DIY Digital Dash
Hi All...
As I could not afford the any thing like the Digidash Displays.
Plus there is not much room above the steering column on my Rush.
I thought I would make my own.
2 years later I near completing my Dash.
So far I will be able to Display MPH, RPM, OIL Pressure, Water Temp. 0 - 60 , 1/4 mile and some on board Data logging.
with the option of record to a PC/Laptop via a serial Port.
Which is also used to calibrate/customise the Display.
Some Pictures of Protoype No.2....
Martin
Thats very smart wanna make another 
That's actually quite nice and usable.
Are you planning on putting it into production, "open sourcing" it like Megasquirt or just keeping it as a one-off?
Hi Martin
That is one of the nicest instrument panels that I've seen, please share
Nice one, cheers
Rich
Hi All...
I am planning to take it further.
but How...
Problems...
1: Make sure it works for Most types of car/becs.
2: Make sure it's reliable.
3: Make sure Its a resonable cost.
4: How do I make a cheap case for it?
The one you see is made for a £20 piece of ali (from ebay) and about a million hours at my PC and DIY CNC Mill/Drill.
At the moment I like the Idear of the Megasuirt System (which I also have I my Rush).
Which also means my dash will be able to take data from It.
(simular to the Megadisplay.)
Martin
Top marks old chap! 
Where were you a year ago when I was looking for a smart, professional looking dash?
Top job, after all that hard work you really should continue. I'm sure you would have no problems selling them
Andy
That looks the dog's b@ll@cks! 
You could make a less expensive case in vacuum formed plastic, such as ABS or even fibreglass.
Veeerry impressive so far.
Amazing.
There will be a real demand for those if you offer them at a reasonable price or as kits/instructions.
Can't wait to see the rest of your build if the dash is that good!
Mike
Is there a real problem with the case price??
I put one on my megasquirt for Around £10.00. Surely thats not to expensive for a well made bit of kit like your showng us here.
Linky to my case
Really good work
Hope youre very proud of that dash....
WOW! that looks great!
But if you were going to take it further, y bother with a case? why not just open source the ret f it, and let people sort out there own cases?
Im sure alot of people (inclusing me) would be happy worting bezzels and surrouns and buttons out and mounting thme in the dash ourselves
PLUS... u have u2u
John
Really good work! I am very impressed.
Before you open source the project contact the guys at mega squirt and mega jolt and ask about how much money they make per unit and if it is a viable
income stream (even a little to recoupe your investment of time, but ask them everything).
Even if you decide to give it away there are issues you need to be concerned about (you may decide that you want to make it availble to noncomercial
use).
Ask Mega squirt guys about liability issues and how they avoid that. Very cool if you can tie the two products together....or at least complient each
other.
Fantastic looking dash.
Like the others, I'd be interested in having a go at making one.
How big is the case that holds the electric gubbins?
Hi the dash looks great. You could have the surround cast in aluminium using your original as the male mould. I bet if you had 10 done the price would be under £10 each. It would solve the problem of all the machining etc, and the casting company would probably do the polishing for you. Let me know if you try this method.
That's a real nice bit of kit - I'd certainly pay for one if you were to sell something (the full item, instructions on how to make it - whichever)
quote:
Originally posted by rf900rush
I am planning to take it further.
but How...
Problems...
1: Make sure it works for Most types of car/becs.
2: Make sure it's reliable.
3: Make sure Its a resonable cost.
4: How do I make a cheap case for it?
The one you see is made for a £20 piece of ali (from ebay) and about a million hours at my PC and DIY CNC Mill/Drill.
Martin
) That really is one of the best looking dash's Ive seen and would certainly be interested in one, be it kits form or complete.
Good luck
quote:
Originally posted by omega 24 v6
Is there a real problem with the case price??
I put one on my megasquirt for Around £10.00. Surely thats not to expensive for a well made bit of kit like your showng us here.
Linky to my case
Hi all..
Wow I did not expect such a response.
I have been scracthing my head for some time now, as to the best way to supply this.
As for the case (square box) thats easy Maplin ali boxes are less than £10 in 1 offs.
But for the display mine is custom to fit behind the steering wheel.
I am looking a cast/ GRP/ Carbon for Idears but as you all know its time consuming.
Making every thing ... PCB's Cables Software and case is hard work.
