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What have you done for your simulator today?

Started by blueskydriver, January 14, 2018, 04:01:20 AM

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RayS

Ray Sotkiewicz

sagrada737

Hi Ray,

Glad you are back up and running.   The pic of your power supplies and distribution panel is true perfection.   Well done!   

Not a bad idea using a UPS for your projectors.   The downside of bulb type projectors, is when they are not allowed to cool down slowly prior to power being turn OFF.

Anyway...   Excellent job on your wiring technique!

Mike
Full-scale 737-800 Sim; P3d v5.3x with Sim-Avionics (two computers), FDS MIP,  FlightIllusion hardware.  3-Optoma ZH406ST Laser HD projectors, with 4K inputs from a single Nvidia RTX-4090 GPU (new), resulting in a 210 deg wrap-around display.  6dof Motion Platform using BFF 6dof motion software, driven by a Thanos Servo Controller to 6.2 KW Servos, Lever type actuators.

blueskydriver

More pics, all interior panels installed and shell is done. Next up, hanging the FWD & AFT OVHDs.
| FSX | FDS-MIP OVRHD SYS CARDS FC1| PM | PMDG 737-700 | UTX | GEX | UT7 | ASE | REX2 | AES | TSR | IS | TOPCAT | AvilaSoft EFB | OC CARDS & OVRHD GAUGES| SIMKITS | SW 3D Lights | FS2CREW2010 | FSXPassengers | Flight1 AE | MATROX TH2GO-D | NTHUSIM | 3-Mits EW230Ust Proj |

sagrada737

Great progress John!   I really like how you "segmented" the Flight Deck so you can pull out the center section.  We really do have to consider how we are able to access modules in order to work on our Sims.

When do you expect to have everything up and running?

Mike
Full-scale 737-800 Sim; P3d v5.3x with Sim-Avionics (two computers), FDS MIP,  FlightIllusion hardware.  3-Optoma ZH406ST Laser HD projectors, with 4K inputs from a single Nvidia RTX-4090 GPU (new), resulting in a 210 deg wrap-around display.  6dof Motion Platform using BFF 6dof motion software, driven by a Thanos Servo Controller to 6.2 KW Servos, Lever type actuators.

blueskydriver

JUST KEEP BUILDING YOUR FLIGHT SIMULATOR COCKPIT...

NOTHING ELSE MATTERS!

 ;D
| FSX | FDS-MIP OVRHD SYS CARDS FC1| PM | PMDG 737-700 | UTX | GEX | UT7 | ASE | REX2 | AES | TSR | IS | TOPCAT | AvilaSoft EFB | OC CARDS & OVRHD GAUGES| SIMKITS | SW 3D Lights | FS2CREW2010 | FSXPassengers | Flight1 AE | MATROX TH2GO-D | NTHUSIM | 3-Mits EW230Ust Proj |

Trevor Hale

John,

I notice you have front covers on the FDS Shell,  From experience (At Worldflight) it gets damn warm in there without airflow from front to back, you may find with the monitors etc, she gets too warm with that closed off. 

You may consider keeping those off, but that's up to you. (Just a suggestion)

Trev
Trevor Hale

Owner
http://www.cockpitbuilders.com

Director of Operations
Worldflight Team USA
http://www.worldflightusa.com

VATSIM:

blueskydriver

Hey Trev,

OMG! Thank you, I wasn't even thinking about that! I will pull them off for sure 😁

John
| FSX | FDS-MIP OVRHD SYS CARDS FC1| PM | PMDG 737-700 | UTX | GEX | UT7 | ASE | REX2 | AES | TSR | IS | TOPCAT | AvilaSoft EFB | OC CARDS & OVRHD GAUGES| SIMKITS | SW 3D Lights | FS2CREW2010 | FSXPassengers | Flight1 AE | MATROX TH2GO-D | NTHUSIM | 3-Mits EW230Ust Proj |

Trevor Hale

Yes,

We even had 2 8-10" fans installed in front of Capt & FO rudder pedals and a big 12 ducted fan in the back. At night, we would typically keep them off, but in during the day it would get super warm. 

Keep in mind this is inside a sealed dedicated 70 Degree Air conditioned room.  However inside that shell with everything going on, it gets very warm.

