pitbldr

@TigersharkBAS I have a Caution Panel and UFC that I would be willing to sell. I made these for my pit, but scraped the A-10 pit when it was announced that a F/a-18 module was being released. Both of these panels are ready to go. The CP has LEDs wired to a phidgets 64 card that works with HELIOS. The UFC has a Leo Bodnar card in it attached to simple pushbuttons and behaves like joystick as far as the sim is concerned. When I was making the panels to sell, the UFC went for $100 and the CP for $140, but these prices did not include the electronics. If you don't want the ones I have, I can *possibly* make panels for you if the design is not too complex and you can draw up the panels you want. The only panels I am focusing on these days are for the F/A-18 so I don't have any designs for other aircraft. My laser is set up and running, I just have very limited time these days. The easier the panel design, the more likely I could help you out.

You're welcome! :D Glad to see your project is coming along so well. Mine has been stalled for months now. :(

Reactorone made a bunch of files available that may help you. See if these are what you need. http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=84791&highlight=panels and http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=81142&highlight=reactorone+panels

+1

Definitely interested in using something like this with an Arduino, but don't have much time for my project right now. :( Will be watching though...

I envy those with the time to still use their's for pit building!! :D

Sorry, but nothing yet. I can't really say when I'll be able to even resume work on my own project. Just sitting there collecting dust. Part of it is due to other commitments and part of it is due to waiting to see what the next DCS module is (but that's a much smaller part). While I love the A-10, my favorite aircraft have always been the fast movers. If we get one with A2A and A2G capabilities, I think my pit design will undergo a major re-design. :D

Good idea. I'll give it a review in a few weeks. Don't want all the reviews to get posted on the same day. :D

I would be interested. Been wanting to use an arduino with my pit for some time.

Hi, just saw that and replied. :) I don't make it by the forums much these days. Hope that changes soon and I can resume work on my pit and panel making.

hey, I've been out of the loop for several months. I've not been making any parts or even working on my own pit. Hope to start back in the next couple of months. When I do, I'll offer up anything I make and have to sell on the forum. Feels like I am starting all over again on my project! :)

I have my indicators dimensioned at .97x.35, but since I am using a laser, the kerf reduces that size by around .05. Sames goes for the dimensions I listed in your other thread. The laser cuts right along the line, whereas a CNC will cut on the inside or outside of the line. Also, you'll need to know what kind of tolerances the CNC has (runout, repeatbility, etc.) and adjust your dimensions according. Unless you are trying to achieve 100% accuracy to the real panel, just dimension it to meet your needs. :)

And I should mention that mine are cut out on a laser, not a CNC. The space between the openings (C and D) may be hard to get on a CNC unless it has very high accuracy.

Here are my dimensions. I do have a real CP that I measured, but these numbers are not exact since I modified it to suit my needs, but they are close. A - .35 B - .97 C - .03 D - .07 E - .69 F - .35 G - .13 Measurements are in inches. Caution panel.pdf

Hey John, I don't use CAD and my files are just Corel drawings. Also, they are my own design and don't match the actual panel. And my design is pretty intricate because of how I wanted it to look. You could make a much simpler design by using a piece of black acrylic with holes drilled in it to let the light through to a text "overlay" on top. If you like, I'll upload my drawings in PDF format.

The phidgets app should start automatically and I think it does need to be running for it to work in HELIOS. Again I am going off memory at this point. It may actually just be binding issue. Ill try to get my phidgets board and verify that for you by tomorrow afternoon.

Strix/Linden, Sorry for the slow reply, I got tied up with a couple other things last night. I could not confirm the config without my phidgets cards, so I may have to pull that out of storage, but I did remember one issue I had. If you have TrackIR and you start it before HELIOS, the phidgets board may not work. I don't know why, but Gadroc told me he has seen this too. So, if you have TrackIR, shut that down and try the phidgets board in HELIOS. You may need to restart the Phidget app/service as well. Also, before you even open HELIOS, open the phidgets app and make sure you can turn on the LED's from there. If you can, then the problem is elsewhere and not in HELIOS. Once you can power the LED's on and off from the phidgets app, try it through HELIOS again. If it's still not working, I'll get my board out of storage and verify my HELIOS config for you.

It's been months since I set mine up and all my sim stuff is boxed up in storage right now so I can't pull it up to verify the setting. If someone else does not help out by this evening, I'll install HELIOS on my work PC and see if I can recall how to do it.

Hey Strix, See if this helps. I made a video on how I did it.

Hi Niclas, I eventually plan on getting a set, but I too will be moving soon, so all of my pit project stuff is on hold. Hopefully you'll have enough interest to do at least one more batch when you get settled and I can get in on that. Thanks!

Would like to see this too.

Excellent design as usual!!! :thumbup:

Thanks for posting your design Jedi! I've been playing around with different methods and I think your design just gave me a good idea! :)

CorelDraw will import PDF files without any problem. At least X5 will... not sure about earlier versions.

Again??? When did they release a Cessna?? But actually I probably would buy it since I fly Cessna's in real life. ;)