

I have heard of other people with different wheels being able to set the ds3 to controller 1 and everything works, but I don't know what wheels. Best way to test it out is if you have a different wheel other than the g27 or g25, load up gt5 and put a car on the track and turn on a DS3 controller and set it to control 1 and try it out.

I plan to start selling these. I have to upgrade my membership and I'll offer them for sale in the proper section.

 

[Coxis]

I plan to start selling these. I have to upgrade my membership and I'll offer them for sale in the proper section.

That's exactly what I was going to ask. Keep us informed.

 

[Robbks]

I plan to start selling these. I have to upgrade my membership and I'll offer them for sale in the proper section.

Mike, can i also suggest a "rally-style" version
i.e vertical handle that gets mounted up high next to the steering-wheel.
If you look at an old pic of my rig, i have my E-brake (DS-2 controller mod) and a small handle (not shown) mounted to the right of my DFGT shifter.

i drive a lot of gravel rally (RBR and Rally on GT4) which makes paddle shifters useless with 900' wheel
so i use the sequential shifter and having the e-brake right next to it allows a quick tug (no lude comments here ) on the e-brake, change gears a very fast affair.

especially given how my rig is set-up, i reckon there would be a number of guys with desk-mounted setups like mine, both rally-drivers and drifters that would utilise a vertical version.

 

[mikeonthebike]

That's exactly what I was going to ask. Keep us informed.

Thanks for your interest!! I will keep you informed

Mike, can i also suggest a "rally-style" version
i.e vertical handle that gets mounted up high next to the steering-wheel.
If you look at an old pic of my rig, i have my E-brake (DS-2 controller mod) and a small handle (not shown) mounted to the right of my DFGT shifter.


i drive a lot of gravel rally (RBR and Rally on GT4) which makes paddle shifters useless with 900' wheel
so i use the sequential shifter and having the e-brake right next to it allows a quick tug (no lude comments here ) on the e-brake, change gears a very fast affair.

especially given how my rig is set-up, i reckon there would be a number of guys with desk-mounted setups like mine, both rally-drivers and drifters that would utilise a vertical version.

Great suggestion! I was kind of already tossing around this idea in my head and now that you brought it to my attention I will work on a solution.

I don't have a ds2 control laying around anymore to check it, but are they the same shape and size as a ds3?

 

[Robbks]

yep,
just got the cable out the rear/ centre, so it would need a slot in the rear 'L' part

 

[mikeonthebike]

yep,
just got the cable out the rear/ centre, so it would need a slot in the rear 'L' part

Cool thanks. It should work the way it is for the ds3 because it has a hole big enough to plug in the usb cord to the ds3 in case somebody wanted to just leave the controller in the e-brake or if they happened to need to charge it while it was in the cradle being used for e-brake.

 

[Schwartz]

You should come up with a name for the product.

 

[mikeonthebike]

You should come up with a name for the product.

I've been tossing around ideas in my head. I've also built a tig welded aluminum race chassis/wheel stand/cockpit/sim chassis/game stand that I am going to start building per order till I can get off the ground (obviously haven't come up with a name for that yet either)

 

[Coxis]

Mike, if I may I have a few suggestions for your handbrake. Tell me what you think.

• The controller bracket. I'd suggest not going with the hole on the bracket for the USB cord, but rather change the design so that the design can accomodate corded controllers, such as a Dualshock 2. As you know, DS2 controllers (for the PS2) did not have the feature of being cordless, and as such you couldn't remove the cord. From what I see on the picture, if you were to try and use a PS2 controller it wouldn't fit. I myself have been thinking of building a handbrake and using a PS2 controller, which works on both a PC and a PS3.
• I would imagine this would be useful to some people, but have the option of using either analog stick for the handbrake, not just the right one.
• As you may or may not know, a DS3 handbrake can be adapted to PC sim use. There's special drivers for DS3 and Sixaxis controllers and USB adapters for PS1/2 controllers. The thing is, that your design is based on usage with a PS3, and if you were to connect this handbrake to a PC, you would see that the handbrake axis would be always applied to half its travelling power (since the stick is resting right in the middle). This works perfectly on GT5 and some PC sims, but not all. Why not modify the hook that moves the analog stick when you move the handbrake so that it has two settings: PS3 use and PC use. PS3 use: The analog stick rests as it normally would when the handbrake isn't applied. PC use: The hook forces the analog stick to its most upward position when the handbrake isn't applied, instead of letting it rest in its middle position.
  
  
  
  
  

 

[mikeonthebike]

Mike, if I may I have a few suggestions for your handbrake. Tell me what you think.

• The controller bracket. I'd suggest not going with the hole on the bracket for the USB cord, but rather change the design so that the design can accomodate corded controllers, such as a Dualshock 2. As you know, DS2 controllers (for the PS2) did not have the feature of being cordless, and as such you couldn't remove the cord. From what I see on the picture, if you were to try and use a PS2 controller it wouldn't fit. I myself have been thinking of building a handbrake and using a PS2 controller, which works on both a PC and a PS3.
• I would imagine this would be useful to some people, but have the option of using either analog stick for the handbrake, not just the right one.
• As you may or may not know, a DS3 handbrake can be adapted to PC sim use. There's special drivers for DS3 and Sixaxis controllers and USB adapters for PS1/2 controllers. The thing is, that your design is based on usage with a PS3, and if you were to connect this handbrake to a PC, you would see that the handbrake axis would be always applied to half its travelling power (since the stick is resting right in the middle). This works perfectly on GT5 and some PC sims, but not all. Why not modify the hook that moves the analog stick when you move the handbrake so that it has two settings: PS3 use and PC use. PS3 use: The analog stick rests as it normally would when the handbrake isn't applied. PC use: The hook forces the analog stick to its most upward position when the handbrake isn't applied, instead of letting it rest in its middle position.
  
