Aircraft Aviation 2 Posted April 21, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2010 Heheh, no problems, got the Matrix wiring sorted out. It works like this: Say the "A" key on the CDU. This has two terminal legs coming off've it. The O/C Board has 11 rows of 8-pin arranged circuitry, this is the Matrix config. Row 1 is called A, row 2 called B, and so on. Each pin on each row is called a number. So, for example if we are referring to the fifth pin along on the second row down, it is called "B5". Anyway, one of the push-button terminal legs is connected to "A1", and the other connected to "B1". This coombination of wiring is simply translated as: "Key press "A" is defined as A1 + B1" Simple. So when we press key "A", SIOC doesn't receive a signal called "A", it receives a signal called "A1 +B1. However, this doesn't matter as A and A1+B1 are exactly the same thing. Please tell me if you need this explaining in more detail, I will not hesitate to help you out! Link to post Share on other sites
Magic Man 0 Posted April 21, 2010 Report Share Posted April 21, 2010 It's similar to how a standard keyboard works, matrix switch array. Link to post Share on other sites
Aircraft Aviation 2 Posted April 21, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2010 Interestingly, I was thinking of (for the CDU) ripping apart a keyboard and just re-arranging the keys onto the frame, but then I figured it would jsut look messy, the keys wouldn't give the right feel, etc. Link to post Share on other sites
Aircraft Aviation 2 Posted April 23, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 23, 2010 Construction has begun for the CDU. The aluminium frame will be cut tonight/tomorrow, and the USBKeys Card purchased... I don't know, but it shouldn't be too long. I will keep you informed, also keep an eye out for the 767 Overhead too! Jack Link to post Share on other sites
mutley 4,487 Posted April 23, 2010 Report Share Posted April 23, 2010 Great stuff Jack I can see you are really enjoying this! Cheers Link to post Share on other sites
Aircraft Aviation 2 Posted April 23, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 23, 2010 :blush: Great stuff Jack I can see you are really enjoying this! Cheers Yup! I'm also enjoying the price of the whole build too . Link to post Share on other sites
mutley 4,487 Posted April 23, 2010 Report Share Posted April 23, 2010 I stopped counting Jack, if Mrs Mutley found out I would be dead meat Cheers Link to post Share on other sites
Aircraft Aviation 2 Posted April 23, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 23, 2010 Just to say guys... For the CDU, I will be enlisting the help of my fantastic father. This is because he is a chartered electrical engineer and also a genious with wood/metalwork. He has also assisted me in some past building, but never have I needed his help so much, this CDU is one complex thing. I feel so much more comfortable with him on board with the CDU, he makes all the wiring look like a doddle. Jack Link to post Share on other sites
Aircraft Aviation 2 Posted April 25, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2010 Sunday 25th March 2010 The CDU panel has been cut! The frame is of aluminium and those small stands you can see on the sides are made of wood. Of course there is a long way to go yet, lots of soldering and mounting of buttons but hey, it should be worth it in the end. I have just ordered the SPST Momentary normally open Black Push buttons from Rapid. The only buttons I have yet to order are the circular buttons for the CDU. Thanks alot, Jack Link to post Share on other sites
Aircraft Aviation 2 Posted April 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 28, 2010 I have some fantastic news about the O/C CDU! The CDU has been located... And Correos are sending it back to me! It turns out that for some strange reasons Opencockpits did not collect the CDU from the local post office... Well anyway. I will resend it and hopefully get my refund this time! Regarding the self-built CDU... Progress is running great. I've just obtained some awesome circuit diagrams from a member at MyCockpit.org, which are essential for the CDU's construction. Jack Link to post Share on other sites
mike H 456 Posted April 29, 2010 Report Share Posted April 29, 2010 Thanks great news Jack and your self build is coming along nicely too. PS. I thought the post office was there to deliver parcels. :dance2: Link to post Share on other sites
