Champagne

Hey Khaled,

you're just teasing me now aren't you
Looking forward to driving that DB9 of yours.

And don't worry, nice chunky buttons are a must, we agree on that

On one version of the AC controller, we will have an OLED mini dedicated display that will visually give feedback on selections and options, but the actual interaction will be through nicely sized buttons.

On the other version, 3 large rotary buttons will give both control and feedback.

Paul

Franks928s

Wow! I just read this whole thread and it might give new meaning to the words "Christmas in july!" I will bet the look n feel will be outstanding once your ptoto-type is completed. Two years a go, I cut out the clock unit in my 85S, moved the AC and HVAC units downward and installed a Jenson touch screen. I moved the components to have greater depth for my stereo unit to be flush with the center console edges. Your plans to recess will certainly give it a much more finished look. My approach resulted in a challenge as to how to mount the top vents; ie, recessed or flush with the console edges too.

Something else you may wish to consider..... 1) phsyical/configurable insteon/x10 switch in your control panel. in 1999, my profession afforded the opportunity to me to be tour IBM's "Think Tank" laboratory in Austin TX where their ideas normally take 10-15 years before the consumer market sees it. One had to sign their life away at that time to be invited there. In 1999, I was seeing email browsers built into toasters, refrigerators, refrigerators that monitored its contents and autamatically initiated grocery orders and lists of depletions and, yes, car dashboards that had no physical switch or gauge located on it. I would encourage you to think about incorporating a standard insteon/x10 type switch in your unit that would enable people to turn-on/off devices and lights in their homes. Its great technology (My whole home is automated as such). I drive home, push one button and my whole house lights up as I pull into my drive way. 2) suggestion - (more of a question), are you considering the ability to plug an air card into your unit to gain ISP access? If so, Insteon now has software that runs on pc's and iphones that uses wireless internet to be able to remotely access their home via the internet. i saw this in 1999 and its now here! (Feel like the jetson's have arrived!) Would be great to do anything from checking a baby/pet monitor to turning on the heater of the hot tub or dimming the lights from the car. The technology is here, its inexpensive and your unit would just need to make available the "shortcut" to access it. Hell, in 1999, in that lab, a scientist would say..."transfer sound book 1 from stereo to car" and it would automatically be playing in the car when you entered their makeshift garage. Wouldn't it be great if our "classic sharks" actually got out in front of what will soon come to be?!

Just some thoughts....BUT kudos to you!

Frank

Calgary Ole

I think there is a little intrest in your most excellent project, congradulations.

hans14914

Well, I am just back from an extended session at the CNC shop. I have to say thanks to my lovely wife Katie, for lending her lunchbreak to pick up raw materials, and then delivering them for me after work to the shop.

Got started a bit late, but got a good 5 hours of fab work in tonight. I am proud to show some early cameraphone pictures of the insert with some minor although important modifications in a new black material. Most of the important changes are out of sight, and not viewable in the picture, but installation procedure is further improved, as is the shiftboot mounting mechanism, and a couple other features.

The shiftboot in the pictures is a standard "tall" version for a stock console, so actual fit of the finished product will be worthy of Paul's reputation - please excuse the current sloppy implementation.

I think I also got another slot for Sunday, so should be able to get the frame finalized this week.

We did have a bit of an issue with the holes in the acrylic inserts. I cut a batch of 6 sets, and for whatever reason the CNC puked, and made all the holes about 1/16 smaller in diameter than what the g-code or CAM software told it to. They will be great samples to test surface treatments, but lousy for testing button panel assemblies. I should be able to get these sorted out on Sunday.

I also have a new batch of revised hardware/fasteners on the way, so should be able to do a complete test assembly on monday.

So, please enjoy the new pictures. I am out most of tomorrow, and bushed tonight - but will reply to all the new comments when I have a chance on Sunday.

Thanks
Hans

pcar928fan

Gonna be AWESOME!!! I wonder which car(s) I'll put this in????

M. Requin

Hans, thanks for sharing this part of the process with us - it is fascinating to see this in its final stages, and as everyone else has said, it is an awesome project. Please keep it coming!

hans14914

Making more progress. Had a chance to play with backlighting over the weekend, and think I have a good solution now. I also got an order of revised hardware/fasteners in today which I am really liking. It may not look different, but the new pieces are much improved. There is a little bit of tweaking going on tonight for the new backlight plan, but mechanically, these frames will be done by the end of the week and on their way down to Paul for final approval and then receive their final cosmetic fascia.

You can see the primary screen and the secondary OLED screen mounted in these pictures. Hopefully we can get the simple climate panel laid out here shortly, and get some frames with the "3-****" style system completed and posted.

Hopefully I will be able to get back from the shop early enough to post pictures of a unit with the translucent inserts pressed in.

Mike Frye

Not sure if anyone has seconded this, but I will.

What a great design, well implemented!

rligeti

We have a motion on the floor, and it's been seconded.

All in favor? Anyone opposed? Anyone? No?

Well, that looks like everyone. Better start working on that letter of resignation.

Cant wait to see more!

hans14914

Solved some production problems last night, and also revised the backlight method for the climate buttons. The tolerances on the extruded acrylic rod were not to my standard, so changed it to machined "keys" which I can control all the tolerances on. I also changed the backlight scheme so that now 3mm LED bulbs will be inserted directly into the translucent parts instead of the frame for maximum light dispersion. You may notice that the far right "key" has two LED mounts instead of one, this is because the "up" vent button is dual function, and when pressed and held will activate the emergency de-mist mode, and light a red backlight LED to indicate that mode.

Also, Please note that the buttons and ***** are not permanently installed in these pictures, it is just a mock-up, as I have not had the PCB's manufactured yet to hold them, as I was waiting to finalize the translucent parts and final LED mounting positions. They are currently being held on by tape, and if they are crooked in the pictures, that is why. Final product will be rigidly mounted to a through-hole PCB. These ***** are off-the-shelf test items, and final **** selection will likely be more subtle, and possibly fabricated to match the rest of the console.

Also, I have not had time to treat the acrylic inserts with the reflective paint process. The actual inserts will appear white when the lights are off, and glow whatever color LED is present (debating between orange/amber and white backlighting at this time) when the illumination is on.

So, frames are done, and on their way down to Paul for him to work his magic.

Thanks,
Hans

jeff spahn

OMG. I gotta have one!

S4ordie

Looks great Hans!

Any chance to see it with colored or different styled *****? I imagine there is a lot of flexibility on this part of the design as they are probably OTS components.

blown 87

I am excited and I am not even part of this.

This really is a great idea, and to bring it out for sale, such a great thing.

hans14914

The optical encoders being used are 1/4" shaft, so you can use any number of standard *****. The ones pictured are also available in black anodized finish and are made by Kilo International:

http://www.kilointernational.com/kno...ml_series.html

I may look at machining some out either the black or acrylic material. Paul could probably cover the ***** in leather, but for those using a laminate layer, not sure what I will be able to offer yet. It would also be a relatively simple part to cast, so could make a mold to get these popped out.

Thanks
Hans

Rob Edwards

Are there any Porsche *****, 928 or otherwise, that might be adaptable? Just to keep the Porsche DNA, so to speak. They are probably not 1/4" shaft-compatible, tho...

For instance, 964/993/944 *****:

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=...26tbs%3Disch:1