[simpits-tech] Marvs SCC

Sat Jan 31 11:19:03 PST 2004

Actually, I was thinking more like cast resin around a galvanized pipe core.  :)  But that's right, Craig, when one factors in the fidelity quotient, one can reduce cost.  Marv apparently got hugely bit by the fidelity bug too, and that's why his unit became something that could actually be used to train airborne warriors in the Real World (tm).

The difference between a "high fidelity" version and a "lesser" product, in my admittedly limited view, could boil down to what material lies under the grey paint.  Metal is essential for the handgrip as the Coug has proven, but when the rest of the 'pit is either wood or fiberglass, a plastic SSC casing is not that hard to stomach.

Steve
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Craig Rochester 
  To: Simulator Cockpit tech list 
  Sent: Saturday, January 31, 2004 8:38 AM
  Subject: RE: [simpits-tech] Marvs SCC

  Right Mike,

  The "flag pole" rod design, with POT based mechanical displacement amplifiers,  and no fancy housing could be made for about $40.  This feels quite good, though different than the SSC design and does not have differential travel for the pitch axis.  

  http://pages.zdnet.com/johncraigrochester/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/cambearing02.jpg

  That's a pic of a test rig.  It wouldn't take much more to make it quite usable.  And one could make a faux base out of wood.  I flew Falcon4 with it and it was much more precise than the Cougar base.

  Craig R.

   -----Original Message-----
  From: simpits-tech-bounces at simpits.org [mailto:simpits-tech-bounces at simpits.org]On Behalf Of Mike Williams
  Sent: Saturday, January 31, 2004 10:14 AM
  To: 'Simulator Cockpit tech list'
  Subject: RE: [simpits-tech] Marvs SCC

    One other part should be factored in to the machining cost, not all the parts need to be machined by a shop, some are intricate, but some are not. From the drawings, there are certainly parts in there that can be made by the novice machinist, cutting down shop time. Craig has said the high fidelity model they designed could be simplified down some for the less hard core types, don't know his plans there though. The intent of the design was for high fidelity from the start and not a certain pricepoint. With the drawings being released to the community I am sure there will be some individuals with the resources to cut the cost way down. The LVDT conditioners can be had on ebay cheaply and at least one of the LVDTs, the smaller LVDT will most likely have to be bought retail. 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

    From: simpits-tech-bounces at simpits.org [mailto:simpits-tech-bounces at simpits.org] On Behalf Of Craig Rochester
    Sent: Saturday, January 31, 2004 8:55 AM
    To: Simulator Cockpit tech list
    Subject: RE: [simpits-tech] Marvs SCC

    Hi Steve,

    You wrote:

    "At least with Craig and Dave's homebrew plans, the cost is sure to be a heckuva lot less than 2.5 G's"

    Dave estimated the shop time to produce the Viperpit.org SSC @ about 40 hrs.   Let me pull a $/hr out of my bum --> $60.   That's $2,400 just for the machining.  Of course that's for a single unit and multiple units would bring this down some, but unless it were mass produced in China,  it wouldn't reduce the price that much.

    "It certainly isn't going to be the same quality as you are likely to produce"

    This is NOT certain.  The Viperpit.org worked to the exact specifications for the real SSC.  Dave's machining is second to none.  I'm not taking anything away from Marv's work, but on what basis do you make your quality assumption?

    Craig R.

    -----Original Message-----
    From: simpits-tech-bounces at simpits.org
    [mailto:simpits-tech-bounces at simpits.org]On Behalf Of Steve Wilson
    Sent: Saturday, January 31, 2004 3:32 AM
    To: Simulator Cockpit tech list
    Subject: Re: [simpits-tech] Marvs SCC

    Marv, the price is what it is.  You deserve to be compensated for your costs
    and efforts, and Chris Mihok has to get his cut too, since he's your front
    man and distributor.  It doesn't help, though, that a project that as
    originally touted as something for simpit builders ended up being so doggone
    good it was priced more for Uncle Sugar and his henchmen at the Pentagon.
    Gads, good job dude, and way to go.  There's a perfectly understandable
    inflation factor there too.  I guess what's spouting off betwixt my ears
    here is the length of time I and a lot of other guys, both here and
    elsewhere, spent hoping the original was going to be something we could
    afford and would be available soon, a "soon" that was more like a year ago.

    And yes, I do understand that the timing of this project is something worked
    around *your* life and your convenience - you really never owed any of us
    anything!!  Bigtime.

