Saitek X52 Buttonbox with Frame

Want more buttons? This is how you get more buttons.
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updated June 21, 2023

Description

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Much like the designer of the original Thing I was looking for extra buttons for VR flight sims. Since i play in an Obutto R3volution simpit, there is only a small throttle support plate rather than a desk for the throttle, so it was necessary to rigidly attach the button box to my Saitek X52 throttle. I redesigned the original item to have a split support cradle, which holds the X52 in place between the two button boxes. There is a channel running through the cradle for wiring from the bottom box to the top. The top and bottom sections mesh together but benefit from a little bit of CA glue to hold everything in place. USB cables from the X52 and the BBI-32 route through the top button box together.

Also I find myself having to eject a lot more than I should because apparently I'm a terrible pilot, so I modified this Thing into the bottom switchbox lid to include an eject button with a flip-up safety cover. The large printed button press-fits onto one of the momentary buttons listed below. The safety cover bolted into the frame with a couple of small bolts I had lying around - don't recall the size.

The original version of the bottom lid (in the pictures) had Pitch/Yaw/Roll included in it, but it turns out rotary encoders are terrible for adjusting trim so I removed it. Sorry!

As before, it's designed to be used with a Leo Bodnar BBI-32 interface board. The cover plates from the original Thing ought to fit this one just fine; I included the ones I designed as well. You can of course use any buttons you want - the top plates I included were designed for the following:

Large on/off/on momentary switch
Small on/off/on momentary switch
Rotary encoder
Small momentary push button
Any 3mm LEDs in these panel mounts

Tags



Model origin

The author remixed this model.

Protective Switch Cover
by NickJS (thingiverse.com)
Saitek X52 Extra Buttons
by BoopidooDesigns (thingiverse.com)

License