How to expand a 3DOF to a 4DOF using x 2 Arduino Uno R3's and 4 IBT-2 H bridges using SMC3? RESOLVED

As the title suggests, I'm looking for a way to run 4 motors using x2 Arduino Uno R3 boards (I believe from what I've read this is a way to do this) and x4 IBT-2 H Bridges. I currently run a 3DOF (traction loss rig) using the RufusDufus SMC3 Arduino 3DOF tutorial using mode 2 for the IBT-2's and all works very well.

Wanting to expand to a 4DOF and hoping this can be done using SMC3 showing 4 motors? Can anyone offer any guidance? I assume there'd be a need to change the Arduino code for 4 motors etc. I've been reading through lots of threads, but can't find a definitive answer or guide for implementation. The search continues. Cheers.

@noorbeast you are a gift from the heavens mate. I thought it wouldn't be too complicated. So this means x 2 computer USB ports required yes? And does SMC3 utilities then show 4 motors in the app? Thanks for the info.

@noorbeast oh ok. I think I can work with this. Is there a thread anywhere you know of regarding this type of setup? Thanks noorbeast. Oh and thanks for the winner badge on the pic of my XW.

@noorbeast thanks for the info. Ok so, if I'm interpreting this correctly. I'll set up two independent SMC 3 profiles and I'll run two motors on each profile separate from one another.

Each version of SMC3 and Arduino Uno R3 will require it's own code setup in mode 2 (for the IBT-2 preferred controllers as shown in RufusDufus's 3DOF tutorial). Each Arduino will need it's own com-port allocation and each Arduino will run off it's own USB. That can be done with very little headache I recon. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction again!

What I'll do once this new 4.5DOF is running, (since there isn't a specific "how to" to be found at present) is I'll put together a tutorial on how I did it and how it all works as detailed as I can for the site. This will all be documented in video format for my youtube build channel anyway. I'll share it in a new build thread once done. I'll be back with this in a couple of months with some luck.

@noorbeast Almost at the software side of the new build but just following up on our previous conversation regarding running the two Arduino's with SMC3 Utilities. To have 2 separate SMC3 utilities programs for the 4 motors (two motors on each program) do I need two copies of SMC3 with allocated com ports in each ini file for the two Arduino's? Was wondering if you can even actually install two copies of SMC3 and open them independently. Hopefully I'm making sense.

hi guys
recently changed my 3dof rig to a 4dof adding surge, running 2 arduinos driving 2 motors each.
everything is working in smc3 as ive got 2 versions on a seperate com port..
cant seem to get the simtools setup working, ive set up 2 serial ports configured to correct ports.
my normal motors work ok but the new system doesnt work on test or when sim tools running..
any ideas ? thanks in advance
rico

photos of serial port settings

@Rico Mortis Well, I'll be watching this closely as I'm about to embark on a similar journey. Tell me a bit about your 3DOF and how you have setup your surge axis if you don't mind me asking?

@Rico Mortis Did you simply copy your original SMC3 utilities folder to make two versions of SMC3 so you can run two com ports for two arduino's?

Hi Kevinski
i made another platform at the base that has an angle iron track that the main deck can run forwards and backwards on. i 3d printed some wheels and put 20mm bearings in them to take the weight, and on that frame i mounted an old wheelchair motor with a push rod connecting the lever on the shaft to the main frame.
it pushes and pulls the whole thing with ease.
my problem is getting the thing working in sim tools, everything works in 2 copies of smc3 for each pair of motors but motors 3 and 4 aka yaw and surge arent working.
regrds Rico

you cant run 2 copies of smc3 at the same time? it seems.

@Rico Mortis Hi mate. Sounds like a cool idea for the surge axis. I have just made a similar invention for my 3DOF. Here is a video showing my rig and the trolley rail system it uses. OK. I did wonder how SMC3 would work with two copies and I couldn't work out how you could assign two com ports with only 1 version of SMC3. So are you saying it seems like sim tools cannot recognise two copies of SMC3? @noorbeast do you know a work around with this or are we both just not assigning SMC3 with sim tools correctly?

@noorbeast I could be wrong here, but I think SMC3 utilities only has the option for 1 comport allocation to your arduino via device manager? So you'd need two SMC3 programs with the assigned comports to the corresponding arduino? And from what @Rico Mortis is saying it seems Sim Tools only see's one SMC3 utilities program so therefore, will only pair with 2 of the motors and the corresponding arduino and it's com port allocation via what device manager see's the arduino com port location as. Have you seen someone using 4 motors with SMC3 and sim tools setup with 2 arduinos?

@Rico Mortis so your experiments are showing Sim Tools can only work with one open SMC3 program at a time and does not recognise a second SMC3 program running?