HitchHikingFlatlander Posted November 9, 2011 Posted November 9, 2011 Damn nice work! http://dcs-mercenaries.com/ USA Squad
aces_full85 Posted November 9, 2011 Posted November 9, 2011 I can't believe how good your panels look. Keep up the good work!
y2kiah Posted November 9, 2011 Posted November 9, 2011 how did you engrave through the paint without creating dust? was the paint still wet when you engraved?
Gadroc Posted November 9, 2011 Author Posted November 9, 2011 how did you engrave through the paint without creating dust? was the paint still wet when you engraved? The paint was not wet to the touch but it probably was not fully dry. I put 4 coats on about 45 mins apart and then had about 2 hours to dry after last coat. There was some dust but not much. I did pull the trigger on the upgraded controller for the laser cutter. The export for engrave was crash moshidraw and I'm tired of remembering to fiddling with the manual power control before each cut. New controller can do engrave and cut in one job as well as digitally control the laser power. New parts have shipped today... whee.
Gadroc Posted November 9, 2011 Author Posted November 9, 2011 Added link in OP to my sketch up files. Will post up my corel draw files for caution panel and electric power panel tonight.
Ranger79 Posted November 9, 2011 Posted November 9, 2011 (edited) More work on HELIOS Gadroc lol, need an update for BS2. BTW the panels look sick! Edited November 9, 2011 by Ranger79 1 [sIGPIC][/sIGPIC] Ranger79 OEF/OIF Veteran YouTube Channel Twitch Channel Mods, Missions, & Tutorials: Operation Piercing Fury Campaign Ranger79's Object Pack ISIS CrisIS Campaign Mission Editing Video Series
Gadroc Posted November 9, 2011 Author Posted November 9, 2011 LOL. I knew that would be coming up ;P. Yea I have a bunch of fixes about ready to go out the door. I delayed them to get BS2 working. This last past weekend I had earmarked time to work on BS2... but unfortunately my downloads where corrupted and I had to redownload which made me miss my "productive time" window.
Ranger79 Posted November 9, 2011 Posted November 9, 2011 Hey man, no problem. Your finished pit is going to be awesome! [sIGPIC][/sIGPIC] Ranger79 OEF/OIF Veteran YouTube Channel Twitch Channel Mods, Missions, & Tutorials: Operation Piercing Fury Campaign Ranger79's Object Pack ISIS CrisIS Campaign Mission Editing Video Series
Gadroc Posted November 11, 2011 Author Posted November 11, 2011 Caution panel is finished! Here it is all lit up and purtie! Here is the nasty rat's nest inside. Now I need to get access to that CNC machine and get my consoles cutout so I can mount it up.
Buckram Posted November 11, 2011 Posted November 11, 2011 Looking great man, can't wait to see the finished product! Achieving World Peace - One 2000lb JDAM at a time. Intel i7 9700K, 32GB Corsair Vengeance DDR4 3200Mhz , ASUS ROG STRIX GTX 1080 TI OC, Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog, Saitek Pro Rudder Pedals, Oculus Rift S. ~ Proud Member of the 62nd Fighting Falcons ~ [sIGPIC][/sIGPIC]
BigBANGtheory Posted November 11, 2011 Posted November 11, 2011 omg you could sell that back to the US armed forces I reckon
Gadroc Posted November 18, 2011 Author Posted November 18, 2011 I got the new controller set up and mostly calibrated now on the laser engraver. MUCH nicer but I still have to put it through it's paces for the CMSP panel I'm working on. I also finally got my key and access code to the workshop and have access to the shopbot so I'm working on the structure again as well. I'm going to change up from my earlier thread and switch to y2kiahs design and have an external skin. I'm already committing to a one aircraft set of panels might as well go all the way. Long live DCS A-10C :joystick:! I will be using my center panel design though for the EHSI/ADI. The caution panel shown in this thread is up for sale $125 + shipping PM me if you want it. Included is all of the laser cut pieces, stands offs. I can add LEDs for an additional $25, but you'll have to supply your own LED controller. This panel is width accurate but does not comply to DZUS spacing or panel length standards (it's 5.75 and it should be 6 or 5.625 inches for spec.). I will probably be doing limited runs of each panel as I complete them (5 or so each). I'm also considering doing group buys for the panel switches. Please let me know if you're interested.
