Some more encoders on their way!

Single to Multi propo
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Mike_K
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Some more encoders on their way!

Post by Mike_K »

This a bit like waiting for a bus, you wait for ages and then two come along together, but in this case, it is two totally different encoders rather than buses.

As many of you know, I've been quietly working on an encoder for a number of years, in fact, it’s all I have been flying with for the last four years and use my Skyleader SLX and Futaba M6 as my day-today transmitters. Some may have seen me using them at the last Ponty meeting and any of the UKCAA classic acrobatic/F3A meetings I’ve attended. I signed off on the software and circuit design 6 months ago, but struggled to design the circuit board as I tried to make "one size fits all", but there's just too much variation is the size and space of retro transmitters for it to work. As this wasn't working out, I decided to do a series of boards to fit the various shapes and sizes of retro transmitters likely to be converted, I have finished with a series of three board designs with varying sizes of LCD to suit different transmitters.

The below are the 3D views from KiCAD of the medium-sized board, some of the components aren't to scale as I didn't have the correct 3D component models and used the nearest I could find.
A 3D visualisation of the "medium" sized board - LCD is not to scale as I didn't have the correct 3D model for it and this is the nearest I could find.
A 3D visualisation of the "medium" sized board - LCD is not to scale as I didn't have the correct 3D model for it and this is the nearest I could find.
The display would normally be hidden under the front label, but I’ve also designed a daughterboard so the LCD and menu switches can be mounted facing backwards if there is no label to hide the LCD or you don’t fancy cutting holes in the transmitter! I got fed up waiting for LemonRx to bring out their DSM2/DSMX modules, so have done a daughterboard to house a module from a donor Spektrum DX4e/DX5e/DX6i, the encoder outputs PPM and the serial signal required by the Spektrum module and you can then bind with the buddy box switch and range check from the menu.
Rear facing daughter board
Rear facing daughter board
Daughter board to use a Spektrum DX6i/5e/4e 2.4GHz module
Daughter board to use a Spektrum DX6i/5e/4e 2.4GHz module
Another problem I've had is drilling and cutting the holes in the correct place for the LCD and menu switches and have made a "template" the same size as the actual board, you can make sure the board will fit inside, then use it to mark the front out.
Drilling/cutting template
Drilling/cutting template
Once the boards arrive in a few weeks time, I'll be looking for a few guinea pigs to test out installing the pre-production boards before I put them on sale, so sorry the code and board design will not be open-sourced.

The Second Encoder!

The other encoder to report on is a modified version of Phil's encoder, but with features more suited to use with a classic F3A aerobatic style model. It isn't designed as a replacement for Phil's original, just better suited to certain model types such as classic F3A models. To differentiate the file names, so you know which-is-which, I've added F3A to the program/sketch file name, in the place of "sc" in Phil's original, which I assume stands for single-channel.
Wiring for the "F3A" version of the encoder
Wiring for the "F3A" version of the encoder
The Arduino is identical, so you'll have to read Phil's instructions on what modifications are needed to the Pro Mini Strong, though the rate/expo switches and pots are wired differently and operate very differently, so if you want to retrospectively use the code on an existing conversion, you’ll need to rewire a few things.

The main addition/alteration is a second aileron channel with adjustable aileron differential, which now makes it an 8 channel encoder with a 22mS frame rate you accommodate the extra channel. The full additions/alterations are:
  • Two aileron channels with adjustable aileron differential set by two DIP switches and independent servo reversing for both aileron channels.
  • Throttle reverse via a DIP switch
  • The rates/expo has fundamentally changed. The aileron rates/expo is now independent of the elevator rates/expo and you can have say 30% expo on ailerons and 10% expo on elevators. Read the attached user guide (pdf) for a full explanation of how it now operates.
  • V-tail mixing is added (Phil's original only has elevon mixing of the aileron/elevator I think).
  • The channel order and "output polarity" set by DIP switches have been modified.
  • I've increased the ppm range to +/-500uS from Phil's default +/-400uS to give more servo movement, so you can use smaller control horns to get less slop in the controls
  • Calibrating the joysticks is now via the "minute minder" push button.

The reason that the joystick calibration has changed is that these alterations have required all single-channel emulations to be removed (sorry Phil!), there just aren't enough Arduino inputs for the DIP switches and the rates/expo toggle switches, so the single-channel push-button(s) have gone to make way for these. The only push-button left is minute minder, so there was little choice!

Cheers

Mike
Attachments
PPM_Enc_8ch_F3A_v2.1C.ino
(21.89 KiB) Downloaded 189 times
8 Channel Encoder for retro transmitter conversions V2c_01.pdf
(575.38 KiB) Downloaded 515 times
JohnH
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Joined: 18 Jun 2019, 03:48
Location: Eden, MD USA

Re: Some more encoders on their way!

