Fabrication started

[JSpahn]

Hey guys tell me what you think  Basically I started getting this cockpit moving towards a final design. What I came up with was generic. I'm gonna mount 4 12.1" lcd's in a row so I can configure the cockpit to whatever aircraft I decide to fly.

Above the displays will go a glareshield which will eventually house an MCP along with other controls. To the bottom right will go the pedestal & I will have controls to the right and left of the yoke.

Once I have the displays mounted, wired up and running I was going to create a huge bezel to clean them up nice.

Instead of drawing up plans I decided to do the design on the fly, no mistakes so far

[Mobius]

Looks good.  Are the four going to be touch-screens?

[JSpahn]

I no plans for touchscreens in the 4 displays But I was planning on using Touchbuddy on a 10.4" touchpad PC I have laying around. That will go either on the pedestal or overhead.

I wouldnt have much use for touchscreens in those 4 since it will be a combination of FSXpand and Free FD. But wiring up 4 touchscreens wouldnt be difficult at all

[machineman9]

Very nice looking so far.

If I may ask, how much are you expecting it to come to?

[JSpahn]

Well I had a bunch of freebe's sent my way and I really havent really made up a total in my mind. Most of the major purchases have been made and we are looking at 2,000 - 3,000 USD once all is said and done, if it is really ever done.

[beaky]

Looks good so far... but what else is back there supporting the panel LCDs? I think it's gonna need more than that visible piece, laid flat, to support the weight of all four displays....?
I may be wrong; can't tell what that "stick" is. 5/4" ?

[beaky]

Well I had a bunch of freebe's sent my way

Let me know if you ever have too many lying around... !

[JSpahn]

Funny the masonite is holding up well even with the display controllers mounted to the back. Your right about the support,  there will be some plywood braces behind the masonite to hold it in place but thats all and it should hold OK.

In that shot I just placed the displays up there to give an impression of what I had going on.

SO far I have the controllers/inverters mounted and the display assembly in place, next those plywood supports will make use and I hope to power up before the super bowl GO EAGLES!

[machineman9]

$3000=

[ermias]

Masternerd,

[JSpahn]

Hey Ermias,

  Look into refurbing those old laptops and making a quick hitch on ebay. Those LCD panels are small 12.1" monitors that were used for point of sale or as a server display.

  I basically took the monitors apart and re-used the contollers/lcd panels & inverters. Average price for a panel 50-70 bucks with shipping. Compare that to new open frame or complete lcd monitor kits 250-300 bucks US

  Converting old laptop panels can be tricky, finding the right vga controller and wire harness is next to impossible without some sort of connection. But try looking at the part # to the panel itself and see if you can get a controller. You may find that your panels are easy to setup.

  Of course this method does bring on a bunch of headaches since I don't have much fabrication experience.

 

[JSpahn]

Here is a shot of the display controllers on the opposite side of the display panel. A complete LCD panel is made up of the controller card(large square) an inverter(small rectangle--for backlight)  the control board(small PCB with switches) & the power supply (not in picture).

I mounted these guys with stand-offs and was able to power everything up before the bowl

[beaky]

Funny the masonite is holding up well even with the display controllers mounted to the back. Your right about the support,  there will be some plywood braces behind the masonite to hold it in place but thats all and it should hold OK.

In that shot I just placed the displays up there to give an impression of what I had going on.

It's not the Masonite panel I'm thinking about, it's the brace below it... the thing that supports the weight of the Masonite and the four screens?

[JSpahn]

Oh that is a 2 1/4" piece of pine, there is plenty of support there

[beaky]

Oh that is a 2 1/4" piece of pine, there is plenty of support there

That's what I figured.
BUT... humor an old carpenter here... aren't you concerned that the only support for that stick is at the ends, where it's (glued'n'screwed?) to the sheet stock?  No worry that those points could fail...?

Unless there's something else I can't see, I'd advise you to at least put a coupla small cleats under the ends, to distribute that load a little better.

I know it's not all that heavy, but believe me, these projects tend to put on weight...