New Launch Controller
Modern miracles. I decided to employ an Arduino micro-controller in the launch controller. These things a cheap, dirt cheap, and very powerful for their price and size.
The launch controller willl have a "continuity test" mode and a "launch mode". To indicate the mode, I could have simply used an indicator lamp but this is way cooler!
This video shows samples of the messages that can be displayed for the two modes. I have each repeat four times. When a mode is selected, the appropriate message will continue to scroll until that mode is disables or the launch controller is turned off.
That is a cool feature.
But what I think is even better is seeing in the background the control panel and how much progress you've made (assuming there is some wiring going on behind the panel 😂). From what I can see, it looks really nice and well designed. I look forward to seeing it in action!
I can put up some visualization images here. I'll do that in a couple. I've been sitting here working on the Arduino code and getting a .DXF file with the correct measurements for Jeff Myers. Time so shower and then, I'll put up images.
Quote from Eric Becher on February 19, 2024, 10:40 amThat is a cool feature.
But what I think is even better is seeing in the background the control panel and how much progress you've made (assuming there is some wiring going on behind the panel 😂). From what I can see, it looks really nice and well designed. I look forward to seeing it in action!
Grrr. I just wasted an hour explaining the launch controller design. I went to upload images but they were PNGs and too large. Stupidly, I accidentally canceled the post when I went to convert the images to JPG. For now, the images.
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The images are fine. Don't worry about the explanation, which is mostly self-explanatory anyway, if you are looking at the pictures.
Quote from Eric Becher on February 19, 2024, 1:49 pmThe images are fine. Don't worry about the explanation, which is mostly self-explanatory anyway, if you are looking at the pictures.
Well, how about a few more photos?
In preparation for meeting up tomorrow or this weekend with Jeff Myers and his CNC machine rig which will cut the top aluminum panel, I prepared a mockup panel test today with a piece of thin foam posterboard cut with my xTool S1 laser. I populated the posterboard with all of the main panel components. There's a slight addition to and change on the left side of the panel from my previously posted design virtualization photos. I've added a larger display for status information from an Arduino. It will monitor the switch settings to insure that they're selected properly and, if not, display a warning message, and sound and flash the signal. The Arduino will monitor configuration status and display error status such as inappropriate switch settings. Currently, the display is the same yellow/black one as the one used by Cris Erving for his Eggfinder GPS receiver. I have a plethora of them but I'll likely order the blue/white option to keep with the blue/white motif of the launch control case.
You can see the reason why I've been working so diligently in my design software from the following two photos. I lit up the two displays and added a photo there. I had a 150Ω resistor handy, so that what the ohmmeter is showing. It's a 5% tolerance resistor.
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It's way cool! 😎
But there is a BIG problem. 😳
WHERE will we put the CENJARS sticker? O.M.G.! 🙀
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Quote from Eric Becher on February 22, 2024, 5:37 pmIt's way cool! 😎
But there is a BIG problem. 😳
WHERE will we put the CENJARS sticker? O.M.G.! 🙀
On the bottom! 😛
😂😂😂 I was waiting for that answer.
Hey - I see we just planted some junk on the moon. Go America! 🚀🌕
Last I heard they were having a problem with signal strength.
Now this from your equipment manager, all new equipment must have CENJARS on it. Suggestion - run "CENJARS" vertically down the left right and center. Also, will it fit on the sides? The more CENJARS pride the better!