About SimInput
Why I built it and what it's trying to be.
Why I built SimInput
My name is Milo. I'm a student from the Netherlands, and I've been flying and racing in the sim for a long time. I've got a good HOTAS, pedals, and a rig, but for a long time something kept bothering me about it.
My throttle has buttons, a lot of them. But they're either unlabelled or labelled for the wrong thing, there's no actual gear lever anywhere, and the switches I reach for the most are scattered all over the place.
I looked at what was out there. Commercial button boxes cost serious money and for a replica panel full of controls you'll use twice, or they're a generic grid of buttons and switches, where it is hard to memorize what does what.
So I built SimInput instead. The whole thing (enclosure, PCB, modules, label system) is custom designed by me, around what I actually wanted on my desk. A real gear lever, a guarded switch for master arm, and controls that tell you what they do.
Smart design over premium pricing
Affordable by design
The ~€80 target was intentional from the start. Every design decision supports that goal, from 3D printing most parts to using standard connectors instead of a custom protocol, all without compromising the core experience.
You have a right to repair
The design has been tested and holds up well, but if something does break, it can be replaced easily. You do not have to rely on me for proprietary parts or complicated repairs, because everything is either 3D printed or based on standard components.
Made for customization
The PCB is intentionally simple, with standard GPIO and no proprietary protocol. The firmware, hardware, and CAD files are open source, so you can build your own modules, modify the firmware, or wire in something custom.
Built by one person
This is not a mass-produced product line. It is a project built by one person. That has its limits, but it also means direct communication, real flexibility, and a product shaped by someone who genuinely uses and cares about it.