Gadroc's A-10 Build

[Gadroc]

Been to long and slow.. but more progress.

 

I got in the first prototype batch of the EOS Panel Board. They turned out great and I've got my list of changes before I mass order PCBs to run the cockpit.

 

 

Each board has the following:

16 Digital Inputs

16 LED outputs (non-dimmable) with builtin limit resistors

1 Backlight channel (dimmable) with 14 outputs with limit resistors

4 Analog in (can be used as servo outputs as well via firmware change)

4 100ma switched outputs

 

After using the board I'm going to make a few modifications.

 

1) Drop 4 switched outputs only used in a few scenarios. I'm going to pull up the I2C bus and a few more unused pins to an expansion header. This will allow me to make a small daughterboard to drive LCD or 7segs.

 

2) Make it a little shorter to cut down on cost. Number 1 drops four transistors and resistors off the board.

 

 

I also re-did my AHCP panel. I switched over to the NKK locking switches and made it run off the EOS Panel Board. Things got much tidier than the mess of wires going to shared bodnar boards.

 

 

I've also put in place an mini-ITX computer which will run my HSI/ADI screens. I also hacked it's power supply to run all the EOS panels and in console monitors. Turn on the pit computer and the pit springs to life. I also dropped back from 3 46 TVs to a single one. Life is so much simpler setting up DCS on one external monitor. The right side rails are all in place with caution panel and CMSP complete and mounted.

 

I missed my goal of being flight ready today, but I just need to setup my Helios profiles and new monitor configs.

 

Next weeks plans:

1) Re-route new center panel to use 5" LCD for ADI. It's a much longer term plan to get the real ADI working.

2) Finish electronic panel.

[metalnwood]

looking fantastic as usual!

 

Down to 1 main display eh? Well I suppose you still have trackir and it is something you get used to when you go back to one.

 

I understand about the hoops you have to go through sometimes to get it working right.

 

No doubt you have also been having a think how nice one of those tv's would be in the bedroom and maybe another in the workshop :)

[Hansolo]

Whoa looking great. What a neat board setup :thumbup:

 

Looks like everything has been anticipated with the board as the power and Bus looks to be inserted from the rear side. Will follow your progress with great interest

 

 

Cheers

 

Hans

[agrasyuk]

yep, those switches indeed look awesome. to bad they don't have them in On-Off-(On) configuration for the CMSP.

 

Back to single TV? Changed your mind on projection setup?

Edited June 11, 2013 by agrasyuk

[Avilator]

Not quite the same shape as the others, but these fit the On-Off-(On) actuation. http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/M2019LL1W01/360-2671-ND/1027457

[metalnwood]

Only issue with thsoe switches is that they are shorter and 1/4" panel mount rather than 1/2". The price is good though. I have found that its cheaper to get the honeywell switches from the couple of suppliers there have been links to here than getting the locking toggle switches from digikey which seem to cost more.

[jrsteensen]

Not quite the same shape as the others, but these fit the On-Off-(On) actuation. http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/M2019LL1W01/360-2671-ND/1027457

 

Those bats are tiny and you really have to focus on grabbing the bat, versus the bushing. (I have several of them.)

[tacno]

"Que c'est beau !"

 

Beautiful, Gadroc ! As all you do...

[Avilator]

Those bats are tiny and you really have to focus on grabbing the bat, versus the bushing. (I have several of them.)

 

I haven't actually purchased any switches yet, so I didn't know that they were that hard to grab. Thanks for the info.

[agrasyuk]

Yeah, those are the miniature ones, I have a few laying around. Better then nothing but as said they care very small. And the full size on-off-(on) I came across are way to expensive for me, let alone I couldn't find a full set of 4.

[MTFDarkEagle]

Keep a good look on ebay! I found a honeywell locking 3 position toggle switch (locking on 1 side), for 5 or so bucks (can't remember exactly)(+shipping). Upon looking up the model name it was 60-70 dollars new.

[Gadroc]

I have nearly all of the real locking toggles and I got them all for <$25 each but finding on e-bay or surplus shops. The ones I do not have are the AHCP and CMSP ones which are the honeywell 12tw series (mushroom top instead of the ball tops). They rarely come up for sale and retail for >$100 each.

[WannaBeGnome]

Why do you pay so much for honeywell switches when you can have normal ones for much less ?

[jrsteensen]

Why do you pay so much for honeywell switches when you can have normal ones for much less ?

 

Price isn't an object sometimes? Plus, the honeywells will likely never have to be replaced - rated cycles is important.

 

I went mostly with commercial spec switches, but I have a good stock of honeywells.

[Gadroc]

Why do you pay so much for honeywell switches when you can have normal ones for much less ?

