Pictreed Posted June 11, 2016 Report Posted June 11, 2016 I need to get my instruments in the standard 6 pack but I have a few questions. I read that some "trimming" but can the instruments be rearranged or does the panel need to be replaced. If panel replacement needs to happen, I've been thinking of a couple ways to get the panel made. First the layout. I'm a CAD operator and there's a water jet close as well as Discount Steel. My question is how to get the design started. I could take off the existing plastic, trace the outline on a large sheet of paper, scan it into CAD and work with the layout. Or is there some predesigned panel patterns out there? Tim Quote
Guest Posted June 11, 2016 Report Posted June 11, 2016 4 hours ago, Pictreed said: I need to get my instruments in the standard 6 pack but I have a few questions. I read that some "trimming" but can the instruments be rearranged or does the panel need to be replaced. If panel replacement needs to happen, I've been thinking of a couple ways to get the panel made. First the layout. I'm a CAD operator and there's a water jet close as well as Discount Steel. My question is how to get the design started. I could take off the existing plastic, trace the outline on a large sheet of paper, scan it into CAD and work with the layout. Or is there some predesigned panel patterns out there? Tim There is some panel planning software on the market, but for a one time operation they are expensive. LASAR sells pre made panels, but if you and your maintainer are skillful you can easily copy the outline of you old one and rearrange all of your instruments. Clarence Quote
carusoam Posted June 11, 2016 Report Posted June 11, 2016 Or go to the Mooney pilot that makes Mooney panels... http://www.hendricksmfg.com/panels.html Best regards, -a- 1 Quote
isaacpr7 Posted June 11, 2016 Report Posted June 11, 2016 I need to get my instruments in the standard 6 pack but I have a few questions. I read that some "trimming" but can the instruments be rearranged or does the panel need to be replaced. If panel replacement needs to happen, I've been thinking of a couple ways to get the panel made. First the layout. I'm a CAD operator and there's a water jet close as well as Discount Steel. My question is how to get the design started. I could take off the existing plastic, trace the outline on a large sheet of paper, scan it into CAD and work with the layout. Or is there some predesigned panel patterns out there? Tim PM Sent Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk Quote
Pictreed Posted June 11, 2016 Author Report Posted June 11, 2016 Thanks for the ideas guys. I am just worried about making a panel and it not fit....boo! Quote
Aerodon Posted June 12, 2016 Report Posted June 12, 2016 On June 11, 2016 at 11:25 AM, Pictreed said: Thanks for the ideas guys. I am just worried about making a panel and it not fit....boo! Hah, a CAD operator who is afraid of facing the reality of his own work? I've got a CNC machine and am slowly working through my way of making a C172 panel. The cutting and materials are relatively inexpensive - the hardest part of the learning curve has been the design. The perimeter and mounting holes were correct on the first cut. Then you find that Mfg's drawings are not accurate enough. Then individual instruments have their quirks. Then interference between the instruments behind the panel, and between the instruments and existing stuff. If you have a bit of time on this and are able to do the drawings, I can cut them for you several times over until we have a workable panel? Don (supercub180@gmail.com) 1 Quote
geoffb Posted June 13, 2016 Report Posted June 13, 2016 I have a .dxf if you want it. PM me an address Quote
steingar Posted June 13, 2016 Report Posted June 13, 2016 On June 11, 2016 at 2:49 AM, Pictreed said: I need to get my instruments in the standard 6 pack ... Why? If you're the only one to fly the airplane, you get used to whatever's in front of you fairly quickly. I did. Quote
Pictreed Posted June 14, 2016 Author Report Posted June 14, 2016 4 hours ago, steingar said: Why? If you're the only one to fly the airplane, you get used to whatever's in front of you fairly quickly. I did. I knew you'd post that! Lol. I was just waiting on it. I saw that you posted that on other threads during a search. You must have that on copy/paste. Seriously though, there are many reasons but mainly it's not the only plane I fly and during IMC you don't want to go looking for things. I wish I could leave it but it's not safe for me. Quote
Pictreed Posted June 14, 2016 Author Report Posted June 14, 2016 On June 12, 2016 at 3:16 PM, Aerodon said: Hah, a CAD operator who is afraid of facing the reality of his own work? Ha, no Don, I'm confident. I just don't trust myself...lol. What I mean is that there are a lot of gotchas in changing that panel. I guess the only thing easier than mocking it up from plexiglass is to get one from someone that's gone through the hassle of the whole mock process. I talked to LASAR today. I think I talked to Dan? He said they have a panel for $250 + $80 for the standoff kit. That may be the route I go because my time is worth more than that. Tim Quote
carusoam Posted June 14, 2016 Report Posted June 14, 2016 Tim, have you seen the acrylic mock-up somebody recently posted of their O? Its a really cool way of visualizing what is going on behind the panel in 3D. I'm more of a CopyCat kind of guy for things of that level of complexity. Best regards, -a- Quote
Pictreed Posted June 14, 2016 Author Report Posted June 14, 2016 Yes. That was cool. You can see behind it so you know what is hitting. Quote
steingar Posted June 14, 2016 Report Posted June 14, 2016 11 hours ago, Pictreed said: I knew you'd post that! Lol. I was just waiting on it. I saw that you posted that on other threads during a search. You must have that on copy/paste. Seriously though, there are many reasons but mainly it's not the only plane I fly and during IMC you don't want to go looking for things. I wish I could leave it but it's not safe for me. Sorry to be predictable. Yeah, if you're flying lots of airplanes in IMC that does make sense. Just can't understand why you'd want to fly anything other than the Mooney. Quote
Pictreed Posted June 14, 2016 Author Report Posted June 14, 2016 If they made a twin Mooney and there was one at the flight school id take it. of course it would have to be an older one with the same panel I have. Commercial will be done in my Mooney so it will help the instructor too. Tim Quote
geoffb Posted June 14, 2016 Report Posted June 14, 2016 I wasn't happy with the 8-hole LASAR. Puts the ASI very far to the left and would require more trimming behind the panel in the area of the defrost duct than I was comfortable with. So I started from scratch since it appears that you can move everything right and tighten them up. Acrylic makes a pretty test piece, but a hole saw just wrecks it. Just as cheap to work in Al and make revs until your happy with it and then send the final file off to get laser cut. Quote
Guest Posted June 14, 2016 Report Posted June 14, 2016 Making your own panel is fairly simple, remove and trace the old one, matching the mounting holes. Lay out the instrument locations with a small square and a ruler. Drill a centre pilot hole for each instrument, enlarge this hole to 5/8" and use and instrument punch to make the holes. http://www.aircraftspruce.ca/catalog/inpages/ats123chole.php?clickkey=32403 Clarence Quote
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