I made a F1-style steering wheel for VR sim-racing from scratch
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.zip/post/51305553
>I've been wanting an F1-style steering wheel for sim racing for ages, but I didn't want to spend massive amounts of cash on a commercially-built steering wheel that could be great but had loads of features I didn't care about (especially LEDs and a screen) since I play in VR.
>
> A colleague of mine, who is also into sim racing, built a [steering wheel](https://pokornyiengineering.com/products/f499-diy-files) that was better than almost anything you can find from Fanatec/Moza/Thrustmaster/whatevs for around 500€.
>
> So, of course, I decided to ~~buy the same thing~~ build it myself from scratch for the challenge and to save some money. Because I'm an idiot, I guess. I thought it would take me 2-3 weekends. It took 4 months. It's basically a wheel-shaped mechanical keyboard. It was the biggest non-essential project of my life. I learned a lot, including not getting myself delusional enough to start that kind of project on a whim.
>
> 
>
> Features:
> - F1-shaped steering wheel, heavily inspired by Ferrari's one with the general shape and front. Back is closer to Mercedes'.
> - Magnetic shift paddles
> - Analog clutch (WIP)
> - 7 rotary encoders
> - 10 face buttons + 2 back buttons + 5 clickable encoders
> - Quick-release connection to the steering column
> - Aviator-style USB connector
> - QMK firmware
> - Everything is 3D-printed except for the aluminium mid-plate and the quick-release
>
> If you guys are interested I have a few WIP pictures, so I could start a build log. WDYT?
>
>  
>I've been wanting an F1-style steering wheel for sim racing for ages, but I didn't want to spend massive amounts of cash on a commercially-built steering wheel that could be great but had loads of features I didn't care about (especially LEDs and a screen) since I play in VR.
>
> A colleague of mine, who is also into sim racing, built a [steering wheel](https://pokornyiengineering.com/products/f499-diy-files) that was better than almost anything you can find from Fanatec/Moza/Thrustmaster/whatevs for around 500€.
>
> So, of course, I decided to ~~buy the same thing~~ build it myself from scratch for the challenge and to save some money. Because I'm an idiot, I guess. I thought it would take me 2-3 weekends. It took 4 months. It's basically a wheel-shaped mechanical keyboard. It was the biggest non-essential project of my life. I learned a lot, including not getting myself delusional enough to start that kind of project on a whim.
>
> 
>
> Features:
> - F1-shaped steering wheel, heavily inspired by Ferrari's one with the general shape and front. Back is closer to Mercedes'.
> - Magnetic shift paddles
> - Analog clutch (WIP)
> - 7 rotary encoders
> - 10 face buttons + 2 back buttons + 5 clickable encoders
> - Quick-release connection to the steering column
> - Aviator-style USB connector
> - QMK firmware
> - Everything is 3D-printed except for the aluminium mid-plate and the quick-release
>
> If you guys are interested I have a few WIP pictures, so I could start a build log. WDYT?
>
>  