Got anything new?

[kellys_eye]

There's probably already something in existence for anything you try to image but the fun in building something that is unique still tasks me. I have a little 'book' of ideas that require motivation to bring to a finished product but also some ideas that I'd considered that may already in existence but I haven't come across yet.

Do you have such a list? or do you have thoughts on something that you'd like to see built but can't think of a way to do it? Perhaps you'd like to explore your ideas in this thread?

Here's my starter-for-ten.....

Digital meter:

based on a standard sized (2-inch?) round dial analog meter as might be used in cars (i.e the old 'Smiths design').

The dial (pointer) is controlled by a stepper motor circuit - such motors already exist and the majority of analog dials on car instrument clusters are driven by dedicated motors and IC's.

The dial pointer is clear plastic with LED RGB backlight, as is the basic illumination.

The dial movement is fully programmable - start position, end stop position, step increment etc as is the input voltage range for f.s.d.

The dial should also be programmable to alarm by changing point/dial colour as limits are approached/exceeded etc. and a small software package available to allow the user to design a printed overlay according to need.

Comments?

 

[shrtrnd]

I have one. Patent it now, before somebody in the automobile industry takes your idea and markets it.

 

[Bluejets]

If I follow your meaning correctly, I built a similar unit a few years back.
Not using a stepper but a geared up mini servo driven by an 08m picaxe.
Unit is a tacho with a signal originally meant to drive an optical unit i.e. 0-5v output.
Ended up a nice scale unit for the 1939 era 1/5 Rivierra sport boat.

 

[kellys_eye]

Nicely done meter and model <thumbs up>!

My idea was to have a meter that was use-programmable such that the input voltage range and dial movement (plus alarm conditions) were all settable by the user via a simple USB (or serial) interface. Along with simple software to print a dial scale this would allow the user to purchase, basically, a blank dial readout to be 'made' into whatever they have a need for.

As mentioned, current car 'meters' are all driven by purpose-made mini stepper devices nowadays (with their corresponding driver chips) so it's only a matter of making a suitable one-piece pcb with the interface/LEDs fitted and slapping it into a case.

 

[Irv]

So... I can have (with the aid of a bit of brass and a good graphics program) - a Steampunk dashboard on my car?

Neat!