GNC255 - COM1/2, NAV1/2, QNH, XPDR, ADF (upcoming in the MF Shop!) | MobiFlight | Page 1

silk ginkgo Apr 3, 2024, 5:01 PM

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first of all, i wanna shoutout a big thank Sebastian and all from the MF team for the possibility to get hands on the upcoming GNC255 (Tuomasen Kuosmanen Edition) during the FSWeekend in Lelystadt short time ago.
After i finished my config creations for all my hardware stuff i thought i was ready and can handle MF well as i needed... yeah.. i thought... till the unit stands on my desktop... blank and black.

After getting into contact with Tuomasen and instructions for the special firmware and another day, i´ve recceived the first initial config which was shown in Lelystadt..

That was the beginning of my second very steep learning curve with Mobiflight, which tends me to get into sleepless nights :X, but after many hours, solved & reporting bugs (sorry Sebastian & Tuomasen) i created the basic framework for this config.

My idea was to get all out this unit but handleable in an easy understanding way. I wanted to be able to handle my COM1, COM2, NAV1, NAV2, frequencys.
Later theese days on it was followed by an overlay to handle the QNH, the Transponder and ADF Frequency.

Actually i´m on version 7 (hundred^^), and i think a feature explaining video will show more than the written words here. I will share my future progress and configs here and if you are able to get one unit you can use my config directly

Cheers vinKaiZen (Marvin)

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Yeah, i missed to say that the COM/NAV Volume dials working also as well as the auto regulating display & background brightness
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxf_Wb_6T_I

YouTube

vinKaiZen

GNC255-GENERIC V8 (COM1-2, NAV1-2,QNH,XPDR,ADF) - MOBIFLIGHT

▶ Play video

mossy spear Apr 3, 2024, 6:14 PM

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wow! so many functions in this little device and basically all comes modeled with the different capabilities of MobiFlight

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great job @silk ginkgo

sleek hemlock Apr 6, 2024, 6:26 AM

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I am preparing a batch of these for the Mobiflight Shop, currently waiting for the circuit board, and printing and painting the cases.

silk ginkgo Apr 9, 2024, 12:12 AM

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Realized features for the GENERIC (V8 config):

COM1/2 setable & showing station ID´s & type for active & standby frequency
NAV1/2 setable & showing station ID´s & type for active frequency, showing heading & distance to active VOR if receiving signal
Overlay bar to show QNH/TPR/ADF (FUNC: open/close overlay | KHz rotary: select QNH<>TPR<>ADF)
QNH setable for hpa/inHg/STD (MHz rotary: change values | push: select hpa<>inHg | long push: set STD values)
Transponder (TPR/XPDR) setable (MHz rotary: change values | push: next digit | long push: last digit)
ADF1 setable for active & standby freqency (MHz rotary: change values | push: next digit | long push: last digit | swap: active<>stby)
Auto regulating GNC255 display & background brightness (via photocell)
COM squelch (COM encoder: long push)
NAV ident (NAV encoder: long push)

Finished the second config for this awesome device, this time for the FENIX A320 & with another little explanation video.
Realized features:

VHF1/2/3 setable & showing station ID´s & type for active & standby frequency (data & emergency freq for VHF3)
Overlay bar to show QNH/XPDR (FUNC: open/close overlay | KHz rotary: select QNH<>XPDR)
QNH setable for hpa/inHg/STD (MHz rotary: change values | push: select hpa<>inHg | long push: select STD<>values)
XPDR setable & actual status (STBY/TA/TA-RA) visible (MHz rotary: change values | push: next digit | long push: last digit)
MCDU brightness control able via MON & C/N-Buttons
Control able cockpit lights for Capt & FO via COM encoder (ND, PFD, ECAM, FCU, Integ lights for: OVH, FCU, main, pedestal)
Control able cockpit lights for Capt & FO via NAV encoder (map-, console-, reading-, chart & switch-, main & pededal flood- lights)
Auto regulating GNC255 display & background brightness (via photocell)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqZw19ql5Do

