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The FreeEMS Box !

Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2014 6:09 pm
by masterkorp
Hello everyone,

So i had an idea of making a waterproof ecu case, that can be 3D printed (and cnc milled in long term ? maybe)

The case secures the jaguar box with a slide mecahnisme and a block on the center that screws on top. Not finished yet.

For connectors instead of using a wire to board big connectors, i went with the Molex XRC connectors allowing panel like mounting, the connectors itself are IP67 rated, and offer a gasket option to make the assembly tight.

There is still a lot to do! But this shows a good idea of how it is gona be already.
freeems_box_assembled.png
The box itself
freeems_box.png
Overall list of stuff missing
  • Mounting options for the case
  • Complete jaguar mouting
  • Add waterproof usb connector mounting
  • Design waterproof bead between top and bottom
  • Add the FreeEMS logo on the top of the case if fred allows
The development is happening on github: https://github.com/masterkorp/freeems-box
The CAD software is OpenSCAD if you're a programmer, you will feel right at home.

Please if you have any sugestions use Github issues or this thread.

Beware the code is very rough !

Re: The FreeEMS Box !

Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2014 9:52 pm
by Fred
Great work mate! :-)

Bonus points for MIT license mod humour LOL.

And thanks for sharing, I've been intending to get into SCAD for a while, since you mentioned it, and this will be a good primer.

Fred.

Re: The FreeEMS Box !

Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 7:06 pm
by masterkorp
I added the a usb connector from USBFireWire, its IP67 rated and it has a cap too, so tunning can happen without having to open the case.

freeems-box.png
Current view.


Now i want to add mounting for the MAP lines. A quick style connector like the air compressors with a panel mounting would be ideal.

Do you guys have any sugestions?

Re: The FreeEMS Box !

Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 9:18 pm
by Fred
No ideas, but that's a clever idea! I like it.

Another point, ensure that you bring your load/run jumper connections out through a connector so you can load firmware without opening the case, too. Or put a switch/button on the side of the case.

Re: The FreeEMS Box !

Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 12:11 pm
by masterkorp
About the jumper access from the outside.

I tougth of that at first on adding a button, something like those buttons used on consctruction tools like have (covered by a plastic thing), but I am not sure yet if want access to those functions from the outside, it really depends on how easy it will be to open/close/seal the beads between the cover and the case, that will be challenging.

But I would like (even if i don't use it) have an option to generate it on the final STL file, part of the beauty of openscad is you can use something like make to pass certain parameters, and build your results, other thing would be the number of Molex connectors you want, not everyone might need 91 connections like me, most can get away with 2 connectors.

I took note on that, but let me not worry about that too much right.

I still not found the type on connector i want for the MAP lines, still open for suggestions.

Regards

EDIT: Spelling, fuck me I am horrible

Re: The FreeEMS Box !

Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 1:57 pm
by Fred
You definitely want access to load new code from the outside. As a tester you'll be doing that every day, right? :-D

Re: The FreeEMS Box !

Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 2:11 pm
by ivan141
With those big bulkhead connectors I'm sure you could spare 2 pins for a jumper. That way you can just wire them to a switch.
Another idea would be to use a small audio jack (telephone / walkman (lol, who remembers those) style ), drill a hole
for it in the casing and insert it.. easy addition to DIY. Then just solder a jack plug to shortcircuit, and insert it: user friendly jumper. Wonder if a jumper would still work if you soldered an LED inline instead of a straight shortcircuit. Would be a nice reminder that the jumper is in place. Is there enough current to light one up?

Re: The FreeEMS Box !

Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 2:50 pm
by Fred
This is the topology on the board. It can be distributed around (on/off the board) as the user sees fit.

Image


The result being that it is brightly and solidly lit when the jumper/switch/button is closed and less brightly lit when driven by the CPU during ECU operation.

Fred.

Re: The FreeEMS Box !

Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 3:20 pm
by masterkorp
@ivan

Trust me I will need every single connector :p
Also I would like something more beautifull implemented than an external switch, but like i sai one thing at the time and i will only worry about that when its time.

@fred thanks for the graph

Re: The FreeEMS Box !

Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 8:53 pm
by DonTZ125
The only problem I see with an external jumper is the possibility of losing it. You could have a lanyard or similar, but that just looks off.