I will proberbly supply at least kits like megasuirt.
The software, it is much like the megasuirt. You can re-program it using the Serial Port.
That means there are many options just like the M.S.
Plus like the MS I hove that any sensors can be calibrated.
The only problem is to make it easy to use to mimimise the support need.
Theres no chance of me running a fourm like this on or the MS one.
I have also considerd the possibility of different display options.
As to the CPU system mine uses a Phillips version of the 87C51.
Which with care can be program in circuit using a PC serial port. (No programmer needed).
Martin
U have a U2U message
as stated before cast aluminium would be a very versatile method of producing the outer casing. Or why not get them cnc machined? bet if you made in batches of 10 or more the price wouldnt be too bad.
Having just got the cost of laser cutting aluminium it wouldn't be silly money if you have the cad files.
I would add that the aluminium dash is not a great idea unless you have a dull finish or cover it. I had to do my tunnel top with some vinyl as it was blinding with the sun on it, and I am not renowned for my enthusiasm with the polish.
And for those wanting something different, I could do the surround in carbon for very few pounds. Plenty of offcuts about and could put them through
the clave with other work.
Cheers,
Syd.
quote:
Originally posted by Syd Bridge
I could do the surround in carbon for very few pounds. Plenty of offcuts about and could put them through the clave with other work.
Syd.
In a word wow, id pay similar money to my digi dash 2 lite for that, to say it looks functional wouldnt do it justice.
Martin
If you ever plan to sell any digi dash. I can be the first on your export list ;-)
[Edited on 26-9-06 by Jonte]
*double post*
[Edited on 26-9-06 by Jonte]
Me like it VERY much. As I understand it's a standalone piece of kit?
You've got some mad skills my friend! That is one neat looking dash and I would love to use it in my La Bala project. I have been searching for
something unique that really stands out and THAT, really does stand out.
Will you please keep us informed of your decision to #1- make it open source like MegaSquirt (You could become the next Bowling and Grippo!) or #2
your estimated cost? and #3 will you sell me one then?
Thanks!
Hi,
Looking at the second picture at start.
Why do you have a fuel filler on your scuttle, do you have fuel tank hidden in there???
I think that's the standard location for the tank on a bike-engined Rush.
Martin.
Yep He's right
Rush's with bike engines come standard with centre mounted tanks.
As there is no gear box (except reverse box) in the tunnel Dax have used the space for a tank.
A bit small but with the advantage of less balance change as the fuel level changes.
As for the dash. It's stlill being developed.
Having a second child arrive 5 mounths ago has left less time to work on it.
I hope to have some more news on it's progress early next year.
Martin
Martin,
It's early next year....
I Know
Almost complete.
But I'm stuck on getting it reliable using coil / points ignition for tacho input.
I don't have easy access to a car using this for testing.
??? how many are still using this method?
It's easy to get it working on my BEC , but I need it to work on all cars.
Martin
TOP MARKS MATE
bump?
any progress 
Log me as interested,
This looks class and has the added bonus of being in the line of sight.
Would be great to intergrate it into the car whilst i'm adding Megasquirt
ATB Dan.
Hi
Very busy with work this year.
mostly done be needs a final tweek and some sort of cheap case.
I also need to try various LED's for the Tacho and Speed. Mine looks cool with Blue MPH, but when sunny it's almost impossible to see.
I'm in if you go with production. Plastic case?? It really is about the nicest one I've ever seen. Seriously. CEC by the way.
Hi,
Looks great, if you manufacture them then I'd be very interested one of these.
Many thanks,
David
Realy nice well done!
Go for it I'd buy one!
Find yourself a Chinese Agent and get it manufactered over there. That way they just copy your design, removing the headaches and as long as you work
with the right people your design will be safe.
alibaba or similar might be a place to start. But you will be amazed at how cheaply you can get these built for.
Make sure you get a few quotes, play a couple of factories off against each other and you'll be laughing.
100 units for less than you could get someone to make 10 over here.
Plus they would be making them, so freeing up your time, all you'd need is some cash to invest and then reep the rewards by selling them for
years to come.
Thats what I'd do anyway. but whatever happens - good luck, thats a sweet design.
I'm definitely in for one, and looking at the replies on this thread I'm not alone. The Chinese angle on production looks very interesting.
Keep us all informed please.
Good luck