GIVEAWAY.. prototype MiG-21bis Main Power Panel

[pappavis]

FREE.. (sortof)

I'm giving away my homebuilt prototype MiG-21bis Main Power Panel.

 

Cost: €16 + shipping, You only pay for the parts & shipping. I'm NOT making money of this.

 

Its plug-n-play with USB port.

 

Why?

1. My budget is limit. I need to sell this, to afford 'version 0.0.2'.

2. So i can afford version 0.0.3 which features Chinese machine manufactured PCB circuitry.

3. Make sum1 happy..

 

What u get?

An arduino Uno.

The PCB with hand soldered on-off switches.

 

NOTE:

* Its my first attempt at cockpit making.

* This is a hobby project. Theres no shop guarentee.

* The buttons are skew, and not really on their-place.. but it works.

* If you know Arduino, you can easily adapt it for the Ka-50, A-10C or UH-1H.

* It comes fully assembled. Just like on the pix below.

 

Usage;

1. Connect the Arduino to USB port.

2. Download + install dcs-bios, modify your export.lua-file & CMD-file using Notepad++.

3. Start dcs-bios CMD-file.

4. Start DCS-world, and MiG-21bis mission.

5. Enjoy.

Total time: <=10 minutes.

 

Not scared yet?

Not afraid of being an alfa tester? :music_whistling:

 

Drop me a PM.

[Darkwolf]

Hi Pappavis,

 

How Arduino working with DCS bios ? It that stable ? I used to do cockpit parts out of opencockpit cards, but they are very expensive and SIOC is PITA to work with.

I'll probably do a mig-21 when money returns, but i'd like to know more about Arduino so i can choice to keep going with SIOC or switch to arduino

[pappavis]

I have no experience with SIOC.

 

DCS-bios + Arduino = easy!!

98% of cockpits begin built by forum members are for the A-10C. Most of them switched to Arduino.

[Harle]

Is it possible to do the same with Raspberry Pi?

[Krinje]

The Pi is fixed as a USB master and there is no easy way to make it a device. It also has comparatively limited I/O and waaaaaay more possessing than required. I'd recommend looking at the Teensy 3.2 or LC they are programmed just like an Arduino, are more powerful and cost much less. For lots of buttons and switches I'd also recommend a couple port expanders (MCP23017 MCP23008 ) they talk to the uc over i2c serial and act like (16 or 8 ) extra pins. Check adafruit they have a library for these two chips!

 

My Panel http://I.imgur.com/JQCgCx5.jpg

Edited January 18, 2016 by Krinje

[pappavis]

they talk to the uc over i2c serial and act like (16 or 8 ) extra pins. Check adafruit they have a library for these two chips!

 

My Panel http://I.imgur.com/JQCgCx5.jpg

 

Nice thing u got going there :). U using an Arduino?

 

Certainly one could use a Pi which i use to wtch movies. Using it with DCS is beyond my capabilities. Since DCS-BIOS has opened possibilityies of exploiting cheapo Arduino's.

Edited January 19, 2016 by pappavis

[Krinje]

Teensy 3.1 It's a different chipset w/ the Arduino bootloader built in. Same easy code and libraries in a smaller more powerful package with additonal features (the uc is a cortexM4) Over kill for switches but the now 3.2 is only 20usd and the LC is around 10. Much more reasonable than 'real' Arduinos.

[pappavis]

UPDATED: with PCBs

 

I just received prototype PCBs from China and did sum soldering.

 

The next version will be a Arduino Nano shield. No kabelsalat wiring.Only a usb cable to the computer. :)

 

[Kрлe]

Why use Arduino, is there a cheaper alternative.There is a small PCB with chip and couple of components in side of my old joystick(so no need for whole Arduino).

[pappavis]

Why i use arduino;

1. Bcs of DCS-BIOS which has made interacting with DCS plug-n-play. It runs on arduino.

2. Cost. I buy an Arduino Nano V3 from AliExpress in China for €2,20.

3. I can design custom-built printed circuitboards + made in china for €2,50 p.piece.

4. Trying to make rip components & make 'em work with DCS? Spare me the time. No thanks. Thanx to DCS-BIOS its became so easy nearly any1 can do it.