I am no expert, just making suggestions based on expert.
Trevor Hale

Owner
http://www.cockpitbuilders.com

Director of Operations
Worldflight Team USA
http://www.worldflightusa.com

VATSIM:

blueskydriver

Hey Trevor,

Thank you and yes, you're an expert based on the experience of doing non-commercial simulator cockpits.

Plus, with all the World Flight events, your own Streaming Flights, as well as the amount of sims you've built or been a part of building. That qualifies you in the expert category....

Kind Regards,

John
| FSX | FDS-MIP OVRHD SYS CARDS FC1| PM | PMDG 737-700 | UTX | GEX | UT7 | ASE | REX2 | AES | TSR | IS | TOPCAT | AvilaSoft EFB | OC CARDS & OVRHD GAUGES| SIMKITS | SW 3D Lights | FS2CREW2010 | FSXPassengers | Flight1 AE | MATROX TH2GO-D | NTHUSIM | 3-Mits EW230Ust Proj |

blueskydriver

Hey Mike,

Thank you. And, you're 100% correct about the accessibility of our sims. With mine having a prebuilt motorized Yoke/Pedals platform it definitely needed the rollout capability.

Plus, I figured it should be the same for the seat platforms and they're actually individual sections, but this time I bolted them together. Means the TQ can stay on top for rolling things out; otherwise, had to take it out and find a safe space for it.

As for when the sim will be ready, I am planning for sometime in April, if not sooner. With the FDS nose and projection screen stand being done, it's just a matter of reinstalling everything from before.

John
| FSX | FDS-MIP OVRHD SYS CARDS FC1| PM | PMDG 737-700 | UTX | GEX | UT7 | ASE | REX2 | AES | TSR | IS | TOPCAT | AvilaSoft EFB | OC CARDS & OVRHD GAUGES| SIMKITS | SW 3D Lights | FS2CREW2010 | FSXPassengers | Flight1 AE | MATROX TH2GO-D | NTHUSIM | 3-Mits EW230Ust Proj |

bernard S

a rule to follow   you can never have enough cooling i run 8 tonnes and its still not an igloo

sagrada737

#786
Hi Folks,

Regarding "cockpit Cooling"...   I recall my very first flight in a 737 Sim...   It was Scott's Sim, and truly a great experience!   One thing I remember is that I needed a greater sense of air flow in the cockpit, and a need for cool air. 

Now that I have had a chance to fly a few full-scale Sims, I can confirm that as for the CA and FO, having some cool air flowing in and through the cockpit is a definite plus.  This is especially important when demonstrating the Sim to someone that may not be use to flying, as it is much easier to get a sense of motion sickness when the cockpit environment seems warm.

In my Sim, the cooling strategy is to have forced air come through the Left and Right EyeBall Vents, and user adjustable (independent for both the CA side and FO side) forced air coming through the CA and FO lower rudder area and the Upper Glare Shield area.  Two separate Pull-Levers for this...

The source of the "forced air" is from a TripLite IP Cooler.   Here is the link for what I am using:

https://www.tripplite.com/smartrack-12000-btu-120v-portable-air-conditioning-unit-small-server-rooms-network-closets~SRCOOL12K

In my Sim, I will be using a 6" flexible Duct going from the IP Cooler on the Sim floor to the Sim/Motion Platform.  The exhaust of the IP Cooler is vented out throught the wall to the outside.  The output air temperature can be set at the IP Cooler and is automatically regulated.  The air is then routed through the 6" flex conduit to the Sim, which is elevated on the Motion Platform.   The Flex Conduit allows for full movement of the Sim/Motion Platform.  The Flex Conduit mates to a mainfold on the front of the Sim for controlled routing as described above.  When all the Cockpit "air ports" are closed, the air is vented through a by-pass port on the manifold and exhausted into the Sim Room.

As I recall...  Fred still has the same IP Cooler for his full-scale 737 Sim, which does a nice job of cooling down his entire Sim Room.   Thanks for the tip Fred...   This IP Cooler has been a real blessing for my Sim Project.