YouTube

vinKaiZen

GNC255-FENIX A320 (VHF1-2-3, QNH, XPDR)

▶ Play video

sleek hemlock Apr 9, 2024, 7:00 AM

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I am waiting for a set of PCB boards so we can have a batch of these on the MF shop!

silk ginkgo Apr 9, 2024, 7:33 AM

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GNC255 - COM1/2, NAV1/2, QNH, XPDR, ADF (upcoming in the MF Shop!)

silk ginkgo Apr 9, 2024, 9:19 PM

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Finished the third and actually last config for this awesome device, this time for the A2A Piper Comanche 250 & with another little explanation video.
Realized features:

COM1/2 setable & showing station ID´s & type for active & standby frequency
NAV1/2 setable & showing station ID´s & type for active frequency, showing heading & distance to active VOR if receiving signal
Overlay bar to show QNH/TPR/ADF (FUNC: open/close overlay | KHz rotary: select QNH<>TPR<>ADF)
QNH setable for hpa/inHg/STD (MHz rotary: change values | push: select hpa<>inHg | long push: set STD values)
Transponder (TPR/XPDR) setable (MHz rotary: change values | push: next digit | long push: last digit)
ADF1 setable for active & standby freqency (MHz rotary: change values | push: next digit | long push: last digit | swap: active<>stby)
Auto regulating GNC255 display & background brightness (via photocell)
XPDR ident (FUNC button: long push)
Toggle CDI (VLOC)<>GPS (T/F button: push)
Control able COM1/2, ADF power & volume (COM encoder turn)
Control able NAV1/2 volume (nav encoder: turn)
PULL ID/PUSH BRG depending on active NAV1/2 (toggle FREQ<>FROM<>TO) (NAV encoder: long push)
Active recall switch for NAV1 (shows temporary active frequency) (MON button: push)

Time to wait on some new firmware updates 🙂

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_dyf1u16Ao

YouTube

vinKaiZen

GNC255-COMANCHE 250 (COM1-2,NAV1-2,QNH,XPDR,ADF) - MOBIFLIGHT

▶ Play video

weak cipher Apr 10, 2024, 6:56 AM

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A volume bar is added in the meantime. Shows up when receiving a message for 3 seconds.
Some further tests are needed from @sleek hemlock .
Once this is done a new release can be issued with this feature and an optimized display routine (which needs also some more testing).

silk ginkgo Apr 10, 2024, 7:12 AM

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@weak cipher , did your recceived my firmware change suggestions?
(sorry for my paint skills ^^. As you can see with the changes there will be more free space to show more station names etc. )

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weak cipher Apr 10, 2024, 9:08 AM

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silk ginkgo <@818484383606243342> , did your recceived my firmware change suggestions? (sorr...

Yes, but not sure if I understood everything. Had only a rough look on it.
Let me think about it...

sleek hemlock Apr 10, 2024, 10:35 AM

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hey let's continue the firmware discussion in the thread in development, gimme a sec

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#1202002543597592606 message

sleek hemlock Apr 10, 2024, 1:19 PM

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pcb's are here, and quick test proves that also these work!

sacred wind Apr 17, 2024, 12:37 AM

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sleek hemlock I am preparing a batch of these for the Mobiflight Shop, currently waiting for t...

This is amazing! How will these be available? Fully assembled, kit form, pcb / 3D print yourself?

silk ginkgo Apr 20, 2024, 12:49 AM

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Some progress on the Development.
@weak cipher made some changes on the firmware so i reworked my whole generic config from scratch. Meanwhile i some actual Mobiflight borders and some adjustments / fixes needs to be done on Sebastians side i think.

Thats the actual progress & Ralf you are awesome 🙂
Feature Video Part 1:
https://youtu.be/wkXCRgPkV7w

YouTube

vinKaiZen

GNC255-GENERIC V10 (COM1-2, NAV1-2,QNH,XPDR,ADF) - MOBIFLIGHT (FIRM...

