YokeTool
This tool is used for settings of total gain (force power) for each axis, motor start power (pwm), pitch travel range, default spring force (for non-FFB games) and max velocity which limits how fast an unhindered yoke can move. Just hover over each setting in the tool for a detailed tooltip explanation.
Select the USB port that is related to the Yoke. Most likely it is one of the last in the list. Try first without the Yoke USB connected and view the COM port list. Then connecting the USB cable, rescan the COM port list and see which one pops up. That is the Yoke port. Remember this as this port number is likely to remain over restarts. When selecting the correct one it will initiate a beep from the Yoke and enable editing.
There are three buttons next to the USB COM port list:
- The Rescan button scans for COM ports
- The Telephone button connects to the selected port
- The Sign-off button disconnects
The maximum effect strength for the axis. Too much power can cause motor overheating and belt slipping. Set this to a reasonable value that gives you the effect strength you want. Do bear in mind that using high effect strengths for prolonged times may cause motor overheating problems. Usually though in a flight sim scenario, with a properly trimmed aircraft forces are not that strong that long. Heatsinks and fans will help counter this.
Default settings are a bit different for the two axes as they have different gear ratios.
- Roll axis default strength: 80%
- Pitch axis default strength: 50%
The min PWM power to apply when FFB force is applied. This is the motor power where inherent friction in the hardware components are just overcome. Too little and the axis will not respond to small forces. Too much and you get oscillations around the middle point in a spring force. The goal here is to find the smallest value working. This value is dependent on the physical properties of the yoke components. What gear ratios are used and the friction in motors, gears, belts and rails.
- Roll axis default 37
- Pitch axis 43
This options only exists for the pitch axis. It will limit the travel while still retaining the full joystick range. 100% Means that the full physical range endstop to endstop is used. That equals about 165 mm. A standard Cessna has somewhere around 150 to 160 mm travel, according to some (unverified) sources. Having a very long travel can also be a bit troublesome as the yoke may then poke you in your belly fully extended.
- Default travel is about 77%, which equals to about 130 mm and it is set like this for a bit of extra safety margin during initial testing. Increase to your liking.
Note
Having a limit on the pitch travel also creates a "cushion" for the yoke when it may be called to the other end of the range by FFB forces which may result in it slamming into an endstop. This may be the case in MSFS for instance when starting a Free ride and the sim starts with the elevator in a drooped state, as it normally is on the runway before you have gotten the aircraft up to speed and the elevator centers slowly by itself. See also about speed limiter below.
A centering Spring Force for non-FFB games. For games with FFB effects this setting has no effect.
Set to zero to disable.
- Default strength is 40%
Limits the max speed of the axis. Comes into effect if hands are off and a strong force pulls the yoke in some direction. The speed of the movement can then be uncontrolled. When the limiter activates it will cut power to the motor until speed drops under a hysteresis value and then reapply. If hands are on the yoke and braking it, the limiter will not be activated and Force Feedback forces are applied normally.
100% means max of what is defined in the firmware is allowed. Some limiting is applied even with 100%. Decreasing this value will activate the limiter sooner.
This functionality can be disabled fully in the firmware if not wanted.
- Default limiter effect 60%
- Apply will send the new settings to the Yoke which will acknowledge with a beep and save settings in persistent EEPROM memory.
- Ok will Apply as above and close the window.
- Cancel will close the window without saving.
- Reset Device will reset the device to factory settings and save settings in persistent EEPROM memory.