Is it possible to interface Ball-in-tube inclinometer with Arduino?

[SimSupervisor]

Greetings,

I have a Turn and Bank indicator that I want to interface with my flight simulator. On it, there's the turn coordinator which I will most than likely interface with a servomotor (and perhaps some gears to increse precision)

but the bottom part is an inclinometer, of the "ball-in-tube" type.
It literally is a ball, in a tube, that is just reacting to accelerations.

Anyone ever interfaced with these for flight simulator? Can it be done? Or should I just leave the tube as-is and not look at it?

I am thinking I could replace the actual tube with some empty one, and have a fake ball move with a servo.
Anyone has any better idea?

here's what I am talking about:

http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10590&stc=1

Every ideas are welcomed

[SimSupervisor]

Maybe I could simply drill a hole on each sides, drain the fluid, and use a translucid rope and somepulley to interface this with a servo...?

[hyamesto]

Try to move the ball with a rare-earth magnet first. (I have not such instrument for testing). Mine is made from raw materials as I say in the altimeter post.
Tomorrow if i have time, will show you a video of my instruments.
If the ball follow the magnet, you can use a servo from behind to move the ball, but the magnet should move follow an arc of a circle whose center is out the top of the instrument, and that it´s no easy. You need a some sort of pendulum and the magnet should have a small vertical displacement.
Look this, and study the movement, this will you understand what i said.

http://www.simkits.com/downloads/documents/Turn%20Coordinator%20Manual%20ENG%20170904.pdf


Regads.
Horacio

[SimSupervisor]

I tried with rather strong rare earth magnets, and there's not even a slight movement.

I like the way simkit is doing it. Its rather interesting. Being that I can't find a way to interface with the actual ball, I might find some inspiration from there.
However, the "top needle" style turn coordinator has different placement than the "plane" turn coordinator. The "center of rotation" of the needle is actually lower than the ball tube, so they "cross path".

I'll have to ponder a bit on the subject...

here's some pictures of the inside of the bank and turn instrument.
http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10604&stc=1
http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10606&stc=1

http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10603&stc=1


I'll try to see if I can come up with something that works. Might need a mini-servo.

the "needles" on the back are "guides" to "follow" a pin from the below of the instrument, I cut part of the craddle, and will interface that with the servo for needle control (unless I find a better way.)

[hyamesto]

Maybe the ball is made of aluminium, brass, or another non magnetic material.
For the needle, you can use a micro-servo (in mine simulated instrument, two servos (not micro) for moving the ball and the plane needle).
I used the simkits design like base to build mine turn coordinator instrument.
Wait for videos.

Regards.
Horacio.

[SimSupervisor]

Maybe I can open the tube, change the ball, and put a magnet on a servo.
I need to find small servomotor. The ones local here are too big.

[SimSupervisor]

well, I got a small servomotor. It is small enough to fit in the top part of the inside of the indicator. I'll try to open cut the tube and see if I can manage something with another ball and a magnet. If that doesn't work, I might be able to manage a ball in the rail for the tube (plan B) or to do something like the simkit (plan C)

I'd still have room in the bottom section of the inside of the instrument for another servo for the needle.

no rush and one step at a time. I'll post pics of my progress (or failed tries)

[hyamesto]

One thing, your instrument its rated as "4 MIN TURN" and must be from a big or a jet airplane, no suitable for a small plane like Cessna ("2 MIN TURN").
If you practice IFR approachs, 4 MIN TURNS take unnecessary long and wrong procedure.
Let this as ornament, i will show you how to make a "Stick and Ball" or "Plane and Ball" scrachtbuild.
Wait for video.
Regards.
Horacio.

[hyamesto]

Some photos of my instruments (you can see all are scrachtbuild), and laser-cut pieces, (some gears, and the "plane" of the turn coordinator, and Attitude Indicator).
http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10621&stc=1http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10622&stc=1http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10623&stc=1

The red, yellow and brass pinions, are "scalextric", to compare... the cut-pad is in metrics.. al green gears laser-cut in acrylic, a needle laser-cut in PET.

http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10624&stc=1
The "planes" of turn and attitude....
http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10625&stc=1
Some spurs gears to gearboxes...
http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10626&stc=1

Regards.
Horacio.

[SimSupervisor]

those are really nice!

I am really curious about your artificial horizon, it looks quite complex.

[SimSupervisor]

Unless I am mistaken, the difference between a 2 min turn and a 4 min turn isn't apparent on the outside (except the writing) but only in the functions, leading to a different standard value. The 4 min turn could be repainted as a 2 min turn, and the functionning from the PC would be OK.

I might be interested in changing the needle-and-ball to the plain-and-ball, but I did not acquire the instruments to be ornaments. If it would be the case, I would have insisted in getting better looking ones. Although this is one of the good looking ones, so I am not sure yet what I will decide to do.

[hyamesto]

You are right, paint 2 Min Turn.

As i promise, a video of Turn Coordinator.
Sorry, but i´m not good taking videos (shadows, quality...) but you get the idea...
The script or skecht needs more tweak, just write in 5 minutes to show the operation.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwFPTnF2KoM&feature=youtu.be

Regards.
Horacio

[hyamesto]

More Videos, but older with bad quality.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buqvQ1zN-UQ&feature=youtu.be


Regards.
Horacio.

[hyamesto]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICiSYjNcAcU&feature=youtu.be

[hyamesto]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUx_n1CC0ao&feature=youtu.be

[hyamesto]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEjEA2HbHZs&feature=youtu.be

[hyamesto]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_a0Uj-1YI1Y&feature=youtu.be

[hyamesto]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5DR2jNtN7Y&feature=youtu.be

[hyamesto]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7Adrw163_M&feature=youtu.be

Last one.

Check this links:

http://www.micromark.com/Laser-Cutter,12026.html (see the videos)

http://www.ksmetals.com/ (brass and aluminium Tubing, wires, etc) to build the gearboxes.....


Laser-cut and more in Montreal:

http://www.robocutstudio.com/ (http://www.robocutstudio.com/)

http://www.umake.ca/collections/frontpage (look that panel in the center ....)

https://udisco.com/index.php (Some servos, gears, and brass and aluminium telescopic tubes)

Regards.
Horacio,

[SimSupervisor]

Those videos are great, way better than mine ;)

Your instruments all look great, I am curious about how you made them. Particularly the attitude indicator; I am looking at scratch building one soon.


I think I will try to repurpose the current ball indicator, and if that fail I will scratch build a replacement faceplate.
I have access to a vinyl cutter to make stickers so repainting this type of faceplate is easy.

I am contacting places for cutting parts, and I'll see from there. If I can have parts being made, it would be very helpful.

[hyamesto]

Sorry for delay in reply (not a good week for me):

The Attitude Indicator is build like this:

http://www.simkits.com/downloads/documents/Attitude%20Indicator%20Manual%20ENG%20170904.pdf

with some tweaks, like the bars operating mechanism, to allow endless movement, (you can see the piece in previous photos).
I want to rebuild, to add gyro warning flag, and Flight Director needles and warning flag like this photo, of one of my real instruments (of an Aero Commander).

http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10643&stc=1
This instrument is electric, (no bar calibration here) and i must find a way to make the flight director vertical bar not disturb the calibration of the aeroplane bars..... I need at least 6 servos to replicate all. (no way in my country to find small solenoids to drive the warning flags). Maybe with small motors like used in cell phone vibrator, but cost is the same as small servos for arduino. I am investigating other forms to drive the flags.
Regards.
Horacio.

[SimSupervisor]

How small solenoids do you need?
I can see ifif the ones at my favorite surplus store would fit....