u/project-x-sim

Almost finished!

This week–I focused on the hardware refinement and continued to develop the design. I also switched to dual-color LED's for the ability to properly indicate a switch's state when it is used with a variety of sims. This made things a bit more involved as far as my design process goes, but it's nothing I can't handle.

As of this week, the overall quality of the board has improved:

• The wiring logic is now cleaner and neater,

• The board has much greater ability to be expanded,

• The board has been designed to work specifically with a sim's functionality,

• And overall, the board has a much more polished appearance.

Next week will be the addition of CODE to the design; this should be when things really start to get exciting.

Yes, at the end of the project, all of the design information will be uploaded to GitHub so that others can build, modify or enhance it.

Once again, thank you so much for the feedback/messages since my last update. The boatload of support for this project has truly surprised me.

See you next week!

Almost finished!

This week–I focused on the hardware refinement and continued to develop the design. I also switched to dual-color LED's for the ability to properly indicate a switch's state when it is used with a variety of sims. This made things a bit more involved as far as my design process goes, but it's nothing I can't handle.

As of this week, the overall quality of the board has improved:

• The wiring logic is now cleaner and neater,

• The board has much greater ability to be expanded,

• The board has been designed to work specifically with a sim's functionality,

• And overall, the board has a much more polished appearance.

Next week will be the addition of CODE to the design; this should be when things really start to get exciting.

Yes, at the end of the project, all of the design information will be uploaded to GitHub so that others can build, modify or enhance it.

Once again, thank you so much for the feedback/messages since my last update. The boatload of support for this project has truly surprised me.

See you next week!

Almost finished!

This week–I focused on the hardware refinement and continued to develop the design. I also switched to dual-color LED's for the ability to properly indicate a switch's state when it is used with a variety of sims. This made things a bit more involved as far as my design process goes, but it's nothing I can't handle.

As of this week, the overall quality of the board has improved:

• The wiring logic is now cleaner and neater,

• The board has much greater ability to be expanded,

• The board has been designed to work specifically with a sim's functionality,

• And overall, the board has a much more polished appearance.

Next week will be the addition of CODE to the design; this should be when things really start to get exciting.

Yes, at the end of the project, all of the design information will be uploaded to GitHub so that others can build, modify or enhance it.

Once again, thank you so much for the feedback/messages since my last update. The boatload of support for this project has truly surprised me.

See you next week!

Almost finished!

This week–I focused on the hardware refinement and continued to develop the design. I also switched to dual-color LED's for the ability to properly indicate a switch's state when it is used with a variety of sims. This made things a bit more involved as far as my design process goes, but it's nothing I can't handle.

As of this week, the overall quality of the board has improved:

• The wiring logic is now cleaner and neater,

• The board has much greater ability to be expanded,

• The board has been designed to work specifically with a sim's functionality,

• And overall, the board has a much more polished appearance.

Next week will be the addition of CODE to the design; this should be when things really start to get exciting.

Yes, at the end of the project, all of the design information will be uploaded to GitHub so that others can build, modify or enhance it.

Once again, thank you so much for the feedback/messages since my last update. The boatload of support for this project has truly surprised me.

See you next week!

Almost finished!

This week–I focused on the hardware refinement and continued to develop the design. I also switched to dual-color LED's for the ability to properly indicate a switch's state when it is used with a variety of sims. This made things a bit more involved as far as my design process goes, but it's nothing I can't handle.

As of this week, the overall quality of the board has improved:

• The wiring logic is now cleaner and neater,

• The board has much greater ability to be expanded,

• The board has been designed to work specifically with a sim's functionality,

• And overall, the board has a much more polished appearance.

Next week will be the addition of CODE to the design; this should be when things really start to get exciting.

Yes, at the end of the project, all of the design information will be uploaded to GitHub so that others can build, modify or enhance it.

Once again, thank you so much for the feedback/messages since my last update. The boatload of support for this project has truly surprised me.

See you next week!

Almost finished!

This week–I focused on the hardware refinement and continued to develop the design. I also switched to dual-color LED's for the ability to properly indicate a switch's state when it is used with a variety of sims. This made things a bit more involved as far as my design process goes, but it's nothing I can't handle.

As of this week, the overall quality of the board has improved:

• The wiring logic is now cleaner and neater,

• The board has much greater ability to be expanded,

• The board has been designed to work specifically with a sim's functionality,

• And overall, the board has a much more polished appearance.

Next week will be the addition of CODE to the design; this should be when things really start to get exciting.

