Pedals Come standard with CAM4 and CAM6 , CAM5 is extra order.
There are three places to adjust centering force :
1. Spring tension Screw - can increase/decrease the overall force.
2. 2x positions on a Cam - arm - hooking the spring on inner/outer position achieve more or less progressive increase in
strenght toward the end of deflection while the feel in the center stay the same.
3. Exchanging CAM profiles - small curved pieces which guide the bearing that is responsible for centering force. By using
different curve for the CAM different centering feel and forces are achieved.
So, why exchaneable CAM you might ask - since there are soo many possibilities already. Well, cam profiles give
you possibilities to fine tune centering feel - with or without centering detent, linear increase in force or rapid
progressing .... I'll try to demonstrate differences between cam's
CAM4 : It is voted by testers and first customers as best all around CAM. It feature very low center detendt which
gives you realism and precision around center ( no "bump"). It is realistic untill you try to reach the ends of
deflection becouse curve is slightly modified on the middle of deflection in order to reduce strenght at the end -
not full progressive , and not linear increase in strenght. It is made as a compromise, reduced realism a bit toward
the end of deflection so it's not so hard to press the pedals fully.
CAM5 : similar to CAM4, same center detent, but has cleaner progressing increase in force toward the end of
deflection. It is the most realistic CAM for piston driven planes with simple wired rudder controls. However,
becouse of it's realism - to achieve end of deflection require a lot of force. If you are a PC fighter pilot for example,
in the ends of deflection you will not be very precise ( arguable, but common opinion)
Pedal users that previously used „Simped's“ find this CAM too big transformation ( Simped's had only linear and
very weak centering, and large center bump) . But after they get used to MFG Crosswind for 1-2 months ...they
tend to go from CAM4 to CAM5 if they pursuit realism.
CAM6: completely different from CAM4 and 5. Feature noticable center detent , not big like on simpeds, saiteks
etc, but well noticable compared to CAM4-5 ( half way in between). Toward the end of deflection it has much less
progressing increase in strenght compared to CAM4,5. It is made such for two purposes :
- realisticly model forces of airliner ( adjust to very tight spring settings and outer CAM arm position)
- best compromise for precision PC dogfighting. ( very weak spring combined with inner CAM arm position).
Center detent gives possibility to keep the rudder straight without concentrating - to achieve top speed.
Less progressive increase in strenght gives better aiming accuracy toward the ends
NOTE :
- few ROF duel pilots asked me to make new CAM which will be like CAM6 around the center, but from cca 30% of
rudder deflction toward 100% of rudder deflection to keep the forces at the same strenght. They think it will give
more precision. I will produce such cam next year and we'll see if they were right :-)
- If you think you can build yourself a CAM, IT is impossible without a proper drawings. You need to know quite a lot of
parameters, and even if you know all that you would probably end up building something that you don't like in the
end. First of all – cam profile is not symetrical. If it is symetrical it will not deliver same amount of force for left and
right movement !!!
- I will consider publishing cam drawings in DXF format in the future
- I will also consider making CAM profile calculator for making custom CAM's, but only if there is enough interest.
Here are CAM drawings ovelapped to give you some thoughts. This is a LAYERED PDF...you you can turn ON/OFF
different layers in this document in order to hide/show only specific CAM's. Zoom in to take a closer look at the
center....
CAM4 CAM5 CAM6
CAM3 - obsolete CAM 2 - obsolete
No center detent at all Simped's alike center detent
