smokedog3para 365 Posted February 19, 2015 Hi all I would like to show you guys what I have been up to over the last 4 months, as unfortunately real life had to take over my modding time. In the last four months I designed a control platform to take my flight controls and driving controls for mostly Arma3 as that's 99% what I play plus a bit of DCS and Grid and Dirt, I have never been happy with any pc desk I have owned as there designed for work and not play. so I thought i'll make my own that is functional comfortable and quality built with being nice looking. I sat and sketched out a drawing and sorted the measurements for the unit, then I built the 3d model in oxygen 2 of all things, I then moved it over to substance painter and textured it once I had all I needed on to the next step the build. I ordered the metal tube and materials for the control platforms, I cut out the MDF for the platforms and then got it covered by a friend who does upholstery, I got it in a nice black faux leatherette covering, the metal went to another friend to be welded and came back looking solid this won't fall apart like all the others I have had. Next up it was off to the paint shop where my brother in law powder coated it in a leather effect finish which is near scratch proof and together with the platform it looks great, once I got it all together which took less than 7 minutes to erect from parts I was very impressed with it, I got my controls placed and done some cable management and wow it looks stunning I ran a little event in my house for my friends and family to come test it and get the best lap time, which got me some good feed back and some fun in the process watching every one crash out till they got the hang of the G27 on dirt and grid. I would like some feed back from you guys as I am looking at getting them mass produced thx for reading and any feed back. [/img] Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tonci87 163 Posted February 19, 2015 This does look really nice. Some improvement suggestions: It needs rubber or plastic feet so that it doesn´t scratch wooden floors. Having those screews visible in the front is not elegant. Maybe they can be covered up with black plastic caps. Seriously, it does look really awesome. How much did you pay for it and how big would the production cost be if you had to pay for everything? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chrisb 196 Posted February 19, 2015 Nice, I like it. Good luck with it, marketing wise. There are always people looking for this type of thing. :) Just down to how much it would cost to produce in large numbers etc.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smokedog3para 365 Posted February 19, 2015 (edited) Hi Tonic this was the first prototype, rubber feet will be added I am toying with rubber or adjustable feet more leaning to adjustable, the plan is to have a few models a I have a floating version so far and the fixed frame as above and want to have a fully adjustable modular version and finally an interactive version with ir rc switches to turn pc and lights and then move the actuators to push out the platforms from below the main platform. The bolts will be changed to anodized black ones in the future. so far the prototype has cost me £450 that's what I plan to sell them around £400-450 so i am in talks with a few firms waiting to get quotes back for bulk orders the thing with these are they are hand crafted and welded and sprayed by real humans no machines so that is where I am a bit different, I will offer full customization for paint and effect, coverings vinyl or pvc, or even wet spray and airbrush design. I have some module addons to complete the platform if you want laser cut designs added to a back plate or perforated metal with a design on it is all good if you want to adapt my design to suit your needs it can be done custom building can be expensive as its always the first one that costs to set it up but once its done the rest come cheap after that. Edited February 19, 2015 by SmokeDog3PARA Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tonci87 163 Posted February 19, 2015 Well you got to know your target audience. in your case that would be PC enthusiasts. How much are they willing to pay for something like this? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
da12thMonkey 1943 Posted February 19, 2015 (edited) It looks really good. Nice work mate. :) In the context of selling them: Have you looked at cheaper base materials for the upholstered platforms, like chipboard? While in general MDF is a superior building material, I wouldn't think you needed a material with the smooth finish of MDF unless you were leaving the surface exposed or painting directly on to it, rather than using a covering. I just ask since it might cut down weight and save you and your customers some money in shipping and materials if you use a lower density board. How much of the past 4 months has been spent just using the patform and seeing how well it holds up to daily use and abuse? I assume the leatherette stuff is waterproof (kind of needs to be is you're using MDF or other particle boards instead of plywood since they absorb moisture) so spills, and stains probably aren't an issue. But keep an eye out for things like is there are scuffing or pitting or bunching on the upholstery after a few months of use, and little things like whether hot mugs of tea cause the surface to warp (when I was a student, I got billed for a faux leather sofa that my landlord reckoned we "ruined" by resting cuppas on the arms). If you've got any off-cuts from the upholstery and MDF you could just wrap one of those up in the spare material and do some durability tests on that if you don't want to put undue stress on your personal desk. Really, just have a look at your own use of the thing and see how the materials and construction hold up. The parts that hold up well you can look at cutting cost on (thinner tubing for the metal parts and lower density wood like I mentioned before, for example), and the ones that don't are the ones you want to look at alternatives for, and reassess their aesthetics over their durability. Edited February 19, 2015 by da12thMonkey Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tonci87 163 Posted February 19, 2015 A small hardplastic surface for hot drinks would be a quite nice feature. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smokedog3para 365 Posted February 19, 2015 cheers guys I have used the leatherette one for over 3 months with 5 people in my house and one a 3 year old that likes to place every thing on it from food to drinks and a range of objects, it has survived well it wipes down nice and if looked after like any other product will last it does mark if hot drinks are placed on it but with any product like this you would never place it on the bare surface just use a cosaster, I have a carbon fibre vinyl one as well that is more tolerant to abuse and can have drinks placed with out marks. The mdf was easy for me to form and later on maybe we will get conti board produced with our carbon look applied to it to save wrapping as it cost £100 to skin them in carbon and vinyl but they are done to a quality standard, we can 2 pac and seal the tops to make it so you would never know that it is wood and then we can wetspray the top and coat it to a nice finish, so we have options to choose from from leather to vinyl to a 2 pac seal and wetspray coat. you tell us what colour style effect, it may cost more but the value is there in the price for having freedom to choose what you want rather then mass produce one model in one colour with one paint effect. For the cheaper option you would go for the floating platform I plan to sell them at £300-350 as the frame is replaced with a system for mounting to the wall so more leg room less metal and has slide out platforms so saves space and looks cool. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thebuckfastwine 1230 Posted February 23, 2015 (edited) Hey m8, that looks great my wife has been bursting my balls for ages to get something like that as I always have a busy house and I sit at the dining table, and my screen is a 50 inch that and my keyboard flight stick and my g27 take up most of the table which she barks about all the time. When you are not using the g27 does the middle low shelf have enough room for a keyboard and the g27, I always find it a pain moving the g27 around from driving position to somewhere out the way when I and my monsters switch between driving and shooter games. What size of screen can fit on it, definitely looks like you got lots of space for all the toys, could see me sitting chilled playing games with a nice whiskey and a bottle of tonic wine at that set up. Edited February 23, 2015 by THEBUCKFASTWINE Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smokedog3para 365 Posted May 2, 2015 Little update to what we are doing, the platforms are still coming on we are being held up by firms negotiating prices and out sourcing work, so they will still be produced but until we have shaken hands and got the final price we are waiting, we have added to the designs and will have images and prices for the modular components to add to the platform soon. We received the Delta six motion control last week and have been doing some heavy tests in combination with the kinect in ARMA3 and ARMA2\OA, this means I can now use the Kinect to track and use my body for movements which move my A3 avatar in game, and with the Delta six in your hands you can aim and shoot while still being accurate enough to get head shots with it, leaving you free from the keyboard and mouse any addition key binds I am setting through speech recognition. The Delta six really changes the game for me now with the kinect, I set up a 42inch led tv with 3200 x 1800 res and got to work taking down enemy's with ease, it really does give more immersion like this to the point I was ducking for cover and running for concealment as the rounds rained down all around me with the lean set up and the recoil from the six it felt immense that I did not want to lean out behind the wall in case they got a head shot. next step full VR once we get the dev kits available. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
x3kj 1247 Posted May 2, 2015 If you want to sell the platform, some pictures of it in actual use (with stuff on it i mean) would be beneficial i guess Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
R0adki11 3949 Posted May 6, 2015 @SmokeDog3PARA - looking very impressive - i shall follow this thread with interest :) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smokedog3para 365 Posted May 9, 2015 (edited) https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153323866489853&set=a.10151668836739853.1073741826.764004852&type=1&theater http://https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153323870584853&set=a.10151668836739853.1073741826.764004852&type=1&theater https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153323870584853&set=a.10151668836739853.1073741826.764004852&type=1&theater here is some of the FX-01 in use with my G27 and the floating version at the bottom early prototype. I post more about what I am up to on our facebook page and our google+ community so if you want to see more of what we have in the pipe line then join us. https://www.facebook.com/GameTechInnovations https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/105635540875626095367 Edited May 9, 2015 by SmokeDog3PARA Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
