UFC Sim Panel Creation

[Frodo]

Hello everyone,

 

I have seen tons of posts pertaining to sim panels throughout the forums but it seems it has been several years since anything new was posted.

 

I am currently in the process of building a UFC panel from scratch. I am having the face plate cut from Front Panel Express based on my design and layout. I tried to get it as close to real as I could but I could not find any real world dimensions for the UFC panel.

 

I plan on having the buttons printed on a 3d printer once I get the face plate so it will just sit behind the plate with no wiggle or issues.

 

Behind that I am going to have the breadboard with all my pushbuttons (12mm).

 

I am going with the Groovy Game gear USB board to interface with DCS.

 

My main question is going to be best practices for backlighting. I am thinking I can just use a spacer and have the LED's behind the breadboard. I am going to try to tie the dimmer into the sim so it will interface with the panel lighting. If anyone has any suggestions on this specific topic please give me your thoughts.

 

Frodo

[agrasyuk]

Dedicated section for pit building: http://forums.eagle.ru/forumdisplay.php?f=101

Lynx DM thread is the only one I can think of at the moment, there were more UFC projects listed before.

I'm not sure what are you asking as far as best practices. I will be very obvious here: best practice is to have the panel and buttons made of non opacue material and have a light source behind :music_whistling:

you saying that you already ordered the front panel, is it translucent?

 

you will find quite a few ideas as far as material, light source and powering that light source.

Since UFC also contains output element (MC button light) consider how you are going to implement that. Look into DCS BIOS thread (sticky) for combined input -output interface .

 

Good luck

[Hansolo]

Welcome Frodo,

 

As agrasyuk said I also believe that LynxDK is about the only one currently having plans for making a UFC, and I sincerely consider buying one of them as soon as he has a price on it; http://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=2412625&postcount=91

 

With regard to backlighting techniques check out this thread by Warhog;

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=138740

He is one of the top dogs in panel building :thumbup:

 

Cheers

Hans

[Frodo]

Thank you both gentlemen. These are exactly what I was looking for but couldn't find on my own. I will put up some pics when I get going on my UFC. I am going to do something very similar but I am going to have everything 3D printed so it is one big piece.