molevitch

Reply to Ruso Hi Ruso, thanks for the compliments! It has been a learning project for me, with several dead-ends, left over components, frustrations and rewards. The relay switch is used to reverse the effect of a PTM (Push-to-make) switch. The Russian original Trimmer button on the cyclic and in fact the Collective Brake button on the collective are both PTM. The Electro-magnets are live, to hold the cyclic and collective at trimmer set positions In order to momentarily switch off the electro-mags by pusjhing either the trimmer or the coll-brake button a relay is used in each circuit to break the 112v supply to the magnets. I have a circuit diagram somewhere earlier in this thread #39. The pedals should be free really. There is a thought to do it anyway, but it will add a third electro-mag circuit, and another button, and I don't think I really need it. I have BRD pedals which can be either free or self centring. I currently use them self centring. The cyclic is "centred" where you want it, but pure upright is set at the start up, so there is no influence on the choppers pitch/roll. As I start to fly I can put the stick where I want, and let go. I can fly in good weather (no or marginal wind) pretty much hands off. I am about to try some softer springs in my force gradients. The ones I used originally are a bit too stiff, making fine control amazing but more aggressive movement hard work without releasing the trim brake, which is not always desirable. Potentiometers are fine, but I had problems with setting up Halls. BUT I think the Halls are bad/inappropriate for the use. So I plan to order some Allegros as recommended by Thadiun Okona and try when I have time. Work got really busy suddenly. (Curse real life!) Glad you like it! Post yours, I would like to see how you get on. Mole

They must be tracked in 3dof minimum, else you could not raise it above your head to click overhead buttons....

But you can rest your hand on a real stick and it will work similarly I am thinking. Perhaps a stick with gimbal but no sensors, use the glove as the pitch/roll read? I last heard from Captoglove on 9th July, asking for a contact number, but nothing since....

Hi Hannibal, I am in the same position as you. I hope that the Captoglove, which I backed, will be programmable, maybe to suppress use of specific switches, eg fire button. I want to use the real switches on my cyclic and collective. But it also occurs to me that it will be great to manipulate the switches and dials on consoles and dash as shown in the video, better than a mouse. It may even prove to be a better read for the cyclic stick position than the Edtracker I am currently using for pitch and roll. Or they may be a complete nightmare....

I am awaiting one of these Though the use of it in the hand as filmed does look a bit dodgy....:D And I backed it so am awaiting a pair. And Leap Motion have just announced a $50mil investment program and are recruiting, so.... VR is happening!

DAMN!

Hi Mr_Mojo97, Looking very good already. Don't under-do the magnet. When activated you will get quite a powerful snatch effect, and a loud clunk as it grips. I went for these, which are more than adequate, but as I am using slide friction of the magnet, rather than trying to pull them apart, it is still just possible to move the sticks under duress. They have a 60kg pull! https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B018VBIJO8/ref=pe_1909131_77697001_tnp_email_TE_AMZLdp_2 You know Bodnar do 2 pin and 3 pin connectors, ready wired? Easy to use and no fiddly soldering near the board. But I know what you mean, I have got much better at soldering! Relisted my Lynx Cyclic on eBay starting bid £60.00....

Ebay forum Thanks Deadman! I don't know how after all these years I still didn't know about this forum.... M

Lynx Cyclic Bargain now on Ebay Hi Gentlemen, I have just relisted my Lynx Cyclic on eBay. Starting bids a mere £60.00. Please be tempted by what is undoubtedly a bargain. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2324171703...84.m1555.l2649 Happy bidding! Molevitch __________

Hi Gentlemen, I have just relisted my Lynx Cyclic on eBay. Starting bids a mere £60.00. Please be tempted by what is undoubtedly a bargain. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/232417170389?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649 Happy bidding! Molevitch

Hi Bunkaiotoko, Yes, the wiring pipe is definitely 20mm. If you use that as a scale on the diagram, everything else will follow.

Maybe BST will do a pre-upgraded version. Mi-24P (Type 24-3; 'Hind-F'): Development started 1974; about 620 built 1981-90; first shown in service in 1982 photographs; P of designation refers to pushka = cannon; as Mi-24V, but nose gun turret replaced by GSh-30-2 twin-barrel 30mm gun (with 750 rounds) in semi-cylindrical pack on starboard side of nose; bottom of nose smoothly faired above and forward of sensors. Thanks. Getting there. Working on the Cyclic Wheel Brake today.... But it flies like a dream....