▶ Play video

silk ginkgo Apr 20, 2024, 1:35 AM

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And Features Part 2:
https://youtu.be/sjImwe9r25o

YouTube

vinKaiZen

GNC255-GENERIC V10 - MOBIFLIGHT (FIRMWARE DEVELOPMENT PART 2)

▶ Play video

silk ginkgo Apr 26, 2024, 2:41 PM

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New updates... Meanwhile since the last time i had further contact to Ralf and we disussed about the limits and changes..
Yeah, meanwhile he extended the firmware and i reworked the configs from scratch again.
Short Changelog:

complete overhauled config from scratch due to MF limitations
optimized for more string outputs, dynamically, only selected active
optimized performance
fixed some expression bugs
design & handling overhaulin:
and many many more things
I also created overview sheets on the new and latest configs
So from now i think this could be a release candidate 🙂

Cheers vinKaizen

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X-5.2_COMANCHE_250_-_GNC255_V3_OVERVIEW.jpg

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X-1.6_FENIX_A320_-_GNC255_V5_OVERVIEW.jpg

mossy spear Apr 26, 2024, 6:32 PM

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Your pictures with the different modes look so nice

sleek hemlock Apr 26, 2024, 9:48 PM

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it does!

silk ginkgo May 2, 2024, 5:43 PM

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Deleted the configs as they will be delivered with the GNC unit by default 🙂

hoary mulch May 22, 2024, 2:42 PM

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Hey, ~~one~~ two questions! Will it be possible to buy just the electronics so I can make the hardware? Are you planning to make it open-source?

weak cipher May 22, 2024, 3:18 PM

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Tagging @sleek hemlock 😉

hoary mulch May 22, 2024, 3:18 PM

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Thanks Ralf

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BTW, what's the name/code for the OLED display that's used here?

sleek hemlock May 22, 2024, 3:25 PM

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I was thinking it might be fun to make it open, it's of course my hope also that we can sell some to support Mobiaflight, but open design might enable someone to make the transponder of the same series for example

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I have just been busy at work and life so need to make a batch for the shop first, would be embarrassing to not have then available for those who want one. Maybe we can make hardware only kit, it is through hole soldering, but I need to write good instructions for assembly too, order of stuff matters etc, and maybe you would need the buttons engraved too etc, and then it might be almost the same as to get the case too...

hoary mulch May 22, 2024, 3:28 PM

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I'm willing to help with whatever I can, limited to my knowledge in programming

sleek hemlock Jun 15, 2024, 8:50 PM

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some tooling and making a batch of kits for mobiflight shop finally

silk ginkgo Jun 16, 2024, 6:15 PM

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awesome :)))

fair sinew Jun 24, 2024, 8:00 PM

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When can we hope for a release of this? Felt great to use at the expo, excited to purchase it! ☺️

sleek hemlock Jun 24, 2024, 8:48 PM

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I had an issue with the usb port, where it started to be unreliable and disconnected, so I am suspecting it was either bad component or too much heat when soldering, so I want to make sure it holds better

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since it is assembled so that the usb port solder points are under the screen and thus difficult to access afterwards

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but it seems to be good

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so once I get the cases painted, I will assemble and put them on the mobiflight shop

fair sinew Jun 24, 2024, 10:47 PM

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Awesome! I look forward to it, I’ll keep an eye out for the release

silk ginkgo Jun 25, 2024, 5:20 AM

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Meanwhile my 3 profiles are added in the last 10.3.0 release.
You can find it here ... ...MF\Community\Elral_Tuomas_GNC255\profile\msfs2020

@sleek hemlock maybe possible to add my 3 profile pictures into the folder additionally?, Actually ralf linking it here https://github.com/elral/MF_Docu/tree/main/GNC255

