Gauge control...

[kattz]

If you must strip an OEM gauge and convert it to something usable, is it best to use steppers and hidden hard stop pins, or RC servos?

Thanks.

Kev

[ame]

The answer is, of course, 'it depends'.

It seems to me that the car speedometer stepper motors (Switec and clones) are ideal.

The interfaces for a stepper or a servo are quite different, so that might influence your decision too.

[N4208T]

A question regarding stepper motors, if I may.  I am attempting building some gauges for the first time.  I have 3D printed the gauge, printed the gauge face on label paper and purchased some small stepper motors (SG90 9G micro servo)  From what I can find online it looks like I am going to need a board with a stepper motor driver (I am using Leo Bodnar boards for the flight controls, etc.).

Question 1. Does each gauge require a separate driver board or is there some solution where you can wire multiple gauges to a single board?

Question 2. What software do you use to calibrate the gauge and connect it to P3D or X-plane.

Thanks for any assistance you can provide.

Steve (N4208T)

[Joe Lavery]

Steve,

The motors you've bought are not stepper motors, they are servo motors and yes you will need a driver board. Open Cockpits sell one that I believe will handle more than one servo, but I'm guessing you will need some help with the script needed to run it.

https://www.opencockpits.com/catalog/servo-motors-card-p-42.html?cPath=21_32

Another option is to use an interface like Mobiflight in conjunction with an Arduino card.
There are plenty of people more knowledgeable that I am in this area. And I'm sure a few will chime in with a more concise answer for you.
Until them you could check out some of the videos on YouTube, or have a read on the Mobiflight Forum.

https://www.mobiflight.com/forum.html
https://www.mobiflight.com/en/tutorials/servo-motor-flaps-gauge.html

The second link shows exactly what you are looking for.

Hope that helps.
Joe.

[N4208T]

My bad.  I meant servo.  Thank you Joe.  Making dummy gauges is easy.  Working ones ... I guess we will see.  I will check out open cockpits.

Steve

[ame]

I wrote about making your own here:
https://www.cockpitbuilders.com/index.php?topic=7836.msg56161#msg56161