For the B200 simulator that we completed recently, we developed some new LCD Annunciator Panels to reflect those used in the real aircraft that we were basing our construction on. Here's a couple of photos of the Glareshield Annunciator Panel.
Because of limitations related to the available sizes of TFT LCD screens, we essentially had to build this into the glareshield structure as we were putting it all together. As a result, unfortunately this item isn't currently in a state where we can offer it for general sale, although we may look into designing a more builder-friendly version in the future if there's enough interest.
Last year we overhauled an entire B200 simulator
with a newly-designed set of panels that mimic those found in the real
aircraft, as our customer was replicating it for training purposes.
Here are some photos of the Captain Left Panel ...
We don't offer too many Airbus parts because there are already some fantastic products available elsewhere, although we do like helping to provide parts and panels that can't be easily found or which need to be built around specific dimensions and/or requirements.
The panels shown here were built for a simulator that incorporated various aspects of both an A350 and A380. We supplied a basic configuration file based around our own 64INS and 64OUT I/O Boards, which were interfaced to the Jeehall Airbus software.
Landing Gear Panel
Note: we actually had to re-make this front panel because it
didn't survive the 19,000km journey to our customer!
We normally supply our populated panels with all of the hardware fitted onto a backing plate that's already fitted to the main panel, but they aren't typically wired. On this occasion however, we had the opportunity to do some of the wiring here in our workshop. Not all of it could be completed prior to shipping of course, as various items need to be fed into the main instrument that everything will eventually be fitted to - but we could do a lot of it, which also meant that we were able to test and verify all of the initial interfacing we'd organised for it.
Okay then, the Left Switch Panel ...
Each Starter Button has been programmed to illuminate when activated. Here they're unlit.
This isn't actually the standard wiring for one of our Left Switch Panel's, as this particular module needs to communicate with another existing piece of hardware that our customer already has installed in their build.
Now, the Right Switch Panel ...
Next, the Landing Gear Panel with the gear lever fitted ...
The Push/Pull switch shown here is the Park Brake
The Lighting Panel ...
With the dimmer wired to the Panel Lighting potentiometer
The 10 Encoders Universal program that's supplied with this board allows the user to configure and connect up to ten encoders which interact with Flight Simulator software, and a user-friendly configuration program allows each encoder to then be individually configured using either FSUIPC Offsets, FS Controls or Key presses.
As shown in the screenshot below, there's an option to select which type of encoder will be connected. This is important as they operate differently via the PC board. The default setting is CTS288.
There's also the ability to test the function of each encoder within the configuration program itself (without the PC board actually being connected) to make sure that all functions will work as expected.
Once the encoders have been configured, this will be shown on a separate screen:
This product isn't actually available through our official website yet, although please feel free to contact us for more details.
Further to our recent post regarding the DFC90 Autopilot, below is a short video showcasing the dual-coloured button lights. This was recorded by the new owner of the unit and, by way of a disclaimer, just shows a test harness with the supporting controller and digital logic.
It's always great to see how our parts are eventually used in various projects because often, once they've left our workshop, that's the last we ever see of them!
For the past few months we've been selling a bezel complete with buttons and encoders (see the first two photographs), which is based around the Aspen EFD1000. It was designed to fit in front of an LCD monitor upon which the appropriate graphics were shown, with our PCB interfaced to its software, thus making the unit operational.
Below is a short video on our Youtube account demonstrating its functionality using the Flight1 Aspen software. It it also able to use the Aspen EFD1000 software from Friendly Panels.
This product has recently undergone something of a facelift, however, and has since been significantly upgraded and taken to a much more realistic level, having now evolved into the Ruscool LCD1000; a stand-alone unit complete with its own LCD screen.
As seen from the shot above, with the ability to now fit the unit actually into a panel as would properly occur in an aircraft, the thickness of the panel is much reduced. Similarly, with the LCD display unit now embedded deep into the panel itself, there is a substantially more realistic and aesthetically pleasing result with regards to the distance from the panel's surface to the graphics.
