Dual flight controls for simulator

[Shawn]

Thanks Numbers, I was just going to suggest that. Airplane parts won't make it through customs though so best not to mention what they are. Let me know Pixman, I will pick up the shipping costs, doesn't seem fair otherwise.

Thanks
Shawn

[Shawn]

I got the rear support plate cut today, built a new pivot for the right side and made the bracket that will hold the pitch damper in place.

[Highpower]

I see your crew chief has come by to inspect your work.

[Shawn]

She is primarily tasked with quality control. She really isn't happy with the rod ends used to connect both sticks, far too much slop for her liking. Now I need to find some proper ball joints.

You can almost see the look of disgust on her face here...

[Highpower]

(02-18-2014, 02:48 PM)Shawn Wrote: You can almost see the look of disgust on her face here...

[Shawn]

So yesterday I noticed that during rapid roll movements the spherical rod end were moving on the bolt I used to hold them. There was .050 difference in the bolt diameter and the hole in the rod end. Tightening them helped a bit but wasn't the solution. I went to town to look for some cheap ball joints with a stud but all the cheap ones had the same runout. So I decided to give something a try and it worked like a charm. I turned down a steel rod to .080 oversized and pressed it into the hole of the rod end. The force of the pin expanded the steel ball to a snug fit with the brass sleeve, no measurable slack. Only took me three tries   .010 oversized bent the pin before I could force it in and .050 was a nice fit but didn't effect the total runout. Saved me a few buck and was a good exercise in turning to a precise diameter.



Shawn

[Old Iron]

Looking good shawn, Is that same one you were working on before?

Paul

[Shawn]

Thanks Paul, I'm calling the previous version a test run. To be honest I just finally decided to build a full cockpit complete with dual controls. I'm more interested in designing and building the controls so it will probably end up being a bit of a skeleton cockpit. When I do actually fly in the simulator it tends to be helicopters and the occasional small fixed wing so each side of the cockpit will reflect one or the other. I keep looking at the old camelback drill press and the box that the counter shaft assembly is stored in. The one good thing about a project getting put off is my skillset is improving so when I get around to it I have a better chance of doing the job right. Anytime someone is in my shop they comment on the drill press and find it hard to believe I got the missing parts from Andalusia, Alabama for the price of shipping.

Shawn

[Shawn]

Here is my first attempt at a backlit panel for my simulator. The engraving isn't quite what I was hoping for but not bad for a milling machine I think.



Shawn

[DaveH]

Smart
I was thinking that is not how EXIT is spelt, then my thinking progressed albeit slowly Fire Exit on a plane??? then the penny dropped Ext short for Extinguisher

DaveH