Calibrating a joystick module back to center position (360 Controller)





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I'm not an engineer, but I know a bit about how potentiometers work and have replaced several joystick modules on my 360 controller in an attempt to prevent "stick drift" (input being registered when the stick is in an untouched position due to mostly from wear and tear of the internal gimbal mechanism and parts or the potentiomters themselves). I have 4 different joystick module from 4 different manufacturers, including the OEM joystick module that has stick drift issues.



After installing the latest Chinese version, which I find to be fairly high quality this time around, I've noticed on various joystick testing software that the idle position is not centered at 0,0. The joystick feels great and mechanically centers very well, but the center position is off to the bottom left of center, which will require a 10 to 15% deadzone to ensure non-input when untouched.



Is it possible to calibrate this mechanically or through software and does anyone know how the OEM manufacturer calibrates it? And no, Windows or Steam's calibration does not change this.



I've searched on the net and found a suggestion of installing trimmer pots, which sort of seems like it would work, but I'm not completely sure how they work. Would it modify the resistance value coming out of the joystick pots and how would one go about installing them on an OEM PCB? The joystick module is required to lie flat on the PCB with 14 through hole solder points, so I'm not sure if it's even possible to somehow augment the resistance by installing something in-between the pots and the board's traces.



Anyway, I'm just shooting in the dark. I've probably learned far more about potentiometers than I've ever needed to, let alone how most sold joysticks are cheap Chinese knockoffs, but I am interested if there is some way of re-centering the pots or augmenting the output "data" with reprogrammed offsets. I'm on the verge of suggesting that Steam programs this into their custom controller configuration with a low likelihood of success.










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    I'm not an engineer, but I know a bit about how potentiometers work and have replaced several joystick modules on my 360 controller in an attempt to prevent "stick drift" (input being registered when the stick is in an untouched position due to mostly from wear and tear of the internal gimbal mechanism and parts or the potentiomters themselves). I have 4 different joystick module from 4 different manufacturers, including the OEM joystick module that has stick drift issues.



    After installing the latest Chinese version, which I find to be fairly high quality this time around, I've noticed on various joystick testing software that the idle position is not centered at 0,0. The joystick feels great and mechanically centers very well, but the center position is off to the bottom left of center, which will require a 10 to 15% deadzone to ensure non-input when untouched.



    Is it possible to calibrate this mechanically or through software and does anyone know how the OEM manufacturer calibrates it? And no, Windows or Steam's calibration does not change this.



    I've searched on the net and found a suggestion of installing trimmer pots, which sort of seems like it would work, but I'm not completely sure how they work. Would it modify the resistance value coming out of the joystick pots and how would one go about installing them on an OEM PCB? The joystick module is required to lie flat on the PCB with 14 through hole solder points, so I'm not sure if it's even possible to somehow augment the resistance by installing something in-between the pots and the board's traces.



    Anyway, I'm just shooting in the dark. I've probably learned far more about potentiometers than I've ever needed to, let alone how most sold joysticks are cheap Chinese knockoffs, but I am interested if there is some way of re-centering the pots or augmenting the output "data" with reprogrammed offsets. I'm on the verge of suggesting that Steam programs this into their custom controller configuration with a low likelihood of success.










    share|improve this question













    migrated from electronics.stackexchange.com 10 mins ago


    This question came from our site for electronics and electrical engineering professionals, students, and enthusiasts.





















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      I'm not an engineer, but I know a bit about how potentiometers work and have replaced several joystick modules on my 360 controller in an attempt to prevent "stick drift" (input being registered when the stick is in an untouched position due to mostly from wear and tear of the internal gimbal mechanism and parts or the potentiomters themselves). I have 4 different joystick module from 4 different manufacturers, including the OEM joystick module that has stick drift issues.



      After installing the latest Chinese version, which I find to be fairly high quality this time around, I've noticed on various joystick testing software that the idle position is not centered at 0,0. The joystick feels great and mechanically centers very well, but the center position is off to the bottom left of center, which will require a 10 to 15% deadzone to ensure non-input when untouched.



      Is it possible to calibrate this mechanically or through software and does anyone know how the OEM manufacturer calibrates it? And no, Windows or Steam's calibration does not change this.