Yes, at the end of the project, all of the design information will be uploaded to GitHub so that others can build, modify or enhance it.

Once again, thank you so much for the feedback/messages since my last update. The boatload of support for this project has truly surprised me.

See you next week!

Almost finished!

This week–I focused on the hardware refinement and continued to develop the design. I also switched to dual-color LED's for the ability to properly indicate a switch's state when it is used with a variety of sims. This made things a bit more involved as far as my design process goes, but it's nothing I can't handle.

As of this week, the overall quality of the board has improved:

• The wiring logic is now cleaner and neater,

• The board has much greater ability to be expanded,

• The board has been designed to work specifically with a sim's functionality,

• And overall, the board has a much more polished appearance.

Next week will be the addition of CODE to the design; this should be when things really start to get exciting.

Yes, at the end of the project, all of the design information will be uploaded to GitHub so that others can build, modify or enhance it.

Once again, thank you so much for the feedback/messages since my last update. The boatload of support for this project has truly surprised me.

See you next week!

Where we are at the moment! Mux3 dont want to play nice but I'll tame it! Keep u guys posted

This is week 1 day 2. Updates soon.

Quick update for everyone following the community-built switchboard project:

Week 1 Day 2 — wiring has officially begun.

Got the loom sorted for the rocker switches (both large and on/off/on), as well as the pull-out switches. Also spent some time experimenting with the button layout and added the rotary encoders into the mix.

Grounds are now daisy-chained and everything is getting close to the point where I can start testing code.

It’s still early, but it’s starting to actually look like something now.

I’ll probably tweak a few button styles before locking things in, but overall pretty happy with how it’s coming together.

Curious to hear what you guys think so far — anything you’d change before I move into full testing?

Following up from my previous posts, the open-source multi-sim switchboard is starting to take its final form. 

The electronics have become slightly more complicated, but still very manageable for anyone willing to put the time into building one (I will be posting the wiring diagrams as well as i go along most likely within the next 2-3 days)

The system can be powered either by a Teensy (preferred) or an Arduino (32u4), both running joystick libraries to make everything fully plug-and-play. 

For users that do not have or want to purchase these boards, it would still be possible to adapt the design to other controller solutions, while keeping in mind that external plugins/software may then be required to recognise and map the buttons, switches and rotary encoders. 

Current hardware layout:

- 9x large armed toggle switches

- 1x on-off-on momentary rocker switch

- 10x micro rocker switches

  (which can also be mixed between on-off / on-off-on / other combinations depending on needs)

- 5x pull-out switches (I modeled the dimensions of these - this is why they are not shown on the renders as there are no actual components but i used the templates that i have for my other designs)

- 2x rotary encoders with push buttons (optional)

- 10x tactile push buttons 

I’ve also added dual-colour LEDs throughout the design. Which have complicated the design quite a bit but i wont sacrifice this - think of it as one color indicating on, another color indicating off. For my flight sim buddies this is as close to "back lighting" that i can take this without any labeling (which is intentional to keep this massively multi-sim) 

The plan now is to begin printing and assembling the first full prototype this week, after which I’ll post updates, testing footage, and any changes that come up during development. 

Once everything has been properly tested and is running as smoothly as intended, I’ll make all files publicly available for anyone interested in building one themselves — including the original design files.

 

Happy simming to all ✈️

Following up from my previous posts, the open-source multi-sim switchboard is starting to take its final form. 

The electronics have become slightly more complicated, but still very manageable for anyone willing to put the time into building one (I will be posting the wiring diagrams as well as i go along most likely within the next 2-3 days)

The system can be powered either by a Teensy (preferred) or an Arduino (32u4), both running joystick libraries to make everything fully plug-and-play. 

For users that do not have or want to purchase these boards, it would still be possible to adapt the design to other controller solutions, while keeping in mind that external plugins/software may then be required to recognise and map the buttons, switches and rotary encoders. 

Current hardware layout:

- 9x large armed toggle switches

- 1x on-off-on momentary rocker switch

- 10x micro rocker switches

  (which can also be mixed between on-off / on-off-on / other combinations depending on needs)

- 5x pull-out switches (I modeled the dimensions of these - this is why they are not shown on the renders as there are no actual components but i used the templates that i have for my other designs)

- 2x rotary encoders with push buttons (optional)

- 10x tactile push buttons 

I’ve also added dual-colour LEDs throughout the design. Which have complicated the design quite a bit but i wont sacrifice this - think of it as one color indicating on, another color indicating off. For my flight sim buddies this is as close to "back lighting" that i can take this without any labeling (which is intentional to keep this massively multi-sim) 

The plan now is to begin printing and assembling the first full prototype this week, after which I’ll post updates, testing footage, and any changes that come up during development. 

