Hey fellow flight sim fans!
I’ve got some fantastic news to share with you all. Our A-10C Upfront Control Panel (UFC) project has reached some exciting milestones, and I’ve partnered with PCBway for this journey. Let’s dive into the latest updates and developments.
Exciting Partnership with PCBway!
Thank you so much PCBWay.com for sponsoring parts of this project! I was genuinely surprised by how quickly the PCBs arrived – in just 9 days, without even opting for the very express shipping variant. The quality is outstanding, and the PCBs work flawlessly in my setup. It’s been a fantastic experience, from design submission to receiving the boards ready for assembly.
A huge thank you to PCBway for their generosity and support!
PCB Redesign: Moving to a 4-Layer Design
One of the significant updates is that I’ve redesigned the UFC PCB as a 4-layer design. This upgrade has allowed for more complex routing and a more robust build.
Here are some pictures showing the new 4-layer design:
New 4-Layer UFC PCB Design:
Backlit Buttons: A 3D Printing Challenge
Another significant accomplishment is figuring out how to 3D print the buttons so they’re correctly backlit. This process took a while, but the results are fantastic, and it adds a great touch to the overall functionality and realism of the UFC.
Code Integration with DCS BIOS
I’ve also written the code for DCS BIOS to ensure the UFC integrates seamlessly with the simulator. You can find the PCB design and the Arduino code in this repository:
Video Showcase
Check out this YouTube video where I showcase the UFC in action:
Sneak Peek: Work-in-Progress MFCDs
I’m also working on the MFCDs, and here are some 3D renders and a screenshot from KiCad to give you a sneak peek:
MFCD 3D Render:
Final Thoughts
The journey of building the A-10C UFC has been incredible, filled with learning opportunities and rewarding moments. The sponsorship from PCBway has been a game-changer, and I’m excited to continue sharing this adventure with you all. Stay tuned for more updates as we move closer to a fully functional simpit!
Thank you for your support, and happy flying!