2DOF DCS Motion Pit

With this board you don't need the Arduino with SMC3 software. You can connect the serial output from SimTools via a "USB to serial TTL adapter" directly to this board. The position feedback from the motors (pots or quadrature encoders) can also be connected. And limit switches if you want to.
The board has a "Autotune" button, so there is no need to adjust any tuning parameter.

After reading the manual once more:
The sabertooth is a regenerative driver. That means: the motor braking energy is restored back to the power supply battery, if you have one.
If you use a PSU as power supply, the braking energy can't go back there. Therefore the sabertooth has a so called "Power Output". There you can connect a resistor that absorbs the energy.
Back to your question: No, you don't need a additional battery.

Thanks a lot! Wow that sounds just great! Will try it!

I have read the manual in the meantime too, but some points wasn't clear to me.
But now I begin to understand (regeneration in german doesn't mean loading a battery
And it wasn't clear to me how to connect the sabertooth/kangaroo to the pc

You said the is a power output connector? Can't find that point in the manual, they just say that you have to connect a battery parallel to the PSU.

And have you testet it or has someone used this combo? Works it as good as smc3 does? It seems to be quite "simple" and effective

Ok, my fault. My informations came from the 2x32 sabertooth manual.
It seems that there is an old version of the 2x32 that needs a battery in parallel to the PSU, and the new version with power output, that needs none.
I've downloaded the 2x60 manual now, and it seems that there is only a version that needs a battery. I apologize.

No, i don't own one. But i think it works far better than the SMC3 (sorry to the author, that's my opinion), because it is a professional product.

Here is a link to a german provider, if not known already.
https://nodna.de/Duale-Motorcontroller

Thank you again ! I will give it a try! It's a really clean setup!
The only thing that makes me nervous is the battery, I am thinking about overloading unplugging after shutdown, and the 24V ..
Is it really that uncomplicated?

I think a self-soldered battery-pack with Ni-Cd cells like this one:
http://www.reichelt.de/Einzelzellen/SC-2000NICD-P-1Z/3/index.html?ACTION=3&LA=2&ARTICLE=102970&GROUPID=4226&artnr=SC 2000NICD P 1Z
would be a good solution. They are capable of high currents. With 20 cells in series connection you get 20 x 1.2V = 24V.
The main current comes from the PSU, the batteries have only a buffering function, so it think they have enough capacity.

Great! I will go shopping this week! Thanks for your help!

Little update, sabertooth 2x60 arrived(what a heavy beast!) , but I didn't order the kangaroo because it is sold out at the moment and what i read here is not so convincing.
So I will try a Smc3-mode 3 configuration.
This morning I have had time to solder some potis and place some cables, but i don't have much time this week, so little news here.

Oh ! A quick question
What is better:
180° feedback pot on the gear axis ?
Or a 10 turn pot on the motor axis (maybe with a 1:2 gear) ?

Little update: cutting metal
8mm Steel- its quite heavy but will be durable

Today I will start welding

Yesterday a friend helped me welding the strut , very strong now



This morning I mounted the second motor and tested it



But now there is a strange problem:

As soon as I invert an axis movement in simtools, the inverted axis begins to stutter when used ... someone knows this problem?



My settings with the stuttering pitch axis
When I uncheck the invert function it works absolutely smooth, but in the false direction

(Same for any other axis)

Issue solved! Lowered the boud rate from simtools and the ard from 500k to 115200 - now it's smooth as silk

Update:

Motors works now, pivot is in place, this evening i will mount the top plate and then start the first manned test and counting currents .

Wow, that's an exciting moment. Good luck and have fun!

Oh thank you! I am a little nervous now

It's done! It works , no smoke, no broken arms and legs and moderat current (34A Peak together)
On motor is getting a little warmer (44°c) then the other (30°) , will search for the "problem "

All in all it's really great! Now the work on the esthetic aspect starts

Thanks everyone for your help and good luck with your projects!

Work continues:

Lowered seat and stick
Added pedals
Reinforced pushrod mounting on the top plate


Now I have to tweak the pid and output from the DCS plugin. It's a little jumpy sometimes.

The platform is really fast! It throws me around when I perform a fast roll or g force changes

i'm curious about the toilet roll option. which end of the pilot is that designed to address? and on a side note, it looks like the joystick support came off bridge, or a train?

Sorry i can't follow you?!

Great progress, @Intruder! What about a video performance?