FMC building tutorial

[Guest heclak]

Hi guys,i'm researching on making an fmc for the 767. I remember seeing a tutorial or explanation on how to make one. Its looks exactly like Nico Kaan's one. Was it on your page? I can't seem to find it now. Anyone knows where it is?

[kiek 1,235]

Hi,I think you are referring to the one that was on my site (for years..). http://www.nicokaan.nl However, I have removed the tutorial since I now no longer use the Hagstrom KE72 keyboard encoder, but a more reliable digital interface based on the Level-D SDK, my FSCONV program and a Opencockpits Master Card programmed with SIOC.But basically it goes like this:- buy a 14cm (5 inch) Black/White TV, remove the tuning and sound sections, connect that TV to the TVOut of your grahics card (at 640*480, 8 bit colors), put a 75 ohm resistor parallel over the input of the video input of your TV (to be sure the graphics card will detect your TV);- buy push button switches, think of one with a greed led for the exec msg;- connect each switch (67 in total) to a input of the Mastercard;- buy a red led (for the msg signal);- connect the two leds to two outputs of the Master Card, each via a resistor of 330 ohm;- download (freeware) FSCONV from my website and install it on your FS9 PC;- download (freeware) IOcards and SIOC software from the Opencockpits website;- download the (freeware) FMC SIOC code from my website;- change the settings of your cdu window in LevelD's panel.cfg (I will put that info on my site )- extend your Windows desktop with the TV window, placed just below your main window;- run FS9 with Level-D;- undock the CDU window and map it onto the TV window; (save that flight situation, so next time you will start with your FMC/CDU in place) and you are up and running with a wonderful new toy that will give you hours and hours of flying pleasure, at limited cost!RegardsNico Kaanhttp://www.nicokaan.nl

[Guest heclak]

thanks,its was a great tutorial. Do you still have it eventhough you removed it from your site? Maybe you could e-mail it to me. Even better if you still have the pictures. I'm also interested in how you labelled the buttons and the physical construction.

[kiek 1,235]

Hi,I don't have it anymore, I'm afraid...For your information: I have just added the modification to Level-D's panel.cfg in order to make the mapping of the CDU part of the undocked FMC window to the TV easier and much nicer.Cheers,Nicohttp://www.nicokaan.nl

[Guest GeorgeDorkofikis]

I am building one at this time.But it's based on custom made PCB and lasercut plexiglass.If you can make double sided PCB and have someone to cut you the plexi, I will be happy to assist you.George DorkofikisAthens, Hellashttp://online.vatsimindicators.net/811520/1704.png

[Guest heclak]

Thanks George,i would like to have more information about it. i think i can make the pcb myself.just plain double sided or with vias? is it a must to have the plexi? i'm kinda stressed on cash so i'm mainly checking things out if its too expensive. Niko's seem kinda cheap.

[Guest GeorgeDorkofikis]

Don't know how much Nico's FMC costed, but those buttons he used were not very cheap. And you need 69 of them.Overall my FMC cost me less than 200Euros including the PSOne 5.5" LCD Screen (excluding the IOCards interface).I am using tact switches and the plexi is a 6 layer kit. No vias areused on the PCB and the holes don't need to be plated-through. The top layer is used for the backlighting, and the bottom for the switches.The keyboard is actually 5mm plexi painted black and laser engraved.You can see some first fotos at the gallery I have created over at opencockpits.com. I will post more there as I progress through.http://www.opencockpits.com/modules.php?na...&g2_itemId=6167George DorkofikisAthens, Hellashttp://online.vatsimindicators.net/811520/1704.png

[tigert 0]

Archive.org has most of it still, some images seem broken though:http://web.archive.org/web/20041011055102/...~nwkaan/fmc.htm//T

[Guest EWE]

Hi,I made a very simple one:http://home.scarlet.be/wachters.erik/FMS.htmhttp://home.scarlet.be/wachters.erik/movies.htmhope it helps.Erik

[kiek 1,235]

woow, and oops, one of the dark sides of the web, your electronic traces cannot we wiped out easily ;-)Nicohttp://www.nicokaan.nl

[Guest heclak]

George,hey that looks real professional, did you design the pcb yourself? Surface mount LEDs? I might take a shot at making the pcb myself. Can i get some plans to figure things out in depth?Erik,that is really cool. Never thought of that idea. Is that just a piece of paper on the top? Could i get somemore info on it? How much did it cost? What screen is that? It looks like it rivals engravity screens. More please. What software are you using for the screen?

[kiek 1,235]

Hi,George is right, my switches (from Conrad) costed me approx 69 x 2,5 Euros. Well, they have a nice tactile feel and are of high quality. The DIN board needed to solder them onto is very cheap however, and I have neither the skills nor the equipment for making PCB's.The B/W TV was just 35 Euros (new), so all together it is still cheap (compared to products from hardware manufacturers).For your information: I have made available for download the labels for the keys. You may find them at my site in the paragraph describing the FMC (simulator page, pedestal section).Regards,Nicohttp://www.nicokaan.nl

[Guest GeorgeDorkofikis]

Quite nice setup there!George DorkofikisAthens, Hellashttp://online.vatsimindicators.net/811520/1704.png

[Guest GeorgeDorkofikis]

Ok.. want to compare ? ;-)PCB : Made by laboratory 35EurSMD Leds : @ 0.10Eur each = 3.5EurTact Switches (With tactile feel of course!) @ 0.20Eur each = 13.80PSOne LCD screen 50Eur incl post (26.99GBP)Plexiglass painted, cut and engraved, six different layers 50Eur.Smaller PCB to connect the FMC PCB to the MasterCard : 10EurIn any case, what you build is always much much cheeper than other commercial solutions out there.Plus you get the satisfaction that you did it yourself!George DorkofikisAthens, Hellashttp://online.vatsimindicators.net/811520/1704.png

[Guest GeorgeDorkofikis]

Yes, I designed the PCB and the plexi layers myself and had them manufactured. It doesn't cost much (see my other post).Please send me an email to oal132 at yahoo dot co dot uk with your email address. I can send you the Postscript files for you.Unless you mean other plans.George DorkofikisAthens, Hellashttp://online.vatsimindicators.net/811520/1704.png