Showroom 6DOF racing platform 12v dc 3.6kw arduino and mm/SMC3

Good to hear you don't need to wait for more parts to show up and that everything is working. It will be interesting to see how everything works out with the limit switches, I never got a successful tune with the limit switches on my first actuator so I wasn't aware of the -1800 to 1800 issue. Take a look at the Machine Zero function in the positioning tab, you might be able to set machine zero to -1800 and then using the same scaling function in simtools.

From the describe help file

Machine Zero
If this is zero, the zero position and origin are the same.
This is the offset from the origin that is considered the zero position. All other positions are relative to this zero.

edit - you might also have to adjust the travel values in describe to be 0-3600 after setting the machine zero offset.

Honestly I think you are correct, the limits are not really needed, the "crash"(hard stops) tune is fine so far. so as long as i dont loose steps it will be fine. plus it removes more parts from the design and no wiring to run.
the video is the start up routine.

I ordered another encoder from US digital today but this time I ordered a 200cpr instead of the 50cpr im currently using.

Version 3.6 (June 14, 2014):
Kangaroo machine zero now allows negative coordinates.

This is the encoder I'm going to use. Its 200 ppr instead of 50. It gives me 7200 reference points total after tune compared to the 1750 with the 50 ppr.

This is live for speed heave as i run over curbs.

I was printing more components for the actuators today when my 3dprinter started smoking badly. I shut it down and removed the cover to the electrical system only to find a burnt driver. It doesnt look like it killed anything else but we shall see when parts arrive.

its an mks gen version 1.2 control board but the problem is it has the a4988 ic which has poor heat dissipation. I had been in the control box earlier to swap out a fresh hotend. the printer had been running for a few days. I suspect I dislodged the heatsink while fiddling around. this printer has a ton of hours without incident. good news is the relacement driver costs less than 2dollars. so maybe the control board is ok.....I hope

It's good you were around it when it happen

yes I have a new respect for this printer. I cant count the number of times I have left the house or went to bed with this running. I'm a little "gun shy" now. I have been toying with the idea of automatic fire suppression for the sim lab but its quite expensive for a good co2/halon system.

If you can get away with localized, take a look at fireboy extinguishers. They use a halon replacement and are heat activated. I use a lot of these at work as first response for tanks of flammable liquids. I have never had to rely on one, but they appear sufficient when we test them. They can be picked up from boat supply stores online.

I have always avoided the co2 systems for fear of someone being in the room when it goes off.

Sucks that your printer did that, I leave mine running when I’m not around all the time. Now you’ve got me rethinking that.

So i got my printer going finally. Ended up just ordering a replacement controller from the manufacturer.

I took the time to redesign the carrier assembly so that it fits inside the profile of the vslot rails. This will allow me to put covers over the exposed ballscrew and carrier assembly eliminating a number of "pinch points" which will make it safer and give me a cleaner look.

I printed the clamp from polycarbonate filament as i broke the petg g model by overtightening the bolts. .

Actuator with cover

Damn, i was hoping the less exotic 3d printed materials would prevail.

I really like your efforts to 3d print as much of your actuator assembly as possible. Quite inspiring.

More of the same. This is just a calibration with the newest design.

I have them on 24v finally. version 1 and 2 are shown below using 24v i could turn them up a little more but i am using the axis settings for the old 6 dof. It seems very fast and I am excited to move forward.

Ok holy #$%&, so i used b axis to set up a more aggressive profile for testing. The actuators almost jumped from the bench to the floor. I had to stand and hold them until the replay stopped. Only three laps but omg. When my wife gets home i'll make a video. I dont think they are useable at that power. These motors (e30 150 ampflow) are heating after 1 hour no load just the inertia from direction change. I may use fans or possibly switch to the e30 400. The motor swap would only require longer spacers. Everything else is a direct match.

Full bore...

Holy Buckin Broncos, Batman!

Damn Bruce, have never witnessed anything like this. Dont even wana look at my bodine motors anymore lol