 

Total production cost per panel could be as little as €20 -- as an Arduino shield.

 

Why use Arduino, is there a cheaper alternative.There is a small PCB with chip and couple of components in side of my old joystick(so no need for whole Arduino).

[Kрлe]

Thx, i am going to make a replica of MiG 21 throttle using 3D printer and most likely Arduino. Its going to include:

 

1. Slide button for air-brake

2. Push button for communication

3. Rotating handle for radar range

4. Countermeasures button

5. Throttle

6. (MAYBE)Friction handle for seting friction of throttle

7. (MAYBE)4 buttons for flaps

 

Also i am going to make radar control panel, landing gear panel, weapons controle panel...

[1.JaVA_Platypus]

Thx, i am going to make a replica of MiG 21 throttle using 3D printer and most likely Arduino. Its going to include:

 

...

7. (MAYBE)4 buttons for flaps

 

Also i am going to make radar control panel, landing gear panel, weapons controle panel...

 

Excuse me, the Flap switch can easily be done with one switch (wich has three positions) it only needs some extra coding in the joystick default.lua. It is also usable for the Warthog Throttle Flap switch. Here is the code:

 

{down=device_commands.Flaps0,cockpit_device_id=devices.FLAPS,up=device_commands.Flaps25,value_down=1.0,value_up=1.0,name='Alternate Flaps Up',category='Flight Controls'},
{down=device_commands.Flaps45,cockpit_device_id=devices.FLAPS,up=device_commands.Flaps25,value_down=1.0,value_up=1.0,name='Alternate Flaps Down',category='Flight Controls'},

 

Now you only have to assign the command of "Alternate flap up" and "Alternate flaps down" and the middle position of the Warthog Flap switch also 'works'! Something similar can be done with the Landing Gear switch and the radar on/off/standby switch.

Edited February 15, 2016 by 1.JaVA_Platypus

[Kрлe]

I am probably going to do that for radar power, radar filter and landing gear switches, but for flaps i wana make it look as reall thing. Thanks anyway.

[pappavis]

here's the latest version.

A custommade Arduino shield :D . Look, all wires are gone.

Featuring DCS-bios integration with Max487 linkups

 

[the_soupdragon]

Are you going to be selling these? If so How much?

 

Cheers

SD

[Krinje]

Well done, looks great!

[f4l0]

Where did you order? How did you design the pcb?

[pappavis]

Are you going to be selling these? If so How much?

 

Selling, no. Coz this is a test-version.

However, i can send u can be a beta tester.. however, i will ask €'s for the components used & Arduino. Cost? Just a little more than a McDonalds Big Mac + fries + cola + McFlurry.

 

Its plug'nplay. Install & get DCS-bios running (i.e. add a line of code to export.lua) and its working. Takes about 2 minutes.

 

Well done, looks great!

 

Thanx :)

 

Where did you order? How did you design the pcb?

 

Stuff i used;

* Software. KiCAD -- Open Source for the PCB designwork

* Ordered from Chinese company http://dirtyPCBs.com for the PCB manufacture. Their cheap and VERY good.

* Wanna know more, PM me. U R welcome to write in Deutche sprache, i'm trying to learn ;).

 

TODO;

* Implement backlighting for the panels.

* Move the Max487 IC about 8cm to the right.

* Move the RJ45-connector next to the I2C-headers.

* Add 3x expansion headers, so one can use the PO-750 Circuitbreakers

 

Obstacles;

1. I dont know the real cockpit dimensions & spacing between buttons & switches. LN isnt exactly forthcoming in this regard.

2. Manufacturing PCBs to real life scale could be expensive. Likely, one would need then 2x PCBs for the main powerpanel. My solution: space switches close to eachother.

3. Funding €'s to R&D and build new prototypes.

 

Wannabe betatester? PM me. I can afford 2x beta testers.

 

Edited March 10, 2016 by pappavis
youtube link fixed

[Sokol1_br]

In DCS Forum instead link YT video:

 

[YOUTUBE ]

[/YOUTUBE]

 

Link:

 

[YOUTUBE ]EQ1CZk0hsAc[/YOUTUBE]

 

 

;)