[simpits-tech] to STEVE, re: throttle arm
Marv De Beque
simpits-tech@simpits.org
Tue, 01 Oct 2002 18:38:30 -0400
I would be curious to see the results. We have the a rapid prototyping
machine at Honeywell that uses resin.
I made two MFD bezels for myself. They look great at a distance, but close
up you can easily spot the layering as thin lines. It gives the finish a
fine line-like patina.
I was originally thinking of using these as masters to make molds, but they
are not acceptable with that type of finish.
If there is a better process that has a glass smooth finish to it, then it
would be worth going for it! I am very curious to see what results.
I'll spill the beans here, but I have already been considering a realistic
throttle arm for the Cougar to go with my force sensor F-16 stick base.
What I leaning toward is making a mold of the arm (and the rest of the
assembly) and casting replicas using either fiberglass or carbon fiber (I am
leaning toward carbon fiber).
The reason is for durability. I have the real thing in my cockpit and I can
see that it is easy to get some serious abuse if you smack it on entry or
exit of the cockpit.
Basically, that arm is a big lever and any pressure on the throttle grip
will yield a much larger moment of force at the bottom.
As for making the arm, I would recommend that you make a two-part mold. The
first part of making a part is applying a layer of gel coat to the molds,
then a few layers of carbon fiber cloth.
The inner hole can be made with 3/8" to 1/2" copper plumbing. It is easy to
bend and is malleable. Once the initial layers have cured, you can add the
copper tube and fill with a mix of chopped carbon fiber and epoxy resin.
The resulting part would be very strong.
You are welcome to try this idea. If you get it working, go for it! I
would like to focus on the stick base first, but see a market for a good
F-16 throttle solution, too. Maybe someone out there can do it.
Incidentally, I am hoping to buy a Cougar soon and will offer a Cougar
conversion kit for the Cougar F-16 Grip to fit my force sensor base first.
Since the throttle grip comes along for the ride in the purchase, I have
been considering the throttle arm as a second project, but that is a little
further down the road and everyone already knows how busy I am. :-/
Marv
--
> From: Steve Wilson <mafsix@attbi.com>
> Reply-To: simpits-tech@simpits.org
> Date: Tue, 1 Oct 2002 13:18:22 -0400
> To: <simpits-tech@simpits.org>
> Subject: Re: [simpits-tech] to STEVE, re: throttle arm
>
> Er, Marv, actually, that mail was directed at Jim K., whom may have some sort
> of "in" with a rapid prototyper. And this whole thing is aimed at automated
> 3D rendering of the knobs. I don't want to hand build 15-20 different knobs
> either. If my drawings (TBD, BTW) could be used for RP generation of knob
> masters, from there, castings could be made, and ultimately knob sets. I'm
> trying to knock down that $900 to $1200 cost of the knob masters, and if Jim
> has a good resource, let's add that to the pool. If the RP costs too much,
> though, obviously this is for naught. But Jim suggested RP for the arm, and
> while that may or may not fly, RP for the knobs would be super handy. That
> is, unless our pal Jurgen at Aimsworth comes up with a better solution, and
> I'm thinking that may be a very, very good answer to the whole situation.
> Jurgen is taking a real bent towards authenticity these days, and I'm pretty
> optimistic he will ultimately come through.
>
> Steve
> --
> Steve Wilson, mafsix@attbi.com on 10/01/2002
>
>
> On Tue, 01 Oct 2002 12:46:55 -0400, Marv De Beque wrote:
> ::::
> :::: Thanks for the offer for the knobs, but like I said before,
> :::: the drawings are
> :::: of little use to me. No way do I want to make complex molds
> :::: from scratch
> :::: for knobs.
> ::::
> :::: It is 100 times easier to make a mold from a real knob and it
> :::: is more
> :::: accurate, to boot.
> :::: --
> ::::
> ::::
> :::: > From: Steve Wilson <mafsix@attbi.com>
> :::: > Reply-To: simpits-tech@simpits.org
> :::: > Date: Tue, 1 Oct 2002 11:13:07 -0400
> :::: > To: <simpits-tech@simpits.org>
> :::: > Subject: Re: [simpits-tech] to STEVE, re: throttle arm
> :::: >
> :::: > Hi Jim - I could probably generate a model of the arm in DXF
> :::: and STL with
> :::: > little problem. Keep in mind that the arm needs to be as
> :::: hollow as possible
> :::: > (thin wall) to get the TQS cablage through it. But......
> :::: more importantly for
> :::: > the group, what about knobs!?! I can generate STL's for
> :::: them too. I don't
> :::: > have the time resource to get deep in this, not to mention
> :::: sufficient stress
> :::: > overhead, but I'm getting into 3D CGI in a big way, and
> :::: could use the practice
> :::: > doing the models. It does happen that these can be exported
> :::: into
> :::: > stereolithography and AutoCAD files suitable for rapid
> :::: prototyping. Am I on
> :::: > the right track??
> :::: >
> :::: > Steve
> :::: > --
> :::: > Steve Wilson, mafsix@attbi.com on 10/01/2002
> :::: >
> :::: >
> :::: > On Mon, 30 Sep 2002 17:26:18 -0600, Jim K. wrote:
> :::: > ::::
> :::: > :::: Steve,
> :::: > :::: You know an easy way to make a replica of the
> :::: throttle arm
> :::: > :::: might be to go
> :::: > :::: to a rapid prototyper and have them make an arm using
> :::: one of
> :::: > :::: their metal
> :::: > :::: based materials. It actually might be interesting to
> :::: see what
> :::: > :::: something
> :::: > :::: like that would cost. Do you have a drawing for
> :::: that arm??
> :::: > :::: I work
> :::: > :::: closely with a prototyper here and I could get some
> :::: ideas for
> :::: > :::: other ways of
> :::: > :::: making that arm.
> :::: > :::: Lemme know
> :::: > :::: Jim
> :::: > ::::
> :::: > ::::
> :::: > :::: _______________________________________________
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