A new instrument build starts.

I have been thinking for some years now, how I’m going to implement the real HSI (Horizontal Situation Indicator), because the original analogue instrument is much too complicated mechanically to be done with DIY means.

Through some updates on the F-16 an electronic HSI (eHSI) is being used which uses an LCD instead of complicated mechanics.
So I decided to build such an eHSI for my simulator.

As always I started to design everything in FreeCAD to have a look how it’s going to work and which parts I would need.
Those parts got printed for a first prototype – here the parts, that make up my eHSI:

The 2 left ones will be screwed together (with the display in between), the both on the bottom will be glued together.
The part with the SMD button is just a placeholder for the PCB where the rotary encoder and button will be soldered to.

Everything fit together perfectly.

After the top parts have been glued together I painted them matte black and the rotaries fit great into the holes.

I also printed the knobs for the rotaries and they also fit and work great.

I already started designing the PCB but I’m not sure yet, if I will let it produce externally or if I’m going to make it on my CNC by myself.