Printable View
Things are getting hot now so watch this space. Parts are now being moulded etc so over the next few weeks there is lots to report. To start the ball rolling again here is a pic of the cockpit ready for painting and laser etching. lets see how it comes together :)
http://fsuipc.co.uk/img/11052011002.jpg
Chris
Looking great sir!~
Are you still using the Saitek panel for the electrical stuff?
Reid
yes still using the saitek panel now but will get round to designing an insert plate to replace it soon making the saitek optional. Its kinda silly i know but will phase out the saitek thing eventually, it just made sense at the time for various reasonsQuote:
Originally Posted by AK Mongo
Chris
Hi,
Great work! How have you planned to do the gauges and avionics for the panel?
the gauges are mostly from www.home-sim.de and Flightillusion,Quote:
Originally Posted by Vectro
com/nav radio and transponder from homesim.de,
custom AP, DME and ADF avionic being made that work with my FSUIPC breakout board,
flaps and pitch wheel assemblies are in prototype stage of development,
throttle, mix and prop are being crafted now which will cause a stir when released :)
Chris
the gauges are mostly from www.home-sim.de and Flightillusion,Quote:
Originally Posted by Vectro
com/nav radio and transponder from homesim.de,
custom AP, DME and ADF avionic being made that work with my FSUIPC breakout board,
flaps and pitch wheel assemblies are in prototype stage of development,
throttle, mix and prop are being crafted now which will cause a stir when released :)
Here is the cockpit mounted to the glareshield which I am producing.
http://www.fsuipc.co.uk/img/sim.jpg
Mounting the cockpit seems to be an issue, looks like the mount points will need to be at the yoke positions.
Chris
I had my first lesson in a Cessna 152 last week, sure was bumpy but a nice day flying around the Southend coast. The instructor here must have balls of iron cos sure I would be a nervous wreck letting someone like me on the yoke at 1,500ft ! After all the years of simming I took to it naturally and was only suprised that there was so much correction to be made on the yoke all the time and how much resistance on the yoke. Steering this plane is nothing like how it is with the spring loaded sim yokes so that may need addressing in this sim.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hpQ5tGoxY4
i like the 'exit' sticker on the planes window lol
Chris
Been also flying C152 here in Finland appr. 30hours. During the wintertime the air is thicker and more calm most of the time but during summertime the ride is almost always constant bumbing and shaking. The dynamic forces in the yoke also can be really hard if the trim is not in the right position. It's been a good reference when we have now constructed our sim. We don't have the trim/aerodynamic forces modelled either so the sim is not 100% accurate compared to real life flying.
FS Force software and MS Force Feedback 2 yoke are cost effective and pretty good way to do this modelling when using stick instead of Cessna-style yoke. But in general the real life flying is still completely different thing.
Hi all,
sorry I have not updated the progress for a while, things are getting hot again now so will be posting pics of the final vernier assembly, pitch wheel, flaps and of course the sensor solution which we were discussing a while back. I cant wait to show you all what solution has evolved from the sensor problem, it is a great idea that will help all cockpit designers, not just Cessna. For now here is a pic of the cockpit which is now being drafted in CAD because it is a complicated **** working on 10 parts at once
http://www.leons-world.com/img/172_CAD.jpg
oh and a very nice PCB is on its way that interfaces pots, switches and encoders directly to FSUIPC
http://www.leons-world.com/img/pcb.JPG
Chris
something about 'boats' just came and went on this thread?
Nice work Chris. out of interest, what CAD design program are you using?
Cheers
Rhydian
Solidworks for the assembly, Pro-E for the individual parts. I have a copy of Rhino here which I am eager to fire up but my PC is just way overloaded with progs, the case is bulging at the sides. Here is a sneaky of the R22 being worked on now too :) (glareshield design and faceplate fitting)Quote:
Originally Posted by RojanTrojan
http://www.leons-world.com/img/R22_st1.jpg
Chris
Never tried Solidworks. Looks good though. I've looked at TurboCAD as a cheap solution. I currently use QCad which is fine for basic 2d CAD work but it would be nice to move to a 3D CAD program.
Great looking R22 glareshield. Does it come with a free cat??? :)
Cheers. Keep us all posted. It's all looking very good.
Rhydian
oh yes, free mischievous cat included lol
http://www.leons-world.com/img/R22_cat.jpg
Chris
Chris,
Not sure if these would be of interest, but in case they are, thought I'd let you know what I had in my collection.