Hi Trip, Quoting from airforce-technology.com. (http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/hind/) Weapons The helicopter has six suspension weapon units on the wingtips. The Mi24D (Mi-25) and the Mi-24V (Mi-35) are equipped with a YakB four-barrelled, 12.7mm, built-in, flexibly mounted machine gun, which has a firing rate of 4,000-4,500 rounds a minute and a muzzle velocity of 860m/s. The Mi-24P is fitted with a 30mm, built-in, fixed gun mount; the Mi-24VP with a 23mm, built-in, flexibly mounted gun. The Mi-24P and Mi-24V have four underwing pylons for up to 12 anti-tank missiles. The Mi-24V (Mi-35) is armed with the Shturm anti-tank guided missile system. Shturm (Nato designation AT-6 Spiral) is a short-range missile with semi-automatic radio command guidance. The 5.4kg high-explosive fragmentation warhead is capable of penetrating up to 650mm of armour. Maximum range is 5km. Russian Army Mi-24s are being upgraded with new avionics including thermal imagers. The Mi-24V can also carry the longer-range Ataka anti-tank missile system (Nato designation AT-9), as can the Mi-24P. The Ataka missile's guidance is by narrow radar beam, and the maximum range of the missile is 8km. The average target range is between 3km-6km. The target hit probability of the Ataka missile is higher than 0.96 at ranges 3km-6km. The missile has a shaped-charge 7.4kg warhead, with a tandem charge for penetration of 800mm-thick explosive reactive armour. All Mi-24 helicopters can also be armed with rockets and grenade launchers. Avionics The Mi-24D is equipped with the KPS-53A electro-optical sighting pod. The most recent Mi-24V and P variants have a digital PNK-24 avionics suite and multifunction LCD cockpit displays, and Geofizika ONV1 night-vision goggles, along with NVG-compatible cockpit lighting. They are fitted with the Urals Optical and Mechanical Plant GOES-342 TV/FLIR sighting system and a laser rangefinder. Countermeasures include infrared jammer, radar warner and flare dispensers. It will be interesting to see how much BST can implement, but given their track-record, I am sure we can look forward to a stunning piece of equipment!

Some pics of the almost completed Mi-24 Cyclic and Collective setups Here are some pics of the almost completed cyclic and collective set up of my restored Mi-24/8 stick set. All buttons and switches are now functional and mapped. The cyclic hat is mapped to the autopilot stability system. The grip itself has cyryllic text for AP and Off for the hat. The RS button works as the weapon release button. Trimmer button works the mag-brakes for the cyclic and the radio 2 stage trigger works the ICS or Radio. The Handbrake lever is lockable closed, awaiting a spring for the latch and a cable to operate the brake switch. Still have to puzzle that one through.... The cyclic has an Edtracker unit mounted on the stick just above the pivot point on the gimbal. Custom made angled mount so when stick is in neutral position, the Edtracker is level and square. The collective has its own mag-brake without force-gradient springs and is on a separate 12v supply, operated by the collective brake button. 4-way hat switch restored and mapped to the searchlight. Used a repaired WH 5-way switch as a sneaky cargo release button and 4-views switch between pilot, co-pilot, engineer and kneeboard. Added a toggle for the RPM increase/decrease switch. Not sure it works right yet.... Collective raised and braked by the electro-magnet. The damper is there to just smooth the movement, and does not hold the collective in position. There is a potentiometer inside the cavity behind the throttle, beside the throttle linkage. There is another potentiometer for the lever concealed inside the lever cradle and linked to the back of the lever pivot. I went with pots as I just could not get Halls to behave.... Ironic. Collective head with restored hat switch, added RPM toggle, and other added buttons. The cyclic grip from above. Having now flown several hours in training with Gizzy, I have to say that this system has exceeded my expectations. There was a moment a few days ago when, as I approached first testing, I thought, "What if after all this expense and effort, it all turns out to be crap, worse than what I had before?" Well, fortunately that did not occur. It is 100 x better than a commercial stick, especially a MSFFB Sidewinder. I cannot compare it with any of the commercial custom units by BRD, Virpil, etc. as I have never tried them. This feels like the real thing. It is not dependent on the DCS Trimmer setups. The Edtracker gives the cyclic pitch/roll data, and the mag-brake locks it. The collective lever and throttle are raised and lowered, potentiometers read by DCS, and locked in position by the collective brake magnet. Initially, it feels like a lot more control management, lots of trimming, lots of collective braking, but I have quickly got used to that. I think I started off over-trimming, and not using the force-gradients leeway, but getting better. I need to make a bigger thumb press for the trimmer switch, as those old Russian springs are tough, and I am getting a dent in my right thumb! I am very happy, and pleased with the outcome. I highly recommend this kind of force-gradient + mag-brake system to any other chopper oriented pit-builders. It was relatively simple to do, and not too costly. I definitely have some leftover components to get rid of though! M

Check their Facebook page....