Jumping out at everybody - I'm sure - is the fact that the display isn't actually displaying anything! Rest assured that this is simply a logistical issue at present, due to some temporary relocations of computers and monitors about our workshop, and shall be remedied as soon as possible so that we can update matters with a proper video and some more details. It still uses the Flight 1 Aspen software, or the Friendly Panels Aspen software.
In the meantime, and going right back to the earliest origins of this product, below are some shots from a few months back that some might consider interesting: our first operational prototype of the 'bezel only' version ...
This is an early preview of one of the many new items that we've been developing in the background over the past few months: an operational Autopilot System (the Ruscool RMC710), which is based around the Garmin Mode Controller (GMC 710) ...
The text on the faceplate is backlit, and all the buttons are able to be illuminated when their particular function is selected. The rotary encoders have pushbuttons like the real unit, and the roller wheel for the Vertical Speed adjustment has notches to allow for ease of turning,
The unit has been designed to fit into a separate backing plate which is then attached to the main instrument panel. This is currently being painted however, and we haven't got any decent photos of this yet (it was made yesterday), but we shall remedy this once the entire unit has been installed and is up and running in our customer's simulator. He lives locally too - which is mighty convenient!
Despite this system being designed around our own I/O boards, as with the majority of our products, wherever possible we also make each individual connection available directly from the PCB (see above photograph) so that our customers can use whichever interface system they wish. One reason to employ our own I/O boards is of course that all of the software and its capabilities are known to us, although an additional benefit is that we also have the ability to customise some of the logic as and when necessary.
And this is how it looked prior to the fitting of the buttonheads and knobs, the application of paint, and the completed engraving. You can just make out the backlit buttons through the open buttonholes.
Oops, what do you know ... the painting of the backing plate was finished and dried before we'd completed this post, so below is a quick photo of the assembled faceplate fitted into this particular version of backing plate.
As with all initial concept items, there are several slight alterations with regards to a few details here and there - such as replacing the mounting screws some more realistic countersunk types, and the concealment of the encoder nuts - which will be implemented on subsequent versions.
We don't offer a lot of 737 products as there are already plenty of quality manufacturers in this market and there's not really much else that we could normally offer over and above what's already available. Recently, however, we've been working with a customer who has specific space limitations and therefore custom measurements are required to properly house the panels in their rightful places.
After much testing and verification in our workshop to prove the possibilities, the panel will be used by our customer with his PMDG 737-800 NGX software via one of our 64 Input Boards for the switches, and a Conditional 64 Output Board to drive the LEDs in the annunciators.
And so this is the Boeing 737 N1 SET / SPD REF / AUTO BRAKE Panel that we dispatched to him a couple of weeks back, complete with our newly developed backlighting process. We haven't implemented this backlighting technique across our entire product range at the moment, as due to time restraints - and getting work out to customers - its become more of a panel by panel expansion (I guess that would be the best way to describe it!) ...
Alongside the panel itself, we also made the functioning combination switches which include a rotary switch, and an encoder (with pushbutton also if required). As you can tell from the positioning of the text, we've actually used some 30 degree rotaries as the 45 degree switches we had access to weren't able to be readily altered for the purposes required.
As a one-off type of project, a small section of vero board has been used to mount the small MFD switches, which isn't perhaps very pretty but gets the job done all the same! The photo below shows the panel about 80% wired.
A notable couple of omissions on this panel are obviously the two annunciators that accompany it, because we had already built these previously for our customer, so we simply built the rest of the panel around these measurements and the overall dimension constraints for the panel that were originally provided to us. The dual concentric knobs are designed and manufactured by us as well.
We've also improved our engraving technique lately as well, which is hopefully demonstrated by the picture above. It takes a little longer to accomplish, but the results are certainly worth it ...