Aircraft Aviation 2 Posted May 3, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 3, 2010 Unfortunately the USBKeys Card hasn't been ordered yet, but I can safely say that the CDU construction is coming along very well. Sadly, no pictures today, but I do have this Circuit Diagram I drew of the Matrix Wiring that'll be used. Take a look: Also, for those of you who are interested in building your own Simparts, I am making a tutorial on how to design a simple GA Autopilot panel using the BU0836X Card. Jack :biggrin: Link to post Share on other sites
mutley 4,487 Posted May 3, 2010 Report Share Posted May 3, 2010 Hey Jack, Thanks for the update, do you draw the diagrams before you start soldering? Joe Link to post Share on other sites
Aircraft Aviation 2 Posted May 3, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 3, 2010 Hiya Joe, It depends. In this case, I have draw the diagram before soldering, purely for the reason that I'm not overly experienced in Matrix Wiring. Basically, I made the diagram, then showcased it to Nico Kaan (a genious when it comes to IOCards, USBKeys, etc) - And since he has approved of it and says it should work, then all is good. However, in the case of the overhead panel, so far I have pretty much soldered first and then produced a diagram. thanks alot, Jack :biggrin: Link to post Share on other sites
The red barron 41 Posted May 8, 2010 Report Share Posted May 8, 2010 ? I am just confused looking at the diagram let alone soldering, not that I should be trusted with one! Link to post Share on other sites
Aircraft Aviation 2 Posted May 8, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 8, 2010 ? I am just confused looking at the diagram let alone soldering, not that I should be trusted with one! I wouldn't think you are the only one TRB . However, if you look at the diagram closely, there is only a total of 19 wires, which isn't that many. It's the daisy-chaining of the wires which is difficult! Link to post Share on other sites
Aircraft Aviation 2 Posted May 9, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2010 Sunday 9th May 2010 I have some very exciting news to report! The CDU construction is now 100% complete! I still have the wiring left to do, and from thereon interfacing, but for the most part we are complete! I'd like to thank my father for greatly helping me with the CDU construction, thankfully his experience allowed me to build such a precise unit. In this first picture, notice how the CDU "screen" is actually just an enclosed hole which very neatly slots over the 15" EICAS Panel: Some more pics: I am also building a B767 MCP, but this is a smaller background project so I will post pictures when it is finished probably. I also have work to do on the 767 Overhead Panel, it's busy busy busy!!! Thanks alot, Jack :biggrin: Link to post Share on other sites
mutley 4,487 Posted May 9, 2010 Report Share Posted May 9, 2010 Thanks for the update Jack, it's difficult to get an idea of the size, are you saying the CDU screen is 15" It is looking very good :biggrin: Link to post Share on other sites
Aircraft Aviation 2 Posted May 9, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2010 Sorry Joe, the CDU screen is 5" (the hole is 5"), which is placed on top of a 5" monitor. See this picture for clarification: Link to post Share on other sites
mutley 4,487 Posted May 9, 2010 Report Share Posted May 9, 2010 Okay I get it now, sorry for being so dense! Link to post Share on other sites
Aircraft Aviation 2 Posted May 9, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2010 Okay I get it now, sorry for being so dense! No problems! :biggrin: Link to post Share on other sites
mike H 456 Posted May 10, 2010 Report Share Posted May 10, 2010 That is looking really good Jack, well done matey. 15'' screen would make the cockpit about 25 foot sq. Link to post Share on other sites
Aircraft Aviation 2 Posted May 11, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2010 That is looking really good Jack, well done matey. 15'' screen would make the cockpit about 25 foot sq. Thanks alot Mike! :smile: With a 25ft square cockpit god only knows what you could fit in... Link to post Share on other sites
Aircraft Aviation 2 Posted May 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 Friday 28th May I have some great news! Opencockpits have finally confirmed that they have recived the CDU, and that the refund should arrive soon. Anyway, I've ordered the USBKeys Card from Opencockpits and it will be fully wired up to the (home-built) CDU within a week or two, all pictures will of course be posted! This is finally some good progress in a long while. I'm not sure what I'll implement next, we shall see! Thanks alot, Jack Link to post Share on other sites
needles 1,010 Posted May 29, 2010 Report Share Posted May 29, 2010 No worries about progress Jack, just keep up the stirling work on your rig. It's keeping many of us glued to the forum. Link to post Share on other sites
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