Thanks to Karl‘s website here, I got inspired to take my sim build to the next level and got an Ender 3v2 for my 54th birthday last week.
such a fun (albeit a tad frustrating) project getting it set up.
and here is my first print!! 🤭
And with Benchy looking good I chose my first Karl project to do: the EFIS! I did decide with the pieces being interchangeable with the Cockpitsimparts panel, and since my MCP panel came from Hispapanels, that to keep the asthetic I would not 3d print the panel or buttons. Interesting, though is that Karl’s design uses 4x 12 position switches and the cockpitsimparts kit only comes with 2. Karl’s plans for the EFIS are more sophisticated and use an elegant gear system to make two-part knobs (where the inner and outer parts do two separate things, and this is the approach I will take. The two 12 position switches I got from cockpitsimparts have a shaft that’s too fat for Karl’s design so I’m trying to replace those with some i found on amazon that will be here Wednesday that look like they have a more reasonable stem.
So, after learning some steps involved in the Creality slicer software, I got to work. My first lesson is that the stl files, for some reason, come into the slicer on their side, which caused the first part I was trying to print from working because the two parts that appeared to be the base actually didn’t both touch the print bed. So I’ve been turning things to make more sense before printing.
I mean how cool is this???
Since the EFIS uses several different size nozzles, I’ve been grouping prints by that size. Most things are 3mm, like all the things in the picture. Don’t forget to tell slicer to print duplicates so you save a little time printing all the things you need 2 of.
While waiting for more parts to print, I started putting tactile switches and the toggles in (they fit like a freaking glove!!).
I’m not sure quite how soldering is going to go, as there’s literally hardly anything poking through the back side of the plate to solder to.
I’ve been doing a lot of sim soul searching about interfacing to xplanes. Karl is a mobiflight guy and I want to grow up to be just like him. However, with arduinos costing $30-$40 each, the idea of not being able to use multiplexer boards like I can with simvim is kind of a problem. My biggest conundrum isn’t really this build, since it’s just lights and buttons and, after my MCP build I’m confident in this work. But the next project I want to make is Karl’s motorized TQ. I’m not sure if there’s a simvim way to make the trim wheels and speed break go, and that would stink If it were the case. I guess I’ll find out.
One thing is I figured out is that the build guide for the EFIS is missing instructions on the 16 tooth gears So I forgot to print those before changing nozzle size and filament color. Hopefully using the same settings for the 22 tooth gear will work since there’s no recommendation.
so, that’s the beginning of my story. Excited to be building again!
I almost finished. and noticed, that this version do not have "push button" for TFC and CTR.?? I am correct?? just finished my rotary and switches and encoders wiring.... and now??
Mike
This hasn’t been a lot of fun like my motorized throttle quadrant product.
That’s another broken shaft.
I read up on how to do a 2 color print and am thinking of trying to print Karl’s panel to see if it a) fits better and b) looks real enough. Since I’m going full bore on the TQ now, I have to wait awhile before the printer will be free to change to a 0.2 nozzle. So, not much more to update on this for now.
Ok, frustration. This panel doesn’t fit the rest of the design by just enough, or my printing isnt accurate. nothing is sitting nicely and I’ve had to loosen the bottom plate (that holds all the 12 position switches and pots) because the shafts were binding on the panel and not turning. Oh, and the list of supplies doesn’t list the grub screws to hold the panel to the rest of the project. Then I forced the knob on one of the shafts a little too hard and DAMN:
That is Female Shaft #14. I have to do a bit of disassembling to get that replaced. And 90mm is way too short for the 2mm rods so I have to figure this out. Oh, and I forgot a ground wire to the switches, so I have to take it all apart anyway.
grr!!
Lots and lots of wiring. What I hope
is that if there is a new version of this, the soldering to the legs of the tiny push buttons could be made just a little easier to access. That’s a ton of stuff in a small space and it’s hard not to accidentally add tension and sometimes pull some things off.
Now it’s time to fit the front to the body and find room for all these wires.
But as above, some of the panel holes are too small. I cracked the bottom two corners trying to widen them! 😭😭😭
So, I need to go widen two more holes because I can’t fit everything together now that all the wires are on for some reason. therefore it’s quitting time.
Wiring wiring wiring! Ran out of green which was ok because my eyes were getting bleary and I needed a break.
Now, for you Mobiflight people out there, since I’m doing this for Simvim, I’ll be driving the leds through an m13a chip so I can run everything off a single pin on the arduino mega. The chip switches using the cathode, so all the leds have the anodes daisy-chained together. The switches and buttons will go to a multiplexer. Long black wires here are for the leds and the 7 switches along the bottom and 2 across the top of the efis as well as the common ground.
I get why it would be easier to have pcbs for
all this stuff. But I am really enjoying learning how all this works even though the end result is that a ton of wire is used.
Didn’t get too much building time today. Awaiting that 4th 12 position switch so i continued grounding everything together.
Here‘s my first attempt to spray paint the white caps I printed yesterday. This wasn’t easy using a spray can. Probably an air brush would be better. I’ll file the tops of the letters once they’re super dry.
Hey, not too bad:
Ok. More EFIS! Not sure I was excited to hear Karl has completely redesigned it or not.
I didn’t realize the implication of color in making my pieces. So, apparently this should have been black:
Because it’s visible!! 😳
It’s not the end of the world, but because I’ve already joined all the negative poles of the tactile switches and toggle switches, I’m kind of committed.
so, i need 2 EFIS so maybe the second one will be the new model Karl has teased and I can make that one with all the correct external colors. It also took a long time for
the tactile switches with leds to get here and I only have enough for one of these (especially since I burned out 3 of them above).
Now remember I‘m using the panel from cockpitsimparts.com but i found a bit of a mismatch in the size of the hole in the panel and the part I printed called “outer shaft.” The picture shows what happened:
I tried fussing around with Fusion 360 to isolate and resize this piece but dude, that didn’t work out. I guess a round file to the panel?
I’ll get back to that. The 12 position switches got here (although it was a pack of 3, not 4!!). This goes together really well with a couple of hiccups. there aren‘t the little holes next to the holes for 2 of the 4 12 position switches. Not a huge deal. But also you can see the shaft goes a little too far below the back plate and hits the switch. I think I can just cut off some of the shaft to get it to fit.
The only thing left to print are the round covers for the end of the knobs that you push for STD and I forget what the other one says. It‘ll be a 2mm nozzle and I’ll print in white, spray paint black, then file off the top of the letters. The Ender 3v2 firmware doesn’t have a pause print feature that I’ve found so I think this will be fine.
one funny thing is that two of the 12 position switches only use 2 positions! Guys this is such an elegant design and it’s so cool to seen how the gears fit so well together.
Ah…. Ok, didn’t know knock off arduinos are a legit thing. I still need to ruminate on this.
Hi Steve, Great photos and an awesome machine you have there. Dont buy the original arduino megas! Use clones, but i have just checked the prices! £18 is the cheapest i can find at the mo. I remmember buying them for £5. Im hoping they will come down in price again.
I have also redesigned the EFIS, to make it easier to build. But its not ready for release yet.
Thank you for dropping by and posting the build, please do keep it up, good or bad. Its the only way i can improve the designs with feedback.
Kind Regards Karl.
Pretty sure knockoff arduino's will work just fine. Much cheaper :-)
Ok, this is dumb. The lights in the little momentary switches seem to burn out with 5v dc. I forgot the resisters! 🤦🏼♂️