Once everything has been properly tested and is running as smoothly as intended, I’ll make all files publicly available for anyone interested in building one themselves — including the original design files.

 

Happy simming to all ✈️

Following up from my previous posts, the open-source multi-sim switchboard is starting to take its final form. 

The electronics have become slightly more complicated, but still very manageable for anyone willing to put the time into building one (I will be posting the wiring diagrams as well as i go along most likely within the next 2-3 days)

The system can be powered either by a Teensy (preferred) or an Arduino (32u4), both running joystick libraries to make everything fully plug-and-play. 

For users that do not have or want to purchase these boards, it would still be possible to adapt the design to other controller solutions, while keeping in mind that external plugins/software may then be required to recognise and map the buttons, switches and rotary encoders. 

Current hardware layout:

- 9x large armed toggle switches

- 1x on-off-on momentary rocker switch

- 10x micro rocker switches

  (which can also be mixed between on-off / on-off-on / other combinations depending on needs)

- 5x pull-out switches (I modeled the dimensions of these - this is why they are not shown on the renders as there are no actual components but i used the templates that i have for my other designs)

- 2x rotary encoders with push buttons (optional)

- 10x tactile push buttons 

I’ve also added dual-colour LEDs throughout the design. Which have complicated the design quite a bit but i wont sacrifice this - think of it as one color indicating on, another color indicating off. For my flight sim buddies this is as close to "back lighting" that i can take this without any labeling (which is intentional to keep this massively multi-sim) 

The plan now is to begin printing and assembling the first full prototype this week, after which I’ll post updates, testing footage, and any changes that come up during development. 

Once everything has been properly tested and is running as smoothly as intended, I’ll make all files publicly available for anyone interested in building one themselves — including the original design files.

 

Happy simming to all ✈️

Following up from my previous posts, the open-source multi-sim switchboard is starting to take its final form. 

The electronics have become slightly more complicated, but still very manageable for anyone willing to put the time into building one (I will be posting the wiring diagrams as well as i go along most likely within the next 2-3 days)

The system can be powered either by a Teensy (preferred) or an Arduino (32u4), both running joystick libraries to make everything fully plug-and-play. 

For users that do not have or want to purchase these boards, it would still be possible to adapt the design to other controller solutions, while keeping in mind that external plugins/software may then be required to recognise and map the buttons, switches and rotary encoders. 

Current hardware layout:

- 9x large armed toggle switches

- 1x on-off-on momentary rocker switch

- 10x micro rocker switches

  (which can also be mixed between on-off / on-off-on / other combinations depending on needs)

- 5x pull-out switches (I modeled the dimensions of these - this is why they are not shown on the renders as there are no actual components but i used the templates that i have for my other designs)

- 2x rotary encoders with push buttons (optional)

- 10x tactile push buttons 

I’ve also added dual-colour LEDs throughout the design. Which have complicated the design quite a bit but i wont sacrifice this - think of it as one color indicating on, another color indicating off. For my flight sim buddies this is as close to "back lighting" that i can take this without any labeling (which is intentional to keep this massively multi-sim) 

The plan now is to begin printing and assembling the first full prototype this week, after which I’ll post updates, testing footage, and any changes that come up during development. 

Once everything has been properly tested and is running as smoothly as intended, I’ll make all files publicly available for anyone interested in building one themselves — including the original design files.

 

Happy simming to all ✈️

Following up on the open-source switchboard project — revision 1 is now complete and starting to properly take shape.

I’ve attached both the current design and the full wiring diagram from Fritzing before moving into prototyping.

Current hardware layout:

- 9x large armed rocker switches

- 1x momentary on/off/on rocker switch

- 10x micro rocker switches

- 10x tactile buttons

- 5x push/pull switches

- Optional upgrade:

- 2x rotary encoders with push buttons

The whole system is based around an Arduino 32U4 using the joystick library, so the goal is complete plug-and-play support across pretty much any sim:

flight, racing, trucking, space sims, etc.

One thing I changed after feedback from the previous posts was adding support for rotary encoders with push buttons. That was a pretty last-minute addition, so they’re not shown in the current render yet.

