Tag Archives: MCP

MCP V2 – My new Mode Control Panel and how it was done…

Of course when you do have your first MCP you are very happy. But as the time goes by you find more and more things which are are not satisfying. As you can see in an older post, the MCP Ver 1 was based on a piece of MDF material for stabilization. The LEDs for the mode selection have not been placed on the push buttons but above or next to them. No FLT intv or SPD intv buttoms were available. But the thing which was most annoying was the way the cables have been organized. Totally chaotic and a lot of hot glue was applied to provide some stability for the soldering points.Read more on the related page 

 

MCP Ver 1 finished

 Just some update on my project. The MIP is finished in terms of woodwork. Now i am ready to move the whole thing to my cockpit room for the wiring. For this i also ask for some suggestions how to approach the wiring. I have 2 BU0836X controllers from Leo Bodnar, OC Mastercard, OC USB Expansion card, OC Output card and 2 x Display card. I do not know how to approach the wiring in a good and organized way. I think i will place the 2 bodnar cards in the glareshiled behind the mcp as there are the most inputs at the moment which have to be connected. I also do not know how to make good connection which are connectable (and disconnectable) for fast connection of the components (should i go for 40 pin flatbed IDE cables ?).

Ok, as you can see on the pictures i most of the backlighting is done. I will install some 10 k potis to regulate the brightness of them.

The glareshield has been covered with black artificial leather over some 10mm softfoam matresses.

For the start i installed a 17 inch screen in the pedestal and will replace that with a touchscreen this year. The next steps will be wiring, installation of the missing components in the MIP, and getting the whole thing running with PROSIM737.

One major task will be to figure out how to mill the annunctiator holders and faceplates for them. I would like to see some gear indicators lighting up ; )

Detail of MCP. The backlighting is done with a stripe of white LEDS on a MDF sheet. This provides additional stability for the MCP.

Detail of MCP. The backlighting is done with a stripe of white LEDS on a MDF sheet. This provides additional stability for the MCP.

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First Test of backlighting is sucessful

First Test of backlighting is sucessful

First Version of MCP and some additional Informations

i think it is time to provide some updates for my project.

After i got my CNC machine running (with fixed chinese controller card TB6560) it is possible to do my own parts. So far the MIP structure is nearly finished and the first panel is backlighted. I use the SMD LED stripes for backlighting.

At the moment i work on the MCP. The front panel is finished and engraved (with 0.5 mm end mill) and backplate also ready. I do not use a 45 or 60 degree engraving mill because i have issues with the height of the panel. What i do is to set Z Axis to Zero for each new block of letter i want to engrave. The workbed is not 100% even so this is the solution which works good for me.

I did test with a self constructed engraving head but no big success.

Last week i received my first 500 € shipment from Open Cockpits with important components like master card, output card, switches, buttons and knobs. I did some molding tests to make my own knobs with silicon form and epoxy resin and you can see in the picture what comes out if you can´t wait till the mold is dried.

I try to get the MIP, MCP and EFIS Panels finished till i´ll move the whole structure into my cockpit room. For software i discovered the PROSIM 737 solution which seems perfect for my needs – not to mention that the package is free at the moment. Next steps will be all the wiring and of course many hours learning SIOC.

 

MCP Ver 1 front panel on the MDF router

MCP Ver 1 front panel on the MDF router

 

Engraved Letters and Backlighting

Engraved Letters and Backlighting

Gear LEver Panel and Backlighting

Gear LEver Panel and Backlighting

My first knobs fresh out of the mold

My first knobs fresh out of the mold