Ford F6 Tornado Project Log - Page 6

mrbean_phillip · 08-07-2007, 07:37 AM

As I mentioned, soz for the confusion - I am a Dutchman after all (Dutch as in Afrikaans, not Nederlands)

mrbean_phillip · 08-09-2007, 07:05 AM

Hello Everyone,
Got a bit more done, adjusting the cutouts to accommodate the rubber-beading (u-channel) and keeping the MacMini not to cosy and tight, as I still want to fabricate (maybe) a linear actuator to jack the front of the Mini up approx 1", to allow me to mount/dismount DVD's.

Anyway, that's still something in the pipeline, which will happen soon, as I have placed the order for the FusionBrain to enable me to control this linear actuator, as well as the temperature inside the console to keep the Mini happy and not to warm.

Thanx to Tim and Nick for their superb service, it ia appreciated, Guys :flowers:

Anyway, as mentioned, I fitted the rubber-beading to better round off the edges on the ABS plastic, I still need to clean up a little - secured it in place with the old favorite, superglue.

Here a few shots of the unit with the lid closed....

and here a few shots of the Mini, with the console lid open:

and here you can see the u-channel beading a little more clear, the Mni fits cosy, but not overly tight:

Well, there's a lot of space below the Mini, so I have decided to mount a few extras in there - to keep wiring simplified, and neat, the Carnetix P2140 would go in there, as well as push-pull 120mm fan configuration on either side of the enclosure, if they will fit. Otherwise 2x80mm units will do, spinning at a lowly 5V, the speed of which will be controlled by the FusionBrain unit measuring exhaust temp on the Mini.

So, the console will house the complete setup, other than the LCD, and I hope to make it nice and neat, so I won't feel ashamed of opening the lid to showcase the unit

Let me know what you think so far.

Br,
Beanie.

mrbean_phillip · 08-10-2007, 06:03 AM

Ha, my screen turned up today - just in time for my 40th b/day, which is tomorrow - feels more like a funeral than a b/day

Hehe - anyway, I am really surprised by the absolute clarity of this 10.4" screen - this Samsung panel looks amazing!

Wow.....and so much more real-estate than the puny 7" and 8" I were going to use - I am glad I opted to buy this, as it looks sweet :flowers:

Well, here is a few sreenshots, but suffice it to say, the camera cannot capture the quality.

Here are a few screenies:

Centrafuse Main display, showing 6 of 16 application-shortcuts I have in use - scrollling left or right via mouse, or touchscreen, or using Voice-command, I can select the others.

Then, a shot of my GPS, showing my the street where I live in Melbourne:

One of my mobile phone contacts list - you can also observe, in the top right-hand corner, the green button showing connection to phone, as well as the blue bars, which represents signal strength, and finally my prode and joy, just left of the signal stregth, the little icon that looks like a headset - as mentioned earlier, this Carputer now also acts as a full audio gateway, meaning I can talk throught the car stereo, and a mic, via the carputer, and utilize it as a handsfree setup for my mobile

Nice feature to have working......

And, lastly, a screenshot showing current weather conditions at the main Tullamarine Airport, approx 20km away from where I live.

There's also displays for internet, my OBD-II applications, and a few others, but you get the idea....

blackballs · 08-13-2007, 06:43 AM

looks great, got my blue dongle as recommended by phonenet, Ordered gps software and bluetooth recevier today,

Any tips on getting phonenet up and running? I can ring out but can not here anyone and they can not here me??

mrbean_phillip · 08-15-2007, 05:33 AM

Hello Everyone,

Quote: Originally Posted by Blackballs

Any tips on getting phonenet up and running? I can ring out but can not here anyone and they can not here me??

Well, you need the Widcomm driver stack, which will support the full Audio-Gateway featureset, which the standard MS Bluetooth Stack doesn't! Look at the phoco.net website, they explain everything over there

Well, quite a while ago I got myself a 2nd hand Dualzone climate control:

to replace the old Manual MCC witch my UTE came with (and no option for an upgrade)

and now it looksd like this - quite an improvement, even if I say so myself - just looks more rounded...

Well, to go to the next stage of my Carputer installation, I had to get a 2nd bezel, which I picked up from ASL in Lynbrook, Victoria - thanx Fadi

I will remove the factory LCD, with buttons:

and install it immediately below the ICC, where I earlier considered mounting the MacMini, but which was since relocated to the cd-onsole:

and then, this area I will have to remove, and fabricate my new 10.4" LCD in - area indicated is the approximate viewable size of the LCD

Nice and big, but not overly so.....just the what the doctor ordered.