    I also understand you may have a lesser priced version at some point - but
    how can I or anyone else ask you to look into your crystal ball and ask how
    far in the future that's going to be?  At least with Craig and Dave's
    homebrew plans, the cost is sure to be a heckuva lot less than 2.5 G's and
    the timing only limited by our ability to get our own parts done.  It
    certainly isn't going to be the same quality as you are likely to produce I
    know, and I regret that.  The real thing is that, at some point, the
    arrogance in me actually expects to finish building cockpit(s) and to get
    down to the task of learning how to be the best F-16 sim driver that I can
    be.  That's the goal, at least for me.

    But all that **whining** aside, Marv, go sell the thing, go sell a thousand
    of 'em.  You really don't owe me an apology for the price, but thanks
    anyway.

    It's not often that one's efforts in a hobby can be turned into something
    worth literally thousands of dollars, and can actually help defend this fine
    land of ours at the same time, at least indirectly.  For that
    accomplishment, you have my respect.

    Steve

    ----- Original Message -----
    From: "Marv De Beque" <mdebeque at woh.rr.com>
    To: "Simulator Cockpit tech list" <simpits-tech at simpits.org>
    Sent: Friday, January 30, 2004 3:28 PM
    Subject: Re: [simpits-tech] Marvs SCC

    > Steve,
    >
    > Sorry about the cost, but the sale price obviously represents my cost for
    > the components, too.
    >
    > That is why we're considering a home builder version.  Hopefully, that
    will
    > address this market.  I'll keep you posted as things develop.
    >
    > Marv
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > On 1/30/04 12:48 PM, "Steve Wilson" <mafsix at hotmail.com> wrote:
    >
    > > I got an unsolicited email from my ol' pal Chris Mihok yesterday (ACC
    Prez).
    > > $2,520.00 - based on them selling 12 units.  No change from the last
    time I
    > > got the info from Marv here in this fine forum.  I'm sure at that price
    a
    > > variety of buyers, mainly government/military, will buy them.  Certainly
    a
    > > nice thing to have, but apparently not aimed at the casual simpit
    builder.
    > > I spent just over a grand on my rudder pedals, so I don't mind spending
    > > serious cash on a part for my overpriced playpen.  But even I have my
    > > limits!  ;-)
    > >
    > > Steve W.
    > >
    > >
    > > ----- Original Message -----
    > > From: "Michi Hirczy" <mi.hi at gmx.net>
    > > To: <simpits-tech at simpits.org>
    > > Sent: Friday, January 30, 2004 1:03 AM
    > > Subject: [simpits-tech] Marvs SCC
    > >
    > >
    > >> Hey, Marv!
    > >>
    > >> I actually read the announcement at sim-news.com, that you teamed up
    > >> with Advanced Computer Concepts for your SSC. Do you have any pricing
    > >> information (i.e. nothing has changed since last time, about 1.500,-)?
    > >>
    > >> greetings
    > >> michi
    > >> --
    > >> lg, michi
    > >>
    > >> _______________________________________________
    > >> Simpits-tech mailing list
    > >> Simpits-tech at simpits.org
    > >> http://www.simpits.org/mailman/listinfo/simpits-tech
    > >> To unsubscribe, please see the instructions at the bottom of the above
    > > page.  Thanks!
    > >>
    > > _______________________________________________
    > > Simpits-tech mailing list
    > > Simpits-tech at simpits.org
    > > http://www.simpits.org/mailman/listinfo/simpits-tech
    > > To unsubscribe, please see the instructions at the bottom of the above
    page.
    > > Thanks!
    >
    > _______________________________________________
    > Simpits-tech mailing list
    > Simpits-tech at simpits.org
    > http://www.simpits.org/mailman/listinfo/simpits-tech
    > To unsubscribe, please see the instructions at the bottom of the above
    page.  Thanks!
    >
    _______________________________________________
    Simpits-tech mailing list
    Simpits-tech at simpits.org
    http://www.simpits.org/mailman/listinfo/simpits-tech
    To unsubscribe, please see the instructions at the bottom of the above page.  Thanks!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  _______________________________________________
  Simpits-tech mailing list
  Simpits-tech at simpits.org
  http://www.simpits.org/mailman/listinfo/simpits-tech
  To unsubscribe, please see the instructions at the bottom of the above page.  Thanks!
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://www.simpits.org/pipermail/simpits-tech/attachments/20040131/681428dc/attachment-0001.html