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MilesD

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Everything posted by MilesD

  1. MilesD
    As was I, I guess I missed the mark. But you are right, I always think just a little more will make it better. I am trying to think of that saying, something like, the pursuit of perfection is the enemy of progress.
  2. MilesD
    No, I would not of held things up for atheistics, I was not happy with the discrete steps of the finger adjustment. Now its infinitely adjustable which make it easier to get comfortable. I didn't want to end up like Steve Martin and the opti-grab in "The Jerk". Instead of facing a jury of my peers that were cross eyed, the jurors at my trial would all be missing their index fingers from lack of circulation caused by PointCTRL being to tight. Miles
  3. MilesD
    Thanks for the advice Deano, I will do that. I need to work on my pic and video skill set. Miles
  4. MilesD
    Well I lost the day because because my PC crashed today, I think I was able to recover most of the data. I am re-installing all my design and programming apps now. Here is the latest FCU design. I am stuck with the shape because of the LiPo battery. The new attachment and adjustment design works really well. It works like a buckle tensioning on itself. They really do look much better in person than the pics. The layer height will be finer on the production 3d prints. Thanks, Miles
  5. MilesD
    Not nagging at all, Sorry I have been very busy wrapping up the final fixtures and dialing in the reflow oven. I also updated the FCU design for the first production shipments. Its the same shape, just a bit smaller and a much better attachment system. I will post some pics of the FCU in the morning. Some test units are going out Friday and I will probably contact some of the initial slow roll out testers over the weekend for shipping info. Here is the new re-flowed FCU PCBs. You can see the clear cyanoacrylate glue where the PCBs meet for durability. The board connection does not receive any stress from operation. Thanks, Miles
  6. MilesD
    What did I miss Harlikwin, is it Vulkan? Ah, I got it,
  7. MilesD
    Actually, I never upgraded, This is the same one I acquired in 1983. It was manufactured back in 64 when they were built right.
  8. MilesD
    Thanks for the reminder. I use a lot of aluminum workbenches that are not conductive to the floor, so I was able to make up a bunch of 10 watt 1 mega-ohm disapative ESD plugs. Basically, a household grounded three prong plug with the hot and neutral removed and the resistor goes between the clamp and the ground. I also designed and manufacture industrial test instruments and whenever I would populate and solder the thru hole boards I always forgot to put the ESD strap on, and when I did, I would usually forget to take it off when I got up. I thought making the whole table dissipate ESD would help. My first thought when I spread solder paste for the first time was "here is a potential to create an electron imbalance". Since I was on a poly-carbonate surface I immediately grounded the stencil to the workbench. I think I will have Carol work on a separately grounded ESD mat though now that you mention it. Thanks Miles
  9. MilesD
    Concerned with the horsepower required to run the pimax for flight sims I did a small bit of experimenting a while back with interesting results. To me, a significant portion of the immersion of a 3d HMD doesn't come from the fact that we are looking at 2 different computed and rendered images with each eye. I personally believe the immersion is more of a combination of the the Fresnel lens, perfect 1 to 1 head tracking, and the shifting geometry of a single 3d image as you move your head laterally. I made a makeshift temporary headset a while back with a 11" monitor, Fresnel sheet plastic magnifier, track IR, and a hard hat. In a dark room it immediately had an 3d feel like the rift. The feel of immersion increased dramatically when I moved my head laterally, however I felt sick when I tried to look around because the image was nowhere in sync. I got busy with a new project and my wife wanted her tablet computer back, and I forgot about it. If you want the feel of it, just close 1 eye in your VR and you will see what I mean. I currently have my local electronics rep sourcing a curved or flexible 10" to 13" hi res panel. By curving the Fresnel lens and the panel, I believe it will reduce some of the aberrations. So basically when I finish my current project, I am going to experiment with a single high resolution display located 6" away from your eyes and a single sheet or duel goggle style Fresnel lens looking at a single 3d image. The obvious advantage would be resolution, and frame rates equal to a monitor with a slightly reduced 3d effect of objects close to you. Just sharing, Miles
  10. MilesD
    Thank you very much, I am sure there will be a few challenges with the SMT PNP machine and I will seek your counsel. This is my first go at SMT stuff, and I really like it so far, much easier than thru hole. To fill the DCS orders ASAP I am utilizing the Household 6 multifunction device. While it uses little electricity, it does require significant tribute in the form of jewelry to maintain peak operating efficiency.
