6 DOF from scratch

Here we go again!



I feel like all I'm doing is unpacking stuff and taking pictures.



My V-Shaped wheel. I will be able to finish my prototype. Wait, I don't have a prototype anymore. I could start another prototype, but I am missing the insert for the screws that goes in the carbon tubes for the structure. And I have all my fans. I should test them.

Yeah, that feeling that it is christmas every week

Yeah, Christmas every week.



The pink gear is a test. I wanted to learn how to print from Fusion 360. Was not able to use the SD card. I have no idea why. The gear is totally useless, but it helped me to get the sense of scale and get rid of that PINK PLA sample.



My insert, great! And some more screw. Yeah, I think I ordered two bag of those... Can't remember. When you can't recall what you ordered, it is a sign that you lost control.

Summer is not a good season for simulator. Way too many things to do. Still, some soldering is done on my power supply and my wood got an oil treatment. But things are going slow, I mean, even slower than usual.

Don't stress over time, as long as it keeps ticking along - It took me a year to build mine .

I have a little problem.

I followed up SeatTime indication.

So I ordered these inserts:

amazon.ca/dp/B00XXFTFOG

@SeatTime , your carbon tubes are 8-10 mm, right?

So I was expecting that inserts for 6 mm screw would be standard and fit in my 8-10 mm tube (verified). But, the outside are 9 mm. There is no indication of the outside of the insert on Amazon. So I did not know, and they don't fit. Did I understand something wrong, or is there many external size for those and I chose the wrong one?



Price is not a big deal. It is just the ordering time that is a bummer.

Yes, 10mm carbon tubes - I slight drilled the tubes, ground the inserts and wrapped the ends in carbon cloth to stop any splitting and add some strength back - picture from page 13 of my thread.

Okay, I missed (read too fast, did not remember...) that part.
Pass to re-design mode.

@SeatTime
Now that is an assembly line

Not a real update to my build. But I still get package from Santa.



I was going to use 10-12 carbon tubes to widen my tubes at extremities, drill and insert my... inserts for the screws. But my friend told me he could "machine" and fit the insert into the 8-10 tube. I am not convinced, but he seemed confident it would still be quite strong. I'm stupid enough to risk it. We'll see.

Just in material, my 6 aluminium based actuators cost me 350$, and you always double for the manufacturing.

I did a bit of soldering at the connectors of my PSU to connect the 4 gauge wires. There is also the cut off circuit little wires. All tested, all working fine. I now need to connect them all together.



No work done on the base lately, but I am on vacation, and I do other stuff.

Like visiting the museum of J. Armant Bombardier. If you don't know that guy, he's the one that invented the snowmobile, and seadoo. The guy is born in 1903 in a remote village and invent stuff I can only dream of. He was a genius. Extremely inspiring. I'm talking about this because now Bombardier is a multi-milliard company making also metros, motos and planes. There is a simple simulator in the museum, 3 screens, no movement. But the software seemed a bit more sophisticated. I let my girlfriend pilot, it was fun. (I'm the scary guy in the front).




The plane used for in wind tunnel with captors all over its fuselage was quite impressive.



So, even in vacation. I'm thinking about you guys.

It's been so long since I've done an update on my build, that it is not Christmas anymore, it's Easter.



One is not related (usb connector), and the other one is mm screws. I had totally forgotten about those.



Also, a little update on the base. It's not much, but summer is not simulator season for me, and I am missing time. Also, the (insert favorite curse word here) Fusion 360 is having the better half of me. I'm trying to design my gears on it, and it does everything to stop me from doing so. Well, during those wasted weeks... months, my wallet is catching up a bit.

Two things:

I got my actuators back:



Okay, we could argue that it is not a Do It Yourself build anymore. But there is still so much to do. Now, how do I attach this to the base? Someone suggested to use ratchet joint:



But did not say how to attach the actuator to it. Still a long way to go.

Also, my friend complained that the 500 mm carbon tubes were not all the same length. I hat to admit that he was right. I'll have to shim them to fit, when sticking the inserts (that were machined and now fit into the 8 mm hole of the tube).

Anyway, the carbon tube are no more part of the holding structure. The actuators are no more light weight little machine, but heavy lifting beast. I have some doubts about the motor only attached by the front screws, but my friend was totally convinced. Time will tell who was right.

But now, it runs so smooth.

The second thing is that I am now a master guru of Fusion 360... Okay, let's just say that I stopped swearing at it (for the moment). I was able to design and print a gear. I fit perfectly to the little gear that I took from someone else on this forum.



I have hopes now to be able to design the gear box for my potentiometer.

To test my new knowledge of 3D design, I did a 1 mm mock-up of a power supply support.



I'm glad I did, because it turn out to be a little too small at the top. My design skills need to be refined.

Looks great now!
You need another plate at the bottom of the motor and a good UV joint, something like this:

theoretically it is possible to do it and it can work, but it is made of tool steel, it is very very hard to modify, even a simple hole is hard to do in this steel. Need a lot of patience and good tools. I would suggest choosing the other way, I once tried and let go...

Ratchet joints also have quite a bit of "slop" built into them, Not that there's much twisting action going on here. But a proper U joint would be far more idea.

Yes! This is exactly what I need. But I have no idea how to get it. I know now that it is call a universal uv joint. But, it is hard to find a model with the attaching plate like in your picture. Will have to search deeper.

Yes, my friend told me the exact same thing. UV joint are the way to go. Just have to find the right one, but... don't know where to search... yet.

Hi @Pierre Lalancette try searching e-bay for Car Propshaft Joints they are common enough items just need to check sizes , im sure someone here has already listed a link but cant find it at the moment , will try to find the link to the one I used

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5pcs-4000...53&rk=1&rkt=1&&_trksid=p2045573.c100753.m4841

try and get the next 2 sizes up if possible given the new weight of your actuator ..

Pierre, Hit up a local Auto scrap yard for some steering shaft u joints, In reality big tail shaft U joints are Super overkill for your big actuators....and with your actuator's already being rather beefy, i would be looking to save any weight you could, Or at least not be adding unnecessary weight where possible. ( tho the pivots are low and prolly wont effect much)

I found it for you!!! https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/FIXTURE-JOINTS-STAHL-JU-813-_754054952.html
https://www.alibaba.com/product-det...ING-FIXTURE-JOINT-0002682289_60593698423.html

As @Nick Moxley said, it is a really common part, and you can get it locally for sure, the ones I linked are like the ones I got in my country, they are 60mm diameter and 60mm tall, so perfect.

It's just a shame that he only needs six as the min order requirement for the item you linked is 50 pieces. It seems that most suppliers want bulk orders on Alibaba.

Just linked to get more info, you can get them in any auto part shop locally, you have to unattached the arse from the computer seat and go shopping! (sorry my english is not really good)