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Final project

Idea

The idea for my final project is on Week 1

As on Week 1 assignment page, I’m going to make throttle control unit for flight simulator because there are no mass-produced real throttle control unit for PC flight simulator. I’m using X-Plane 12, so I thought about to buy actual spare parts for Cessna 172 and modify it to be able to use as input device for flight simulator.

Research

Key components

Actually, this was a project I want to make before attending Fab Academy. So, I purchased spare parts for Cessna airplane from McFarlane, last year.

Qty Description Price Link
1 CONTROL (Throttle) $246.06 https://www.mcfarlaneaviation.com/products/MCS1222-11S/
1 MIXTURE CONTROL, VERNIER $244.78 https://www.mcfarlaneaviation.com/products/MC600-72/
1 CONTROL (Carb Heat) $97.64 https://www.mcfarlaneaviation.com/products/MCS1230-17/

Since the engine of Cessna 172 is air-cooled carbureted flat-four engine, not an electric fuel injection. So, those controls are direct mechanically connected to the engine and controlling it. To use those for the input for PC, I need to convert those mechanical move to digital signal. So, I’m thinking about to use linear potentiometer.

Software

Actually, homebrew flight simulator cockpit is not so minor hobby. So there are several software to bridge homebrew cockpit hardware and PC software.

Electronics

Since travel of the controls are around 100mm, I purchased linear potentiometer above. I’m guessing 10k ohm b curve is good for this purpose.

Qty Description Price Link
3 Bourns TB0143-2010BPB103 $5.58 https://www.digikey.jp/en/products/detail/bourns-inc/PTB0143-2010BPB103/3534166

Cutting wires

The original controls are coming with long wire. It is too long for this simulator input project.

I cut it with pipe cutter and wire cutter.

Clamps

Then I designed a clamp to fix wires to knobs.