Bignewy's simple pit project

[BIGNEWY]

Hi all

 

I am thinking of having a go at a home control panel, I have had a good look around at different controllers looking for the best price and functionality.

 

I came across this on ebay and wanted some opinions on if it would be suitable for a panel with toggle switches

 

MINI-PAC KIT FOR JOYSTICKS & BUTTONS ARCADE KEYBOARD ENCODER INTERFACE

 

thanks for looking :joystick:

Edited June 4, 2012 by BIGNEWY

[metalnwood]

I would not go for that one myself. It is basically a programmable keyboard controller.

 

They are very good but really aimed at the arcade market where the software doesnt often need to make use of more than a keyboard.

 

The company that makes that also makes the u-hid which is forst on this page

 

http://www.ultimarc.com/JShopServer/section.php?xSec=13

 

It's about 50 pounds for comparison.

 

It is much more fully featured and supports macros, leds, rotary encoders, joystick emulation, keyboard emulation etc all from the same board. One button could be told to be a joystick button and another can be a keyboard macro etc.

[BIGNEWY]

metalnwood thanks for the reply and the link :)

[MTFDarkEagle]

50 pounds + shipping, and known for being good.

 

http://www.leobodnar.com/products/BU0836X/

 

Pretty much the same thing, cheaper, but requires soldering:

 

http://www.leobodnar.com/products/BU0836/

[BIGNEWY]

Thanks TINTIN :)

[metalnwood]

Yes, the wiring on Leo's boards will be easier to do but if you think you are going to be on the limit with switches then the uhid is better as you can do more with it.

 

I have used both, the advantage with the uhid if you need it is that any output can be configured for different things.

 

If you dont need the analog axis then configure them as more buttons or a keyboard macro etc.

 

I don't believe that leos will emulate a keyboard but you might not need that as most games can bind to a joy button anyway.

[BIGNEWY]

Great advice metalnwood,

 

I am not sure if I will make a generic panel that can be used for many aircraft or a specific A-10 one. When I do start I will post my progress :)

 

Thanks for the links

[BIGNEWY]

Well I have started to gather stuff together and done some simple plans for a generic cockpit.

 

I want a pit that can be used for more than one aircraft, and as I am limited for space and money I will be keeping it basic :)

 

I will post my progress :)

 

http://www.leobodnar.com/products/BU0836/

 

USB Controller BU0836 and some SPDT toggle switches arrived today, I also have some ON/OFF/ON toggles on the way

 

Edited June 2, 2012 by BIGNEWY

[BIGNEWY]

Improvise adapt overcome ! A poor pilots pit

 

Using a old double bed as frames for my side panels

 

 

and a simple board

 

Edited June 4, 2012 by BIGNEWY

[BIGNEWY]

MDF board arrived today, cut to shape but not fixed.

 

Toggles will be on the left dual screens (over and under) in the centre.

 

keeping it simple generic pit for all aircraft :)

 

[MTFDarkEagle]

:cheer3nc:

[BIGNEWY]

More work today

 

started on the side panels

 

and drilling holes for the toggles and pots

 

 

[Gremlin77]

looks promising, hope if you make it for multiple sims you wont get problems with the interfacing. with my a-10 pit i had to do so many "spezial solutions" that it wont run on any other sim than dcs. if you want to stay open for multiple sim, my advice is to put all your buttons and swiches as joystick buttons or keystrokes. this is what all sims support. with my opencockpit cards you can do more special things like displaying digits and so on, but you have to write specialized programs for it.

 

so go on, now you have a new follower....

[BIGNEWY]

Thanks for the advice Gremlin,

 

I am trying to keep it as simple as possible due to funds and because I want to use it on more than one aircraft, I only fly DCS ( hardcore I know lol ).

 

The usb controller I am using has 8 analog axes, 32 buttons, and a hat switch, I have had it working prior to fitting it, and shows up in DCS as a separate controller.

 

:)

 

http://www.leobodnar.com/products/BU0836/

[Gremlin77]

i know this controller. what i dont like with it is that you have maltrix soldering thousands of diodes. for operations using joystick buttons instead of my opencockpit cards i use the arcaze interface of simplesolutions. the advantage is, that it supports keyboard matrix, buttons axis and rotary encoders. it has 40 in-outputs and its cheaper as well. have a look at it, you will love it.

[BIGNEWY]

A little more work done today

 

right hand panel put together ready for rubbing down and painting

 

 

with internal shelf space

 

 

also primed the main panel

 

 

I am now having a large vodka :smilewink:

[MTFDarkEagle]

:punk:

[cichlidfan]

Careful there, it's starting to look like you know what you are doing!;)

 

Looking good.:thumbup:

[BIGNEWY]

Still very much W.I.P

 

 

Monitors mounted

 

 

No toggle switches in yet, but I am back to a working pit, hate being at a desk :)

 

 

Decals ordered, and a lot more work to be done :joystick:

[avlolga]

nice setup !!!

[BIGNEWY]

Still work in progress, but have working switches now :)

It may look a mess but it works ( I am no electrician lol )

 

 

Right hand screen will be mounted on a double arm bracket and used for mfcd's and cdu

 

 

Stickers arrived this morning

 

 

Right hand panel finished

 

Edited June 14, 2012 by BIGNEWY

[BIGNEWY]

Double arm Bracket arrived this afternoon ! :thumbup:

 

 

 

15" running helios MFCD's, CDU and RWR

 

Will upgrade to a touch screen when I have free funds :)

[BIGNEWY]

So I was not happy with my first attempt at a panel

 

Decided to get some full size toggle switches and some 3mm Acrylic, using a A4 box file as a enclosure.

 

 

I do not like soldering so heavy use of choc blocks :)

 

 

Using a template I had made up of my most used toggles, I drilled the acrylic.

 

I am happier with the results :)

 

[Pikey]

They say you can tell a lot about a man by his shoes or some other facet. But me, i can tell a lot about a man from his home cockpit. Multipurpose, simple design, no frills and a space for his drink.

 

Bow down ye all, you are in the presence of a genius.

[BIGNEWY]

LOL thanks Pikey, your cheque is in the post :)

 

I dont think I am finished yet, I have the bug now and tweaking stuff is so much fun !