Mike
Full-scale 737-800 Sim; P3d v5.3x with Sim-Avionics (two computers), FDS MIP,  FlightIllusion hardware.  3-Optoma ZH406ST Laser HD projectors, with 4K inputs from a single Nvidia RTX-4090 GPU (new), resulting in a 210 deg wrap-around display.  6dof Motion Platform using BFF 6dof motion software, driven by a Thanos Servo Controller to 6.2 KW Servos, Lever type actuators.

sagrada737

#787
Please forgive the image test...  I'm trying to figure out how to post a photo.  Hope this works...
Big-Bird-In-Flight.jpg

By the way...   This is an experimental aircraft that I built.  It requiring 9 years to build.  It is called the Turbine Legend.   This photo shows my wife and me flying off the coast of California.   This aircraft was replaced by my 737-800/Motion Platform Project.  Just as much fun to fly, but zero cost for Jet-A fuel.  On take off the Turbine Legend burned about 74gph.
Full-scale 737-800 Sim; P3d v5.3x with Sim-Avionics (two computers), FDS MIP,  FlightIllusion hardware.  3-Optoma ZH406ST Laser HD projectors, with 4K inputs from a single Nvidia RTX-4090 GPU (new), resulting in a 210 deg wrap-around display.  6dof Motion Platform using BFF 6dof motion software, driven by a Thanos Servo Controller to 6.2 KW Servos, Lever type actuators.

Trevor Hale

Love photo's like that Mike.

Thanks for sharing

Trev
Trevor Hale

Owner
http://www.cockpitbuilders.com

Director of Operations
Worldflight Team USA
http://www.worldflightusa.com

VATSIM:

sagrada737

Hi Trevor,

Hope you are doing well.   

Question:  Ho do I keep from getting two of the same photo when I post an image in a message?

I have been dragging the photo to Attach window, then Inserting it into the text.   I see that other only get one photo.  Any help on this?  Thanks.

Mike
Full-scale 737-800 Sim; P3d v5.3x with Sim-Avionics (two computers), FDS MIP,  FlightIllusion hardware.  3-Optoma ZH406ST Laser HD projectors, with 4K inputs from a single Nvidia RTX-4090 GPU (new), resulting in a 210 deg wrap-around display.  6dof Motion Platform using BFF 6dof motion software, driven by a Thanos Servo Controller to 6.2 KW Servos, Lever type actuators.

Trevor Hale

Hi Mike,

On the front page of this site there is a post called Instructions for posting attachments.   Here is the Link to the thread.  The problem is after you click upload your pressing the insert button which you don't need to do otherwise you will get a duplicate image.

https://www.cockpitbuilders.com/index.php?topic=7724

Let me know if this solves your issue.

thanks,

Trev
Trevor Hale

Owner
http://www.cockpitbuilders.com

Director of Operations
Worldflight Team USA
http://www.worldflightusa.com

VATSIM:

sagrada737

Thanks Trevor....   I'll try that the next time.  My last post on the TQ does have duplicate photos.   Sorry.

Mike
Full-scale 737-800 Sim; P3d v5.3x with Sim-Avionics (two computers), FDS MIP,  FlightIllusion hardware.  3-Optoma ZH406ST Laser HD projectors, with 4K inputs from a single Nvidia RTX-4090 GPU (new), resulting in a 210 deg wrap-around display.  6dof Motion Platform using BFF 6dof motion software, driven by a Thanos Servo Controller to 6.2 KW Servos, Lever type actuators.

ame

Today I did a quick test of my tacho sensor in the prop sync indicator, to see if it would actually work.

I'm using this tiny motor inside:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000152447766.html

At the end of the shaft is the black and white segmented indicator disc.

At the gearbox I have another disc. This one is half black, half white, on the 'back' side towards the gearbox and motor.

An optical sensor is mounted close to the gearbox, looking at the back of that disc. It can detect the black and white halves which gives me a tachometer signal which I can use to measure the rotation speed.

Between the two discs is an LED. It shines through the white parts of the indicator disc. I was hoping it did not shine back through the tacho disc. It doesn't. :)

tacho_test.jpg

In the photo you can see the LED pushed through a hole on the left. It lights up the indicator face and the whole of the front of the body. I'll print the body in black and paint the inside white. The indicator illumination is much more even than it appears in the photo.

On the right is the optical sensor. It is a TCRT5000, which is common and cheap, although I'd like to use an RPR220, which is smaller. It is pointed towards the back of the tacho disc inside. I get clean regular pulses from the output of the sensor. It seems to be unaffected by the white LED.