avlolga Posted November 18, 2011 Posted November 18, 2011 Hi Gadroc, you talking about full panel switching? what type of switching? Thanks
Gadroc Posted November 18, 2011 Author Posted November 18, 2011 I'm talking about group purchasing the high cost locking lever switches used on several panels. Mainly the CMPS and AHCP panels. These locking level switches are usually $70-$120 each when bought in small qty, but usually if you buy 10-24 at a time the cost can drop $20-$50 per switch. For example the Honeywell 12TW1-50M switch used on the CMSP panel is $83 when bought each, but if I can get enough people to have over 10 ordered at the same time they drop to $51 each.
avlolga Posted November 18, 2011 Posted November 18, 2011 :( those sw are looking good, unfortunately its way over my budget. Thanks
Gadroc Posted November 19, 2011 Author Posted November 19, 2011 CMSP is underway I've got the CMSP panel all cut and fitting together. Here is a quick photo with the display fitted in a running a test message. I still have to cut out the button and flanges. Then I'll have to glue paint and engrave them. I should have them done tomorrow. I also need to rig up a backlight testing board while I design the circuit board to drive this one. The new controller board is awesome. I can now set speed and power for the engrave digitally so I can repeat the same settings easily. It also has much better origin control so I can make much more effective use of scrap material from previous cuts. I've very happy how the engrave and cut of the laser mark turned out on this panel, although in some spots the lines and lettering is "gunned up" but that's because I screwed in clean up.
y2kiah Posted November 20, 2011 Posted November 20, 2011 looks great! Which display did you use? I was never able to find one of that type that fit the panel.
pitbldr Posted November 20, 2011 Posted November 20, 2011 Looks great!! Where'd you get the lcd from? Will it be controlled by HELIOS?
Gadroc Posted November 20, 2011 Author Posted November 20, 2011 I just grabbed one of these over at Microcenter. It's 16x2 which means it won't look quite right as there will be no space between the 4 character groups, but anything bigger won't fit. The better option is some OSRAMs or Avago small LED array displays. I was looking at four of these avagos and then another four of the smaller variant for the bottom row of text. That's about $200 for the display alone then. I decided to spend that money on switches first. I may comeback and redo this panel after more is done. I will be interfacing with some of those avago's when I build my Altimeter as I'll use them instead of the mechanical digital altitude counters. You break the Skyrim habit yet ;)
Deadman Posted November 20, 2011 Posted November 20, 2011 you should be able to find some green or blue green gel to cove the display to give it an NVIS look to it. http://www.stagespot.com/gel.html https://forum.dcs.world/topic/133818-deadmans-cockpit-base-plans/#comment-133824 CNCs and Laser engravers are great but they can't do squat with out a precise set of plans.
Gadroc Posted November 20, 2011 Author Posted November 20, 2011 Hmm. Might get a couple of those and do some research if I can cut the on the laser. Would make good nvis filter for the entire panel backlight.
Deadman Posted November 20, 2011 Posted November 20, 2011 You can use EL sheets or tape in the blue green to back light the panel. It has several pluses it light evenly and has only on electrical connection instead of wiring 6 to 15 leds. AFAIK it has been used very successfully in the F-16 community https://forum.dcs.world/topic/133818-deadmans-cockpit-base-plans/#comment-133824 CNCs and Laser engravers are great but they can't do squat with out a precise set of plans.
Gadroc Posted November 20, 2011 Author Posted November 20, 2011 I've thought about it but it comes with it's own sets of challenges, not least of which is it gets damn expensive. It will also require another power system which I'd like to avoid.
avlolga Posted November 20, 2011 Posted November 20, 2011 I'm talking about group purchasing the high cost locking lever switches used on several panels. Mainly the CMPS and AHCP panels. These locking level switches are usually $70-$120 each when bought in small qty, but usually if you buy 10-24 at a time the cost can drop $20-$50 per switch. For example the Honeywell 12TW1-50M switch used on the CMSP panel is $83 when bought each, but if I can get enough people to have over 10 ordered at the same time they drop to $51 each. Hi Gadroc, i like to update regarding to some Switches i got today in very good price (i think so) i have ask the seller to keep some for me, so i will ask if some one like to buy those. i will arrange to shipment for you. please let me know who is interest. the Switches comes in bulk of 25 /10 psc: 25 for the On/Off Honeywell - 8501k9 10 for the Off/(On) momentary price for 1 switch is 10$ + shipping + pp fee. I will try to get 1 $ discount for lot of 25. I know there are about 10 lots of Off/(On) and about 5X25 lots of On/Off 25.
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