Throttle Levers

[No Longer Active]

Has anyone got any drawings that I can use as templates to cut some throttle handles / levers for the A320 tq, there is nothing on the net as far as I can see that offers these drawings, there are plenty for the Boeing tq's but struggling on the a320 levers.

Any help will be appreciated.

Cheers,

Alex

[rjvcarvalho]

Hello,

You can find all the information on this site. (http://www.a320homecockpit.de/00000096221175917/00000096330b5d910/000000961f132403b/index.html)

[Buddym]

I have looked at this site many times, if anyone can get USEABLE dxf files out of it, I will cut a set of levers for them no charge. As a matter of fact, I will cut them and ship them for free.


Buddy

[rjvcarvalho]

I have looked at this site many times, if anyone can get USEABLE dxf files out of it, I will cut a set of levers for them no charge. As a matter of fact, I will cut them and ship them for free.


Buddy

What do you mean by usable dxf files?

[No Longer Active]

I have an outline of the throttle lever that is similarly to scale and about the right size.

Was thinking about making 4 templates, pasting them to mdf board and jigging them and then glueing together to make the assembly. My next next approach was to attach the levers to a Saitek throttle lever section and then bury the section with the lever into a realistic looking housing milled from mdf.

The other idea was to mount slide pots within the housing so that the lever moves the slide pot up and down, the slide pot would be mounted horizontally just below pedestal panel height.

My drawing of the concept is:

http://alexpilot.50g.com/tq.jpg

Have a look and see what you think, would be nice to have a nice set of levers!

[rjvcarvalho]

Hope this helps.

3882

[Buddym]

Hi Kurby,

Yes, the site has great drawings, and some of them have dimensions on them, I have all of the file that are there, but if you compare them to the photos of the real thing, or the better replicas that are out there, they don't appear to be accurate.

As far as the dxf files go I am always on the lookout for accurate, ready-to-use dxf files that can be used to generate g-code for cutting. a drawing is nice, but it takes a lot of work to get ready-to-use files that cut correctly on the cnc machine. I have a set that I had drew by hand a while back that are close, but not 100%. After I get a few more things ironed out on the MIP and glare I am going to tackle it again. I was hoping by the time I get ready someone else would have something we could use already put together.....but that's just me being lazy!

Once you get into the finer points, it becomes a lot of trial and error to get the details ironed out, for instance, drawing and cutting the different pieces that bolt together to make the thrust levers was not that hard, but then you have to re-draw and re-cut to start building and testing the reverser lever and mechanism, then the gearing for the pot drive, then A/T disconnect button, etc. It really is a lot of engineering work, and it's the reason that guys like Gwyn charge what they do for a nice throttle unit.

Buddy

[ddoth]

Ive also thought of that idea Alex - thought it would be much easier than dealing with gears.
With the slide pot, you would have to figure out the height it has to be mounted away from the axis though, which could change the design of your quadrant.

[No Longer Active]

Ive also thought of that idea Alex - thought it would be much easier than dealing with gears.
With the slide pot, you would have to figure out the height it has to be mounted away from the axis though, which could change the design of your quadrant.

I agree my friend, best way to implement this idea is to do a test lever, and work out the height of the slide pot in comparison to the pivot, and either +/- up and down until you get the right amount of travel. I am assuming that the slide pot will need to be as close to the pivot to get the greater amount of travel.....

Only thing that will be hard, is calibrating the idle position so that you can go into reverse.

[ddoth]

Getting reverse shouldn't be too hard. Create an indent that requires lifting of the throttle with a slot and screw perhaps ?
Unless you are after a proper style airliner which has seperate levers for it, microswitches might work

For slide pot distance from the pivot - the closer it is the more your levers can travel would be correct :)