Cheap gauge
111. February 2014 by Peter
Okay, so this is my take on how you can make your own gauges. The cost is under under $10.
If a picture says more than a thousand words then I guess a video says more than a thousand pictures, or?
I few things I would like to point out as you watch the video:
Servos only turn 180 degrees. So in order to make it turn more (normally you need 270 degrees on a gauge) you need gears with a ratio.
The gears I use are pretty thin (Only a few mm’s high). So I need to make sure they stay in place. Therefore I use a 5mm spacer to minimize the space the room for gears to move in. Together with the extra “spacer” (The white “hill” in the video) the gears should be in place.
I use a 20mm spacer to get some distance from the gauge to the servo engine. This should add to stability. Furthermore the more layers the more stable. Therefore I have two layers of plexiglas at the end. Also make sure you place the gears in a way, so the shaft not can move forward/backwards. If you have this problem you might want to an extra gear/disc on the shaft (Next to the plexiglas) with the only function to hold the shaft in place. The additional gear then only work as a disc and not a gear. In worst case glue a disc/gear on each side of the plexiglas.
For this gauge I have used my own overhead print. But you can of course use gauges from OpenCockpits or other vendors. Or you can draw your own and print it.
I installed this gauge on Foamalux. But in fact it would have been better to stick it on plexiglas so you can backlight it.
For this gauge I have used the following:
- My own overhead print.
- 3mm screws and nuts
- 2 x 20 mm & 5mm spacers (At dx.com)
- 10cm 2 mm shaft
- Gears
- Foamex / Plexiglas
- S3003 servo engine
Build a Boeing 
I like your idea of using cheap materials to build a gauge. I never thought of that. Where did you get the plans for the gauge? Thank you
Hi Jet Vector.
If you mean the print of each gauge, it is from my overhead-panel (buildaboeing.wordpress.com/overhead/). They are simply drawn in Illustrator and then printed on foil.
Regards
Peter
Thank you for your quick reply. I will have a look. I enjoyed your video on youtube.
King Regards,
Jet
Thanks.
Glad it could be of help!
Cheers
Peter
[…] The gauges are all the same behind the foil. They are build using the same principe as I described in this video. […]
Thanks Peter I found the shopping list I needed to make the gauges here, awesome tutorials.
Hi Peter! I’m just wondering if you have any suggestions for me to find a shaft. thanks!
Hi Samuel.
I found mine on eBay. 2mm shafts, 10cm long.
Regards Peter
Hi Peter
could you please tell me where do you get the gears from – the ones linking the shaft and the servo motor – Thank you.
Best regards
Mark
Hi Mark.
They are from eBay. I bought a bag with 59 plastic gears for a few dollars.
Best regards Peter
Hi Peter
Thank you – hope you had a great time in Egypt – its been wet and windy here in Wales.
best regards Mark