GitHub

MF_Docu/GNC255 at main · elral/MF_Docu

Documents for Mobiflight Community Devices. Contribute to elral/MF_Docu development by creating an account on GitHub.

weak cipher Jun 25, 2024, 8:12 AM

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Press the button "Doku" and you will be directed to this page 😉

fair sinew Jul 7, 2024, 8:10 PM

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@sleek hemlock Please excuse my impatience, I'm eager to purchase this as I've had enough of scrolling with the mouse wheel in MSFS... do you have an ETA for its arrival on the mobiflight store? Thank you! 🙂

sleek hemlock Jul 10, 2024, 2:04 PM

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yes, I hear you 🙂 I had an issue with the usb port component or its soldering in the first batch I made so I have given som test to the ones I am building now to hopefully avoid that. I will try to get a batch assembled very soon and we'll list them in the shop.

cunning comet Jul 13, 2024, 9:59 AM

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Are the STLs available, to study dimensions etc?

sleek hemlock Jul 13, 2024, 11:59 AM

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will be, and I also plan to share the design as a share-alike license once I get some on the shop to get some of the prototyping costs covered

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I think it is important to have more open hardware solutions for flight simulation so we can share the design workload. Having things affordably like what winwing is planning to do for the a320 and 737 in their roadmap is of course good, but the real power for the builder comes from open source designs you can study and learn from, and adapt to your own use. The challenge there of course is to figure ways to sustain the costs and effort as it would be great to spend even more time on these things

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there is no way a small maker can compete with mass production, but it might work out if a popular design can be made into a product by someone whose focus is exactly that, so that a share of the profits will be supporting MobiFlight and our design effort

dawn axle Jul 13, 2024, 10:26 PM

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@sleek hemlock I’d love to test and buy one of your 255’s. After building one for Air Manager, I’ve started a hardware design. Instead could work on a GTX345 Transponder

sleek hemlock Jul 13, 2024, 11:05 PM

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yeah, I will try to get it on the store next week

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and while I would like to get some small business stuff going with this, I think the biggest benefit is in the collaboration of the community, though the challenge is to find some ways to sustain my our design efforts as a community while sharing the stuff with builders

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but got to talk about this a bit at the mobiflight meetup too I guess

cunning comet Jul 17, 2024, 1:16 PM

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I'd like to 3Dprint a prototype panel, just to see how the layout feels. The cost is minimal and I'm getting used to printing in black then changing to white filament for lettering (0.4mm nozzles need need a larger font)

sleek hemlock Jul 17, 2024, 3:56 PM

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the lettering actually is engraved with laser, so the panel itself is flat

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but that is a good point, I will share the 3d model so we can make a raised lettering variant

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just preparing the set for the shop first

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the issue is though that I print it face flat, it would be very hard to print upside down due to all the internal structure

dawn axle Jul 23, 2024, 8:21 PM

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@sleek hemlock checking for any update on when a 255 hardware or designs might be available. Thanks.

frozen robin Jul 25, 2024, 5:02 PM

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@dawn axle be patient. We are all here after our daily duties so everything takes time🙂

cunning comet Jul 26, 2024, 3:19 PM

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sleek hemlock the lettering actually is engraved with laser, so the panel itself is flat

Cura is quite good with supports. We will have to experiment; it might be possible to add material in Tinkercad to give a back face with consistent height "feet" for printing.

sleek hemlock Jul 26, 2024, 3:26 PM

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or we could do it in two parts perhaps and glue it together. in any case I am preparing the units for mobiflight shop now, now that the issue with USB port component seems to be sorted (soldering issue)

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and will think of license and open source the files. the freecad file is quite messy though

fair sinew Jul 26, 2024, 3:29 PM

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I'm looking forward to this

sleek hemlock Jul 28, 2024, 6:06 PM

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what other fun for a Sunday than wrestling with light leaks 🙂

fair sinew Jul 28, 2024, 6:08 PM

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What do you find best with this: Black paint, or a permenant marker?

