In the world of cockpit simulator hobby, no detail is too small to entangle. It is important to make every cockpit control look and feel just right, which usually means looking for precise parts of the cockpit. But not always, as these DIY magnetic capture toggle switches show.
It is likely that you have seen the A-10 thunderbolt II cockpit simulator of [wild boar project] before, and its level of detail is incredible; We recently featured it, and videos of ongoing builds pop up regularly in our feeds. The SIM card provides the most subtle details, including the use of special toggle switches and the use of electromagnets to automatically lock in place. They can be bought on the market, but only for those with strong financial resources – they can cost thousands of dollars each, depending on the supplier!
Fortunately, the self-made substitute is cheap and easy to manufacture – in an instant, the DPST toggle switch partially disconnected and replaced one of its rods with a nail. The nail protrudes from the back of the switch, where a bracket holds a small electromagnet. When energized, the electromagnet firmly holds the nail when the switch is opened; The simulated pilot can still turn off the switch manually or release the switch automatically by disconnecting the coil. The manufacturing cost of each switch is less than $20, including the MOSFET required to drive the coil and the Arduino to provide logic. The panels they decorate look great, and the switches add a level of functional detail that fits the entire build.
