Mechanics....

Slowly but surely project is advancing. Updates here are not very frequent, be patient.

Here is the simplest of all gauge mechanics:



Just one servo, instrument face, some aluminium, plastic pipe and PCB board.
(Of course there is some other parts, glass and frame, but they come from actual scrapped instruments)

Multi pointer gauges are a little bit more challenging but not impossible.
Next I need to find 2mm aluminium sheet and then I can start milling and turning these parts.

Argh!

I spent several days putting together altimeter, based on decommissioned real instrument. I took out the original mechanics (except gears turning 1000ft/10000ft needles), bellows etc. Installed 720 steps/revolution stepper motor to turn the axle.
Everything was ok, stepper motor was turning the needles as expected, just working fine.
Then I noticed some slack in gears, removed glass, needles and front plate.
Installed one spring I forgot to put back when putting instrument together.

And when I was reinstalling needles... the axle snapped! About 0.2mm diameter steel pin acting as axle broke! I am almost ready to buy altimeter from simkits... $400 or so...

I need a beer. Or three. Crap.