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Boeing 767 Overhead Project


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Tuesday 26th July 2011

New Features:

- Fully working spring-loaded mechanism for APU Panel complete

As some of you may know, most Boeing APU Panels have a three way start switch (OFF, ON, RUN). Again, most Boeings also have the latter two spring-loaded. This means that When you turn the switch to the RUN position, if you let go, it will return to the ON position.

The B767 is no exception. As it is almost time to install our APU Panel, we had to develop this switch from scratch, as none were commercially available.

Please browse these photographs:

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This switch will be installed our our APU Panel when it is ready.

Please stay tuned; a large-ish update for column 2 is on the horizon!

Cheers,

Jack

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Sunday 31st July 2011

New Features:

- The Korry switch back-plate for the APU generator panel has been completed. This panel provides a surface for the switches to push against (as they are spring loaded), and is secured behid the overhead panel. Some photographs:

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A photograph of the switches with their tops on. The two without tops are just there to show you what they look like underneath:

100_2130.jpg

Hope you have enjoyed this small updaet; any questions please ask.

Cheers,

Jack :icon_thumbup:

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Thank you, John and Max!

@John; I shall speak with my father when he gets back tonight and we will decide what is easier; thanks very much for the idea.

@Max; Your Korry switches have booked their place on Column 1 (they will be replacing the old switches). Two of your Korry switchs will be used for the "Yaw Damper" switches :001_th_smiles89: . The third, I am not so sure where we will put it; but it WILL have a use! :icon_thumbup: Once again, thanks so much for the switches.

Cheers,

Jack :001_th_smiles89:

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@John; I shall speak with my father when he gets back tonight and we will decide what is easier; thanks very much for the idea.

A flat spot on a cam with a leaf spring bearing against it makes a pretty decent detent too. The problem with cams is wear if it's used a lot - I'd avoid aluminum or plastic even though they're easier to work with. Steel is a better choice. Coil springs, as you've used in your prototype, mostly avoid that particular problem.

Fun stuff...

John

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  • 3 weeks later...
  • 3 weeks later...

Friday 16th September

[NOTE: All future updates to be presented in a newer, simpler format. Post will now be split into three sections. "New Features", "Upcoming Features" and "Description", which describes the update.]

New Features:

- COLUMN 2 COMPLETED AND INSTALLED!!! This includes:

- Battery & Standby Power Panel

- APU Generator & External Power Panel

- Electrical Panel

- APU Panel

(Other panels are included in Column 2, but they are not "new", as I've already mentioned them in previous posts. They will however, feature in this post, and its respective photographs and videos.)

Upcoming Features:

- Development of Column 3

Description:

This is definitely what I'd call a "long awaited" update. We have been working on Column 2 for almost a year now, and it's one of the most difficult Columns in the overhead panel to construct due to its high complexity. It involves many Korry switches, annunciators, a 7-Segment display unit, and also a spring-loaded switch which was very difficult to manufacture.

I am very pleased to say that Column 2 is now COMPLETELY finished. In other words, it's all been installed, scripted, polished and finished. There is literally nothing else left to do, other than to start work on Column 3! But first, please read this post; I hope it gives you an insight into one of the most difficult things we've ever done.

First of all, please enjoy this "family portrait" of the overhead panel. It includes Columns 1 and 2 in their entireity.

100_2197.jpg

As you can see, Column 2 looks right at home next to its brother. Just 3 columns + the bottom "segment" to go!

Next, I'd like to provide some close-up screenshots of various parts of the Column:

Annunciator Cluster, EVAC Panel and HF Radio Panel:

100_2205.jpg

Battery Panel, APU Generator/External Power Panel, Electrical Panel, and APU Panel:

100_2204.jpg

Angled view of the Electrical Panel on Column 2:

100_2198.jpg

Overhead Panel + Autopilot Panel:

100_2206.jpg

As a footnote, I should mention that the panels featured in photographs two and three above (Electrical, etc) were the most demanding of any part in the panel.

Since I use the Opencockpits Master Card interfacing system to power my cockpit, I am able to perform a full "lights test". This means that I can turn every single light/LED/output on in the cockpit. I have to admit, it prodcues some pretty outstanding results when in the dark. You literally feel like you're in a real cockpit.

Without further ado, here is the infamous "lights test" of Columns 1 and 2 (I apologise, they are slightly blurred, but my camera is scared of the dark, so lets be nice to it:winka:):

100_2184.jpg

Personally, I'm very impressed with the result. It looks very convincing and the brightness of each and every output it beautiful.

