my A320 throttle - some pics & a short video

[AirFan]

Hey guys,
Here are some pictures and a link to a short video to get an impression of my first A320 Throttle Unit. It's the 1st prototype. Most of the geometry of the levers is based on real drawings and I think it became a pretty good replica.

The unit has all detents in place (TOGA, FLX, CLB, IDLE & REV IDLE). Each lever is gear connected with a 10K pot also covering the reverser zones and of course it has the switches for A/THR disconnect. For interfacing I use the BU0836 controller.

The reverser locks work very well. It's like the real thing. When in idle you have to pull the small levers to get into reverse. If you push them forward to idle, the reverse levers snap to their original position and the reverser zone is locked again.

So far I used this unit with the wonderful A320 FMGS software from JeeHell (many thanks, buddy!!!) and it's really a great experience to pull back the throttles from TOGA or FLX to CLB after takeoff, to disconnect the A/THR during an approach, fly manually and to pull the levers to kick in the reversers after a smooth touchdown. It really add's a lot of realism feeling compared to this tiny generic lever I used before.

Some minor refinements will be done in the next version and some more testing is neccessary.

There is still 15mm space on both sides of the housing. That should be enough to add a suitable gear connecting the trim wheels and the trim indicator cones. The lever shaft is a hollow shaft already. I might work on that later.

However, so far I think it became a pretty cool device and it was way cheaper than some other available products which are for sure very nice but unfortunately way out of my budget. If you guys have any questions or comments, drop me a line.


Cheers,
Rob

here the link to the short demo vid:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XizmV3NkfDo

[Buddym]

that is a really nice job! Di you make all of the peices? I am building an A320 as well, need to construc a throttle. Would you care to share your drawings?

Buddy

[hexpope]

Great Job, It looks and operates fantasic !

[AirFan]

Hi buddym:



Thanks for the compliments. All pieces are laser cutted and it's a mix of perspex, steel and aluminum. Regarding your throttle construction for sure I can support you, add some more pictures, give you some advice, provide you with some measurements, give recommendation regarding the paint if you use perspex as well, etc ... but for now I won't release any drawings. I hope you understand that. I still need to do some more testing, some little refinements in the design, maybe I add backlight since it's already prepared for that due to the used perspex. And if there is any interest I might think of offering a small batch of pre-assembled & already wired kits. So whoever is interested could do the sanding & paint job at home... we will see. But therefore I need some more time and of course some more feedback if there is any interest. Believe me, developing an affortable throttle which looks and works like the real thing is just time consuming :)



btw speaking of painting: I used RAL 7031 for the housing and cover sheets. Do you guys know if there is any common standard regarding the color code of all the different airbus panel suppliers? Many of them show really nice pics and great panels but almost nobody state the color they use, except simparts? And as far as I know there are two A320 MIP designs flying around. Do these two MIPs also have different colors in the real thing? And do these two MIP versions also affect the colors of the panels?



@ hexpope: thanks for your nice comments. I'm glad you like it. Greeting to Sudan from cold and foggy Munich :-)



Cheers,

Rob

[brynjames]

Excellent job Rob.

I would certainly be interested in the prewired kit.

--
Bryn

[AirFan]

Hi Bryn,


thanks for your comment. I will keep you in mind & contact you again when I'll be finished. If you like I will send you some additional pics to get a rough idea of what I could prepare for you. I am out on business but when I'll be back home I'll drop you a line in a PM. I will move in a few weeks and I still have to box alot of stuff, so there wont be much time. As a rough estimate I guess 1st quarter of next year could be realistic. However, you will get some more details.



Regards,

Rob

[HansJansen]

Hi Rob,

This certainly looks promising! Would you mind putting me on your list of potential customers?

Thanks,

[AirFan]

Hi Hans,

I've put you on my list. :-) If you have any detailed questions regarding the design, interfacing ... whatsoever ... just drop me a line.

kind regards,
Rob

[Leonidas]

Hi Rob.
I like the thrust levers you made. Please let me know if you will have more for sell.
Regards

[AirFan]

Hi Leonidas,

thanks for the compliment. The shown throttle is still a prototype and I would like to do some more refinements on the feeling of the detents. In addition I am not really happy with friction of the sliding covers, yet. However, there are some things that I would like to change/improve in a next version.
Since it's all laser cutted it will be reproducible and there is a plan to make it available to others as well. As mentioned ealier I'm currently preparing to move into a new house and there isn't much time left. But when things have settled I will continue the development. A throttle like that just takes time :)

If you need any more details, just drop me a PM.

thank you & kind regards to Greece
Rob

[nanticokerailroad]

How's your throttles comming along?

[Fritz]

It looks good and sturdy. Do I understand correctly that you will offer these for sale?
Is the next step to complete the prototype with the trim wheels?
I would be also interested.

