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Question 3DOF complete freedom

Discussion in 'DIY Motion Simulator Projects' started by Nibe, Feb 19, 2018.

  1. Nibe

    Nibe New Member

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    My Motion Simulator:
    DC motor, Arduino, 6DOF
    Hi all,
    before starting explaining my idea little bit about myself: I'm an old computer engineer and I always enjoy playing car sim videogames (since Accolade's TestDriver!). Even if I have very low experience with hardware I want to try to create, for fun and learning, my own simulator.
    I have red almost all the documentation, and I understand a lot even if other things are still in the dark for me, hopefully moving on with my idea I'll fill the gap.:)
    My idea is to build a 3dof complete freedom motion sim where Roll, Pitch and Yaw shall move 360° using 1 motor per axis.
    Due to the weight I was thinking to use Arduino + Sabertooth dual 32A or 60A version and DC motor around 1,5Kw with brakes. I already design an sketch of my idea, with the help of a friend of mine.
    The M1-M2-M3 are the motors and where they should be attached, my apologize for the draw, it's just a draft.
    My question is, does SimTool support 360° with 1 motor per axis?

    I know it sounds weird as project but thanks a lot for any good advice, I'll start to post some pictures as soon as I'm sure I can do ithug:


    example2.png
    • Like Like x 1
  2. MarkusB

    MarkusB Well-Known Member Gold Contributor

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    Hi @Nibe,

    in the first sentence of your post you mention that you enjoy playing car sim video games.
    So if this is your main area of interest, why are you planning such a complex 3x360 degrees simulator?
    As mentioned in many threads here, fast movements are more important for a racing simulator than large movements. A seat mover would probably result in better immersion and would surely be much easier to build than what you currently have in mind. :)
  3. bruce stephen

    bruce stephen Hammer doesnt fix it, must be electrical

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    My Motion Simulator:
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    reminds me of a joyrider configuration. m1 is usually on the same plane as m2 (offset 90 degrees). you will get the same movement.
  4. Nibe

    Nibe New Member

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    @MarkusB thanks a lot for your reply, indeed I'm a big fan of sim car! I'd like to build it like that because I'd like also use it with a flight simulator, which actually I'm a big fun of as well :)
    @bruce stephen thanks for the advice, I'll take a look at the joyrider simulator. So it seems possible to use SIMTOOL with 1motor per axis
  5. Nibe

    Nibe New Member

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    My Motion Simulator:
    DC motor, Arduino, 6DOF
    I decided with a friend of mine who is a carpenter to start to build the mechanical part, while I'm trying to figure out if i can use sim tool with 1motor per axis, here some picts to share :) Of course is a long way ...
    IMG_6548.JPG


    IMG_6546.JPG
    • Creative Creative x 1
  6. BlazinH

    BlazinH Well-Known Member

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    Simtools works fine with one motor per axis as you put it but it doesn't output over 360 degrees total rotation on a given axis. So if you want your sim to do multiple rotations you have to program that aspect into a motor controller yourself or do it via an extension or custom plugin to SimTools.

    But I'm not sure your design is good for over 360 degrees anyway because motors 1 and 3 will gimbal lock when motor 1 axis is pointing upwards or downwards. What are your intentions?
    • Agree Agree x 1
  7. FargusFaustmeister

    FargusFaustmeister Member

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    Holy moly that is a big gear ring. Are you designing around that component because you already had it or did you go and purchase it?
  8. Nibe

    Nibe New Member

    Joined:
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    My Motion Simulator:
    DC motor, Arduino, 6DOF
    sorry guys for the delay, and thanks a lot for your feedback:

    @BlazinH thanks for the hint. I'm very happy that simtools can work with one motor per aixs. And it's fine if it will be not able to do a whole 360 degrees for the moment, once I'll understand better all the things i'll try to program it into the motor controller or create a plugin as you suggested. I hope you can help me on this to point me in the right direction.
    The motors are indipendent in the movement, there are 3 rotary joints to pass electricity and data. I know the draft was not really clear, my apologize, I'll try to post more clear information later once I finish the next stage posting more picts

    @FargusFaustmeister well I had it already, let's say it was a part of a machine that my friend, the carpenter, already had, indeed it has some pros and cons. I will describe later on once I complete the next stage.

    Now I'm waiting to receive a Sabertooth dual 60A, I have already a couple of arduino mega/uno ready to be connected. And now comes the hard part where I don't know really much even if i try to read the documentation, starting from the simtools configuration till the software runinng on arduino which of course must be modified, I guess, but I'll bother you guys for help later on.
    For now starting from the very beginning, SimTools - Game Engine Axis assignement, I have, already, some doubts on how configure it, in my case we are talking about Roll/Pitch/Yaw, if im not wrong, but I dont' get how should I select them. Should be something like this:
    Axis1 DOF1 Roll
    Axis1 DOF2 Roll
    Axis2 DOF3 pitch
    Axis2 DOF4 pitch
    Axis3 DOF5 yaw
    Axis3 DOF6 yaw

    Again my apologize for te stupid question.