Jocman's Cockpit (will be a long, long work....)

[m0jo]

It's very hard to manage a thin plexy (2.5 mm) while you drill near the corners.... When you drill with small drill (3 mm) evrything's fine, but use big drills (> 5 mm) it's a big risk.

 

Its possible to drill large hole (~15mm) into thin acrylic, put tape on both side, clamp the piece to the drill press and use medium-low speed (~800-1200 rpm). Also, lighten the pressure when the drill bit is about to pierce the acrylic to prevent cracks. I have successfully drill 25 larges holes into a 3mm acrylic piece for the PVI-800 without any problems.

[JLZ]

If you drill ceramics you use smallest drill and then gradually increase size. Maybe you can use similar tactics?

[Prophet4no1]

If you drill ceramics you use smallest drill and then gradually increase size. Maybe you can use similar tactics?

 

 

The bit can catch at chip or crack the plastic when doing that.

[Jocman]

Thanks all for the suggestions.

Usually, I use to drill increasing the drill bit size. The biggest problem is that with small drill bits I use high spee, and the holes are really fine.

But with the increasing of the drill bit size, it increases also the possibility for the bit to jam into the plexy, even with lower speed; rather, and paradoxically, with lower speed the bit jam very oft at the end of drilling....

That's the reason why I broke 3 panels.

BTW, I have to say that my tools are not so specifics for those kind of works.

Nevertheless, I'm getting good results. In the next days I'll post some other pics.

 

Jocman

[aaron886]

Use a high speed and make sure you've got that bit turning before you insert it.

[Prophet4no1]

Like I said, high speed with a very light touch. Same idea as using a lath.

[Jocman]

Well, guys.

Short update.

2 days ago I've been called up to join ISAF in Kabul Paradise. So in the next 10 days (if nothing changes) I'll leave to visit uncle bin laden.

It means that my Ka50 cockpit's work has to be stopped untill I back home.

Before leave, I hope to post some pics about the current status of making; btw yesterday I tested for the first time the OC system, only for the displays, but it didn't work, Maybe something wrong, I've to test again. Anyway, I think to bring with me some OC cards, some switches and other small stuff, so I'll try to start programming the switches during my staying there.

Hopefully, I'll have the possibility to surf on internet, in that case I'll keep you informed.

 

Jocman

[Jocman]

Ok, here comes the last picture concerning the cockpit. I had to pack all for the long "duty pause".

As said, during my staying in Afghanistan I'll try to start programming the OC cards (of course I can't bring with me the cockpit components to work on them).

 

 

Jocman

[JLZ]

It looks good :)

 

I wish you best luck and safe trip

[Jocman]

Well, for those are interesting in my tales :) as my departure to Afghanistan paradise has been delayed (next week has to be the one, as I got yesterday the full equipment), I decided to drill another panel, before definitevely pack everything to my garage.

So here you find the last product of my sick mind, just drilled and tested the switches / switch-guard effects.

 

 

I'm pretty sure next post will come from Kabul.

Cheers

 

Jocman

[Avilator]

Nice job and good luck!:thumbup:

[Scudslaker]

TAKE CARE PILOT!!!!

 

and good job so far, hope you ll be back in place soon!)

[DTWD]

Looking sweet I have to say!

 

Be safe in 'stan...such a lovely place... :(

[Duckling]

Panel's a beauty A.

Looking forward to more when you return

 

Gus

[memento10]

Maybe you could find a shot down Black Shark from the soviet war and salvage parts... :)

[Jocman]

Hi Guys,

how is going life?

I'm still alive, here in Kabul's Paradise.

2 months since I'm here....I'm triying to keep working on my cockpit (or, better, start working again), but my duty seems never end day by day....

Anyway, I hope next week to set the desk in my room so to put all the electronics concerning the cockpit on it, then start working with programming the functions.

BTW, this long pause mined my brain, so now I've to get one more time the full mind-view of my cockpit, as I don't remember what I planned and how it had to work in my mind.....

Hard days....

