Petes /brissy A10

[MacFevre]

I agree with Deadman! It is an inspiration, and that fuel panel is simply amazingly! You should be happy that you did it "right," and even though I have awhile till I get there, it's definitely something that I hope mine will be even half as good. (Ok, I really screwed up that sentence, but I hope you get the point.) :)

[Hansolo]

:worthy:

 

Basically what DM and MavFevre said. This is the best fuel panel replica I have seen :thumbup: Keep up the good work. It'll keep the rest of us on our toes :smilewink:

 

Cheers

Hans

[Alterscape]

That looks awesome. Where did you source the double-needle VID steppers? I keep poking around online for them and coming up empty in quantities <1000.

[Hansolo]

Hi

 

Bnepethomas listed them here http://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=2226988&postcount=33

 

Its also the thread where Overpro's Arduino and export code is listed in post #1

 

Cheers

Hans

[Alterscape]

Thanks, Hans!

[bnepethomas]

Hi Guys

 

If you like I can throw together the Visio file, LUA scripts and Arduino scripts and put them up on googlecode if that'll help? The code isn't A-grade but it is functional ;)

 

Cheers

 

Peter

[agrasyuk]

Looks really good.

that dual stepper I already have on order as well as the driving ICs. Going over Ian's and boltz's solutions I still down't have grasp of Export and arduino code , so that is something g I'm really curious about.

[MacFevre]

Hi Guys

 

If you like I can throw together the Visio file, LUA scripts and Arduino scripts and put them up on googlecode if that'll help? The code isn't A-grade but it is functional ;)

 

Cheers

 

Peter

 

Well, yeah! :) Actually though, if you wouldn't mind just making up a bunch I'd be more than willing to take one off your hands. :smilewink::D

[Hansolo]

That would be very nice of you Peter. Appreciate all the help I can get :-)

 

Cheers

Hans

[bnepethomas]

HI Guys

 

I've thrown the scripts and Visio up onto GoggleCode

Top of Project Sits here:

https://code.google.com/p/bne-fuel-gauge/

 

The Source files:

https://code.google.com/p/bne-fuel-gauge/source/browse/

 

Cheers

Peter

[agrasyuk]

thanks Peter,

export Lua really gives me an idea of what is going on there. is there any way to debug it during the run? i wonder what other values selfData.Name can have.

 

and just out of curiosity, do you laser direct from Visio files?

Edited December 28, 2014 by agrasyuk

[FSFIan]

thanks Peter,

export Lua really gives me an idea of what is going on there. is there any way to debug it during the run? i wonder what other values selfData.Name can have.

 

DCS Witchcraft can be hooked up to the Export.lua environment so you can use its Lua Console.

Here's a video I made that shows how to do it.

[bnepethomas]

Ian;2274409']DCS Witchcraft can be hooked up to the Export.lua environment so you can use its Lua Console.

Here's a video I made that shows how to do it.

 

The other thing I have used for troubleshooting is sending values over the network to a remote console, ie instead of sending a UDP packet to the Arduino, send it to another PC running a listening application, that way I'm not changing too much in the pit.

 

Cheers

 

Peter

[bnepethomas]

Been working on my nemesis, a functional compass and clock. Ever since building the viper I've wanted to build an 'analog' compass and clock that is synched to the sim, pretty close to ticking that off the bucket list (yeap tragic I know :))

 

While using OverPro's stepper project, I tried removing the stops from the Vid 29 steppers, however after open heart surgery, the steppers lost a lot of torque. While looking for options found these bad boys, Vid60 360 degree with zero detection.

http://www.vid.wellgain.com/product.aspx?sortid=31

 

So off to the local OfficeWorks to get the compass rose printed as a photo (so it will last a little longer), only thing it printed it a little larger than I hoped, so things get tight!

 

First discovery was it doesn't use the same chip to drive it as the VID 29s, but it can driven directly from the Arduino\

 

 

So off to Visio, and then the laser cutter, a bit of assembly

 

 

Installation of the compass rose

 

 

With backlighting on:

 

And backlighting off

 

Edited December 29, 2014 by bnepethomas

[bnepethomas]

Finished the assembly of the clock and AOA indicator. Given this pit originally was going to be a bit of a 'quick and dirty', didn't allocate space for these, so had to mount them on the top left of the main panel. The blank spot at the bottom of the clock is actually the seconds display, couldn't easily find a stepper assembly that supports hours, minutes and seconds.