Post by JohnH »

Mike,

Excellent! I will be one of your first customers. I will be measuring my candidate transmitters to see which encoder will fit each.

Thanks for your hard work.
John H.
John H.
"Here's another fine mess you've gotten me into."
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RobertC
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Location: Grimsby UK

Re: Some more encoders on their way!

Post by RobertC »

Hi Mike

That’s some serious work you’ve been doing behind the scenes ...
I can see a scratch built FLC coming on here again soon 👍😊
Top workmanship
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Wayne_H
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Re: Some more encoders on their way!

Post by Wayne_H »

Yet more inspirational stuff - gotta love this Forum :D

Well done Mike!!
Cheers,

Wayne
Once a Retrobate, always a Retrobate............ ;)
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Wavemeter
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Re: Some more encoders on their way!

Post by Wavemeter »

Mike I really hope I meet you when all this has blown over /down. I gather like me and Stuart you’re a Norfolk Boi so I know your instincts will have you sniffin the Norfolk air at the first opportunity.
This is passionate work and I love it. One feature I would really love on a basic conversion would be expo. So I’m definitely a customer. Seems I have developed a deeper hunger for radios and my collection is growing. A do it all tx in the guise of a retro set would be superb. Hiding the display the challenging bit but your solution behind the label is very clever. Keep a Troshin
Reconstituted boy
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stuart mackay
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Re: Some more encoders on their way!

Post by stuart mackay »

Brilliant work by Mike, as ever!
Have a couple of the F3As that I am trialling and will report back after flight testing in due course.
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Mike_K
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Location: Hertfordshire

Re: Some more encoders on their way!

Post by Mike_K »

The first version of my encoder boards have arrived, with the larger LCD (well relative to the other versions) and provision for separate electrical trims, for transmitters with open gimbal joysticks such as Flight Link and later Kraft and Digi-Fleet, though it works just as well with mechanical trims, you just finish with the "trim" terminals spare. I always have trouble marking out the front of the transmitter where to cut the hole to view the LCD and drill the holes for the menu switches and mounting, so have had some templates made at the same time as the circuit boards, everything should line up perfectly now as the templates are made to the same accuracy as the circuit boards.

Template, an assembled encoder and an unpopulated board waiting assembly
Template, an assembled encoder and an unpopulated board waiting assembly
Viewed from the back with an assembled board and one with all the smd components already assembled
Viewed from the back with an assembled board and one with all the smd components already assembled

Testing the first board is always a bit of a nervous time, worrying that you've made a mistake and all the boards will be scrap, but thankfully it all tested out perfectly with only three minor mistakes, I got the rate switch connections in the wrong order, but it's a very easy fix, just plug them in in the same wrong order (or I could re-order them in the firmware), I got the template front/rear inscriptions the wrong way around, I'll just stick a label over them with the correct way around and the terminal labels got put on the wrong KiCAD layer and are missing (they got put on the front fabrication layer, they should have been on the front silkscreen layer). So I just need to CAD up the board layout in AutoCAD as a guide on where to connect things! But overall I'm delighted with them.

So it's time to start doing an actual conversion, it will either be a Skyleader Clubman. Clubman Super or SLX or an OS Cougar MK2 as they were next on my list. Then it will be a Kraft Sports Series 79 with separate electrical trims, I will need to fit additional pots' that will be used to adjust the trim movement (in relation to the main joysticks).

The next size of boards that are designed for things like Digi-Fleet Customs or where the LCD need to be rear-facing are due to arrive mid-March, so it looks like being a busy few weeks :)

Mike
GardenGate
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Re: Some more encoders on their way!

Post by GardenGate »

Hi Mike - are there any of the GTB encoder boards still available for sale?
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Mike_K
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Location: Hertfordshire

Re: Some more encoders on their way!

Post by Mike_K »

Yes GTB are still available, I've sent you a PM

Mike
gueldi
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Joined: 23 Jan 2023, 15:31

Re: Some more encoders on their way!

Post by gueldi »

Hello Mike!
I have just successfully installed your 8-channel encoder in an old MINITRON transmitter. The transmitter was only produced in very small numbers at the end of the 60's here in northern Germany in the town of Malente by the company Schoening&Scheck (attached a few pictures).
But now I have really seen your F3A encoder with integrated display... I find that super-interesting and would like to know more about the possibilities and data!
I might like to install such an encoder in the back of a Multiplex Europe transmitter (with old sheet metal housing!).
Could you please give me more details about the encoder (dimensions and technical data) and also a price?
I would like to operate the encoder with a 2.4Ghz module from MPX, LemonRx or FrSky (but preferably MPX!).
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