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My first 2DOF motion Platform

Discussion in 'DIY Motion Simulator Building Q&A / FAQ' started by Denis Mowberry, Aug 16, 2023.

  1. Denis Mowberry

    Denis Mowberry Member

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    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF, Arduino, Motion platform
    Hi My name is Denis and I am from New Zealand and I decided that with the help of a site like this I could build a 2DOF motion platform . The mechanical side of it has gone well but I cannot get the electronic side to work at all. I have used an Arduino uno and 2 IBT2 motor controllers to power 2 car wiper motors , I copied the wiring diagram from this site and followed the instructions . I then downloaded the SMC3 software and loaded it as instructed. I am sure the wiring is correct but I can get no power out of the IBT2,s. Any suggestions or help would be much appreciated .
  2. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

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    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF, DC motor, JRK
  3. Denis Mowberry

    Denis Mowberry Member

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    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF, Arduino, Motion platform
  4. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

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    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF, DC motor, JRK
    Yes you should still ground isolate wiper motors.
  5. Denis Mowberry

    Denis Mowberry Member

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    My Motion Simulator:
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    I have now cut the ground wire on both the motors but still no change . I have no power out from the IBT 2s
  6. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

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    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF, DC motor, JRK
    Just checking, are you using a genuine Arduino Uno, or a clone?
  7. Denis Mowberry

    Denis Mowberry Member

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    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF, Arduino, Motion platform
    Purchased locally from electronic shop marked as Arduino uno has the sideways figure 8 with the + and- symbols and the long processing chip but don't know beyond that . I have added a picture so maybe you can tell from that . 20230817_192236.jpg
  8. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

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    My Motion Simulator:
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    OK, so is the Arduino IDE settings configured for the Uno, including the correct port?
  9. Denis Mowberry

    Denis Mowberry Member

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    My Motion Simulator:
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    I believe so it picked up com port 5 so I changed to that and yes selected for Arduino uno.
  10. Denis Mowberry

    Denis Mowberry Member

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    My Motion Simulator:
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    Just to add when I run SM3 utilities if I move the pots the green line goes up and down as it should . The only thing I would say is the line is not a nice smooth line as I have seen in videos I have watched .
  11. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

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    My Motion Simulator:
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    Can you please post a picture of the SMC3 settings, running Sine in Out Mode.
  12. Denis Mowberry

    Denis Mowberry Member

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    My Motion Simulator:
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    Thanks for all your help I hope this is what you want
    20230818_095134.jpg
  13. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

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    My Motion Simulator:
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    It does not look to be tracking, are the pots connected to the motors?

    With power off to the motors, if you move the pot by hand does the SMC3 line move?
  14. Denis Mowberry

    Denis Mowberry Member

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    Yes with power off to the motors when I move the pots the green line moves to follow
  15. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

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    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF, DC motor, JRK
    Are the pots connected to the motors in the SMC3 Sine test, as they provide positional feedback?
  16. Denis Mowberry

    Denis Mowberry Member

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    My Motion Simulator:
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    Yes they are connected to the motors but for some reason when everything is powered up I get no power out of the RBT 2s to the motors so the motors do not move
  17. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

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    My Motion Simulator:
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    OK, so if everything is up have you actually tested the IBT2s with a multi-meter to confirm they do not have power, or are you presuming they don't have power because the motors don't move?

    Sorry to be a pain, but this is a process of elimination.

    Is there any reason why the IBT2s could have been damaged, and has the wiring to them been triple checked?
  18. Denis Mowberry

    Denis Mowberry Member

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    I have checked the wiring multiple times and am sure it is correct as for damage not sure do you think it is a hardware problem
  19. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

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    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF, DC motor, JRK
    If the IBT2s are wired correctly, the motors work, the pot work and are wired correctly, the SMC3 code is installed and configured correctly, both in terms of being set to Mode 2 as well as following the SMC3 set up, then yes it is possible there is an issue with the IBT2s, but it could be one of all those other factors.

    Wiper motors not being ground isolated n the first instance may lead to other hardware damage.
  20. Denis Mowberry

    Denis Mowberry Member

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    My Motion Simulator:
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    Thanks for your help I will go through everything again . If I put power directly to the motors they work. The pots give feedback to the SMC3 utilities program though the line is very rough . The platform the motors are mounted to is timber so not sure why ground isolation would be a problem but I have cut the wires to make sure . I downloaded the code as provided to the Arduino and it accepted it . I will rewire once more and if it is still the same I will buy 2 more IBT2s and hope that fixes the problem