managed to re-assemble one of the joystick gimbal units i disassembled (and partially destroyed) in order to clean the bearing rings at the center of the unit. it took re-machining some of the parts to change their purpose. i did this using a dremel, a number of drill bits, 2 engraving bits, and several cutoff disks, which like to keep breaking sending shards in every which direction.
i had to trim 2 disks (these connected to a break pad of sorts which was grabbed by a magnet to disengage the gimbal from the axle to allow a vernier control mode) so that they fit closer to the gimbals, then had to notch the untrimmed edge to engage a small peg on the gimbals. i also had to put a hole in a couple bushings to allow the pass through of a retention screw from disk to axle. now, through the modified disk, the gimbals drive the axle directly instead of through the original spring mechanism, which in turn drives an aluminum gear which engages a smaller gear on the potentiometer. anyway i put the unit back together in the new configuration, and it works.
new configuration has the added bonus of making the whole thing easier to work on. you only need to remove 4 screws and 2 nuts to open the bearing compartment (instead of like 20), and you can calibrate the pot's alignment without taking it all apart. it removes a lot of the weight as well. soon my joystick of doom will be complete.
