[simpits-tech] Just Off The Workbench - Servo Driven Gauges!

[Gwen de Lucero]

Very nice work indeed!  Your timing is perfect since I am finishing up my
work on building my console panels and am preparing to move to the analog
gauges next.  I will definitely be watching for pricing information on
these.  I have a sneaking feeling I'll be ordering a full set.

Thanks for the info.

Gwen

----- Original Message -----
From: "Marv De Beque" <mdebeque@woh.rr.com>
To: <simpits-tech@simpits.org>
Sent: Sunday, June 02, 2002 7:50 PM
Subject: [simpits-tech] Just Off The Workbench - Servo Driven Gauges!


> I am happy to have finished the first pilot run of servo driven gauges.
> These are only the round gauges.
>
> The picture does not do this baby justice, but you get the idea.
>
> This looks just like the real thing, is machined from aluminum (not wood
or
> plastic), and is back lit!  Even the needle glows.  It even has the
aluminum
> bezel ring with the ridges.  Every detail is captured.
>
> The needle is driven by an RC servo, so you can drive it with something
like
> Chester's Pfidget servo controller board.
>
> The needle has a full 360 degrees of movement.  The rear has a common
4-pin
> circular connector (like the mic connector on a CB radio).  It is powered
by
> 5 volts and the lighting bus is 12 volts.
>
> The attached picture is the 1" diameter OIL Pressure gauge for the F-16
and
> it is 4.25" deep.  All of these gauges are mechanically a drop in
> replacement for the real thing.  They can be installed from the front of
the
> panel like the real gauge.  If you have real gauge clamps they will work,
> too.
>
> There will be all sizes of the round gauges available for the F-16.  There
> may be a possibility to do gauges for other aircraft, but the F-16 is
first.
>
> So, where can you get these?
>
> These will be sold exclusively through Paul at Desk Top Sims.  Pricing has
> not been finalized, so I can't give you a quote and don't ask, please.
Paul
> will be receiving the first set of these in the next few weeks.
>
> However, I can tell you this.  You will be able to buy these gauges in two
> ways.  One is to by just the gauge head which is about 1.50" long.  This
wil
> save you money.
>
> The gauge head will give you a real, knock your socks off looking, back
> lighting gauge, but it will be static only - no motor.
>
> You can buy the driver module which contains the servo at any later time.
> It simply slips on the back and is held in place with two very small
> Phillips screws.  this means you can upgrade to fully functional gauges at
> the time of your choosing.
>
> The second method is to simply buy a complete working gauge.
>
> At any rate, this will be good news for the sim community since you will
> have a simple interface that can give you 100% functioning gauges without
> requiring a degree in electrical engineering.  Just plug it in.  ;-)
>
> Feel free to write me for more technical information, but I can't help
with
> pricing.  That will take another week or two for Paul and I to work out,
but
> I am trying to make this as affordable as possible.  Please understand.
>
> I can say the quality of these gauges is equal to the real thing.  No one
> will be disappointed!
>
> Marv
>
>