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F18 UFC DIY


KewinSawicki

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Hi all. I've been after a UFC panel for the F-18 as I find it annoying trying to input data via the game. I find it I use the UFC a lot and thought I could buy one however there are none available on the market as far as I could see.

 

After watching some Youtube videos on how to make a button box I thought I'd make my own UFC.

 

(Please bear in mind this will only be a button box with additional 2 3-way switches. This is in no way going to be a replica of the actual panel)

 

I am limited as to how many buttons I can fit into the "UFC" as the control board can only support 32 individual input signals. IE 32 buttons.

 

This is only a start as I'm still waiting on the 3-way switches, round buttons and the control board arriving.

 

I will share all the links to the items I purchased in order to make this "UFC".

 

I will attach photographs of different stages of the build as I go along.

 

Hopefully this won't end in a great ball of fire.

'Fear the strike'

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Links to items needed.

 

Here's the list of everything I bought.

 

Control board - https://www.symprojects.com/jc32-joystick-controller

 

Square switches -https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07CZL13JZ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

Round switches - http://https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B008ZYF8ZU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

Toggle switches - https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01EZZHT0O/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

Wire - https://www.halfords.com/workshop-tools/garage-equipment/fuses-electricals-fixings/halfords-standard--speaker-cable-hef703?_br_psugg_q=speaker+wire

 

Self adhesive film (The box I have for my panel is light blue/green so to make it black i will use this) - https://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/fablon-vinyl-chalkboard/599154-1000

 

I also will need (but I already own)

 

- Soldering iron kit.

 

-Wire stripper

 

-Box/Housing to fit it all.

 

-Drill with drill bits

 

-Pen, paper and ruler (for the button layout schematics)

'Fear the strike'

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Phots #1

 

Here are a few photos of what the things I ordered look like.

 

Also you can see the schematics and the housing it self.

 

When drawing the schematics I drew the lid of the box on a bit of paper.

 

Spaced it out evenly (1x1cm) boxes.

 

I then proceeded to place the buttons in places I wanted them and marked it on the sheet.

 

This will help me drill the holes in exact spaces on the housing when I'm ready to do it.

1908682777_toggleswitch.PNG.c33c361a116a02234ffca3a06c4bb43c.PNG

134305454_squareswitch.PNG.9976494462bccfff26f4bfc8cd18e991.PNG

1094036399_roundswitch.PNG.297e1ac89c8c06bb9f1aab7df28ceddd.PNG

2086597643_boxclosed.thumb.jpg.3cdad0384e1589ec8c08132432266aa0.jpg

1187309454_boxopen.thumb.jpg.c9d744aa1b7c4a5594c2b3a74e8ff8d8.jpg

controller.PNG.03bb4c03c0d472beecfaccc94f948c45.PNG

schematicandswitches.thumb.jpg.3a48e5ba90a0245e7887ed7e64036b44.jpg

schematicandswitches2.thumb.jpg.a418b62580a840e9d5a9d199df133f1b.jpg

schematic1.thumb.jpg.a52be6cc85548be563a0a7d0da1ad87c.jpg


Edited by KewinSawicki

'Fear the strike'

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Thank you for the above.

 

I just want to say that I have never attempted anything like this before and have no experience in 3-D modelling, electronics or anything like that. I thought I'd share this with someone in case they don't fancy spending the £400 they mentioned in the above thread and instead fancy a £60 (less professional) build.

'Fear the strike'

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I plan on implementing the maser arm switch as a 3 way toggle switch and the A/A and A/G master mode buttons to make it a little bit more practical.

 

Everything that has a red box around it I plan to implement and everything else I'm giving a miss.

646753831_Masterarm..jpg.8c998a0901deb8276da5120bf0a2a473.jpg

1013161685_UFCplan.thumb.jpg.fa801b16fec8b2f228aebfeb88383853.jpg

'Fear the strike'

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Good luck with this, I am sure it will be a great addition to your simming. I to and working on a "desktop UFC" for my Hornet but an lucky enough to have a 3D printer. When the design is done, hopefully will share it...

 

UFC-Capture.png

 

I am designing it to fit between 2 Thrustmaster Cougar MFDs.

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Good luck with this, I am sure it will be a great addition to your simming. I to and working on a "desktop UFC" for my Hornet but an lucky enough to have a 3D printer. When the design is done, hopefully will share it...

 

UFC-Capture.png

 

I am designing it to fit between 2 Thrustmaster Cougar MFDs.

 

How about a design that you can also attach your mfds to it? That would be great !

'Fear the strike'

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Enjoy! And experience tells me it won't be "that's it" ;) Always one thing or another in this quest.

hsb

HW Spec in Spoiler

---

 

i7-10700K Direct-To-Die/OC'ed to 5.1GHz, MSI Z490 MB, 32GB DDR4 3200MHz, EVGA 2080 Ti FTW3, NVMe+SSD, Win 10 x64 Pro, MFG, Warthog, TM MFDs, Komodo Huey set, Rverbe G1

 

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Currently in the testing stages.

 

All works apart from one toggle switch which is for ADF. I've got a feeling its the switch more than anything else and one slight issue with the cabling. The back of the box is not big enough to house all the switches which is proving difficult. I might change the box not sure yet. So far happy with the results.

'Fear the strike'

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Hi,

 

as i am also interested in building an UFC on my own i am wondering, what is the correct choice for segmnt LEDs?

 

Are these 14(16)segemnt LEDs used in the real Hornet or is it more like a matrix LED style (like we see in the Sim)

 

Anyone knows?

 

THX?

DCS Open beta

F/A-18C, A-10C

 

Win10, i7-8700k, AsRock Z370 Extreme 4, GTX1080Ti, 32" 2K Samsung TFT Main screen, 22" 1K Iiyama Touch screen.

 

Warthog HOTAS

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Hi,

 

as i am also interested in building an UFC on my own i am wondering, what is the correct choice for segmnt LEDs?

 

Are these 14(16)segemnt LEDs used in the real Hornet or is it more like a matrix LED style (like we see in the Sim)

 

Anyone knows?

 

THX?

 

Couldn't tell you mate. Absolutely no idea.

'Fear the strike'

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  • 2 weeks later...

I just went VR and am thinking of building the same solution . Any chance you could post or send the panel layout dimensions ?

9700k @ stock , Aorus Pro Z390 wifi , 32gb 3200 mhz CL16 , 1tb EVO 970 , MSI RX 6800XT Gaming X TRIO , Seasonic Prime 850w Gold , Coolermaster H500m , Noctua NH-D15S , CH Pro throttle and T50CM2/WarBrD base on Foxxmounts , CH pedals , Reverb G2v2

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I see it now , thanks very much !

9700k @ stock , Aorus Pro Z390 wifi , 32gb 3200 mhz CL16 , 1tb EVO 970 , MSI RX 6800XT Gaming X TRIO , Seasonic Prime 850w Gold , Coolermaster H500m , Noctua NH-D15S , CH Pro throttle and T50CM2/WarBrD base on Foxxmounts , CH pedals , Reverb G2v2

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