Hello all, I thought I would share my story. I have been planning to build a custom desk for Train Sim World for a long time, since I bought my first 3D Printer. I started designing it multiple times in the last couple of years, but the lack of a native controller interface, where I can set buttons and axes to anything I want, caused me to postpone it every time. With the confirmation of the API being already available in the Dresden-Leipzig preview stream, I got new wind in my sails and thought I would share my journey and highlight a very good model for everybody eager to dive into custom hardware builds. I can only echo Matt's comment in today's roadmap stream, it is not that difficult to start building. I have no experience in electronics, but a little bit more in programming. I got the inspiration from the European electric locomotive layouts, mainly the DB BR182 and BR146 (470 & 480 in Hungary, my home country), with 4 handles (AFB, throttle, brake and e-brake) with a (to be determined) number of buttons. As some excellent people here are starting to develop some API controls, I chose not to get involved very much in it at this time. Switches I have started with the easiest part of the project, getting a model for the switches. After swifting through the internet, trying to get the best possible views and measurements, I came up with the following design. I have started to modify them, adding a big sphere to the PZB acknowledge switch, a cylinder to the MCB switch. I was still figuring out how the table should be built, but I have envisioned a design where the table top is level, and the switches and handles are "hanging" from the table. I have put together a switch holder for the PZB/LZB switch cluster, mainly for testing and to see how things worked outside my imagination. I wanted to keep my design universal and expandable, as there are several more clusters I'm planning on my table (MCB/Pantograh, lights/sanding, door controls, fans/compressor) (I have not developed this further yet, but I have noted what changes I need to do.) Handles After this I know the biggest part awaited me, how to get a working handles designed... Searching the internet and looking into tutorials on how to start designing a piece like this, I came across an already created model on Makerworld (why did I not start with this?). Once I saw it, I knew I could make that work. (Picture of the creator - Puffball) This model (If you want to get into building, get some love to the creator) was everything I imagined, as it had a European-style look and notch plates. I wasted no time, printed it and started to look into how I can make this work for me. It has a very detailed requirement list and a nice guide on how to assemble it, feel free to check it out. The original design was created for an optical encoder, but I did not have one laying arround, so I have created a holder for a potentiometer (with a 60mm axle). (Yes, I took these pictures during tonight's roadmap livestream ) I also wanted to add a button to the handle under the cap, as real engines have them, and some of them are simulated as well, like the speed confirm on the AFB, the train length marker(?) on the throttle, and the e-brake disengage on the brake handle, so I have designed a new handle with a larger end and a hole in it, and changed the handle cap to be wider and shorter, to be more like those in the real world. I have also changed the notch plates to suit each each handle's characteristics. Thankfully the the design comes with an easy swap for the plates, so I have modified one for the basic throttle layout (off-min-continuous-max), brake & e-brake, (release, running, notches 1-7, full service, emergency). The model came with a combined throttle-brake plate. Where I'm now... I have printed & assembled the 4 handles and the PZB/LZB cluster for testing, and wired up to an Arduino for testing. I have written a simple code to have my PC recognise it as a simple joystick. I wanted to get Liam's to work, but when I got to it (really late after a long week), I had exhausted my mental capacity, so I went to CobraOne software, Ts World Raildriver And Joystick Interface, and it is working really nicely. I still need to check, if I can get better results on the ranges of the handles, but it worked as is, out of the box. I have put over 20 hours to TSW6 alone using this (temporarily secured to a table, quite messy as of now with a lot of loose wires) controller with the PZB/LZB cluster, the throttle and brake levers , and it is a game changer to be honest. (Unfortunately AFB cannot be mapped to a RailDriver based solution like CobraOne's software.) ..and what is next I have all my printing materials ready with a nice light blue colour that matches some locomotive's control panel (not the angry one that I used for the test). I'm currently sourcing a table top with the correct thickness and getting some IKEA legs for it to stand. I will be happy to share model of the switch clusters once it is ready and I'd love to share my progress with the table if you are interested. Happy Train-ing, Roli
