High Reliability Compact Contactless Joysticks available now from Foremost Electronics

The 3000 Series Joystick offers a radically improved mechanism construction for maximum robustness, strength and long term performance and requires a significantly reduced number of components, further contributing to reliability. A metal ball mechanism is at the heart of the joystick, tested to withstand greater forces than possible with older generation plastic or gimbal style mechanisms. All 3000 Series Joysticks are sprung to return to the centre position with an operating force of 1.3N with lighter, 1.0N, and stronger, 1.6N forces as options.

Other features include 3.3 or 5VDC operation, centre detect output, dual (redundant) outputs with either the same or inverted polarity and a very large range of operating handles. Factory pre-wired with cables and connectors, the 3000 Series Joystick may be widely customised with application specific cables, connectors, shaft lengths, mounting bezels, operating forces, limiters and output signals. The 3000 Series Joystick may also be specified with “guided feel” allowing it to move more easily toward the four poles and requiring increased force to return to centre. The 3000 Series Joysticks have an operating temperature of -25 to +70ºC and are sealed to IP65 above the mounting panel.

“Our 3000 Series, high reliability, contactless joysticks offer a precise, safe and accurate man-machine interface device for a wide variety of control and instrumentation applications in industry and commerce. “Says Alan Cook, Managing Director of Foremost Electronics. “With their low, below panel, profile, wide range of output options and control knobs they can meet the needs of just about every possible joystick application.”

Five output configurations are offered as standard. For general purpose use, a 5VDC version with one proportional output per axis, a centre top reference and a separate centre detect output. For low voltage applications a 3.3VDC version with +/- 50% gain yielding a voltage span from 0V (South) to 3.3V (North), with no centre top or centre contacts. For safety critical applications which require a second set of dual redundant output signals the 3000 series may be configured as two “electrical” joysticks in one mechanical package providing two outputs per axis. The second set of outputs are accurate to the first within +/-5% of the 5VDC power supply. The power supply and centre tap for the secondary outputs are also completely independent for added safety. An alternative version of the safety critical, dual output joystick has the second set of output signals provided as an inverse output so they may be summed and compared to the centre tap to verify that the joystick is operating correctly. The final version of the 3000 Series Joystick may be specified with a number of PWM (pulse width modulation) output options for digital control systems.