  11. MilesD
    Wow, your Price is much less than I was quoted at several PCB manufactures in the U.S. I think it is the combination of the SMT and thru hole components on each board that drive up the price. I do have 5 PCBs per unit plus the sensor, which is the most expensive item on PointCTRL, plus all the other stuff. It would have pushed the price point higher than I thought was reasonable for most people. I can justify paying myself a low wage for my time, as long as I am learning and enjoying what I am doing. Thanks again for you comments and insight. Miles
  12. MilesD
    Hi Gruman, Thank you for your input, I am appreciative of it, especially coming from a professional in this field, which I am not, which is probably a point of frustration for many here. I don't have much experience in this field, and my "calculation" is the question "Am I enjoying this ?" I am developing this product mostly for the journey, but the interest has exceeded my expectations. To answer your good questions, 1) Panelzation Because of the 90 degree solder attachment for the FCUs, I needed a good machined edge for ease of soldering without post processing of the PCB to clean it up. 2) Reflow and stencil I am using a 10 board stencil and re-flow oven. I will be modifying a piece of lab equipment for PNP. (this I have experience with) 5 min stencil and re-flow cycle time x 10 PCBs = 120 PCBs per hour = faster than I will ever need. 3) Cost vs Time I did look at having PointCTRL manufactured locally, but it started to feel like a business, and I really wanted to set up my own 1 piece flow production line, just because. I am intrigued by making machines to make machines, and this helps prepare me for when Sky-net becomes self-aware. I really don't expect PointCTRL to have very long legs, and new HMD integrated tech will probably replace it soon. I plan to move to other similar products, and having the ability to quickly produce products in-house will be helpful. Thanks again for your comments Miles
  13. MilesD
    Tonight's Update: Finished building interim HMS fixtures and test built 5 HMS's on interim fixtures. 100% pass rate. Tomorrows goal: Solder paste and re-flow oven fixtures for FCU PCB's Miles
  14. MilesD
    Hi SPIKEN, Thanks for the kind words, I will feel better about them when those who have been so supportive of this project are satisfied with the function and operation of their own PointCTRL units. I still cant believe I had a working prototype in a week and a year later of full time work I am just getting to production. If it were not for the fact that I do not want to let this community down, I would have become bored with this long ago and never bought PointCTRL to this level. Thanks, Miles
  15. MilesD
    Hi iffoif, I see your number is 84, I hope to be there in less than 30 days. Thanks for the interest. Miles
  16. MilesD
    I am reluctant to give time frames because I did, and had a few unforeseen issues. I expect the LiPO fire proof bags to be delivered by the end of the week, so I hope to have the first batch ready to go by then. Now that Los finally has a functioning PointCTRL, he is a huge help with the testing of all the DCS modules and providing detailed feedback for required changes. I started a test run today of the FCU fixtures running a small batch of 10 FCU Push-Button boards. Tomorrow will be the HMS and hopefully the FCU main board. I will keep the pics of the process coming if thats of interest to the group. Miles
  17. MilesD
    Off topic: It was the early 90s before MARSOF, which is when the Marines decided to play nice with US SOCOM. I was in selection with 2 of them, and my roommate in the Q-course was one. Miles
  18. MilesD
    @mariner, SF selection would get quite a few Force Recon guys going through. I was surprised that the Marine Corp would conditional release them for selection. If they didn't make it, they would go back to Force Recon, if they got selected, the Marine Corp would release them to join the Army. To be honest, they all seemed to get the SF thing, as opposed to our Ranger Bn guys who were great guys and extremely tactically proficient, but were challenged by the adjustment to "chill". I think it was because you guys were used to working in small groups. UPDATE: More Production PCBs and the stencil I was waiting for arrived. I can do 10 FCU's at a time now. Closer... Miles
  19. MilesD
    That's not on you FireCat, I originally did ask for a list for the first "slow roll" release to people who had the time to test pointCTRL thoroughly. You got me that, and it still stands. I will be PMing some of them in a few days. Its all good FireCat, and we all appreciate that you picked up the ball and ran with this. Miles
  20. MilesD
    +1 Many thanks, and very much appreciated. Because my attention span is so short, after the second it takes for a hyperlink to process I forget what I was looking for, I like to link to the actual post instead of just the page. An example: This: https://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=3862014&postcount=690 instead of: https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=218861&page=69 (690 post) There may be a better way, but I click on the post number in the upper right hand corner to get the post specific URL Just something helpful for those of us who have brains wired the same as squirrels Thanks again FireCat, Miles
  21. MilesD
    After all that talk of using the list "as is", I would like to suggest a change if its good with everyone else. FireCat, I assume you have this list automated in a spreadsheet, and I liked when you had it in sorted alphabetically first. I think it was easier for people to check where they were. It will also make it easier for me to check when I receive the orders. Miles
  22. MilesD
    Hey Guys, Just to keep things simple and not add to much work to FireCats plate, Lets just use the list as is, in numerical order (no annotations required). There are a few people that I will be shipping to first for immediate feedback, but after that I think its best if we just follow the list as is. If someone does not purchase before the next group is published, they can still purchase anytime. It wont require any rearranging or annotating of the current list. When I get the order I will just check FireCats list to ensure your number is below the currently shipping groups. So please check FireCats list below, and if your name is on it you are good to go, even if your not ready to purchase right away. https://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=3861329&postcount=678 Thanks, Miles
  23. MilesD
    An example of the forum post verbiage would be: Day one release, Release Group 1 is now shipping If your number is 1 thru 10 on the list, then click this link. xxxxxxxxxxx 2 days later Up to Release Group 2 is now shipping If your number is 1 thru 20 on the list, then click this link. xxxxxxxxxxx 5 days later Up to Release Group 3 is now shipping If your number is 1 thru 50 on the list, then click this link. xxxxxxxxxxx The xxxxxxxx link will take you to a paypal order page. The order page will make it clear that you must be in the Release Group posted on DCS Forums for the order to process for shipment. I hope that makes my intent more clear. If anybody see a simpler way, let me know. Thanks, Miles
  24. MilesD
    Hey FireCat. I'm sorry if I wasn't clear. I didn't mean for you to do all that work. I thought we would just go off the list you already had. Once we start shipping I am sure someone will let us know if there in the wrong place on the list. The work is very much appreciated, but I certainly don't want to make any more for you. Miles
  25. MilesD
    My shipping priority is to anyone in this forum who wants one. Once that's done and I have inventory, I will go live with a website to order from. I will see if I can post a link to an invoice that will link again to my paypal for payment and shipping. Since FireCat has everybody numbered, we can just post something like "Currently accepting orders up to #30", kind of like boarding a plane. Just an idea, Miles
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