sleek hemlock Jul 28, 2024, 6:11 PM

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paint is easier to spray, but will fill in with marker if needed

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the gaps between layer lines are the tougher part

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ok this helps more

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and I think to get it perfect would mean injection molding and 2K paints and stuff, and it is a bit out of my "enable people to build sim hardware themselves too" quest scope

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it will be firmly in the good enough bucket. Real panels leak light too once they are worn out a bit

frozen robin Jul 28, 2024, 6:26 PM

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hmmm odd lines on top layer. Did you not use ironing?

sleek hemlock Jul 28, 2024, 6:28 PM

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that inside doesn't matter

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probably not

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also probably the paint

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looks way worse on photo

sleek hemlock Jul 28, 2024, 7:04 PM

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I think this is totally not bad for a FDM print out of an Ender3

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and this is pretty good method for a 3d printer + laser head combo

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since a diode laser should work fine

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and when the panel is printed face down it will have a very smooth surface

frozen robin Jul 28, 2024, 7:08 PM

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This looks damn good

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The only one thing I spotted is the weird layer walls where the face is filleted. But that's due to layer height I guess. I had the dame thing on G1000

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It drove me nuts as I didn't want them.

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And these were difficult to smooth with sanding

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But you used 0.2mm on purpose I believe 🙂

fair sinew Jul 28, 2024, 7:28 PM

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Looks awesome!

sleek hemlock Jul 28, 2024, 7:32 PM

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yeah, .20mm

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and I am not really after super good quality of surface finish - the front face is nice with the print plate texture

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if I wanted super smooth, I'd get it resin printed at jlcpcb

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but the idea really is to see what we can do with a simple Ender 3 and a laser engraver

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I think it is a step up from 3d raised letters on PLA

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while still being "on your garage" level of tooling

frozen robin Jul 28, 2024, 7:37 PM

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Yeah

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And the end results are really great

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We live in the best times when it comes to DIY

fair sinew Jul 28, 2024, 7:50 PM

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DIY now is really incredible to be honest. I became an owner of a Bambu P1S a couple of weeks ago, I'm blown away by it's ability - some prints really look like they've been done on a resin printer!

sleek hemlock Jul 28, 2024, 8:05 PM

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but I think this was so far the last obstacle to get the current batch of gnc255's assembled

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lets see what lurks around the next corner

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its always such a hurdle to create something thati s a bit more of a product than just a single prototype, when everything needs to be repeatable and consistent and you cannot just go by luck and pick the best one out of a bunch of tests

frozen robin Jul 28, 2024, 8:13 PM

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Yeah, quite a journey

silk ginkgo Jul 29, 2024, 5:10 PM

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sleek hemlock but I think this was so far the last obstacle to get the current batch of gnc255...

you´ve done a very good job so far to make this available for the mobiflight users. From my recceived prototype till Mobiflight job its an impressive journey by your side & and all involved people 🙂

sleek hemlock Jul 29, 2024, 5:15 PM

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yeah, I mean it might sound like a "ooh a lot of work and stress" but I must clarify that I enjoy the process of finding better ways to solve problems that you encounter

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its just taking a bit of time as its not a fulltime job (would be fun for sure but not at this scale!)

dawn niche Aug 28, 2024, 8:27 AM

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@silk ginkgo @silk ginkgo @silk ginkgo @silk ginkgo @silk ginkgo @silk ginkgo @silk ginkgo

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@silk ginkgo

frozen robin Aug 28, 2024, 8:28 AM

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@dawn niche?

dawn niche Aug 28, 2024, 8:32 AM

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Sorry, didn't realize i was sending those.

silk ginkgo Aug 28, 2024, 11:34 AM

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Ouuukay

sleek hemlock Aug 28, 2024, 12:10 PM

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"okay now I am awake" 😄

#GNC255 - COM1/2, NAV1/2, QNH, XPDR, ADF (upcoming in the MF Shop!)