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2 Attachment(s)
New Quadrant controls
Almost ready to start producing these, just working on some manufacturing details:
GF1 - Combat Commander
5 Quadrants (levers easily removable for different sizes/colors - optional detents)
3 Trim controls with position indicator
18 2-position full-size momentary switches (36 digital buttons)
Attachment 27552
GF2 - Bomber Commander
8 Quadrants (levers easily removable for different sizes/colors - optional detents)
20 2-position full-size momentary switches (40 digital buttons)
Attachment 27553
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Re: New Quadrant controls
First one to 'like' the OP gets one for free?
:thumbsup:
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Re: New Quadrant controls
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ATAG_Freya
First one to 'like' the OP gets one for free?
[emoji106]
TANSTAAFL [emoji53] !
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Kendy for the State
Almost ready to start producing these, just working on some manufacturing details:
GF1 - Combat Commander
5 Quadrants (levers easily removable for different sizes/colors - optional detents)
3 Trim controls with position indicator
18 2-position full-size momentary switches (36 digital buttons)
Attachment 27552
GF2 - Bomber Commander
8 Quadrants (levers easily removable for different sizes/colors - optional detents)
20 2-position full-size momentary switches (40 digital buttons)
Attachment 27553
Sent from my XT1635-01 using Tapatalk
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Re: New Quadrant controls
Awesome. I like the GF2. With some RLM/RAF Tamiya paint mixes and decal paper one could finish it like a custom model. 1:1 scale. :)
Hopefully as people fly around with you they can feel comfortable buying something they'll know they can ask support for from someone they regularly interact with.
I know there's a bewildering number of forum sub-menus, but would be nice to have a dedicated forum section for custom simpits and accessories -similar to SimHQ.
~S~!
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Re: New Quadrant controls
Have you a web site where we can purchase/pre-purchase these peripherals Kendy ? (maybe a Wip website ?)
If not, what will be the price for each.
I love this kind of project, congratulation for your work.
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Re: New Quadrant controls
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Brennus54
Have you a web site where we can purchase/pre-purchase these peripherals Kendy ? (maybe a Wip website ?)
If not, what will be the price for each.
I love this kind of project, congratulation for your work.
Thanks for your kind words.
For now I have set up a seller account on Amazon, keyword "Gearfalcon",though I will probably do a Shopify account so people can order direct, and I can offer discounts to people who fly here.
I am aiming for around the $200 price point, though I am still working on materials and labor calculations. At this point I am just making them myself with cast resin, so no mass production. If they are popular enough I will look into having some injection molding done, and with economies of scale hopefully can bring the price down.
I won't accept money for a non-extant product, so I'm afraid you'll have to wait for the official release :ind:
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Re: New Quadrant controls
YEAH !
yes sir :),
i may have a partnership to propose to you in the following weeks ;)
I think this forum reveal some vocation haha.
See you in the air.
EDIT : Oh, you are from USA, this can pose some... problems lol, we will see
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Re: New Quadrant controls
Here's an early prototype...
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...0ffd999f31.jpg
Sent from my XT1635-01 using Tapatalk
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6 Attachment(s)
Re: New Quadrant controls
Reviving this so you don't think it's dead!
I've found that a lot of my smaller parts just are not well suited to cast resin molding, so I've spent the last few months learning about machining and injection molding. Doing things on a shoestring, so can't afford to have all these parts professionally made.
Anyway, bought a CNC milling machine and a benchtop injection molding machine, and here are some results from my first molds. Hope to have product soon!
Attachment 38462
Attachment 38463
Attachment 38464
Attachment 38465
Attachment 38466
Attachment 38467
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Re: New Quadrant controls
That is some serious aviation gear/setup. Are you planning to mass-produce. I don't think its would be an easy DIY. Due to molding and accessing to the CNC/Milling.
What are you planning to with the pneumatic/hydraulic cylinder? Would you mind provide us the micro-film. Just kidding.
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Re: New Quadrant controls
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Kwings714
That is some series aviation gear/setup. Are you planning to mass-produce. I don't think its would be an easy DIY. Due to molding and accessing to the CNC/Milling.
What are you planning to the pneumatic/hydraulic cylinder? Would you mind provide us the micro-film. Just kidding.
Mass-produce insofar as I can build lots of them in my basement! So we're not talking thousands, but hopefully hundreds.
The knob and the lever are at the limits of what my injection machine will produce... I have to put all my weight on the lever to inject plastic into those, so I'm hoping to fit the pneumatic cylinder onto my injector to speed up the process and make it less tiring on my tiny arm muscles! I don't know yet if it will produce enough pressure, so will be doing some experimenting.
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Re: New Quadrant controls
Are you using SolidWorks or Creo? I see you have components printed in 3D.
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Very nice, looking forward to when they are ready for some abuse. :woohoo:
~S~ Sparky
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Re: New Quadrant controls
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Kwings714
Are you using SolidWorks or Creo? I see you have components printed in 3D.
