rf900rush
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| posted on 17/9/06 at 08:52 PM |
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DIY Digital Dash
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
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gary gsx
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| posted on 17/9/06 at 08:54 PM |
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Thats very smart wanna make another 
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stevebubs
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| posted on 17/9/06 at 08:56 PM |
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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?
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RichardK
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| posted on 17/9/06 at 09:03 PM |
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Hi Martin
That is one of the nicest instrument panels that I've seen, please share
Nice one, cheers
Rich
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rf900rush
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| posted on 17/9/06 at 09:08 PM |
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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
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RazMan
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| posted on 17/9/06 at 09:17 PM |
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Top marks old chap! 
Where were you a year ago when I was looking for a smart, professional looking dash?
Cheers,
Raz
When thinking outside the box doesn't work any more, it's time to build a new box
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Andy W
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| posted on 17/9/06 at 09:25 PM |
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Top job, after all that hard work you really should continue. I'm sure you would have no problems selling them
Andy
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Confused but excited.
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| posted on 17/9/06 at 09:27 PM |
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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.
Tell them about the bent treacle edges!
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Guinness
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| posted on 17/9/06 at 09:40 PM |
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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
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omega 24 v6
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| posted on 17/9/06 at 09:50 PM |
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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
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Jonte
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| posted on 17/9/06 at 10:01 PM |
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Really good work
Hope youre very proud of that dash....
Click it
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JackNco
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| posted on 18/9/06 at 02:38 AM |
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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
Some people are worried about the difference between right and wrong. I'm worried about the difference between wrong and fun.
O'Rourke, P.J. (1989), Holidays in hell. London (Picador)
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dl_peabody
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| posted on 18/9/06 at 02:45 AM |
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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.
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chockymonster
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| posted on 18/9/06 at 07:14 AM |
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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?
PLEASE NOTE - Responses on Forum Threads may contain Sarcasm and may not be suitable for the hard of Thinking.
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Hammerhead
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| posted on 18/9/06 at 07:38 AM |
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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.
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StevieB
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| posted on 18/9/06 at 07:54 AM |
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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)
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02GF74
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| posted on 18/9/06 at 09:01 AM |
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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
well I donlt need to tell you that that is one lovely bit of kit and no doubt a lot of hours went into making the display as well as writing the
code.
my only question is what processor & development system are you using? (...I've still to get round to buying a PIC development system.... 
)
Whilst I wish you luck in making money from it, you should consider the issue of support to a) help folks set it up and b) what happens when things
don't work like they should - that could take up an awful lot of your time.
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Rich_T
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| posted on 18/9/06 at 10:52 AM |
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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
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MikeRJ
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| posted on 18/9/06 at 12:22 PM |
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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
I belive the OP is refering to the custom made dash housing, not to the box holding the electronics etc. which would be easy to source.
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rf900rush
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| posted on 18/9/06 at 02:03 PM |
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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
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JackNco
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| posted on 18/9/06 at 11:27 PM |
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U have a U2U message
Some people are worried about the difference between right and wrong. I'm worried about the difference between wrong and fun.
O'Rourke, P.J. (1989), Holidays in hell. London (Picador)
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Hammerhead
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| posted on 19/9/06 at 07:15 AM |
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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.
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iank
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| posted on 19/9/06 at 08:02 AM |
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Having just got the cost of laser cutting aluminium it wouldn't be silly money if you have the cad files.
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Peteff
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| posted on 19/9/06 at 09:48 AM |
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The instruments look brilliant.
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.
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
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Syd Bridge
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| posted on 21/9/06 at 08:11 AM |
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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.
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