I will start with the fabrication probably next week only, as I still have to finalize mounting the MacMini in the cd-console.

long.1 · 08-15-2007, 06:19 AM

Go for it Beanie !!

This is what many many Australian Ford Falcon/Territory owners have been waiting for - someone to relocate the factory LCD, fabricate a touch screen into the stock ICC area, and more importantly document the experience for the rest of us !!

Ideally I'd love to do the exact same thing, although perhaps with a smaller LCD. My opportunity is a number of months away yet though - probably summer time. Can't wait to see your progress - you have me salivating.

Cheers,

Long.1

BiGGy · 08-15-2007, 06:33 AM

Looking forward to the fabing

djmickyg · 08-15-2007, 07:17 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by long.1

Go for it Beanie !!

This is what many many Australian Ford Falcon/Territory owners have been waiting for - someone to relocate the factory LCD, fabricate a touch screen into the stock ICC area, and more importantly document the experience for the rest of us !!

It's been done..

This is a friends old car..
I plan on doing this to mine.. Just after i finish off a few other things i got on the go..

long.1 · 08-15-2007, 07:33 AM

Ah djmickyg,

You've finally found the photo !! This was the shot we were all after in your old old Forx worklog - thanks for posting mate. It looks great, and I'd love that look in my Territory !!

Unfortunately though, the one-off photo only provides two out of three ticks for me:
Yes - Relocate the factory LCD
Yes - Fabricate a touch screen into the stock ICC area
No - Documentation of the experience for the rest of us

Looking forward to Beanie's implementation because I know he'll show heaps of photos right throughout.

Cheers,

Long.1

djmickyg · 08-15-2007, 07:48 AM

i took them down last time as i didn't know if he wanted them posted around the net..
but he has sold the car now (without the screen, so he would still have it somewhere) so i don't think he will mind if they get around..

for the mono ICC there was about 30 wires that he had to extend, so it wasn't to bad.
but for you colour guys, I'm guess its not going to be as easy?

he says if he was able to change anything, he would have made the touch screen on less of an angle.

XF_Falcon · 08-26-2007, 04:00 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by mrbean_phillip

Well, to make a short story long

, I have decided to design an eject mechanism for the MacMini - most likely fully motorised......

Just imagine a normal cd jewelbox, with a hinge on the one side, that is how the MAcMini would be sitting on a tray, hinged on a trayplate, at the rear....

The front would be able to lift up and down, either via a screwfeed, or maybe a linear motor, to drive it up and down, like a clamshell opening/closing - this would allow me to raise the front 1/2 of the Mini, exposing the slotloader, and then push another button, lower it again.

Good idea I think, and would be quite easy to implement - I know exactly what I want to do, and how I am going to do it - ideas/feedback would be appreciated though.

Hi mate, been following this project with great interest.

For the motorised tilting mechanism how about this idea.

Put a microswitch somewhere towards the hinge of the lid, so that when you open the console lid then the mac automatically starts to tilt, or lift up on its own.

The main reason you will be opening the console lid will be to load a CD into it, or to show it off to friends. I think it would be a lot better than having to flick a switch on and off to manually do it, when having it automatic will increase the bling/wow factor and will be functional too.
As soon as you start closing the console lid it can retract the mac back to its resting position. Just like a 'pimp my ride' episode

mrbean_phillip · 08-26-2007, 11:05 PM

Good idea, thanx!!

I will try and not disappoint

qsilverza · 09-04-2007, 09:49 AM

Hey mate, just read a few pages of your build up and you certainly seem dedicated and thorough!

All you need now is a biltong curer/beer fridge and you have the ultimate bakkie !

Keep up the good work !

mrbean_phillip · 09-05-2007, 07:29 AM

Ah, 'n mede Suid-Afrikaner

Dankie...hehe...

Biltong-dryer and beerbox sounds great!

Anyway, I am finalizing the MacMini installation into the utility box (cd-holder), will most likely mount the console in the UTE on the weekend. Then the screen mounting starts.

I will post pics of progress on the weekend.

mrbean_phillip · 09-07-2007, 05:14 AM

a Small update:

Here you can see the PSU fitted to the rear of the console - it will be hidden inside the structure, there's a cover that goes over it.

Cooling fan fitted.....

a shot from the top, indicating the switch to enable/disable the shutdown controller....

and a photo from the bottom, which will be pointing to the "tunnel" of the car.....