 

[Deadman]

Wow Peter those look great !!!

[MacFevre]

What DM said! I mean, wow. Precision work. I can't remember if I've ever looked at the wet compass while I was flying the A-10, but with this, I don't think I could keep my eyes from it! Peter, can I just come over to your house and just watch you work? ;) Oh! You ought to set up online classes. That would be cool! :D

:worthy:

[Boltz]

How did I miss the post with the g-meter and compass. All the gauges look amazing!

 

I'm sure it's somewhere but what are you using for the zero position sensing? I see the VID60s have built in zero sensing but what about the VID29 and 28-05 for the fuel panel?

 

Thanks,

Boltz

[Warhog]

The blank spot at the bottom of the clock is actually the seconds display, couldn't easily find a stepper assembly that supports hours, minutes and seconds.

 

 

You mean your not going to build the second hand with 60 LEDs using a 7219 to run it.:megalol: I shouldn't make a joke about that because I think I'm going to try it. See attached PDF. Its a challenge to be sure. Its more about getting the effect just right. BTW, the clock info is available through Ians DCS-BIOS so you can have your clock synced to the sim. Thats what I'm planning.

 

Love the compass:thumbup: I guess I'm going to have to make one, now that I've seen how cool it actually looks in real life. Well done Peter.

 

I was interested in your comment about the VID's loss of torque after dismantling it. Any ideas what might have been the reason for that. One more quick question for you. Your driving the stepper directly from the Arduino. I know it only draws 20mA at idle but have you checked to see what the increase in current is when its pushing the compass rose? Just curious if its getting close to 40mA's.

CLOCK LED LAYOUT.pdf

[bnepethomas]

How did I miss the post with the g-meter and compass. All the gauges look amazing!

 

I'm sure it's somewhere but what are you using for the zero position sensing? I see the VID60s have built in zero sensing but what about the VID29 and 28-05 for the fuel panel?

 

Thanks,

Boltz

 

For the VID29 and VID28 OverPro originally came up with the answer which is basically step the needles the equivalent of a full turn backwards. These little motors don't have a lot of torque so that approach does work. Been stewing on options going forward, one thing which is a little bit of a challenge is mounting the needle exactly in the zero position, which is a little harder than it looks.

 

I also was struggling with how to deal with the right hand side needle on the fuel gauge given its zero position is fully clockwise. Initially had just reversed logic in code, but then had an aha moment, simply changed the wiring in the connector to the motor, so the code is now exactly the same, and when I reduce the value in code the needle turns clockwise.. QED :)

 

For the remaining gauges have another plan.

1: When the flight ends, as part of the LUA end of flight script is send the needles to home position (Clock to noon, and compass to North, G force to 0, VSI to 0 etc etc). That way when power is removed the needles point to something sensible. When the sim starts again I assume they in the right position. This worked for me with the Simmeters gauges, so I know its sound.

2: The bit I haven't yet done is to mount the needles beyond the zero position and then store position in the Arduino EPROM, so if there is uncommanded exit from DCS (read crash), then I can still send a force all needles to a hard zero point in software and then do a few incremental steps to get to the exact zero position if needed.

3: The other thing I've done is simplify the gauge lighting but lighting from the side of the gauge as opposed to backlight (the stepper motor gets in the way). The down side is the side-lighting does flow over to the clear 'glass' in front of the gauge. Because of that I've removed the 'glass' to stop light flooding onto it. It also means if the needle slips of its zero position I can easily reposition it ;), although I've now successfully glued a needle to the shat without it completely gluing the entire stepper in one place, always slightly scary after investing a few hours making the gauge.

 

Bit of a ramble, so I hope it helps. Still learning.

 

Cheers

 

Peter

[bnepethomas]

You mean your not going to build the second hand with 60 LEDs using a 7219 to run it.:megalol: I shouldn't make a joke about that because I think I'm going to try it. See attached PDF. Its a challenge to be sure. Its more about getting the effect just right. BTW, the clock info is available through Ians DCS-BIOS so you can have your clock synced to the sim. Thats what I'm planning.

 

Love the compass:thumbup: I guess I'm going to have to make one, now that I've seen how cool it actually looks in real life. Well done Peter.

