Installation of the First Joystick

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This will cover the installation of the first joystick. I also install the first circuit board, using only LEGO® brick, not screws. This controls the directional movement allowed by the joystick.

Installation of the First Joystick

Once more brick arrived, I was able to complete the LEGO® cage around the joystick hardware and “plug” it into the control panel. You can read more about the cage around the joystick in my previous posting, Hope it Really Works, LEGO and Controls. However, before I plugged the joystick into the control panel, I needed something to plug it into. This meant that I had to begin with creating the supporting structure inside of the control panel.

I still didn’t have all of the pieces delivered to build the internal structure. So, I improvised with some temporary pieces just so that I could get the joystick installed. Once the supporting beams were in place, I plugged in the joystick module.

Photo showing the internal structure to the control panel created to hold the first joystick.
The multicolored beams are temporary until I get the right bricks delivered

The joystick mounts perfectly. The arrow on the site and the multicolored plates around the joystick are temporary until I get the appropriate pieces in to replace these pieces.

Photo showing a closer look at the joystick mounted inside the control panel to the internal supporting beams - top angle.
Joystick mounted onto the internal supporting structure
Photo showing a closer look at the joystick mounted inside the control panel to the internal supporting beams - side angle.
Joystick mounted onto the internal supporting structure

Mounting Circuit Boards with LEGO®

Along with the joysticks, comes a circuit board that, once connected, controls the motors so that the joystick lock in either a 4-directional or an 8-directional mode. This board has two small holes on the side of it which usually is bolted to the bottom of the joystick, next to the motor.

Photo showing the Ultimarc ServoStik Control Board
Ultimarc ServoStik Control Board

First, there really isn’t enough room to be mounting a circuit board to the bottom of the joystick. Second, I don’t want to be screwing anything into, and modifying, LEGO® brick. So, can I secure the board between two LEGO® pieces through these holes?

Photo showing the Ultimarc ServoStick Control Board alongside a LEGO pneumatic T piece
Hmm, how about the part 4697b – Pneumatic T Piece

The problem is here that the diameter of the LEGO® piece is a bit too large for the circuit board mounting holes. So…

Photo of the Ultimarc ServoStick Control Board laying on a worktable next to a power drill.
Let’s make the holes bigger!

A few nervous moments later …

Photo showing the pneumatic T piece fitting nicely into one of the mounting holes of the Ultimarc ServoStik Control Board
It fits!

But does the control board still work? Did I damage it?

I actually ended up not only testing the board (and it works), but also mounted it to the side of the control panel.

Photo showing the Ultimarc ServoStik Control Board mounted to the side of the control panel using only LEGO.
Ultimarc ServoStik Control Board mounted by only using LEGO® brick

The control board is installed, the joystick is installed, and everything is operational!

Photo showing the inside corner of the player 1 joystick and control board mounted and secured to the LEGO control panel.
Player 1 joystick installed