Thrustmaster Simagic Maglink Adapter

Description

WARNING - You need to determine if your printed adapter is strong enough based on your setup and equipment. There's no way I can guarantee this model won't fail. There are too many variables including the quality of the printing as well as the wheel and motor it is used for. Only you can determine if it is suitable for your use.

I am switching from the Thrustmaster ecosystem and I wanted a possible way to adapt my existing Thrustmaster wheels to other quick release systems. I decided using the Simagic MagLink adapter had the following benefits.

• Included magnetic USB cable should be easily (untested) adapted to use with the OSW mod. This was a big plus.
• Shape provides opportunity for an adapter than can have other things mounted to it like a sim dash display or magnetic shifter mods.
• MagLink plate provides strength to the adapter.
• Inexpensive and readily available.

Note that this primarily uses the Simagic Maglink for those benefits. This adapter can be used to adapt any quick release that uses a 50mm or 70mm hole pattern allowing the wheel to be physically used on any base with such a quick release. Button functionality is dependent on performing the OSW mod, Dan Suzuki mod, or other mod on the Thrustmaster wheel. See below for more information.

I have not tested the electronic side of things but I see no reason why the MagLink magnetic cable can not be adapted to the OSW mod for the Thrustmaster wheels. My plan, if I ever get around to it, is to use an Sparkfun Pro Micro, or clone, with a USB-C connection. Then wire a USB-C pigtail to plug into the existing connector on the MagLink PCB. I don't have the wiring schematic, but it shouldn't be too hard for anyone to figure out. Just need to follow a USB-C to USB-A wiring diagram and find the correct 4 pins in the MagLink PCB connector.

Not including your chosen quick release. this mod will add about 16mm of depth to your wheel.

NOTE - This adapter are very detailed to add to the strength and fit. Your printer will need to be pretty dialed in or there will be a lot of cleanup work necessary. I suggest doing some test prints for each end and for the size of the screw holes before committing to the full print.

NOTE - This adapter should work with most Thrustmaster wheels but there are some exceptions. Notably, the old F1 wheel and any other wheel that uses a different hub attachment design.  They also obviously won't work for the newer Thrustmaster wheels that have the new quick release.

Materials

You will need a variety of hardware and materials to assemble everything.

- Quick release of your choice that has a 50mm or 70mm hole pattern. In the pics I'm using a Kyostar QR that should mate up with the Simagic bases. Note that this quick release has it's holes rotated by about 15 degrees compared to the Simagic so if you use the same one, you'll need to adjust for that in the software.
- 4 M5 brass inserts. 7.1mm diameter X 9.5mm length.  For attaching the MagLink plate to the adapter.
- (Optional) Additional 3x M5 brass inserts if using the 50mm holes for reinforcement. See below for more information.
- 4 M5x15mm button head or cap head screws. For attaching the MagLink plate to the adapter.
- 3 M5 flat head screws. These are for attaching the quick release to the adapter. The length will depend on the quick release you're using and whether you're using the 50mm or 70mm holes in the adapter. Around 35mm should be good when using the 50mm holes and 40mm for the 70mm holes. See below for informant about these holes.
- (Optional) 3 M4x25mm screws if using the 50mm holes as reinforcement. See below for informant about these holes.
- 3 M4 brass inserts. 6.3mm diameter X 8.1mm length.
- (Optional) Additional M4 brass inserts if using the top or side attachment holes to mount things like an Arduino project box or magnetic shifter mods.
- 3 M4x50mm flat head screws. For attaching the Thrustmaster wheel to the adapter.
- (Optional) 3 M4x12mm flat head screws to replace the other Thrustmaster screws if you want them to match the longer screws used to attach the wheel to the adapter.
- (Optional) Some kind of thread locker. What kind depends on whether you ever want to take the adapter apart again.
- (Optional) Small zip ties. Slots have been provided in the adapter to help secure cables if necessary.

OSW Mod

This adapter was made with the OSW mod in mind. That said, the spacing of the holes used to attach Thrustmaster wheels to their button boxes doesn't create a lot of space to hide an Arduino. So this mod has been designed to route the wiring from the inside of the wheel through a channel to an Arduino housed outside of the adapter. The Arduino can be housed inside of a 3D printed project box and then attached to the adapter. The design of this box has not been finished but it shouldn't be too difficult for someone to design.

The wiring of the USB port on the Arduino will then need to be wired to the JST GH connector on the Simagic MagLink PCB. This in turn connects to the magnetic cable of the Simagic MagLink. Although I have not followed through on this part of the project, there should only be 4 wires that need to be connected between the Arduino's USB port and the Simagic MagLink PCB to make this work. Wiring diagrams exist for converting the USB ports on Ardiunos to a normal USB-A connector. Those are the diagrams that need to be followed. The difficult (not really) part will be identifying which pins in the Simagic MagLink's GH connector correspond to those wires in the magnetic cable. That shouldn't really be a lot of trouble for someone with some free time and a multimeter.

Make sure to route any cables into and out of the adapter BEFORE securing the MagLink plate to the adapter.

Dan Suzuki's Mod

If using a QR like the Simagic, Moza, Kyostar, etc., I don't really see why this mod wouldn't also work with Dan Suzuki's mod and his custom PCBs. If you decide to go that route, it would be similar to the process outlined above with the OSW mod. You'd just wire the output USB of the Arduino to Dan Suzuki's PCB.

50mm vs 70mm Hole Pattern

The MagLink plate has holes for 50mm and 70mm pattern quick releases. Because of the location of the Thrustmaster mounting holes, you'll only be able to use 3 of these. Honestly, that should probably be enough. I would wager the adapter will fail before 3 screws will.

The benefit to the 70mm hole pattern is that you're more likely to find quick releases with that pattern. The downside is that because of the geometry of the Thrustmaster wheel, using the 70mm hole pattern isn't going to be as strong as using the 50mm hole pattern. That is because the 50mm holes are longer and reinforce the adapter more.

If you decide to use the 70mm hole pattern, you can still choose to use the 50mm holes as reinforcement. There is a second model provided that uses additional M5 brass inserts. Then M5x25mm flat screws can be inserted to add reinforcement. If deciding to use the 50mm holes as reinforcement, make sure to attach the quick release using the 70mm holes before inserting the reinforcement screws in the 50mm holes.

Assembly

Assembly is pretty straightforward but here are the steps just in case. The images also show these steps in case you need more information.

1. Insert the M5 brass inserts in the bottom of the adapter for the MagLink plate screws.
2. Insert the M4 brass inserts in the top of the adapter for the Thrustmaster screws. Optional - If using the 50mm holes as reinforcement, insert the M5 brass inserts into the 50mm holes in the top of the adapter.
3. (Optional) Insert any M4 inserts into the sides and tops of the adapter if mounting anything like an Arduino project box or magnetic shifter mods.
4. Route any cables required through the slot and opening as you insert the MagLink plate into the adapter. Be careful around the MagLink PCB area as it is a very tight fit. Then secure the plate using the M5x15mm button or cap head screws.
5. Secure the quick release to the adapter with M5 screws in either the 70mm or 50mm holes. If using the 50mm holes as reinforcement, attach the quick release using the 70mm holes first and then insert the reinforcement screws into the 50mm holes.
6. Attach the Thrustmaster wheel to the adapter using the M4x50mm flat head screws.

Settings

It's hard to give recommended print settings. So many variables and I have no idea how strong this really needs to be as I have no idea the bases or force feedback settings someone might use it with. I would say it's a safe bet to not use a brittle plastic like PLA or one that is too soft like a silk filament. You're probably going to have to experiment to see what works for you and determine if it is strong enough for your use case.