 

I was interested in your comment about the VID's loss of torque after dismantling it. Any ideas what might have been the reason for that. One more quick question for you. Your driving the stepper directly from the Arduino. I know it only draws 20mA at idle but have you checked to see what the increase in current is when its pushing the compass rose? Just curious if its getting close to 40mA's.

:) Thanks John - and yes I'm planning to sync it to the sim, one of the nice little touches that really completes the sim. re the LED clock - never say never, the analog clock was something I've always wanted to do since starting the f16 SIM, now thats done, I'm also tempted to give the led clock a go. Found a couple of places that so small runs of PCBs and don't charge a lot for shipping, so its almost worth the giggle.

 

Re the compass, I'll update the Visio I've posted up to googlecode, it will have all the panels I've built (including a couple of random ones from the Jet Ranger), it will be as wildly inaccurate as all my panels but could help anyone interested in building things like the compass.

 

On the loss of torque, I'm really not sure, was a little bummed when I reassembled them, they turn in the right direction, but the slightest obstacle has them reversing direction. I tried it twice, then decided that I busted enough things for the day and moved on as I had the VID60's floating around. Turns out that that was a good thing as the zero position sensor with the vid60s is very very accurate and repeatable. I'm feeding it into one of the A/D ports on the Ardunio, and there is an unmistakable zero point, something that would have been have to do with my own mechanical assembly. I think the only thing worth noting is the zero position is a step or two different based on the direction you are turning, its very consistent but different if you know what I mean :)

 

I've found the VID60 draws very little current, I don't think I've hit 40mA, but haven't been closely measuring it. It spent a bit of time scratching my heat on our to reduce the weight of the rose to reduce the workload of the motor. Its now quite light, even when compare to real automotive needles. Sadly the modified Vid29s still wouldn't touch it, but again having the zero position sensor built into the VID60 is a good thing.

 

cheers

 

Peter

Edited January 5, 2015 by bnepethomas

[bnepethomas]

What DM said! I mean, wow. Precision work. I can't remember if I've ever looked at the wet compass while I was flying the A-10, but with this, I don't think I could keep my eyes from it! Peter, can I just come over to your house and just watch you work? ;) Oh! You ought to set up online classes. That would be cool! :D

:worthy:

 

:) have to admit while testing the assembled compass I did spent a bit of time watching it roll backwards and forwards (wanted to make sure the darn glue didn't flow down the shaft from the rose and gum the motor up). The gearing dwn does slow the maximum turn rate of the compass, but it also makes it very smooth. But then it was onto the clock :) The thing I really like about what the DCS team have done with the A10 is export just about everything, its very cool watching all of the gauges bounce around and magnetic switches automatically throw off when shutting the aircraft done, now just need to get to head out of the pit and learn to avoid the bad things thrown at the A10 from the ground :)

 

cheers

 

Peter

[bnepethomas]

thanks Peter,

export Lua really gives me an idea of what is going on there. is there any way to debug it during the run? i wonder what other values selfData.Name can have.

 

and just out of curiosity, do you laser direct from Visio files?

 

Sorry - I missed the second question, yes I do laser directly from Visio. The laser came from Full Spectrum Laser, initially Levinsky and myself got a cheaper model which did the job, but occasionally did random things in wrong places, especially when raster engraving which was hugely frustrating as that is the last step in making the panel.

 

Last summer during a hot panel building day, it looks like we may have exceeded the Laser power supplies duty cycle, which meant the laser couldn't complete vector cutting a panel. So while a new PSU was being sourced I went out and grabbed this model:

http://fslaser.com/products/lasers/hobby-lasers/newhobby

The frame is assembled in the USA, and is a bunch better built than the first entry level laser we'd purchased (which I don't think they sell any more). what really makes the laser hum is the software driver. Its basically a windows printer driver and it works an absolute treat. So you are able to vector cut, and raster directly from Visio.

 

Cheers

 

Peter

[Boltz]

Thanks Peter for those explanations! Sounds simpler using the hard stop of the steppers rather than any IR sensing kit for the zero position. I'm going to look and see what else would be needed to make some gauges. Your work is a huge inspiration!

 

Boltz

[Hansolo]

Excellent work Peter :thumbup:

 

You and Warhog are definitely in a league beyond me :worthy:

 

Thanks for sharing

 

Cheers

Hans