Next step is to add an H-Bridge to control the motor from an Arduino, and write some code to match the motor speed to the desired speed using the tacho signal.

sagrada737

AME,   

This is a fascinating project!  Perhaps you could post a short video of its operation. Where is the input information coming from?  Is it FSUIPC, and how are you reading the Tach data?  Also, it is possible for you to post the schematic for the H-Bridge you are planing to use, and its components?

Interesting project...  Keep up the good work!

Mike
 
Full-scale 737-800 Sim; P3d v5.3x with Sim-Avionics (two computers), FDS MIP,  FlightIllusion hardware.  3-Optoma ZH406ST Laser HD projectors, with 4K inputs from a single Nvidia RTX-4090 GPU (new), resulting in a 210 deg wrap-around display.  6dof Motion Platform using BFF 6dof motion software, driven by a Thanos Servo Controller to 6.2 KW Servos, Lever type actuators.

ame

Hi Mike,

It's a work in progress. There is no input data yet. I'll build the device and specify the interface, then the data can come from anywhere.

The tachometer will be used internally, and will be read by hooking up the opto sensor output to an Arduino. I think I will change the tacho pattern from half black half white to four black segments, like the front decal, because I won't get many tacho pulses at slow speeds.

The H-bridge is an off-the-shelf module I happened to have. It might not be particularly good, but I'll post the details if it works.

I will publish all the details and files as open source when it's finished. In the meantime I'm just writing about the trials and errors.

I like building things, and in these times there's nothing much else to do. Thanks for your interest. I'll try and answer any more questions, and I'll post more as progress is made.

Andrew

Trevor Hale

Quote from: ame on March 21, 2020, 12:19:27 PMHi Mike,

The H-bridge is an off-the-shelf module I happened to have. It might not be particularly good, but I'll post the details if it works.
Mike this is the H-Bridge I use for my Trim wheel. I use a duel shaft stepper, one for the Trim encoder and one for the wheel itself.

Trev
Trevor Hale

Owner
http://www.cockpitbuilders.com

Director of Operations
Worldflight Team USA
http://www.worldflightusa.com

VATSIM:

sagrada737

Hi Trevor,

Do you have a part number/manufacture for your H-Bridge?

Mike
Full-scale 737-800 Sim; P3d v5.3x with Sim-Avionics (two computers), FDS MIP,  FlightIllusion hardware.  3-Optoma ZH406ST Laser HD projectors, with 4K inputs from a single Nvidia RTX-4090 GPU (new), resulting in a 210 deg wrap-around display.  6dof Motion Platform using BFF 6dof motion software, driven by a Thanos Servo Controller to 6.2 KW Servos, Lever type actuators.

RayS

#797
After a marathon "Let's rip out all the power wiring, replace all the power supplies after one of them decided it no longer wanted to play nice, fuse everything, repair the pilot's PFD and create an entirely new interface platform using CANBUS to bring the transponder back to life", I'm happy to report that the sim is 100% functional.

Just finished tonight with tweaking some CANBUS code and re-installing everything.

Now for a well-deserved maintenance flight.
Ray Sotkiewicz

blueskydriver

WOW RAY! When you do it, you do it BBBIIIGGGG!

And here I am spending all week on wiring 10 switches...lol!

On a good note, I will be using some 28V items with a 110V to 28V power transformer, courtesy of Rob from ob-teen years ago 😁

John
| FSX | FDS-MIP OVRHD SYS CARDS FC1| PM | PMDG 737-700 | UTX | GEX | UT7 | ASE | REX2 | AES | TSR | IS | TOPCAT | AvilaSoft EFB | OC CARDS & OVRHD GAUGES| SIMKITS | SW 3D Lights | FS2CREW2010 | FSXPassengers | Flight1 AE | MATROX TH2GO-D | NTHUSIM | 3-Mits EW230Ust Proj |

RayS

Thanks, John~!

The maintenance flight went well. Everything just seemed "Crisp". Very little lag in switch events, transponder behaved exactly like the FlightIllusion version, (but with more functionality)

So.. overall I'm ready to get Back on that horse and hopefully do a stream or two this weekend on Twitch.

I have one more project on the bench for a good friend of mine, which is to re-interface another FlightIllusion Flaps gauge for his 737.

...after which time I may just fly for awhile. No more projects...
Ray Sotkiewicz

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