[AirFan]

Hey Fritz & Nanticoke,

there wasnt much time to continue on the prototype since there are some things with higher priority. There is still a plan to continue with the design but I assume it won't have any trim wheels. However, it's already prepared for it with a hollow shaft... so you could put a trim shaft right through the housing.

Cheers,
Rob

[filippo92]

Hi, I'm building an Airbus throttle quadrant too. Can you tell me how do you make detents? Thanks!

[Fritz]

An assembly would be no problem for me but I can not make parts by myself because I do not own something like a CNC-machine.
If you could prepare the trim wheels, then I would assemble them. We can discuss this when you're finished with the development.
I look forward on the next modifications.

[Buddym]

if anyone can provide dxf files, or even accurate drawings i can produce the parts.
I have:

1 CNC machine
1 Laser Cutter
1 25-ton die-cut press

[Fritz]

I've just found this. http://www.vuedehaut.fr/A320/pedestal.html
But I am afraid that is not enough to produce.

[Buddym]

This guy has a great site and cockpit, I have admired his work before. The throttle uint looks very nice, but again it's one of those things I have not been able to make myself. I have done a couple of semi-prototypes, but nothing compared to Westozy's or these. I would love to have some good drawings and/or dxf files to just make a kit of parts. I got fairly close on one attempt, but we all want better than close. The skill of some of the builders here is very humbling, and tends to highlight my lack of skill in some areas. On top of that, you can't blame anyone if they don't want to just hand over the CAD files of all of the hard work they have done. I know all too well how many hours it takes to do this stuff, just cutting out a simple EFIS panel and then mounting all of the switches and buttons and LEDs takes hours and hours. It certainly makes me appreciate how long it takes someone to prototype a throttle and tweak and adjust it to this quality.

[No Longer Active]

There's too much money in A320 throttles, they are complex! Why would anyone give away the drawings for one? I have come close to some drawings but just couldn't make out enough to be able to do anything with them. The A320 throttle is purely for the talented that want the big bucks to build them (and that's if they want to build another one that is).

Its a sad reality, but that's just the way it is!

[Buddym]

yep, agree completely. I just wish I could get some good files to cut either a 727 throttle or a A320 throttle, not even a full one but enuff to run my sim while I iron out the details. some of these guys have built nice throttle that they dont sell, i wish they would cough up soome drawings, I would gladly cut parts in trade.

[filippo92]

There's too much money in A320 throttles, they are complex! Why would anyone give away the drawings for one? I have come close to some drawings but just couldn't make out enough to be able to do anything with them. The A320 throttle is purely for the talented that want the big bucks to build them (and that's if they want to build another one that is).

Its a sad reality, but that's just the way it is!


yep, agree completely. I just wish I could get some good files to cut either a 727 throttle or a A320 throttle, not even a full one but enuff to run my sim while I iron out the details. some of these guys have built nice throttle that they dont sell, i wish they would cough up soome drawings, I would gladly cut parts in trade.

If you are yet interested you can download freeware dwg drawings of an A320 Throttle Quadrant from my website: www.mycockpitsolution.com

[soumensen]

Hello mate, would you be able to list the electronic hardware used please and possibly a picture of the connections?


Hey guys,
Here are some pictures and a link to a short video to get an impression of my first A320 Throttle Unit. It's the 1st prototype. Most of the geometry of the levers is based on real drawings and I think it became a pretty good replica.

The unit has all detents in place (TOGA, FLX, CLB, IDLE & REV IDLE). Each lever is gear connected with a 10K pot also covering the reverser zones and of course it has the switches for A/THR disconnect. For interfacing I use the BU0836 controller.

The reverser locks work very well. It's like the real thing. When in idle you have to pull the small levers to get into reverse. If you push them forward to idle, the reverse levers snap to their original position and the reverser zone is locked again.

So far I used this unit with the wonderful A320 FMGS software from JeeHell (many thanks, buddy!!!) and it's really a great experience to pull back the throttles from TOGA or FLX to CLB after takeoff, to disconnect the A/THR during an approach, fly manually and to pull the levers to kick in the reversers after a smooth touchdown. It really add's a lot of realism feeling compared to this tiny generic lever I used before.

Some minor refinements will be done in the next version and some more testing is neccessary.

There is still 15mm space on both sides of the housing. That should be enough to add a suitable gear connecting the trim wheels and the trim indicator cones. The lever shaft is a hollow shaft already. I might work on that later.

However, so far I think it became a pretty cool device and it was way cheaper than some other available products which are for sure very nice but unfortunately way out of my budget. If you guys have any questions or comments, drop me a line.


Cheers,
Rob

here the link to the short demo vid:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XizmV3NkfDo

[Flybywire82]

Hi it's most amazing nit expensive trhottle ...
But if i want to buy??? Or if you send the project?
Anyway great job

[Flybywire82]

Hi it's most amazing nit expensive trhottle ...
But if i want to buy??? Or if you send the project?
Anyway great job