Aaron, I have watched every video of the Cosmo, probably twice over... Very motivational stuff. Keep it up! Can't wait to see it finished

 

First things first: I'm going to freely admit that this project is not critical to getting the car finished. Honestly it has just been an idea that seems to have implanted itself in my head a few years ago and rattling around inside me since then. So I decided to inject a little fun and magic into the previously shaved doors (remember part 8?) with the addition of RFID actuated openers. And yes, I realize this episode is fairly long and perhaps should have been lacerated into two parts, but I think you'll understand why I didn't split it up by the end and chose to keep it homogeneous. It also turned out to be very involved, in the sense that part 46 includes almost every fabrication technique I have access to: welding, rapid prototyping (3D printing to the lay person), fiberglass, electronics, programming and anatomy. Oh, there might also be a visit from a certain special guest to help out. One other fascinating fact is that I used more disposable latex surgical gloves in this episode than all previous episodes combined!

Electronics schematics, PCB patterns and Arduino code at: https://www.aaroncake.net/76cosmo/rfid_doors

 

I won't give anything away, but you wont loose the key to open the door now.

 

Ya, I just watched it. I don't know whether to call you effin crazy, or super dedicated!! Just...wow lol

 

That's awesome!

 

omg...my eyes, my eyes!!!!!! It's going to take two years of therapy to get that picture our of my head.

 

What part? Aarons ***? Or the insertion??

 

LOL Aaron's ***!!

 

It's weird reading the words "Aaron's ***" and "insertion" in the same sentence.

 

That’s very impressive. Keep us updated!

 

Well it was a little weird seeing the insertion so......

 

Epic video. Now it's really permanent. Only way to loose it now is by misplacing your hand.

 

The viewers have voted! At the end of part 46 I presented a choice as to what you would like to see next and by a wide margin, we have a winner. Episode 47 of my '76 Mazda Cosmo restoration focuses on converting the instrument cluster from 40 year old analog mechanical gauges to electronic gauges. Not some gaudy named-after-a-US-state Digital glowing green digital panel slapped into a classic looking frame of course. Instead, a true integration of the existing gauges with modern electronics and control, taking information from an MS3-Pro fed CAN bus. Suffice it to say, there is a lot of delicate detail here, working with ridiculously tiny screws, machining of small parts and some electronics as well. There will also definitely be a part 2 of this episode, and possibly a part 3, because building an OEM integration level instrument cluster is no small task!

Schematics, code and board patterns from this video: https://www.aaroncake.net/76cosmo/cluster

 

Oh, you just made my day.

 

It's awesome. I am going to have to use this for my Datsun.

 

So much work though! And there's still all the control electronics to design, plus the code to write. However I think the result will be awesome.

 

Yes, ton of work but the results are well worth it. Modern with the classic look. Can't beat that.

 

Question about the odometer screens. It seems like you could be wasting some screen real estate just to display the odometers. Are you going to modify the gauge faces so you can use the entire area of the screens?

 

Unfortunately a lot of screen area is wasted due to the fact I needed to find screens on which at least one dimension filled the entire odometer window. I had erroneously thought that LCD screens were available in nearly every set of dimensions possible. Not actually true as they seem to be standard sizes.

 

Well it's that time again. Yes, time for another installment of my '76 Mazda Cosmo restoration. In part 48, I continue the process of converting the old mechanical instrument cluster to a well integrated modern unit while retaining most of the appearance of that crazy time we call the late 1970s. TFT screens replace rolling odometers, stepper motors replace gauge movements and useless faux gauges which were nothing more than warning lights get turned into something more useful. Lots of tiny milling, lots of tiny hardware and some delicate welding. This finishes up the mechanical work on the cluster. As I predicted, there is going to be a third installment in which I design all the electronics to make the thing work.

Schematics, code and board patterns from this video: https://www.aaroncake.net/76cosmo/cluster

 

Whats been the most painful/time consuming part of this process? Is there a reason you went with aluminum mounts instead of just fabbing up a 3d printed solution? I'm working on a 12.3" widescreen solution for my FC and was grinding away plastic until I realized its probably easier to just 3d print a backing plate to sandwich to the front display.

 

I'd say the most time consuming part of the process has been simply sitting and staring at the thing trying to figure out how to actually design brackets, keeping several steps ahead so I don't back myself into a corner, unable to fit a screen or backlight LEDs. Basically I chose aluminium because I wanted something permanent and ridged. All of the stock gauge movements were held solidly in metal. Commonly printed plastics may not have been dimensionally stable over the long term. PETG was really the only consideration however having never printed in it before, I chose to machine out of aluminium instead of potentially wasting a bunch of time printing it.

 

Almost time for a new video?!

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5-4rXYmF1U

It's been a long while, hasn't it? Who would have thought that retrofitting a 44 year old instrument cluster with modern electronics and building almost everything from scratch would be complicated? Yep, that's right. It's part 49 of my '76 Mazda Cosmo Restoration! And once again, I am continuing to work on the instrument cluster. This time I'm getting the final touches done by building the backlight boards, making the boards for the fuel and temp gauges, making some mistakes, and finishing up with all the cluster innards. It's another electronics episode mostly, which I know isn't my usual fare, however "electronics" is a big part of an electronic instrument cluster. And man, I'd have to say this is the most complicated single project I've done on this car so expect at least another episode to finish up the cluster.

Schematics, code and board patterns from this video: https://www.aaroncake.net/76cosmo/cluster
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/aaroncake
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aaroncake_/

 

Yes!!! Finally!!!!