A-10C cockpit

[Duckling]

Hey Duckling, how's the pit progressing? Also, do you have a good source for aircores?

 

Hi Chibawang. Progress is slow but steady. Real life tend to take tribute. To many late evenings. I bought my batch of aircores from GunMan on vipers when he made a groupbuy together with Jay. Ping him, He might still have some in "stock". Other than that, no idea, sorry

 

/Gus

[sweinhart3]

well I dont know how the export file will handle that stuff. Im hoping it tells which lights are lit at any given time including flashing. I setup my panel so that the leds will do anything that the microcontroller tells it whether it be flashing or solid on/off. Im a novice with c++ and know nothing of LUA scripting. Plus the microcontroller conects to the pc via usb and i know nothing of creating a USB HID device and drivers. So I still have a shit ton of research to do.

[Chibawang]

Thanks for the info Duckling! I hear you about real life getting in the way, damn physical world and all. ;)

 

The flashing status will probably require a user coded software solution unless the PCIP can handle it. It shouldn't be too hard though, you can ask the lua about the state of pretty much everything in the simulation world before each frame, so it would probably just take a little extra scripting to get it to work correctly. I'm not saying I'm a pro by any means, but it's feasible. I'm light years away from stuff like that though, and really we'll probably need the module before we can really nail everything down.

 

In the meantime, I'm going to try and get everything built, wired up and interfaced with Lockon for test flights. :D

[JaBoG32_Exter]

Hi!

 

I would like to present my A10 Pit. The cockpit is a copy of a A10 Thunderbolt II. That cockpit contains two 10,4” TFT touchscreens with a touch-buddy profile created by myself. The TB-profile includes almost 100 pages with maps, airport ground and departure charts, checklists, game orders and a lot of other stuff. The next interesting point is the X52 extension. The stick is situated in the middle of the pit, like in a real A10. I tried to avoid the following condition “Aim to high, never fly”. I think it is a good compromise at the moment.

 

Thanks for the nice plans! So I was able to create my new pit :thumbup:

[JaBoG32_Exter]

I have the same project, but the idea is to go front panel only so I can move this one to LAN whenever needed :)

 

Anyway, I already know that I will work with a TFT to implement gauges on the front panel. I started creating A10 gauges for Flaming cliff a while ago with gauge composer.

 

Don't mind the ADi and VVI, they were done to match my current instrument bezels, it's a WIP anyway

 

 

cool! There is a programm for those gauges, allready (LOVP), but just for russian instruments. I would like to use A10 instruments in my A10 Pit as well, also with a TFT screen in the middle. Let us/me know when you´re finished. And please share your great work with our comunity!

[Duckling]

“Aim to high, never fly”. I think it is a good compromise at the moment.

 

LoL . have to agree on that. I'm still "stuck" :-). Love your solution of integrating the screens under the glareshield. One quizz. The "thing" looking like a calculator on frontmost righhand sidepanel, just a calc or some other nice something ?

 

/Gus

[JaBoG32_Exter]

One quizz. The "thing" looking like a calculator on frontmost righhand sidepanel, just a calc or some other nice something ?

/Gus

 

Just a calc :music_whistling: For Bingo, Joker Fuel Calculation etc.

[slowhand]

hey bro if you pm with your email address ..i have a set of cockpit plans your more then welcome too have...

[sweinhart3]

MILESTONE ACHIEVED

 

Hi all,

 

Might not seem like much but after 3 weeks of research and troubleshooting, I have finally made progess with the USB controller. I started out knowing nothing about USB and finally have successful enumeration of my microcontroller as a USB gaming device. Just a quick update for all you. While I dont have a physical pit yet, Ive been designing the electronics portion first and after many hours of failure, Windows Vista now talks to my controller and I can now program in all the buttons and functions I desire. So sorry I dont have pics but the programming is the second major half to getting a pit to talk to the computer and I just made some really good progress. Ill keep you all posted.

[sweinhart3]

I created a 3D CAD drawing of the pit based off of lotsa research. It will be made of wood since I know how to work with that. Just thought I would share the info. The ACES seat is wood too unless I can work up the money to buy a composite one. If anyone has questions lemme know.

