6DOF Question from beginner

Hello, I'm fairly new to the scene of Simulation, and I had a question regarding a 6DOF system. While looking online, I found a site that was selling a 6DOF platform with 6 seats installed on the top. Up to that point, I had only seen single seat 6DOF systems that were built by fans, but this system looked huge. So I was wondering if anyone could give me any information on whether a six seat 6DOF system could be built, and what might the price for the build be. I'm just trying to get a collective idea of what I might be looking at if I decide to build something like this. And if you have any other ideas that could provide a better solution for a 6 seat sim, I would be glad to listen. Attached is a picture of the six seat 6DOF system.

that's huge for sure!

there is someone here who built a very big 2 seat Airbus dynamic sim... I've to find the link again!

I thought it looked huge, but you just confirmed it. hahahaha

why 6 seats?
cost wise, massive. You would have to allow 120kg per person. thats 720kg, plus frame. You would need either huge AC motors or hydraulics.

I saw this couple years ago while searching....it's hydraulic. They didn't give a price........but it's has to be astounding.

Well, I wanted to give movement to about 15 seats, but I don't have the money to build 15 individual 2DOFs. So I was looking for a shortcut and the six seat 6DOF looked like a good solution, but it might actually be the opposite.

I think I saw a 15K price on a similar one, so it might not be that off from it.

Hi @Philip_J , Of course a six seat 6dof system could be built, after all, you posted a picture of one! But what is its purpose? I can only envision it being useful as a roller coaster or motion video simulator that has a limited motion. I assume all the seats move with the platform and not individually? If so then the motion will feel somewhat different depending on what seat you’re sitting in! It’s impossible to make a true simulator from a design where every seat you set in feels different. Take the roll dof for example, when the person setting in the left side seat goes down, the person seating in the right side seat goes up! And both of them should be doing neither! A design that attempts to be a true simulator should always have the person seating in their center of gravity relative to the platform imho!

That said, if you want to build one, you must supply some detailed information about its desired specs in order for anyone to attempt to help you determine much of anything!

And btw, were glad to have you here as a new member!

15 seats? Ok, start selling your home if you have one to pay for it.

Yea! I recall seeing something similar to this for sale on a site that sells amusement rides some time back. I think it was in the $80,000 to $100,000 usd price range!

BlazinH, I see what you're saying about the roll. I hadn't thought of that.

No kidding!

My original idea was to make a extremely small scale "D-Box" Theater. One screen with 15 seats. It sounds silly, but there's really nothing fun in town, so I figured it was worth a shot. It's turning out to be harder than I expected, but I still think I can do it. Just not with a 6DOF.

I grew up in a small town like that so I understand where you come from! Lol! And yes, you can do it if you have the desire along with the required resources to complete the job! And SimTools of course! Okay, get a plan and some specifications together like the size of you’re platform, how much total weight it will need to work with, how much tilt or movement you want, etc. and I bet some people here can start to give you some more answers!

Thanks for the encouragement. I will get started on those specs.

I am estimating a platform weight of 3500lbs fully loaded which is considerable. Having a center pivot point and a balanced platform would help considerably dealing with the weight! But there would be issues with 15 or less people of varying weights always arranged in a way to keep it balanced. And again, the seated position would make a big difference in the motion felt. Without a balanced platform is hydraulics an option for you? Right now that seems to be the most viable option. Maybe use four hydraulic motors or pistons, one at each corner or there abouts. My dream of building a flight simulator started in 1984. At that time, hydraulics was the best (only) option I could find. However, the cost was humungous for a guy that was only a couple of years out of high school! So it took another 25 years for technology and my budget to sync up and get it done! Lol. I hope you don’t have to wait that long, but it would prove that you have the desire! Lol.

Other than roller coaster simulation use, I’m not sure what is available in motion videos for purchase. But @yobuddy (author of SimTools) has created a video plugin for SimTools for this purpose. And you can code your own movies also if you have the time and desire for that as well. If you wish to do this you should ask him more about it!

Hydraulics are indeed an option for me, I've even considered airbags. I'm sure the people in town are so fed up with our one and only theater, that any movement from their seats will entertain them. I plan to start a small film crew that will provide the films for the theater, so that I won't have to pay for and depend on Copyrighted or "Studio" films.

For film 2DOF would be enough...
http://www.x4dexperience.com/

I actually tried the above and was pretty good for hydraulic system, even though I could still feel the "stepping" of the valves switching pressure...

Thanks for the link @tronicgr . I found this video of it too!

But there are options other than using solenoid valves for control. I don't know what an electronic proportional valve costs but they are available. Or you could make your own using a flow control valve, a motor, a microcontroller, and a feedback device; just like we do the motion part!

Great! Sounds like you have a beginning plan and a budget of some sorts to work with too. When I revisited building a simulator 5 years ago though, due to technological advances, I opted to go electric instead of hydraulic. But sounds like a fun project and I'm willing to help where I can!

Here's a link to a PWM controlled proportional valve in the USA for a little over $300
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200339017_200339017

I don't think it's been mentioned yet but a major drawback of multiseat systems is motion sickness because the pivot points are never where they should be. It's something to consider.