Next, some close-ups of the panel; at night, with the "lights test" activated:

Electrical Panel (Column 2):

100_2183.jpg

Battery Panel and small snippet of Electrical Panel (Column 2):

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IRS Annunciator Cluster (Column 1):

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The famous "Annunciator Cluster" at the top of Column 2. 20 indepentdant outputs, each showing a warning message. Shown from two different angles:

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Next, I'd like to show the wiring for the Overhead Panel. These are the electrical circuits that connect to the Opencockpits Master Card and allow us to interface the panel to the Level-D 767 software.

Some views from the back:

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Some photographs of the Master Cards. We're using three to run the cockpit at the moment!

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As this is such a momumental update, I have taken the time to produce an in-depth, 11 minute video with commentary (towards the end). It should answer any questions you have, but if not, please ask them here anyway!

Thanks so much, and please take the time to watch:

Please watch in fullscreen and in the highest possible quality.

That's all for now! We will now begin the construction of Column 3, which is slightly easier than Column 2. We could do with a small break anyway :winka:.

Thanks so much for reading, and I'll be glad to answer ANY questions!

Cheers,

Jack :winka:

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What a beauty Jack! You and Martin deserve a really good pat on your backs mate. It is looking quite stunning and I'm jealous. I need more knobs and lights on mine now.

Also, as I mentioned to you. There is some serious cable management to do yet eh?

Congrat's to both of you. Looking forward to column 3.

Cheers for the update.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hi Jack,

Congatulations with the progress. Nice video!

Just one remark (for clarification) about your statement:

>Since I use the Opencockpits Master Card interfacing system to power my cockpit, I am able to perform a full "lights test".

It is not due to you using an OC MC, but it is my lekseecon ( http://www.lekseecon.nl/lekseecon.html ) software that provides the lights test. It is a software wise solution, no extra hardware needed. ;-)

Looking forward to meet you in Lelystad.

Cheers,

Nico Kaan

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Hi Jack, i've been following this project with interest. I also have a fully working 767 cockpit for the leveld. I would like to ask you a question about your maplin lcd display. I went a got one today after seeing that you got it working but i want to use it to display the fuel on the overhead. Can you send me a diagram on how you wired yours up? I'm not that hot on electronics and i've just spent an hour trying to figure it out with no success. Keep up the great work its looking fantastic.

Many thanks

Ian

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  • 10 months later...
  • 11 months later...

Wednesday 21st August 2013

 

First update in awhile 'eh!!!

 

New Features:

 

Column 3 completed & installed!

 

- Passenger lights & oxygen switches

- Engine start controls

- Fuel Jettison controls

- Fuel pump and cross-feeding switches

- Fuel quantity and temperature displays

- Anti-icing controls

 

Upcoming Features:

 

Development of Column 4, of which:

 

- Cargo heat and window heat controls

- HF Radio (Real world unit; fully completed and interfaced)

- SELCAL (Selective Calling) Controls

- Passenger signs controls

- Cabin pressurization controls

 

Description

 

Since this is the first update in awhile, a small amount of background is necessary.

 

Those of you who went to Weston in May will have seen column 3 fully working. The only problem was that (foolishly) I had not posted the update of column 3 onto this thread, and as such, some of you will be seeing the same thing twice. My apologies!

 

Column 3 was fairly difficult to develop since it included a large mix of avionics. Korry switches, annunciators, toggle switches, rotary switches and a 7-segment display setup (for the fuel quantity and temperature displays) made development fairly slow throughout 2012. We finally had column 3 finished in early 2013, and I wrote the coding and had it interfaced by the end of the day that we finished upon.

 

We are currently working on column 4. We have had the privilege of getting hold of a real-world B757/767 HF Radio (ignore the "737" grey, I can assure you it was from a B767!!!). We have managed to take apart the HF radio and replace the original display with a series of 7-segment displays, which were interfaced to the Level-D 767 using the Opencockpits 7-segment displays card. We also replaced the rotary encoders with our own kind since unfortunately the original encoders were not suitable. The encoders connect directly to the Opencockpits Master Card which actually identifies them as a special type of switch, operating in a bit-by-bit manner.

 

Another significant feature present on column 4 are the cabin pressurization gauges. I have had the privilege of being able to review a Boeing 737 overhead gauge set from Opencockpits, which we have modified to be suitable for a 767. This is fairly common practice in the cockpit building business; nobody seems to produce 767 parts! These gauges are servo powered and are interfaced using the Opencockpits USBServos card. Some of the gauges from the Opencockpits gauge set will be used on column 5 also, namely the duct pressure gauge.

 

Now for the pictures...

 

Pictures:

 

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APU EGT Gauge, which is not actually used in the 767:

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Fuel Temp gauge. Again, not used in the 767 since we have a digital display:

100_3045_zps2d66d8ec.jpg

 

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That's all for now folks. The ball of progress is indeed rolling and the finishing line is on the horizon. The next big update, however, is for the 767 Pedestal Project... Stay tuned.

 

Jack

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