Here's a small video I made yesterday about this project:
To sum it up, here's what I got done in this first version:
- Main parts of the DSKY have been modeled as per MIT drawings;
- They were printed, while doing the minimal amount of changes possible;
- Functional DSKY keyboard (using Cherry MX keys);
- Functional alarm lights (using LEDs);
- Functional display (with a Nextion 4.3" LCD);
- Working VirtualAGC emulator;
There are still a few things that didn't go as planned, and that I'd like to improve:
- While the brass inserts worked out OK most of the time, I cracked some areas of the main housing while press-fitting them. For the next version, I'll look into heat-setting them;
- The keyboard is not at good as I want it to be: the keycaps didn't print too well, and the keys "scratch" against the walls of the front cover. Maybe sanding them smooth will improve the feeling. I'm also looking into replicating the original buttons;
- The outside finish is something to be expected from a 3D printed model. I'd like to try using a primer and painting the external parts to get a smoother finish;
- Status lights are simple LEDs for now... No diffuser there, so each LED shows as a bright spot on the mask. I'll work on that in the next version;
- The display could also use some more work. I found three possible ways to do that: find a better suiting LCD display, design custom 7-segment LED display, or go all in and look into creating the real EL panel display (such as what Ben at Applied Science did).
- Status and Display panels are now interconnected with simple ribbon wires, I want to make them modular and use a nice flat multi pin connector;
- Talking about connectors: the main one on the back is a NOS USSR part I found on eBay (how ironic...), I'll spend more time looking for a more resembling part.
- Side project: I want to make the "Universal DSKY Handling Fixture" and a cool carrying case for it!
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