Another thing I tried to keep in mind from the beginning was accessibility for people building this themselves:

the dimensions are directly compatible with standard off-the-shelf 3D printers, with the main body staying under ~252mm.

The plan is still to keep everything fully open:

- design files

- wiring

- code

If there are no major changes or suggestions from here, the next step this week will be:

- printing the first full prototype

- wiring everything up

- testing

- publishing videos/demo footage for everyone to play around with and improve further

Really appreciate all the ideas and feedback so far — a lot of this revision came directly from suggestions across the different sim communities.

Calm skies fellow simmers ✈️

Following up on the open-source switchboard project — revision 1 is now complete and starting to properly take shape.

I’ve attached both the current design and the full wiring diagram from Fritzing before moving into prototyping.

Current hardware layout:

- 9x large armed rocker switches

- 1x momentary on/off/on rocker switch

- 10x micro rocker switches

- 10x tactile buttons

- 5x push/pull switches

- Optional upgrade:

- 2x rotary encoders with push buttons

The whole system is based around an Arduino 32U4 using the joystick library, so the goal is complete plug-and-play support across pretty much any sim:

flight, racing, trucking, space sims, etc.

One thing I changed after feedback from the previous posts was adding support for rotary encoders with push buttons. That was a pretty last-minute addition, so they’re not shown in the current render yet.

Another thing I tried to keep in mind from the beginning was accessibility for people building this themselves:

the dimensions are directly compatible with standard off-the-shelf 3D printers, with the main body staying under ~252mm.

The plan is still to keep everything fully open:

- design files

- wiring

- code

If there are no major changes or suggestions from here, the next step this week will be:

- printing the first full prototype

- wiring everything up

- testing

- publishing videos/demo footage for everyone to play around with and improve further

Really appreciate all the ideas and feedback so far — a lot of this revision came directly from suggestions across the different sim communities.

Calm skies fellow simmers ✈️

Following up on the open-source switchboard project — revision 1 is now complete and starting to properly take shape.

I’ve attached both the current design and the full wiring diagram from Fritzing before moving into prototyping.

Current hardware layout:

- 9x large armed rocker switches

- 1x momentary on/off/on rocker switch

- 10x micro rocker switches

- 10x tactile buttons

- 5x push/pull switches

- Optional upgrade:

- 2x rotary encoders with push buttons

The whole system is based around an Arduino 32U4 using the joystick library, so the goal is complete plug-and-play support across pretty much any sim:

flight, racing, trucking, space sims, etc.

One thing I changed after feedback from the previous posts was adding support for rotary encoders with push buttons. That was a pretty last-minute addition, so they’re not shown in the current render yet.

Another thing I tried to keep in mind from the beginning was accessibility for people building this themselves:

the dimensions are directly compatible with standard off-the-shelf 3D printers, with the main body staying under ~252mm.

The plan is still to keep everything fully open:

- design files

- wiring

- code

If there are no major changes or suggestions from here, the next step this week will be:

- printing the first full prototype

- wiring everything up

- testing

- publishing videos/demo footage for everyone to play around with and improve further

Really appreciate all the ideas and feedback so far — a lot of this revision came directly from suggestions across the different sim communities.

Calm skies fellow simmers ✈️

Following up on the open-source switchboard project — revision 1 is now complete and starting to properly take shape.

I’ve attached both the current design and the full wiring diagram from Fritzing before moving into prototyping.

Current hardware layout:

- 9x large armed rocker switches

- 1x momentary on/off/on rocker switch

- 10x micro rocker switches

- 10x tactile buttons

- 5x push/pull switches

- Optional upgrade:

- 2x rotary encoders with push buttons

The whole system is based around an Arduino 32U4 using the joystick library, so the goal is complete plug-and-play support across pretty much any sim:

flight, racing, trucking, space sims, etc.

One thing I changed after feedback from the previous posts was adding support for rotary encoders with push buttons. That was a pretty last-minute addition, so they’re not shown in the current render yet.

Another thing I tried to keep in mind from the beginning was accessibility for people building this themselves:

the dimensions are directly compatible with standard off-the-shelf 3D printers, with the main body staying under ~252mm.

The plan is still to keep everything fully open:

- design files

- wiring

- code

If there are no major changes or suggestions from here, the next step this week will be:

- printing the first full prototype

- wiring everything up

- testing

- publishing videos/demo footage for everyone to play around with and improve further

Really appreciate all the ideas and feedback so far — a lot of this revision came directly from suggestions across the different sim communities.

Calm skies fellow simmers ✈️