I originally designed everything using DesignSpark Mechanical, but I'm converting everything over to Fusion 360 for the CAM. Anything that gets 3-D printed I can still use DesignSpark, but to generate the toolpaths for cutting my molds on the CNC I use Fusion 360 CAM.
I still like to do a lot of design work in DSM, because the push/pull architecture makes it easy to whip stuff out quick.
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Re: New Quadrant controls
Large quadrant project is on hold for now, as I don't have the resources to produce all the parts yet. Still working on it as I have time.
I Do however have a couple projects that are almost ready for sale or production.
First is a USB switch box or switch panel that just gives you 36 digital joystick inputs. I have a bunch of boxes already built up... just need to make the enclosure bottom and print up some label blanks and they'll be ready to ship.
Attachment 41165 Attachment 41166
Next should be ready in a few weeks... a USB mini-quadrant for those who don't have a lot of room on their desktop. Enclosure has been designed and tweaked, just laying out the PCB now. Will have to make a couple molds for levers and knobs.:
Attachment 41167 Attachment 41168 Attachment 41169
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Re: New Quadrant controls
Update on mini-quadrant...
Prototype PCBs will be here by Monday, waiting for enclosure master from Shapeways. Here are some parts for prototype assembly, form & fit, etc.
Attachment 41342 Attachment 41343
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Re: New Quadrant controls
PCBs came in, pretty much perfect, though next time I think I'll add some alternate pads for the elevator trim so I can offer a left-handed quadrant. Built up 10 boards... solder stencil was good, only had one solder bridge out of the 10 boards. I can actually assemble the SMT components onto the boards faster than my little reflow oven can run a cycle. I may convert this to an all through-hole assembly... since I have to solder all the switches anyway, why not do the same with the other components too? I can run it through a wave solder machine all in one pass, rather than do the SMT components and then the TH components.
Got the chassis from Shapeways this morning. Everything fits as planned, so just need to some painting and sanding to get the finish just right, then I can pour a mold and start producing.
Attachment 41441 Attachment 41442
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Re: New Quadrant controls
Facinating project Kendy. :cheers:
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3 Attachment(s)
Re: New Quadrant controls
Almost done with chassis molds for the mini-quadrant.
Working on a design for a radiator crank for the BF-109. Looks like the crank rotates 2 full turns, and my pots have a 260 degree range, so geared accordingly. Ready to start printing out parts to test:
Attachment 41698 Attachment 41699 Attachment 41700
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Re: New Quadrant controls
Tweaking Radiator control to make sure everything meshes just right. I originally planned to use a roller skate bearing on the crank handle, but it seems to turn just fine without it.
Attachment 41827
Finished the mold for the Mini-Quadrant levers... pumped out a bunch in Polypropylene on the injection molder. Working on the mold for the chassis and the knobs.
Attachment 41828
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Re: New Quadrant controls
Nice work. I have a set of those Harbor Freight calipers. Can't beat the price.
What are you using to shoot the molds?
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Re: New Quadrant controls
Quote:
Originally Posted by
69th_Zeb
Nice work. I have a set of those Harbor Freight calipers. Can't beat the price.
What are you using to shoot the molds?
Chassis molds will be silicon rubber, as my injection molder can't handle that kind of volume...limited to 1 cubic inch of material. For small items I use a PM-150 from LNS Technologies that I have modified with a pneumatic cylinder.
Attachment 41870 Attachment 41871
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Re: New Quadrant controls
Everything tweaked just so... a little touch-up on the housing, and ready to make molds for this assembly.
Attachment 41952
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Re: New Quadrant controls
Started producing some of the parts for the radiator crank. I made a bunch using a neutral colored resin, but they didn't take paint very well so dumped them and mixed up some OD colored resin. These came out a lot better. Have a couple more molds to make and then this will be available on Amazon.
Attachment 42504
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Re: New Quadrant controls
All finished and installed in my cockpit. Works like a champ...went for a test flight, and it really increases the immersion. Cool to look down at the handle on the screen a see it follow my hand as it cranks. It may take me a few flights to get used to the placement of the control.
Attachment 42558
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Re: New Quadrant controls
Not happy with some of the stuff I've been molding, as it is too hard to maintain quality parts with silicon molds and liquid resin, so decided to take a step back and design a quadrant control that I can easily 3D print. This new quadrant can be dropped into any control panel and attached with a couple screws. All parts will be 3D printed, (except for the potentiometer, brake spring, and screws). I'll probably print it in black or dark gray PLA.
Attachment 46229
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Re: New Quadrant controls
Just a little preview...printing up some parts now.
Attachment 46357
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Working on the brake spring to get the tension just right, and waiting on some connectors from China, and we'll be ready to go.
Attachment 46408
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Re: New Quadrant controls
Almost there...
Attachment 46438