      I've searched on the net and found a suggestion of installing trimmer pots, which sort of seems like it would work, but I'm not completely sure how they work. Would it modify the resistance value coming out of the joystick pots and how would one go about installing them on an OEM PCB? The joystick module is required to lie flat on the PCB with 14 through hole solder points, so I'm not sure if it's even possible to somehow augment the resistance by installing something in-between the pots and the board's traces.



      Anyway, I'm just shooting in the dark. I've probably learned far more about potentiometers than I've ever needed to, let alone how most sold joysticks are cheap Chinese knockoffs, but I am interested if there is some way of re-centering the pots or augmenting the output "data" with reprogrammed offsets. I'm on the verge of suggesting that Steam programs this into their custom controller configuration with a low likelihood of success.










      share|improve this question














      I'm not an engineer, but I know a bit about how potentiometers work and have replaced several joystick modules on my 360 controller in an attempt to prevent "stick drift" (input being registered when the stick is in an untouched position due to mostly from wear and tear of the internal gimbal mechanism and parts or the potentiomters themselves). I have 4 different joystick module from 4 different manufacturers, including the OEM joystick module that has stick drift issues.



      After installing the latest Chinese version, which I find to be fairly high quality this time around, I've noticed on various joystick testing software that the idle position is not centered at 0,0. The joystick feels great and mechanically centers very well, but the center position is off to the bottom left of center, which will require a 10 to 15% deadzone to ensure non-input when untouched.



      Is it possible to calibrate this mechanically or through software and does anyone know how the OEM manufacturer calibrates it? And no, Windows or Steam's calibration does not change this.



      I've searched on the net and found a suggestion of installing trimmer pots, which sort of seems like it would work, but I'm not completely sure how they work. Would it modify the resistance value coming out of the joystick pots and how would one go about installing them on an OEM PCB? The joystick module is required to lie flat on the PCB with 14 through hole solder points, so I'm not sure if it's even possible to somehow augment the resistance by installing something in-between the pots and the board's traces.



      Anyway, I'm just shooting in the dark. I've probably learned far more about potentiometers than I've ever needed to, let alone how most sold joysticks are cheap Chinese knockoffs, but I am interested if there is some way of re-centering the pots or augmenting the output "data" with reprogrammed offsets. I'm on the verge of suggesting that Steam programs this into their custom controller configuration with a low likelihood of success.







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      asked 7 hours ago







      user895











      migrated from electronics.stackexchange.com 10 mins ago


      This question came from our site for electronics and electrical engineering professionals, students, and enthusiasts.









      migrated from electronics.stackexchange.com 10 mins ago


      This question came from our site for electronics and electrical engineering professionals, students, and enthusiasts.
























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          https://support.xbox.com/en-CA/xbox-on-windows/accessories/calibrate-xbox-360-controller-for-windows



          I recall the center-position is the average of the corner values which usually depend on the force applied to reach those corners and if pots are secured and centered correctly.



          Some clean the noeprene rim with Q tips and rubbing alcohal every time before use.






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            https://support.xbox.com/en-CA/xbox-on-windows/accessories/calibrate-xbox-360-controller-for-windows



            I recall the center-position is the average of the corner values which usually depend on the force applied to reach those corners and if pots are secured and centered correctly.



            Some clean the noeprene rim with Q tips and rubbing alcohal every time before use.






            share|improve this answer




























              1














              https://support.xbox.com/en-CA/xbox-on-windows/accessories/calibrate-xbox-360-controller-for-windows



              I recall the center-position is the average of the corner values which usually depend on the force applied to reach those corners and if pots are secured and centered correctly.



              Some clean the noeprene rim with Q tips and rubbing alcohal every time before use.






              share|improve this answer


























                1












                1








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                https://support.xbox.com/en-CA/xbox-on-windows/accessories/calibrate-xbox-360-controller-for-windows



                I recall the center-position is the average of the corner values which usually depend on the force applied to reach those corners and if pots are secured and centered correctly.



                Some clean the noeprene rim with Q tips and rubbing alcohal every time before use.






                share|improve this answer













                https://support.xbox.com/en-CA/xbox-on-windows/accessories/calibrate-xbox-360-controller-for-windows



                I recall the center-position is the average of the corner values which usually depend on the force applied to reach those corners and if pots are secured and centered correctly.



                Some clean the noeprene rim with Q tips and rubbing alcohal every time before use.







                share|improve this answer












                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer










                answered 7 hours ago







                Sunnyskyguy EE75





































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