 

There are not equivalent cheaper locking switches. NKK only makes two mode of locking switch (On-On and On-Off-On) which lock in each position available. If I really wanted switches to mimic functionality of the real pit you have to get the real ones. The only panel that really has those NK&K mode switches is the AHCP. The CMSP using On-Off-(Mom) which I use cheaper non-locking versions. Avionics Power Panel, CMSP Jetison and a few other are On-On but they only lock on one side. There are about 10 different locking plates that combine with switch action to have momentary, locking constant and non-locking constant on any of the positions. You can not get cheap switches that actually match those combinations.

 

The non-locking version of the honeywell switches I paid <$10 each for them (with most being $5 each), which is roughly the same price as a quality other switches of equivalent size. So there was no real reason not to get them. You just have to look and order in batch so you get the lower price.

 

For my stand point I wanted a highly accurate (not perfect) replica pit. I already had a VERY functional touch screen pit which was WAY cheaper than any switches in the quantity you need them for a pit. My goal was not cheaper, but more accurate.

 

Lastly I'll tell you if I find a decent price version of the Honeywell to replace the NKK, I'd do it in a heart beat. The NKK lockings switches just feel cheap. Even some of the eaton mil-spec switches don't have near the same positive click feel of the honeywells that are the same mil-spec.

[HitchHikingFlatlander]

 

 

 

 

That looks amazing Gadroc! Nice work.

[whartsell]

Where are you having your boards fabbed? They look great.

[whartsell]

Where are you having your boards fabbed? They look great.

 

by boards i mean PCBs. Do you use Eagle or another program?

[Gadroc]

This last batch of boards I got from iteadstudio.com the prototype boards where very reasonable. With the job they did I'll do my production run there as well.

 

I used Eagle for the original LCD Board, but switched to Design Spark for the Panel Board. First is I didn't want to pay again for the upgrade from Eagle 5 to 6. In addition the Eagle board limitation even on the hobby license is to small. Lastly it means I couldn't sell them if I want to. I like to keep the options open.

[X93355]

 

.......I would say an i5 ivy bridge overclocked with a 7970, 16 GB ram, turn off the page file running win 7 64bit. If you dont like load times then add a ssd.

... :)

 

I know this is an old thread but Metal, what does turning off the page file do for performance? I have a separate drive for my page file.

 

Between all of you I have such pit envy. I have started mine (metal is doing some of the panels for me) and taking my time. Once I gain some traction I'll post some pics/details etc.

 

Anyone here willing to do a decent landing gear panel for me, I've got some dollars put away for it. Love your one Gadroc : )

 

And a caution light panel as well : )

[metalnwood]

If you turn off the page file you will in theory stop unnecessary paging occurring that windows does even though there may be available free ram.

 

I was regurgitating things I have read previously so I can't speak to what performance improvement you may get. I would not image it would be a FPS improvement but may help with people who are getting the odd stutter.

 

You have to make sure you have enough ram to support your applications without needing a page file or you will get an out of memory error.

 

I cant remember the context that I wrote that but I would think the page file might be something you would look at if you had a particular issue like stuttering rather than doing it by default.

[Deadman]

regurgitating please don't Vomit in public :)

Edited June 20, 2013 by Deadman

[MacFevre]

The panel looks great, as always, Gadroc. I feel myself lucky and in a special group to be one of the ones to own a Gadroc CMSP. Two questions for you if I may.

 

I've found a large supply of the NKK switches your using, but only the On-On ones. Do you have a supplier for the three position? Also concerning your board, what's the approximate cost per board? I'm at the stage of the build where I have all the hardware and panels, I'm simply trying to come up with the best way to hook it all up. Per panel? Per section? Per side? Etc. if the panels turned out under... $20(?) I might think about a per panel board.

 

Thanks again for your hard work and development sharing. I hope that everyone that gains from what you contribute will donate at your site! I think it's well worth it.

[Gadroc]

I need to redo the BOM but it was in the $20-$30 per board range when buying components in a reasonable quantity. I'll be running BOM again once I finish the revision 3 version. I'm tied up for the next week, but hopefully next weekend I can finish that up and order the next round of prototype boards. Once I do that I'll see if a group purchase of components makes sense due to some components getting much cheaper when bought in bulk.

 

I believe you need approximate 25 boards do to a full A-10 pit.

[whartsell]

The panel looks great, as always, Gadroc. I feel myself lucky and in a special group to be one of the ones to own a Gadroc CMSP. Two questions for you if I may.

 

I've found a large supply of the NKK switches your using, but only the On-On ones. Do you have a supplier for the three position? Also concerning your board, what's the approximate cost per board? I'm at the stage of the build where I have all the hardware and panels, I'm simply trying to come up with the best way to hook it all up. Per panel? Per section? Per side? Etc. if the panels turned out under... $20(?) I might think about a per panel board.

 

Thanks again for your hard work and development sharing. I hope that everyone that gains from what you contribute will donate at your site! I think it's well worth it.

 

 

Digikey carries the nkk switches