I haven't had a chance to post these in the classified section or on eBay, but I have two sets of controls that I'll be selling. One has throttle prop and mixture, the other only throttle and mixture. I got a reasonable deal on three sets in the process of hunting for a single set for myself, so I'm making the others available . I haven't settled on a price for sure but I'm only looking to cover my costs.
If you or anyone else might be interested PM me. There are more pic's in my albums.
http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/atta...9&d=1307801669
http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/atta...6&d=1307800308
I have grabbed those controls shown in the previous post, there is another set available if anyone is interested. A lovely yoke arrived for me to play with this morning and proof of concept for the steering system went swimmingly!
http://www.leons-world.com/img/yoke_1.jpg
http://www.leons-world.com/img/yoke_2.jpg
Chris
Great work, really like it, Chris where did the R22 come from, you sure do have all your fingers in the pie!
Southend Airport Train station opening next month, so looking forward to my day trips to the flying clubs, considering Im only 4 stops away in Wickford!
Top stuff guys!
BTW: If you need any vinyl decals, let me know and I will see what I can do for you!
Hi Alex, i hope all is good at your end! The R22 glareshield design was aquired from Helicopter Simulators LTD who allowed me to vacuum form their design for any future possible purpose. The R22 is interesting me more and more each day, it is such a nimble little beast! Most of the gauges and components from the Cessna will work on the R22 so I cant see any reason why an R22 sim cant be knocked up pretty soon too, but I will need to send lots of beer to the above firm first for their design.
Btw, I have found a great answer to the sensor issue we was discussing before i.e. the infra red movement and all that. I wont say too much now but get ready for a sim design revolution once I get the part manufactured :)
Chris
Hi Chris
Coming away from the R22....
Have you had any more thought as to the glareshield enclosure for the C172? It would be nice to see an ABS box just like the R22 box but for the C172 instead.....
Alex
you mean an enclosed box like the one simkits do? I am planning that but cant make any prototype until the yoke steering is worked out. This is the glareshield on its own as you have seen previouslyQuote:
Originally Posted by Alex Jay
http://www.leons-world.com/img/glare_1_proto.jpg
Chris
Here is the spec for a LED display block which I am being put under pressure to authorise this week. Next will be the ADF display but I have lost the spec. Let me know if I am missing something please because this is an expensive manufacturing run
http://www.mycockpit.org/photos/DME_proto.gif
Chris
btw, all parts will be available from www.simbits.com and co.uk very soon :)
omg i am gonna be in so much trouble soon lol
Chris
trouble.....but good trouble :)
here is a peek of the flaps mechanism which is going into production within 4 weeks, but a working prototype is being made now. It is based on the original Cessna mechanism which uses micro switches and a bendy lever. I really dont know why simkits did not do it like this.
If you have Solidworks Edrawings viewer then here is a link to the 3D file http://www.fsuipc.co.uk/img/cessna_f..._05072011.easm
http://www.fsuipc.co.uk/img/flaps_1.jpg
http://www.fsuipc.co.uk/img/flaps_2.jpg
http://www.fsuipc.co.uk/img/flaps_3.jpg
http://www.fsuipc.co.uk/img/flaps_4.jpg
Chris
Here is something that may be of help to Cessna cockpit builders. Bendix King style radio button caps that fit the existing MEC style switch bases.
http://www.fsuipc.co.uk/img/BK_MEK_Buttons.jpg
Now I am trying to work out how to print on them. Hmm...
Chris
A couple of idea's you could use a dry transfer sheet. I'm not sure if they are as widely used as the days before digital technology but they perhaps could still be found. You could also get a custom stamps made. Then rig up a jig to make the stamp quite accurate. You wouldn't want to stamp without some kind of support. There are a ton of stamp shops out there mostly for scrap booking but should be able to perhaps make one stamp (buttons are small) that would do every button.
Design a Custom Rubber Stamp Online
You would need to make a kind of mini printing press to hold the buttons and stamp for a clean transfer. Afterward a few coats of clear should keep the button from wearing out it's stamped identifier.
Just some thoughts.
Ron
Thanks Ron,
Transfers are unreliable and expensive so not going down that route. The idea of putting them through a commercial flatbed printer seemed ideal but my recent attempt to get one from China resulted in me being ripped off to the tune of £900 by a nigerian :( But luckily paypal are mediating and should get a refund hopefully.
If at first you dont succeed......give up lol
Chris
I know that model railroad model manufacturers use a stamp process to 'paint' their equipment with. The detail in that process is easily greater then what you would need. I think a stamp is the way to go. In as much as it's not sprayed on like an inkjet would do. With a porous surface 'paper' you can get away with that because the pigment has a place to go but you're working with plastic so it won't absorb the pigment it will sit and dry on the surface. If you plan on making a ton of buttons then that process while perhaps pricey up front goes done quickly per printing and you can get white ink for printing/stamping on black.
