In Progress...

Just a quick photo of the panel cut out of aluminium. I have to file down the holes to fit the toggle switches and cut some holes in each corner to hold the panel to the casing. Also, Simkits have just shipped my 32-Digital Input USB controller so I will hopefully test the switches and see how it goes.

A little side project.

I recently started a project which has been keeping me busy for a few weeks. It was born out of the frustration of having to use the keyboard when flying aircraft in Microsoft Flight Simulator.
I designed it in photoshop (picture to left) and the project is moving at a fairly quick pace. This is a simple little panel that has toggle and rocker switches that controls the systems usually found on an a typical single engined aircraft such as lights, magnetos, starter, alternator etc.... The panel is made out of aluminium which I cut myself. It uses a circuit board from Simkits in the Netherlands that allows for 32 input switches to be used and connects via USB. It then shows up in Win XP as a HID device so there is no software needed. The board is currently on its way to me, and it will arrive (hopefully) by next week. I can then start testing the device with a single pole, single throw ON-OFF toggle switch to make sure that everything is working and then order the switches to fit the panel. I have also bought some white caps for the ends of the toggles from Flightdeck Solutions in Ontario, Canada. They will give the panel a touch of class but they are certainly not very cheap. Once I have bought the rocker switches and filed down the holes correctly, I will get it powder coated and stencilled. Work will then be underway for the casing, but i havn't designed that yet.

A new job

Hello everybody. I finally have a new job. I am now a senior technicician working at the University of Wales, Newport which is also the International Film School of Wales. It's slightly strange that I graduated at the Uni in 2000 and that I am now going back there to work. I am really excited about starting something new and I am even more pleased that it is a permanent position. No more freelancing for me, thank God. They have some really impressive equipment at the facility (gear I never had to play with when I was there) and they are starting to implement HighDef as well, which can only be a good thing. I have 4 more days left at Torchwood (Doctor Who spinoff) and the BBC are making me go out with a bang, since I am doing night shoots till 3am. Oh great. However, I will leave all that behind me when I start my new job on Monday the 18th of September. Hooray!!!