New Higher-Strength Joystick Controller Launched by Penny + Giles

Penny + Giles – a business unit of Curtiss-Wright Controls and a designer and manufacturer of position sensors, solenoids, and joystick controllers – has introduced the JC8000, a new heavy-duty electronic joystick controller that has been specially engineered with a number of high-strength features to make it ideal for applications in physically demanding working conditions such as skid steer loader controls or where operators traditionally use hydraulic joysticks.

The increased strength of the new heavy-duty JC8000 joystick controller has been achieved by increasing the body material around the area that supports the operating lever; increasing the operating lever’s diameter; and changing the lever’s pivot geometry. These fundamental changes have enabled the joystick to handle increased torque and improve the lever’s bending and applied loads.

Designed for the most challenging applications, the JC8000 can withstand a 380Nm overload on the X and Y axes and 2000N on the vertical. It has also been tested to more than 60 million operations (15 million cycles) under laboratory conditions.

With an under-panel depth of 70mm, the JC8000 is more compact than equivalent heavy duty joysticks and the choice of digital or analogue outputs, including dual-redundant 12bit Hall effect, CANbus J1939 and digital PWM, provides OEMs with an ideal opportunity to improve their vehicle control systems.

Commenting for Penny + Giles, vice president of Curtiss-Wright avionics and industrial group Kevin Rayment says: “The JC8000 is designed to survive in environments that are more physically demanding than the performance limitations of competitors’ heavy-duty joystick controllers, and even our own JC1500 and JC6000 controllers.”

Other key features of the JC8000 joystick controller include single or dual axis control; IP69K sealing to the electronics; 5Vdc (regulated) or 8 to 54Vdc (unregulated) supply; dual-channel analogue output on each axis with optional ramp directions; a range of eight handle/grip options; and an operating temperature range from -40°C to +70°C.