• RV
    • Missy – My Home
    • JBAM – Newmar Dutch Star
    • Shaneeda
    • Buying a Used RV
    • Gas vs Diesel RVs
    • Ideal Motorhome
    • Choosing the Ideal RV
  • Cycling
  • Jeep
  • About
  • Flying
    • Vans RV-4
    • Daisy – RV-3B
  • Resources
  • Subscribe

JdFinley.com

Fulltime RV Living Adventures

  • Is Solar For You?
  • Gas vs Diesel RVs
  • Buying a Used RV
  • Choosing the Ideal RV
  • Ideal Motorhome

SolidWorks and a new RV-4 Instrument Panel

January 26, 2018

I’ve been “stretching” my brain a bit lately. A whole lotta bits actually… I plan to build a new instrument panel for my RV-4 and install modern avionics such as this Sport EX EFIS (electronic flight information system) from Grand Rapids.

This type of instrument (EFIS) combines a whole slew of old-style instruments into one computer display while adding a bunch of additional data.

Grand Rapids EFIS Sport EX

The ‘old’ way of doing this would have been to get a chunk of sheet aluminum, mark and cut the desired shape with a bandsaw, then mark it with hole locations for the new instruments, and then either cut them out with a hole saw or punch them out with a special sheet metal tool.

These days, we use computers… A 3D model of the instrument panel and each instrument is created, it is all laid out as an assembly, and then the chunk of aluminum is taken to a water-jet cutter to precisely cut out the panel shape and all the cavities.

How does one create a 3D model? Well… you have to get your hands on a tool and start the VERY steep and painful learning curve. In my case, I have access to SolidWorks so that’s what I used. I knew I was in trouble when I opened SolidWorks and couldn’t even draw a line. 🙂

It has taken many hours of study to gain the tiniest bit of understanding about SolidWorks but it has been enough to create the following – my new RV-4 instrument panel!!

I’m about the least knowledgeable person on the planet regarding SolidWorks so I’m not even going to attempt to describe how it works. However; I will say that is an amazing tool! The neatest part is that once this all the individual parts are drawn and connected, the cavities and holes in the instrument panel are automatically created.

SolidWorks Vans RV-4 Instrument Panel 3D water jet

SolidWorks Vans RV-4 Instrument Panel 3D water jet

SolidWorks Vans RV-4 Instrument Panel 3D water jet

 

Looking at this photo of my current panel, you can see that things are greatly simplified!

Vans RV-4 Instrument Panel analog steam gauges

Now I just take the raw aluminum sheet, the drawing, and my credit card to the water jet cutter and I’ll have a work of art in hand!

SolidWorks Vans RV-4 Instrument Panel 3D water jet
Of course… then I must begin actually purchasing the new avionics… 🙁 I’m not ready for that phase yet.

(Visited 1,637 times, 1 visits today)

Related posts:

Solar Panel Mount 3M 5200 adhesiveSolar Panel Mounts Default ThumbnailWheel Chocks Vans RV-3 Rudder Pedal BrakeThe Great Brakes Alteration Canopy Support Strut Gas Spring RV-3 VansCanopy Support Strut using a Gas Spring for the RV-3

Comments

  1. Tom says

    January 26, 2018 at 3:20 pm

    I took a one hour flight lesson last week and something like that was all I had. Granted it was the first time I had seen it. I thought it sucked big time. Give me steam gauges anytime over that. I may change my opinion after a few more flights, possibly not though. Airspeed in numbers on left and Alt in numbers on right and not so good ball at center lower, HSI in the center and bearing and G meter on top. Confusing as crap after a snap roll or tumble.

    Reply
    • JD says

      January 27, 2018 at 5:56 am

      That’s one of the many advantageous of Sport Aviation – you can build the aircraft that you want and tune it to your liking! Definitely a win-win!

      Reply
  2. Ronda says

    January 27, 2018 at 4:24 pm

    WOW

    Reply
  3. Amanda says

    January 27, 2018 at 8:06 pm

    My brother is so smart.

    Reply
    • JD says

      January 28, 2018 at 4:26 am

      No… no. It is the computer that is doing all the work. I’m just pointing and clicking on stuff. 🙂

      Reply
  4. Richard Tasker says

    April 15, 2020 at 3:13 pm

    Wondering how much they charged to cut your panel. And who did it. I am looking to upgrade my RV9A panel and need a source for cutting it. I already know how to do CAD and have the design completed.

    Thanks, Dick Tasker

    Reply
    • JD says

      April 23, 2020 at 12:50 pm

      Hi Richard, I never actually had the panel cut. Too many other things got in the way and that project is still waiting. I called a local water jet shop and, as I recall, they said they would do it for $200. The project sounded small to them and that was their minimum charge.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

It’s a real burden, being right so often.

— Capt. Malcolm Reynolds (Serenity)

Popular Posts

  • Powermatic Model 90 Wood Lathe & VFD
  • Wood Turning on a Lathe
  • Chainsaw Review: Sportsman 20 in. 52cc
  • Cielo Grande Barbed Wire Fence Repair

Email Notification


 

Posts by Subject

3DPrinting Aircraft Airstrip Bible Bus bus boys Camping Cat Computers Cycling Development Electrical electronics Entertainment Environment Factory Five family FAQ Finances flying Food God Health Holiday Home Humor kayak Life Maintenance Nature Photography Review RV-3 RV-4 sailboat sailing self improvement Sewing solar Travel Video weather wood woodworking X-Country

Posts by Month

© Copyright © 2025 JDFinley.com · All Rights Reserved · Privacy Policy

Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to JD Finley and JdFinley.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.