jrsteensen

Thanks for the info, Gadroc. Great comparison.

Ian, For those of us whom have designed MAX485 boards, looking at the datasheet, it appears they are identical as far as pinout and peripheral components. Is it safe to just simply swap out the MAX485 for MAX487 DIPs?

Has anyone released some MAX-487 based DCS-BIOS break out boards? I have a design about 75% ready for first prototype, but was away from my project for the better part of a year. (Life!) I need to modify my boards from MAX-485 to 487, and then I'll get ready to pull the trigger on some prototypes.

Nobody has had to do this?

I would love to be able to use my hands to control the virtual cockpit. Touch and flip switches, turn knobs, etc. (Which is possible in prepar3d with an addon already) Also, figure out how to make the displays a hair more readable.

:music_whistling:

Seems my slew control has died. Have you guys just simply replaced the module and been good? Having trouble getting the left (inside) cover off the right throttle grip. The top three screws pop it lose, but I can't seem to get to the tiny bottom screw to release the cover so I can access the slew control module. Any advise or pictures would be appreciated. Getting a replacement from TM. They have sure gotten proud of them. Used to be 25USD a couple years ago, and they are up to 34 shipped now. Really looking at replacing a bunch of the cheap switches on the grips with NKK switches while I have it taken apart. I think I have most of the switches it would take.

Oops. Please delete.

Thanks guys. I really appreciate it. Rs485 is simply the way to go - especially looking at the price of chinese Arduinos and ICs. 5 bucks for 50 RS485 ICs....at that price, half of em can be duds without bothering me for the prototyping stage. Your two responses should be in the FAQ for DCS-BIOS as the RS485 stuff hits mainstream. I've spent the past week working on breakout boards for the arduino nano and mega with rs485 link and MAX7219 breakout. The nano version supports 32 discrete LEDs and 4x 7 segs, and the mega breaks out to 64 fully discrete LEDs.

So, I've been thinking, and I am curious. In a full cockpit scenario, (20-40 panels, plus gauges) why use an RS-485 bus, instead of discretely connected USB Arduinos, routed through powered USB hubs? I've been trying to research it and I guess I am just missing the smoking gun?

Meh, I'm back to the drawing board for the structure. Deadman, thanks for the inspiration with you and your team's recent release. Reminded me I need to make it out of things people can make in their garage.

Sorry to hear that Ian. Lemme know when you get something you like, and I'll happily organize a group buy of PCBs here in the US, as I'm gonna need at least 30 of em anyways, and we might as well buy in bulk. Would you consider adding a screw hole pattern to it, so you can use it to mount both the pro mini and the 485 board via standoffs to panels?

I've been studying it, and I think I will end up going to a quality PC PSU. Actually found a really good tutorial on modifying them so you can use all the amperage on a rail. I'll break the 3.3, 5 and 12V rails out to individual toggles and circuit breakers, then to ganged terminal blocks throughout the pit. (My goal is to keep the runs to the panels as short as possible to aid in diagnosing and maintainance.)

It will be for the panels, but no more complex than any other pit in that regard. One of the reasons I picked the masumi extrusion is you can do the vast majority of cutting with a bandsaw, and grind to final length. Very few parts so far of the structure requires a mill - even the skins are simple enough to do by hand and on a cheap HF sheet metal brake.

So, here is my third iteration of the center console and overhead console. Didn't close up the aft portion of the overhead console to show a little bit of the underlying structure - I've decided to go with Misumi extrusion as the major structural component of the build for a host of reasons. Pardon the few labels that didn't render correctly - makes em hard to read. Finishing up some odds and ends, then turning my attention to the main instrument panel. Still considering some possibilities for the radio stack, not completely sold on doing the full ARC-210's yet for 'em. Also, figured out a way to manufacture fully functional dzus rails relatively cheaply. Now, if only I can find a sane price for the anodized black studs

While I agree, I don't really feel comfortable hooking this up to a hacked PC PSU.

Starting to work on my electrical layer a little more in depth. Going to need 3.3v, 5v, and 12v throughout the pit. Curious if anyone has a ballpark figure of Amperages required for the full pit. (Obviously, ballpark - haven't listed out every load yet.) I'm kinda hoping 15A supplies will be enough, but have the feeling that may be fairly anemic. Going to be using a mix of arduino minis, megas, and Raspberry Pis throughout the pit.

So, one topic I don't see often addressed is Sim Control Panels. In the effort of eventually having a keyboard free cockpit, one needs to make certain allowances to control functions of the Sim itself. What have your thoughts and solutions been to this? For example, I plan on putting a slimline trackpad, a rotary switch to control views types, a (ON)-OFF-ON toggle for TIR center and pause, Pause, Freeze on a three position toggle. It will be done in exactly the same type of panel and as non-intrusive as possible. (I'm still debating if I want to take everything except the trackpad and put it up out of the way on the overhead console.)

I've been really exploring edgelighting my panels with the LED strips and using a diffuser film. Not quite happy with the tests I've done thus far, but think I'm nearing something I like.

Okay. I was just looking at how to drive a TFT for my nav panel. I also was trying to drive two radio panels with a serial OLED character display on each. Mostly done with mechanical, and starting to look more closely at my electrical and I/O layers. Didn't know if the pro minis would have enough oomph for the application. Going to be able to drive the entire overhead panel off one Mega or Due.

Random question, and pretty basic - hoping I didn't miss something, but is the arduino due compatible with DCS BIOS?

From experimental a bunch of years ago, I found doing four layers laser printed to be optimal with this method, with a 1/16 sheet of smoked acrylic over top to eliminate the visibility of the characters when not lit.

Well, it's been awhile since I posted. This project is not dead by a long shot...expect some significant updates in the next few weeks.

.

Minor Update: Got 50 of the appropriate panel lights, a real UH-1 caution panel indicator set, and a dzus flaring tool & cup for 30 bucks total in. Woo! Grabbed one of my apache panels I have in my cabinet, and the dzus flaring tool slips right over the studs perfectly, just a little contact corrosion that I will clean up in the AM.