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FlightGear Newsletter November 2010: Difference between revisions
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FlightGear Newsletter November 2010 (view source)
Revision as of 17:11, 30 November 2010
, 30 November 2010→Amateur Built Collimated Display
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Contributed by Gene Buckle | Contributed by Gene Buckle | ||
A couple of months ago, my friend Wayne & I embarked on the development of a fully functional collimated display system for our DIY flight simulators. A collimated display has been the holy grail of DIY cockpit builders because of the image it generates. | A couple of months ago, my friend Wayne & I embarked on the development of a fully functional collimated display system for our DIY flight simulators. A collimated display has been the holy grail of DIY cockpit builders because of the image it generates. | ||
Collimated displays are also known as "infinity" displays. It's described that way because the focus point to your eye becomes "infinity" when you're located at the right spot when viewing the mirror. | |||
The exact details of how they work are beyond this article, but you can learn more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Full_flight_simulator. See the section marked "Collimated Cross-Cockpit Displays". | |||
Building the display successfully is a pretty big deal. Up until we completed the proof-of-concept project, collimated displays were the sole domain of multi-million dollar flight simulators from the likes of CAE, FlightSafety and others. It was declared too complex and too costly by just about everyone that ever approached the problem. | Building the display successfully is a pretty big deal. Up until we completed the proof-of-concept project, collimated displays were the sole domain of multi-million dollar flight simulators from the likes of CAE, FlightSafety and others. It was declared too complex and too costly by just about everyone that ever approached the problem. | ||
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This shows the frame prior to the mirror being glued into place: | This shows the frame prior to the mirror being glued into place: | ||
[[File:mirror_frame.jpg| | |||
[[File:mirror_frame.jpg|200px|Collimating Mirror Framework]] | |||
The framework itself is made from 12mm Baltic Birch and is under 36" tall. The arcs defined by the "inside" ribs show where the spherical section mirror will form. In order to form the mirror, vacuum must be applied. This will stretch the mirror into a spherical section shape. | The framework itself is made from 12mm Baltic Birch and is under 36" tall. The arcs defined by the "inside" ribs show where the spherical section mirror will form. In order to form the mirror, vacuum must be applied. This will stretch the mirror into a spherical section shape. | ||
Attaching the Mylar: | Attaching the Mylar: | ||
[[File:attaching_mylar.jpg| | |||
[[File:attaching_mylar.jpg|200px|Attaching the Mylar to the framework]] | |||
The Mylar is attached to the oval ring by a high-tack spray on adhesive made by 3M. | The Mylar is attached to the oval ring by a high-tack spray on adhesive made by 3M. | ||
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In order to test the visual properties of the system, we set it up on a platform I'd built some time ago to use with racing games: | In order to test the visual properties of the system, we set it up on a platform I'd built some time ago to use with racing games: | ||
[[File:mirror_test.jpg| | [[File:mirror_test.jpg|200px|Test setup]] | ||
The mirror just reflects what is on the screen above it - the test screen in this case is just a bit less than half the radius of the mirror and is 17" tall. In order to start testing as soon as possible, Wayne skinned the screen with kraft paper. It's very wrinkly, but it did an adequate job of being a screen. It's also what we had handy at the time. :) | |||
Here's the complete test configuration: | |||
[[file:test_config.jpg|200px|Test configuration]] | |||
We used a Fein Turbo III dust collector as our vac source and it pulls the mirror down very well! It's pulling about 5 PSI in order to force the Mylar into the correct shape. Below is a picture of the mirror after being pulled down. | |||
[[file:formed_mirror.jpg|200px|Formed mirror]] | |||
Photographs and video cannot do this justice! It's just incredible to look at! | |||
Here's a pic of Wayne performing the first test flight: | |||
[[file:test_flight.jpg|200px|Test Flight]] | |||
...and thus was born the world's very first amateur built fully collimated display for DIY flight simulators. I can't stress enough how thankful I am for Wayne and his skills. Were it not for his deep understanding of the math involved, this would have never been built. | |||
Here's a few YouTube videos of the system in operation: | |||
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y67TAo9Lv5g - First draw down of the mirror. | |||
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yaDnXYlf8k - My badly narrated test flight! | |||
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zogFny49zrI - A walk-around of the setup taken the next day. | |||
The project site (http://www.diy-cockpits.org/coll/collimated_display.html) has more pictures and details on the current state of the project. Work has already begun on a 180 degree version! | |||
=== Did you know === | === Did you know === | ||