The Buildable Stick System

Files for 3D printing an arcade stick.

Originally an attempt to make a couple customized STL files for the OpenStickCommunity Fightstick Case, the changes ballooned to fit my design and became incompatible with that project's components. This should be considered a different project with some similar DNA, but to stress again, it could not have been done without that project as a guide star. See Attribution.

Designing

No particular arcade stick design is prescribed by this project, instead, SCAD files are provided to choose desired component objects or create new ones. The OpenSCAD language is essentially a functional programming language, making it it easy to reuse, alter, and compose objects. If you do not see the object you would like, you can likely create it by starting with an existing object and constructing what you'd like with new or existing components.

Printing

These items all fit on a 256mm^2 print bed; I use a Bambu Lab P1P based on what I've learned from the OpenStickCommunity. Standard settings seem sufficiently sturdy for my purposes, though the slicer has done a couple weird things, in my experience.

Assembling

What you'll need beyond these objects:

• An arcade stick board (I recommend TheTrain's RP2040 Advanced Breakout Board)
  • 4 M3 8mm hex bolts to secure the PCB to a panel
• Per frame and plate combo:
  • 4 40mm M4 hex brass standoffs
  • 8 12-16mm M4 countersunk hex bolts
• Per frame connection point:
  • 8 25mm M4 bolts
  • 8 M4 flange nuts
• For a lever:
  • 4 12-16mm M4 countersunk hex bolts
  • 4 M4 flange nuts
• Buttons and levers as desired
• Wiring as required

Issues and Limitations

This is a living repository, and as such, there are likely issues with the objects, known or otherwise. Be aware:

• The top panel is 5mm tall and doesn't have an inset; snap-in buttons likely do not fit.
• A composition error made the frame 5mm shorter than intended and wasn't noticed until I printed everything:
  • Some levers don't have enough clearance in the case.
  • Buttons with traditional quick connects are a very tight fit, you will probably need to bend pins.
• The PCB mount position was very tight on the buttons panel; it will probably have to be moved.
• Support for the top plate was removed from the frame due to overhang issues, and now the top plate can bow slightly with pressure; a new solution needs to be found.

These issues may be fixed in the future; see TODO.md for details.

Development and Contributing

Improvements, variants, new layouts, novel ideas, and etc. are all welcome.

These files are suitable for previewing and rendering in OpenSCAD. They may also work in FreeCAD and perhaps other software, but they are developed in OpenSCAD, so YMMV otherwise.

Attribution

Inspired by the incredible work of TheTrain on the OpenStickCommunity Fightstick Case, itself based on the incredible work by Dash n'Mash. Original work Copyright 2023 TheTrain, licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Made possible by the amazing efforts of slagcoin.

Author and Licensing

Written by and copyright Brian S. Stephan (bss@incorporeal.org).

The Buildable Stick System is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.

The Buildable Stick System is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details.

You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with the Buildable Stick System. If not, see https://www.gnu.org/licenses/.