  
  
  
  

That's right the DS2 has a large plug on the end of it as well. My buddy is going to bring one over and I'll get the clamp changed to make sure a cabled control will fit in there.


Good to know that a DS3 and ps2 will work on pc with other mods. I thought I was building something JUST for GT5. little did I know.

the only way I see being able to set it up to where it uses all of the throw from analog stick in pc use would be that the control itself will need a hole drilled in the analog stick to allow something to go thru the shank of the analog stick. I am going to think about this one for a while because I wanted to keep the controller in perfect condition for other uses, but maybe PC users would dedicate a controller to this and I'm over-thinking the dual function.

Making it to where it can use either analog stick would be very challenging at this point. what would be the purpose behind this move??

It's going to have to come with an array of hardware to make it do all the different things people have suggested, Not being negative, just thinking things out here.

 

[mikeonthebike]

You should come up with a name for the product.

I think I'm stuck on SIMulation FAB for a name so I'm thinking the "SIMulation FAB Handbrake"

 

[Coxis]

Mike, I'm a little biased since I've recently decided to move from console to PC sim racing, so yeah.

Oh and I'm sorry for the following... My "hardware" english is not very great, so It'll be a little bit harder for me to communicate some of the specific stuff discussed below.

I was thinking of something else... what if the wire cable that hooks to the DS3's stick is interchangeable? One would be the one already pictured, and the other one could have some sort of clip so that at the very tip of the hook, you could switch it and I guess "Trap" your analog stick's base column without having to drill on the stick's top. With this clip, when the handbrake is in its resting position it would actually be pushing the analog stick forward, since the clip would attach it to the wire hook. If something along those lines is worked out, then it probably wouldn't even need to be interchangeable.

I hope that was clear enough...

 

[mikeonthebike]

Mike, I'm a little biased since I've recently decided to move from console to PC sim racing, so yeah.

Oh and I'm sorry for the following... My "hardware" english is not very great, so It'll be a little bit harder for me to communicate some of the specific stuff discussed below.

I was thinking of something else... what if the wire cable that hooks to the DS3's stick is interchangeable? One would be the one already pictured, and the other one could have some sort of clip so that at the very tip of the hook, you could switch it and I guess "Trap" your analog stick's base column without having to drill on the stick's top. With this clip, when the handbrake is in its resting position it would actually be pushing the analog stick forward, since the clip would attach it to the wire hook. If something along those lines is worked out, then it probably wouldn't even need to be interchangeable.

I hope that was clear enough...

very clear!!! I've been able to understand everything you have said.

I just have to figure out how I am going to do it. It's complicated because the width of my pull hook is mandatory because as you pull back the stick the top circle of the stick intersects what you are pulling with and it locks up so the width allows the hook to keep pulling while allowing the circle to lay into it. I will come up with a solution.

 

[Guitar613]

Hey Mike, this is a great idea. I just wanna add that I do this with a little diy setup ( rubber band around a joystick and the analog stick) and it works with the Fanatec 911 Carrera wheel too.

 

[mikeonthebike]

Hey Mike, this is a great idea. I just wanna add that I do this with a little diy setup ( rubber band around a joystick and the analog stick) and it works with the Fanatec 911 Carrera wheel too.

Thanks Guitar. Do you play the guitar? I played the Bass for a long time. I was using a method close to what you are talking about for the last 3 or 4 months but always wanted to build a nice one.

I finally bought a tig welder and finished my aluminum Sim Chassis and decided it was time to build a nice handbrake for myself as well as being able to get it on the market.

Good to know it works on the fanatec wheel too!!!

 

[Caz]

In gt5 this will work for any wheel on the market. This is possible due to GT ability to use multiple controller inputs at once.
For HB i use the ps move navigation controller mounted to my rig.

 

[Robbks]

just updating with a couple of pics of my e-brake

it's just an old UHF Radio microphone with a big PTT button (microswitch with big spring-loaded button)

attach a handle to the button,
wrap it in foam and some tape,
add an L-bracket
wire the microswitch into an old psx controller (O button)
voilla, e-brake

 

[Guitar613]

Well i used to play the guitar (probably should pick it up again before I forget how to play anything) but its been my gamertag for a while so it just kinda stuck.

P.S. if you do sell these how much would they be?

 

[mikeonthebike]

just updating with a couple of pics of my e-brake

it's just an old UHF Radio microphone with a big PTT button (microswitch with big spring-loaded button)

attach a handle to the button,
wrap it in foam and some tape,
add an L-bracket
wire the microswitch into an old psx controller (O button)
voilla, e-brake

Now that's using your brain!!. I like the creativity!!

Well i used to play the guitar (probably should pick it up again before I forget how to play anything) but its been my gamertag for a while so it just kinda stuck.

P.S. if you do sell these how much would they be?

pick that guitar back up!! I'm going to get another bass when money allows....whenever that is lol!


About price I am not positive yet....I have been on a large water pipe welding project from hell at work this week and I've been on 11 and 12 hour days all week and will continue through the weekend. I'M SOOO TIRED!!!

Now that I know what I am doing as far as building them when I get back home Monday I will focus on this handbrake project and will come up with a price. I just have to add up my materials (aluminum, tig welding rod, welding gas and nuts bolts etc) and I will build another one and see how long it takes me from start to finish to build one and will update ASAP!!!! I just have to make sure I don't shoot myself in the foot and make it to where I am working for free ya know.

Thanks for the interest everybody!!!