Helicopter Flight Controls for both the professional and home user
Overview
Komodo Simulations is the result of one Pilot’s effort to re-create a realistic helicopter control system for both the home Flight Sim Pilot right through to use in Professional Flight Simulators. After over 10 years in development Komodo Simulations can now offer budding Helicopter Pilots the realistic feel in a control system that allows them to practice flying from the comfort of their own home.
Product Details
CAD Design: Komodo Simulations
Material: Nylon MJF PA12
Polishing: Not Specified
Dyeing: Yes
Finishing: No
Project cost: Not Specified
Komodo Simulations by 3DPRINTUK
Case Study Highlights
To get the look and feel of the parts that he required, Richard turned to 3DPRINTUK and utilised their MultiJet Fusion (MJF) service to produce the parts in nylon and dye them black.
KS Control Systems
Traditional desktop based joysticks are not suited to flight simulation for several reasons. It is impossible to move these devices in small enough increments which leads to “over-controlling” your aircraft. For Helicopters this is especially bad as they are dynamically unstable, so any disturbance is exaggerated and will only increase if not corrected.
Most normal joysticks have springs that will return to a central point if released. This means that users are constantly fighting against them which, apart from being extremely unrealistic, will lead to fatigue over time.
Komodo Simulation controls are built using hydraulic dampers that accurately replicate the motion of a real-life cyclic, so they stay in the position they are left when you release your grip. This will lead to much smoother and less draining flying so you can stay in the air for longer.
Consistent accuracy is paramount for flight simulation which is why Komodo controls are built using hall sensors on every axis as standard. Traditional controls use inferior sensors such as potentiometers’ that have touching parts and wear out sooner.
By utilising additive manufacturing, I can create these flight stick controllers as a single piece, resulting in significant reductions in both assembly time and costs. In the past, intricate shapes like these would have required multiple parts to be produced due to challenging internal geometry and overhangs.
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