OPEN DSKY - bflores Version - 12-23-2018 by cognetic

Last crawled date: 3 years ago

Open DSKY - bflores Modified
I ordered the electronics from S&T GeoTronics LLC (https://opendsky.com/) via this link: https://opendsky.backerkit.com/hosted_preorders
I paid $500 + $30 shipping for the "Open DSKY Complete Kit"
A big thanks to Marc Tessier and S&T GeoTronics, for the amazing communications and for building this amazing replica. These guys are very responsive and very helpful. The electronics are amazing. The build was very simple to assemble and make. More notes below.
This post includes my contribution changes to the OPEN DSKY project. Notes are below.
(COMMENTS AND NOTES)
The quality of the DSKY electronics are amazing. Everything works as intended.
The quality of the 3D prints are horrible and were unusable IMHO. I suspect they are pumping these 3D prints on a cheap China made printer, at a fast draft printing rate. The provided 3D prints are really poor quality. See photos.
The buttons they use are horrible and respond half the time. Have to push them firmly to work. They need to change the keys. Wanted to use this as a demo project at Space Center Houston, for the Apollo 50th Anniversary. However, the buttons may just kill the whole project.
The keys and windows are not true to scale, but are close enough IMHO.
I had to modify, and in some cases, recreate the .STL files all together, and reprint 3D Models. Modeled in Fusion 360. Printed on a Prusa i3 MK3.
They want you to cut the solder leads, flush with the PCB, so the top cover can lay flush with the PCB. I redesigned the .STL, so you don't have to cut the solder leads flush to the board.
Some of the stencil masking on the PCB are missing, or no labels for some of the VIAs. But, was easy to figure out where and what resistor or capacitor went where.
They do not include enough M3 10MM socket head screws to complete the entire back build. Had to order extra screws.
They do not include enough pin headers. Had to order extra pin headers.
The custom 3 segment plus minus +- LEDs are wicked dim, and hard to see. Nowhere near the brightness of the other segment LEDs next to it. Not a fan of the custom 3 segment LEDs. Need to make it brighter. See video or images.
I rebuilt the Arduino hole plug cap. The included design would break, when I would insert or remove. The new design is way stronger, and has not broken yet.
I also scrapped their self adhesive transparent paper, with a combination of tracing paper and clear transparent self adhesive paper. This took me over a month, and approx $100 in all types of paper testing, to get what I thought was the best balance. I redesigned the layout of the lines, dots, words, so they were dead on aligned with the lights and openings.
I added a hole for the Apollo 11 40th Anniversary Commemorative Coin (Says made from flown metal. Purchased at NASA in Houston Tx, on a member morning visit.). The coin holder has a hole cut though, so I can pop it out, and replace with a 50th coin, if they release one this year.
I removed the Open DSKY square plaque and words from the exterior of the DSKY. I felt it cheap'nd the look of the DSKY IMHO.
(MATERIALS I HAD TO ORDER TO COMPLETE THIS PROJECT)
Matterhackers Black 1.75mm PLAhttps://www.matterhackers.com/store/l/175mm-pla-filament-black-1-kg/sk/MY6CYEZM
FilaCube Engineering Grey 1.75mm PLAhttps://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07F21M533/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00
Apollo 11 40th Anniversary Commemorative Medallionhttps://www.shopnasa.com/collections/coins-and-medallions/products/apollo-11-medallion
M3 Screwshttps://www.ebay.com/itm/M3-Socket-Screw-Allen-Head-Cap-Self-Tapping-Screws-304-Stainless-Steel/332769891257
Pin Headershttps://www.ebay.com/itm/80-Pcs-40Pin-2-54mm-Single-Row-Straight-Female-Pin-Header-Strip-PCB-Ardunio/232523629470
Avery Matte Frosted Clear Labelshttps://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00006HUP7/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00
Tracing Paperhttps://www.amazon.com/Strathmore-370-9-Tracing-Bound-Sheets/dp/B0027AAIB2
(MY VIDEO DEMO OF THE DSKY)
https://youtu.be/LitNipPXTwo
(SUMMARY)
I am glad I bought it. It is truly a work of art. Needs some work to make it even better. Look forward to version 2.0! In the meantime.. Go buy one of these from S&T GeoTronics. Its a fun project. And please post any of your changes or improvements. I would love to make this OPEN DSKY Replica better and better!
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