Keep in touch guys

 

Cheers

 

Jocman

[Deadman]

It good to here your doing well The food is at least ok up there take care:thumbup:

[Jocman]

It good to here your doing well The food is at least ok up there take care:thumbup:

 

Hi Deadman. Unfortuntely the food isn't the best, but we're in a secondary Camp, so the food contractors use us to rescue the money they MUST use in the main Camp. BTW, we survive. i'm still waiting for an answer from you concerning the F16 belt; maybe it was a problem with my freacking IP, so or you didn't get my message or I didn't get your answer. Anyway can PM me about? Thankyou Jocman

[Deadman]

hum i don't know what happen new pm sent:thumbup:

[Duckling]

I don't remember what I planned and how it had to work in my mind.....Hard days....

 

Hallo A. Good to hear from you. I'm sure the path will return to your view when things cool down a bit :-)

Gus

[Ells228]

Take care out there Jocman

[Jocman]

Well, guys. Finally, after a log delay (about 2.5 months) I started again with the build. The last 2 days I fixed all the cockpit displays. Well, it means that they light on (just tested with the check software), but I'm quite sure this part of the work is made. Starting from tomorrow, I'll begin with the build of some sample switch (every kind: rotary switch, level switch, button, push button, encoder), then when 'i'll be sure each sample works, I'll start with the programming of the functions. Always hoping that I can use all in BS.... Check six. Jocman

[Jocman]

Hi all.

Well, today I started to program the OC cards. And I stopped...

In fact, I planned to check BS about the types of switches inside the cockpit (2 positions, 3 positions, rotary, encoder, etc etc), lights and so on, reporting all those informations on some sketches I made (pratically, I printed out some draws I made for my cockpit).

Then start with the programming of the switches, and every time check the results in BS.

Problem: I started BS, choosing Mission > Shooting range (the cockpit is "cold and dark", perfect for my tests). Then I wait for the mission to be loaded. and I wait....and I wait....5 minutes...10 minutes....nothing, PC blocked.

I press ctrl+alt+del; with the manager window opened, now I can see my desktop too, and I find an alert window: BS isn't responding, look online for a solution or quit the program.

I quit, the BS shows me the end screen (as I did the mission).

I asked DCS about, I'm waiting for an answer (anyway I'm using a laptop HP Pavilion dv7 - should be powerful enough - win7 home premium 64bit)

But in case of problem (meaning I can't running BS), I'd need to ask some of you a big favour:

I should send the PDFs of my sketches, then I need some of you to write on those sketches the various type of switches, buttons, etc, then send it back to me (I don't rememeber all the switches....).

this way I can start with the programming. Ok, I can't test it, but at least I make all the preliminary work, then when I'll back to Italy (meaning: march) I'll test everything on my monster PC, then fix the problem.

Can someone help me this way if DCS can't fix my problem?

Thanks in advance to anyone

 

Jocman

[Jocman]

I fixed the problem.

Now I can start working with OC cards and programming the switches

Hopefully

 

Jocman

[Jocman]

Hi guys.

It's about a week I'm getting brainstormed on how to make the OC cards interact with BS.

I got my OC system, I prepared all the sample switches / buttons / rotaries / etc etc, but now I can't find out how to proceed.

When I temporarely stopped my project (when I left to Kabul) I had more or less o complete overview on how to proceed.

but this long long work-pause has been a disaster. i don't remember anything....

So the current situation is that I'm spendiong the last 3 evenings digging into my HDDs looking for some hint, so as surfing the net, but uselessly...

Can anyone help me? I'd need to figure out again how to "build" the system, meaning:

- I know that I've to program SIOC to drive the switches connected to OC cards

- I know that in BS folder I can find the LUA files I need to get the variables I've to use (as clickabledata.lua)

- I know that someway SIOC has to interact with Import/Export to LUA files.

 

Can anyone describe me how to perform the tree points? I think (or better, I hope) I need only such an example (i.e. a simple switch) to study and understand how the system work, then I can proceed on my own.

 

Thankyou guys for the help (I need it :helpsmilie: :helpsmilie:)

 

Jocman