You could make a holder for the buttons. Then put that onto a scanner and get the position of them then make your stamp template from. The holder has to of course be the same when you stamp your buttons.
The only other way would be the 'button makers' way of CNC the letters into the surface then add ink. They are most likely made with the lettering already there that is the mold they use has the letters shaped into the surface so then they just add ink and remove the excess.
However I took a look for DIY printing presses and you could perhaps build a small one that is cantilevered that would hold the stamp when stamping. A bit similar to the rudder pedal mechanism. You need to hold the stamp vertical/still while you stamp to minimize smearing. If the buttons are CNC'd first that takes out some of the guess work but adds to the time and cost.. It would also help if you know what kind of plastic the buttons are made from when selecting an ink.
Buying stuff from the orient is never something I do unless I absolutely have to / never. I've been tempted a few times but I always work hard to find a work around. I use that info though to find a better way. :)
Depending on how many you want to make you may want to seek out a professional printer. If you can supply the buttons then they might be able to print them cheaper then you could (all things considered).
Cheers
Ron
Hi chris
Can you mention where these radio buttons can be purchased from, i have searched and cant find anyone selling them.
And thanks for all this great advise your giving just what i need to help my cessna build, great info
keep it up.
Paul
Hi Paul,
The buttons are prototypes I had made pending being produced in quantity next month. If all goes to plan they will have lasered icons/numbers etched on too. If you are subscribed to this thread then you will be updated about it very soon
Chris
Quote:
Originally Posted by webitman
Another development on the parts front. Custom LED displays for DME and ADF radio units. Buying light boxes and 7 segment LED's separately is very expensive, but after paying for the initial tooling costs these custom displays are very cheap. There is a problem with the lettering on one unit which is being ironed out now.
http://www.fsuipc.co.uk/img/8UR.jpg
http://www.fsuipc.co.uk/img/9UR.jpg
Chris
Hi Chris
I have been re-reading all the posts since you started the original, but for some reason i cant view any of the pictures that you have posted, and when i click the link for ( leons-world.com ) all i get is a blank page or "internet explorer cant show this page" am i missing somthing.
Paul
My internet explorer (google chrome) says that if I click on leons-world website I will get a virus.....
sorry, I have recently changed servers and waiting for my mate to set up the domains. Should be back up by tomorrow
Chris
Same problem here!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by webitman
Great work. As you say, its the real flap lever of cessna planes, but I can´t understand the logic of microswitchs.
My idea was put the microswichts in certain positions for the next logic:
Switch 1=0 and Switch 2=0 ====> (0,0) Flaps 0 Degrees (up)
Switch 1=1 and Switch 2=0 ====> (1,0) Flaps 10 Degress
Switch 1=1 and Switch 2=1 ====> (1,1) Flaps 20 Degress
Switch 1=0 and Switch 2=1 ====> (0,1) Flaps 30 Degress (Full)
With only 2 inputs of your interface, you can handle 4 values.
My first design, was with a potenciometer, but I´m not happy with this.
I´m working with opencockpits interfaces and SIOC.
Can you explain how can work the switchs.?
Sorry if my english is not good.
Thanks and continue this great work.
opencockpits should have a switch interface card available but I dont have a clue how to configure SIOC to handle logic from 2 switches. This is the reason why I am producing an FSUIPC breakout board and interface software which will be posted about here soon. It is simple mapping between FSUIPC offsets and physical IO connectors on the PCB. There is a feature being added to the software that allows inputs to be linked to create a further FSUIPC instruction ex:
1) Switch 1: on/off = offset 4785 write value 1/0
2) Switch 2: on/off = offset 4786 write value 1/0
3) Custom link operation: If (Switch 1 = on) and (Switch 2 = on) offset value 4787 write value 1
or direct PCB instruction if a PCB IO is not assigned to an offset
3) Custom link operation: If (Switch 1 = on) and (Switch 2 = on) LED4 = on
A nice GUI for all this called 'no more tears' (just kiddin' lol)
Chris
Quote:
Originally Posted by hyamesto
This dude went slightly over budget on his sim
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kb4GaOyxgV0
lolz
Chris
Ol my god, I can print one of them sims right now! woohoo
Chris
Just a thought about these RP parts being porous, i'm wondering if giving them a couple of coats of diluted PVA to seal the surface before painting, this is the way i use to overcome problems with porous surfaces when i was a builder, you never know it might work in this senario.
Paul