[sweinhart3]

ADI concept

 

Ive been trying to figure this one out for quite some time now. Everything Ive read building a simulated ADI is one of the most challenging instruments to build. I created a quick basic cad drawing of the insides. Aside from actually figuring out a way to build this, the concept isnt super difficult other than one thing thats knawing at my brain. The pitch wouldnt wouldnt be difficult. I would have a stepper motor driving it with a belt. The bank indication is where everything gets complicated. The stepper motor in the back has to be able to drive the whole assembly in circles. The 2 rings I have in front and middle would be on bearings. The one in back would be an inside spur gear attached to the frame. This could work I think except I cant figure out how you route the wiring for it all. If the whole assembly has to be able to turn freely in either direction, you would end up with a twisted heap of mess after a few turns eventually snagging the whole entire thing. The real ADI is setup somewhat similar to this but I dont know how they got around that problem unless they used some fancy wireless tricks. I work on lots of robots at work and assemblies that built like this can only make 1 revolution before having to change directions. That of course would pose a problem in a sim where you can make 10 barrel rolls in a single direction if you want. One solution would be to have the controller reverse its direction once it reaches the limit but Im not sure how realistic that is. Any other ideas would be welcome.

[sweinhart3]

Oh here is my drawing of the engine instruments. I have measurements and sizes for all the parts. If you want more details pm me.

[CyBerkut]

sweinhart3. A common method of passing electrical current through to/from rotating elements is a slip ring.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slip_rings

[sweinhart3]

hi. thnx for the reply. I actually thought of that but actually implementing that would require custom made parts that I think would be rather expensive. I actually found real avionics ADI on EBAY really cheap. Im thinking it might be simpler to rewire that to interface rather than trying to build one from scratch.

[Scudslaker]

well i m sorry, don t know if i understand all complete,

 

is anyone planing to use stepper motors for the cockpit instruments?

if yes how do you export the data with lua script??

i m getting deeper into these things and whould be pleasant to get some good informations on those electronial aspects!)

 

 

many thx

 

Scudslaker

[Duckling]

..The real ADI is setup somewhat similar to this but I dont know how they got around that problem unless they used some fancy wireless tricks. I work on lots of robots at work and assemblies that built like this can only make 1 revolution before having to change directions. That of course would pose a problem in a sim where you can make 10 barrel rolls in a single direction if you want. One solution would be to have the controller reverse its direction once it reaches the limit but Im not sure how realistic that is. Any other ideas would be welcome.

 

 

.. well i m sorry, don t know if i understand all complete... whould be pleasant to get some good informations on those electronial aspects!)

Scudslaker

 

ADI and HSI is by far the more complex units to interface, and is driven by syncros for the main axis. (Open up these babes for a peak inside ruled out any of my earlier ideas for homebuild equivelants :-)

Interfacing these is a complete different game then steppers. Civil parts useable can be spotted on ebay at fairly resonable prices (compared with building something homebrewed look-alike).

If you havn't already aquired a copy, I highly recommend the second addition of Mike Powels book: http://www.mikesflightdeck.com/upcoming_book.htm super as both approach, reference and ideas. Mike also added ready made PCB templates (also downloadable production files from his site) on the diffrent topics including the syncro approch

 

 

Scudlaker, no worries but you have to take a dive down into the material avalible and take it step by step. Export info can be found in LUA documentation within the sim installed folders and there's plenty of info avalible here and on other sim sites. Interfacing the sim (if using opencockpits for example) can be made with ready made interface cards dependng on type. No syncros/air-cores from them though. Running with OC's SIOC enable you to push data to external instruments or homemade.

 

LUA.org have additional documentation also

 

cheers

Gus

Edited March 23, 2010 by Duckling

[sweinhart3]

Current state of my pit

 

I havent really done much with my pit in quite some time with full time school and work but since Im on school break I decided to cut and make the beginnings of the instrument panel. I also included a couple of pics of my setup as is.

[Oscar]

@sweinhart3

 

I have all the deminsional data for the ACESII and the left and right consoles. What I need is the deminsional data for the Center Panel and construction can begin. Could you (or anyone else here) provide the Center Panel sizes. Thanks.

[Scudslaker]

okey guys thats nice, who ll sell one combo to me? pls pm me!=)

[sweinhart3]

Got some work done today. Probably the last bit for the next couple months since school starts back up next week.

[y2kiah]

looking good! which ACES II kit did you use, or did you diy? What was your choice of wood for the seat? it looks nice

 

edit: on second glance... looks like MDF maybe?

[sweinhart3]

Yes the chair is MDF and from SCSimulations.com

[Oscar]

I found this drawing somewhere on this forum but I don't know whom to credit for providing it. What I can't figure out, are the deminsions in inches or mm? I'm thinking these are in inches. Are these correct or close to correct? Any assistance would be appreciated.

 

[Deadman]

that is sweinhart3 drawing no it is not correct

[Oscar]

Somebody have something more current then? I sure could use the help which would be greatly appreciated.