Great design! Speaking as a professional designer and maker, this is immaculately conceived and executed. Really brilliant.

https://www.leapmotion.com/news/funding-50-million-jp-morgan?utm_source=Leap+Motion+Newsletter&utm_campaign=09870697b2-Newsletter_192&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f0a6fbd89e-09870697b2-68356801 so Leap Motion are getting serious!

I believe they are going for the P version. There were polls suggesting the E, but I believe after deliberation and other factors BST are going for the P, which has some great looking firepower in its cannon. It will be interesting to see how they do the avionics and moving map. Very exciting, and this weekend I am going to visit a helicopter museum in weston Super Mare, UK, to see their Mi-24D. I hope I can take some measurements....

Hmmm, I was planning to visit anyway, to see their Mi-24. And on 22nd I will be halfway there, so I think I will make my way to Weston on 23rd, family in tow.

And as if on command, Belsimtek announce they are officially in development of the Mi-24!! For those of us of a certain generation and cultural background I thought I would say, Belsimtekz Meanz Hindz! (Rubbish I know....) M

Collective scale image Hi Bunkaiototo, There is a very useful website with loads of Mi-8 reference pics I found. Szextant's blog Mi-8 In there I found many useful pics. But for your needs you cannot beat this one. I will happily supply more pics of my pieces, but I am away this weekend. Talk soon! Mole

Is your Lynx collective set up already?

Nice work! Hi Thadiun, That's some cool building there! I may look at that too when it's time to upgrade. I still kind of need to sense the Halls differently. The pivot method does not relate well to my configurations.... On my old collective I was passing a Hall side on over a magnet. That worked well. Maybe I should order up some A1324's, play around a bit. For now, I got my pots calibrated, my Edtracker joystick configured, and with only a few more buttons to connect, I could not resist a quick test flight. Oh........My.......GOOOOD! It's like a new machine! The controls are sensitive, and with the mag brakes I can literally set my cyclic, set my collective, and let go! Talk about Cruise Control! I have to use trimmer and collective brake a lot more than ever before. The big old Hip is like a stable platform, I can literally put the gun-sight over a target and it does not move. I think I need to position the Edtracker a bit nearer the cyclic pivot point, make a bracket for it so it is nicely level when the stick is fully trimmed at neutral, a few minor tweaks and adjustments of course. Tinker, tinker. It does feel a bit like learning over, a new control system with new feelings. But it has been an almost spontaneous transition so far. Gonna have to put a new shelf up for all my unused sticks. Or sell them. Still looking for a buyer for the Lynx cyclic which got replaced by my now beloved Mi-8/24 stick set.... Anybody? Mole

Hallo Yogi149, That's neat! Well, I have opted for 2 x potentiometers and some linkages rather than gearing. I can internalise the one for the throttle, and the one for the lever is driven by a linked lever system. The good news is the pots are giving me no trouble, and I did not want to order more Halls and still have the same problem. 2 Pots at £1.80 each seems worth the risk. Tested one already tonight on the lever. Works like a dream. I have lost hair over the past few days with Halls and old pots not working. Vielen Dank' for your suggestion, I will look at that for another occasion. Mole

A day of huge frustrations for me yesterday. The wiring of all these buttons and components has proved challenging. Hall sensors are just not happy. Tried the Bic pen case method, tried rotating side to side over a wide flat curved magnet, tried moving toward a south pole magnet, blah blah blah... I don't know if it is the proximity of the 3 x electro magnets for the brakes, or some other issue. I swapped them out and spent hours rigging a couple of spare pots I found lying around from another old joystick. 3 hours later, pots installed after much wrangling and designing linked connections. What happens? The pots start smoking.... And give lousy readouts. So I RIPPED them out and threw them away. Gonna try testing a Hall sensor without full install, just wire one up and experiment with it outside the main rig. Thing is, they work beautifully in my old collective.... Maybe I got a dodgy batch. I broke 5 of the little f***ers yesterday, twisting them about to get in a good position on the magnet, to no avail. Anybody had any luck with accelerometer/inclinometers attached to a Bodnar board? Bodnar did not have any ideas themselves. I might just get another Edtracker, simplest and most effective perhaps. I just think it is a bit big to place on the Collective throttle handle.... I've got one on the cyclic and it is great, so maybe that's the way to go. Save a lot of trouble!!! CHAOS!