Nice panel layout there.  


Regarding gear/flap switches:


I was tempted to just duplicate a real gear switch mechanism for mine, but when I began to consider the intricacies of making a 4-position flap switch (which has to be reversible), I came up with something less complicated that will work for either type of switch.

Here's a crude sketch:



Not sure if the idea is clear from these drawings... the actual knobs or levers are not shown.
The idea here is to avoid pots, rotary switches or complex mechanisms... just a couple of momentary switches and some simple parts.

This will also work for  fuel selectors, cowl flaps or speed brakes/slats.

The ball-bearing latch for the detents could be the type often used for cabinet doors and that sort of thing... not sure if I'll be able to find one small enough, so I may have to make those myself.

You could simply wire these switches to existing inputs on a keyboard or joystick, or use encoders like the Hagstrom boards (which is most likely what I will do).
Haven't built one of these yet, but if I do it right, it should work.

JBaymore wrote on Feb 5^th, 2007 at 7:59am:


Yes, I should've referred him to this, also... that's nice stuff.

I should check back in your thread to see what you did for flaps... or do you have a post describing that?

I just got a real Piper gear lever and flap handle on eBay... nice billeted aluminum. The flap handle needs a shaft, but that will be easy to make...

That throttle lever came out real nice... keep up the good work. ;d

D'oh... sorry; I contributed to that with my pics... not even my thread... oops. 

Hello Andrew,

do you have any drawings you could share please?

The Rib part especially would be very useful for a home build for me - it's the hardest part to design (and manufacture)

Are all the ribs the same part, just cut down in the cockpit to get the seat in?

Also, how much room do you have in the cockpit?  Would it still be big enough to use the parts were smaller by, say, 10%? 

I have relatively little space, so must plan for this.

Very lovely work with the sheet metal - is it cold inside the cockpit?

FM

@ Rottydaddy,

that switch design of your is a great idea... i experimented myself with a somewhat similar design a long time ago... and the concept is valid

mine was a little different though... instead of a cogwheel pushing on  a rocker that pressed the switches, mine had the rocker attached to the lever itself, and the action of moving the lever back and forward caused it rock through a series of bars (toothpicks) that made it press against contacts on the sides as it swayed, much like a guitarist's pick plucks a string... but the concept was similar

of course, mine was made of wood and hot glue... and was a veritable mess    ...plus i didn't have microswitches, so i used a bent paperclip that touched against screws, while both were soldered to wires  

i never tested it in an actual computer scenario... but tests with an improvised current meter  (a light bulb tied to a battery) proved the concept could work

Best of luck on your project, it's going much better already than my previous attempts  

Cheers