New Pit Builder Questions

[chester2175]

Hey Guys,

 

I am new to the forum. I have started building my first pit. I am working on an A-10C. I have a few questions that may have been answered in earlier posts, but I havent found them.

 

1. I have a pretty good idea of how I will build my gauges. The exception being the ADI, backup ADI, and HSI. Does anyone have any tips, or tutorials on these?

 

2. I have been planning on buying a laser to engrave my panels, however if I can find them at an affordable price I will just buy them. Is anyone selling them at a decent price?

 

I did want to say a big THANK YOU to dimebug! I have used his plans, and almost finished the wood work. They worked perfectly. If anyone has answers to the questions above it would be great.

 

Thanks,

Chad

[Mike Powell]

Hi Chad,

 

These links may help:

 

http://www.scotthendry.com/hsi_project.htm

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=142373

http://mikesflightdeck.com/instruments/servo_instruments.html

 

I seem to recall someone over at Viperpits http://www.viperpits.org/smf/index.php using a small LCD to create small complex instruments like HSIs and ADIs, but I can't remember who.

 

Very few people attempt such projects. As you build your, please post lots of pix.

 

Cheers

[chester2175]

Thanks Mike,

 

The ADI design was basically what i had in mind, except I was considering using a ball for the gauge. I am very glad to see my thinking is in the right direction. I will post some pics later. I have most of the wood work done, but I still have to pretty it up some.

[agrasyuk]

I can make panels for you,but If you have budget and space for laser GO FOR IT. Having the tool to make your own stuff can't be beat and you will find more and more uses for it as you go. Besides panels simple mechanics can be made.

 

I started my laser journey with small k40 cheap laser and DSP upgrade. While it made some good parts , if I to do it over again I would skip it completely and go directly to the machine I have now. But 2500K$ is not always very easy to budget . also think of entilation , this crusial aspect is easily overlooked .

[chester2175]

Hey Anton,

 

How much do you charge for the full set of panels?

[bnepethomas]

Re the ADI, I cheated and went with Simmeters, aside from a speed bump with DCS not exporting anything useful for the RWR, I've been very happy with them. Hopefully they'll be fully back in action one day. The contrast on the Simmeters displays is amazing, would love to score a small OLED display with HDMI or VGA input to replace the LC screen I'm currently using fro the RWR

 

cheers

 

Peter

[chester2175]

Acrylic Thickness

 

Hey guys!

 

I decided to buy a laser. I have made several test panels with 5 mil acrylic. Using 3 layers is just too thick. What thickness is everyone using?

 

Thanks,

Chad

[romeokilo]

Some of mine have a 3mm rear, 4mm spacer and 2mm front which seemed to give the best results.

 

However to keep things simple I now use 3mm for every layer. Makes it easier to buy materials and easier to cut and engrave because I almost never have to adjust my Z axis. And the results are just as good.

 

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

[chester2175]

I was thinking 3mm for all would work well, but wasnt sure. I know 3 layers of 5mm is way too thick.

 

Thanks for the input!

[bnepethomas]

Mine at 3 lots of 3mm, top is white painted black, and then lasered, lower two are black. Just the right depth to deal with the nuts on the toggle switches.

 

Cheers

 

Peter