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Tutorial SMC3 Arduino 3DOF Motor Driver and Windows Utilities

Discussion in 'SimTools compatible interfaces' started by RufusDufus, Dec 1, 2013.

  1. Manes

    Manes Member Gold Contributor

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    Where I need puta the switch?? I dont understand , sorry
  2. Manes

    Manes Member Gold Contributor

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    After to do all yours ideas and configurations, I have the same problem.
    Change cables whith gnd , adjust potenciometers, and put SMC3 whith the parameters same than Pierre and modding this parameters, and parameters of all tipes, and I have the same problem. When i put pin8 or 9 Whith gnd in Arduino, i can't start SMC3 ... It is imposible. .....
  3. Pierre Lalancette

    Pierre Lalancette Sir Lalancelot Gold Contributor

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  4. Manes

    Manes Member Gold Contributor

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  5. Manes

    Manes Member Gold Contributor

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  6. Manes

    Manes Member Gold Contributor

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    Is posible Sabertooth 2x60 is very Big for my motors? Is better 2x32 for my?
  7. Manes

    Manes Member Gold Contributor

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    My power supply have 28 V. Maybe is this the problem?
  8. John Snell

    John Snell Member

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    Hi team. I'm missing something here and assume it will be obvious to many/most of you so my apologies if I should have found the answer already.

    I have 2 motors supplied via an Arduino and H-bridges. I have followed SMC3 tutorials the best I can, and everything seems to work fine using SimTools_2.5.1.exe.

    I have installed Live for Speed, run it, patched it, and I can see all the feedback and movement from the game in the SimTools Game Engine Virtual Axis display. BUT nothing makes my motors move

    In SimTools:
    - I believe I have set Interface settings (Interface 1) to match tutorials and with ComPort the same as in SimTools_2.5.1.exe.
    - I've set some values for (a) and (b) in Axis Assignments using Generis 2D Basic. settings the Game manager says that the game is connected
    - In output Testing=>Axis Testing=>Output Type = DOF Output, I "Turn On" and then move sliders for Roll, Pitch, etc. If I "Turn On" in the Virtual Axis tab I can see my "Axis Testing reflected there.

    BUT still nothing (apart from imTools_2.5.1.exe) will make my motors move.

    I appreciate any help greatly.
    John
  9. moaale

    moaale IAN MRTIN

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    hello friend in the smc3 they work well with the preset movements if there is everything works well you can go to the configuration of the game engine of simtools. Now I am going to upload a configuration for you to copy and test.
  10. moaale

    moaale IAN MRTIN

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    In the second photo it puts the configurations in axis1 and axis2 because axis3 and axis4 would be for the third and fourth motor and if surge and sway do not give you movements, try pitch and roll. 20210905_203932.jpg 20210905_204002.jpg
  11. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

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    If Output Testing works as expected then the likely issue is that LFS was not run prior to patching it for motion: https://www.xsimulator.net/communit...run-in-first-person-mode-before-patching.365/

    If so then un-patch LFS in Game Manager, run a LFS race in first person mode then re-patch LFS.
  12. John Snell

    John Snell Member

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    Thank you so much @moaale. That's really kind of you to post these settings so fast!

    I have replicated them exactly, and also tried pitch and roll, but unfortunately there is no change. It feels like there is something missing between Simtools and the Arduino. They are just not communicating.

    When I start SMC3Utils v1.01.exe, there is often a small movement in the motors, and then while it is running there is a very quiet rumble coming from the motors. But there is nothing once I close SMC3Utils v1.01.exe.

    Am I correct that if I turn on Output Testing=>Axis Testing and then move the sliders, my motors should move in response?

    Thanks again!
  13. John Snell

    John Snell Member

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    Hi @noorbeast
    I think Output Testing, or even Output in general, is where my issues lies (but happy to be corrected though), and maybe my expectations are incorrect. Output Testing currently does nothing at all, with regards to my motors. If I turn on Output Testing=>Axis Testing On, and then move the sliders, should my motors should move in response?

    I certainly see all the movement from LFS in Simtools Virtual Axis dashboard (see screenshot) when running LFS, so does that indicate that the game is correctly communicating with Simtools and the issue lies elsewhere, from Simtools to the Arduino?

    Thank you very much noorbeast

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  14. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

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    Do you have a Default profile configured in Axis Assignments, as that is what Output Testing uses?
  15. John Snell

    John Snell Member

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    That's definitely good information to keep in mind, but yes I have it set to Default profile.

    I've tried, unsuccessfully, turning off the Windows firewall in case it's blocking traffic from SimTools, but not from the SMC3 test util.

    Next plan is to uninstall/re-install Simtools, and if no luck then set it all up on another PC.
  16. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

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    Just checking you are not running SimTools and SMC3 at the same time, as that will create a port conflict.
  17. John Snell

    John Snell Member

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    Solved!! I installed Simtools and LFS on another machine and it worked immediately!! Too easy considering how long I spent thinking I was missing something important and just didn't understand :-(

    Thanks to @noorbeast and @moaale, I realised that I wasn't far off, and to persevere. Thanks guys!

    Next step, is starting the full build.
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  18. Chris_Beeves

    Chris_Beeves Active Member Gold Contributor

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    Hey people!
    I’m struggling a bit with some stubborn Escon motor drivers. They say they want up to 5kHz PWM, and when I drive them with a simple sketch with 3.9kHz PWM they always work. However, when setting 5kHz in smc3 windows utility I get lots of errors and cut outs. I’d like to change the frequency in the arduino sketch, but how do I do that without having the utility overwriting it when I run it?
    Have a good one!
    /Chris
  19. Pierre Lalancette

    Pierre Lalancette Sir Lalancelot Gold Contributor

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    No, the sabertooth can take from 6 to 30 V. And it is not too big. I run small motors on it. Maybe your sabertooth is defective?
  20. Manes

    Manes Member Gold Contributor

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    Maybe.... I go to try with a 2x32... A friend have one and he go to lend this days... Keep on touch. You Will have news this days....