Map dashboard...Voltmeter, and USB outlet...... Thingy.

[ebrabaek]

Soooo... After too much to eat, over the Christmas holiday, and my little brother's visit..... A trip to the Colorado Rocky's..... It is then back to the shop. Parts are being made, and a project I have wanted to do for a while, is a combo map/cellphone/gps....whatever dashboard, and the addition of a usb charger, and yep.... you guessed it, a volt meter, to keep track of the stupidity of the charging system. Perhaps the volt meter is not for every one, but it will give you a very good indication of how you are drawing of the electrical system, and off course.... when/if it fails. Second, I have taken too many trips wanting to clip down a map.....i-phone.....route..what ever in front of me, thus the need for a small planform right in the front. Then a usb charger, for whatever you are carrying. I considered two ways to go on this. One.... make a new airbox cover, but even that would look the best, I did not want to over complicate this, and it would be more complicated to " re-print " a copy..... So a simple add on that simply will fit on top.....held in place with either velcro.....bolts.... whatever. We shall see. Back to the shop.....

[gbtw]

One of those 3x7 segment displays could be very cool for a digital compass heading :)

Carry on i bet you will make something nice again!

[ebrabaek]

Originally Posted by gbtw

One of those 3x7 segment displays could be very cool for a digital compass heading :)

Carry on i bet you will make something nice again!

It sure could. I don't know if they make one. These came from Hong Kong, and are waterproof.

[ebrabaek]

So Poll here....... What do you like.... Blue, or red....?????





Note the tinted lexan sheet. There are too much power in the led's, and since they are preset, you cannot dim them. So for night vision impairment the red is the best, but the blue looks soooooo cool. They are both about 0.5 volts high. Fine by me. And... Of course the tinted lexan looks way cool on Carbon Fiber.....

[Casejeep]

The USB charger looks familiar!

[ebrabaek]

Originally Posted by Casejeep

The USB charger looks familiar!

He he.... Yeppers.... I like it a lot. It was sort of the missing link. Thanks

[ebrabaek]

I have been dancing around this all afternoon, and cant quite decide on the shape. So experience tells me to pour a double espresso, and sit back until tomorrow. This is what it looks so far. Tomorrow, I will fill the sides, and plan for the R&R of the plastic ( CF in the case of mine) design.....Cheers....

[ebrabaek]

I usually dont use clay epoxy to fill voids like this, just because it takes time to mix the stuff. Other than that it works great. Again for you folks that have not seen my other threads as of how to make it.... It is really simple. You use your regular epoxy, and simply add plaster....silica...or any other filler you choose. I have even used papermache, just because I did not have anything else.... Either mix the filler in each part, or if you have a 1 hr+ cure polymer, I just mix the epoxy, and then add the filler. Either will work. You do need to plan on that as the epoxy heats up during curing, the mix gets thinner, so mix in the filler to the consistency of hard playdo.



I then just filled the sides with clay epoxy, and to be safe, as I am mixing in a 32 deg. garage, under a heat lamp, I add the alu tape to hold it all in place, just in case it starts running a bit. Note I am working on a vertical side surface.... Curing...

[runnin4melife]

Cool beans! I like this a lot but I have a soft bag right there so that is out of the question. I do want to put a similar USB and volt gauge but will probably build a larger dash panel. Are you making this one solid piece or is it a cap that will go over the other piece? I am imagining a solid piece.

I like the blue too, I have blue indicators on my switches.

[ebrabaek]

Originally Posted by runnin4melife

Cool beans! I like this a lot but I have a soft bag right there so that is out of the question. I do want to put a similar USB and volt gauge but will probably build a larger dash panel. Are you making this one solid piece or is it a cap that will go over the other piece? I am imagining a solid piece.

I like the blue too, I have blue indicators on my switches.

I have, and still is pondering the interface, and have come up with several options. Right now option one for me is that it is a cap that will fit right down on the stock cover. The way I will make the interface points are so that there is a flange around it, in the right place. You can then either velcro it for easy removal, and with a BMW plug in the socket, so it it 100 removable in just a few seconds. Electrical could also be a plug, so to retain the BMW plug for heated stuff..... Or it could be bolted to the stock...... Or in my case, I will bond it to the stock Carbon Fiber piece. As with many pieces I create, they evolve, as I go. But the simple idea here is that it can be used to mount, or hold just about anything. Could turn into a glove compartment with access in the front..... You see... Many possibilities... Travel went good I presume...

[ebrabaek]

After a nights cure, the clay epoxy has hardened.....


Let the sculpting begin. Dremel is your friend, but with the silica content you need to have patience, as it it tedious work....

[ebrabaek]

Dremel took too long, so air powered die grinder, and 60 grit belt sander to the rescue......





Now for a few layers.....3 Me thinks, of 6 oz 2x2 twill.......

[runnin4melife]

Interesting! If this could be a sealed system, and attach securely, slap a door on it (the hard part to water proof), this would be awesome!

[ebrabaek]

Originally Posted by runnin4melife

Interesting! If this could be a sealed system, and attach securely, slap a door on it (the hard part to water proof), this would be awesome!

He he..... That was a thought. I elected to make this as shallow as possible, only to accommodate the crazy usb charger. It is about a 5mm space in the center, hardly enough for a iphone, and wallet. But it could evolve into such.....

[ebrabaek]

Doesn't look that clumsy on the bike....



Release agent applied....



3 layers of 6 oz. twill....