best route for first sim?

Hi my name is Chris and this will be my first sim build and first post on the forum so go easy on me
That being said I have a few questions for anyone willing to help me out.

I'm wanting to do a two actuator system if i can do it cheap enough. I also saw the wiper motor style but would need a complete guide on how to wire it up and which motors to use.

I'm wanting it setup similar to the project woodcrusher, unless of course anyone thinks I might have trouble with the build having no experience in the matter? I am very open to suggestions.


Thank you very much for help in advance.
I'm lucky to have found a community with the knowledge that you guys have shown to have.

Hi All!!!!
i am brand new too, and i already have a platform with a car seat and everything else attached to it, wheel, pedals, shifter, handbrake, subwoofer etc..it is made of wood, leather and fake gold aluminium trim etc.. playing on a 90 inches across 3D projector, pretty cool !!!
So i would like to have only a small travel to simulate road bumps and hill, road vibrations and shifting G force, a bit like the D-box, which i asked for the price (here in montreal, i am french canadian ) of the cheapest system, they told me about $8000.00, crazy stuff !!!!

I am not looking for a violent movement like thoses youtube vids that i saw with the guys going almost 45 deg angle banking on the side, just want to feel the road, so i wonder if i would need more than 2 dof for the hill and bump part of simulation...or i need 3 dof for having my platform move up and down while it is still leveled....??

And like my friend here, i also would like to have help if possible on major parts findings(actuator, motor, drivers etc) and wiring (drawing etc.), even if i am an electronics technician, it has been a while i didnt work in what i studied and i am rusted lol

And To answer partially to ''iwannagofast'', i checked the actuator, look fine, but i wonder if travel speed, 8mm per sec, will be too laggy for that ?? surely the more experienced guys will answer clearly....

Tks in advance for eveybody who is whiling to help !!! really looking forward to add that feature to my rig, which is not bad for now..i added a pic of it

Hello Chaps, I can assist a bit.
For motors , the cheaper alternative would be either of these for sheer grunt at a reasonable price :-
http://www.motiondynamics.com.au/worm-d ... orque.html (more power than a wiper)
http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/online ... escription
Both have plenty of power. Aldoz and Eaorobbie use the winches. I use the big worm gear motor (I will take a video this week, been busy getting the settings right).
For control boards, http://www.pololu.com/catalog/product/1393 , one per motor, easy to wire up. One usb cable and 7 wires (2 x power, 2 x motor, 3 x potentiometer for feedback.)
Frame is personal choice, search the threads diy-motion-simulator-projects-f22.html , find something you like and design your own.
It is possible to build a frame that wheel and pedals move with you, screen stays still for about $1000 or less. It will take a bit of planning and sourcing parts.
Have fun!
Cheers, David.

VERY GOOD info to start withDavid !!! tks
would also like to know what value of the pots i will need and if i need to mount them separately from motor shaft...

thanks for the quick replies guys, i had to edit the question about that actuater out, i saw the speed after the post and figure its way to laggy

to bsft: which of those two motors would be easier to mount and wire up?

to poman: what did you have to spend on your rig without motion?

The pot value is usually 5k ohms linear, and mounted near the motor with a lever system of some description so the pot dial gets moved by the motor.

to iwannagofast, without hardware (wheel, and other), just wood, simili leather and gold trim, gold tubing, maybe 2-3 undreds dollars, seat is a car seat from scrapyard and a cover from a car parts type store, leather bought at a linen store, all other at a home depot kind of store, very simple!!
btw, tubing is to hide cables

$25 scrap aluminuim, already had the screws, wood, seat, speakers , etc.

Nice Motors with that big worm gear, :brows:
does anybody knows a distributor to buy them in Europe (Germany) or knows a equal Model from a another company?. Can`t wait to see a Video .

I believe a golf buggy motor is almost exactly the same http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/12-volt-dc-1 ... 500wt_1158
Have a look locally to you, there may be something.

question on the linear actuator route, What would be the minimum speed required in order for it to work well and not be laggy? how many mm/sec or in/sec?

look up the hardware theads about that.
Heres some to start.
can-a-230mm-sec-actuator-be-fast-enough-for-simulators-t3598.html
if-scn5-moves-at-400mm-sec-how-fast-can-wiper-motors-move-t3597.html

well, stil havent heard from any of you guys about that up and down g-force question, do i need a 3dof system to feel the car going up and down or with a 2dof there is a possibility to feel it nicely too, if i need a 3dof, what actuator would i need?
Tks in advance again

Aldoz has built a sim with an up and down motion on his my-3dof-project-is-born-t3096-110.html , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeyQC2lW ... r_embedded , he uses 12 v winch motors, real good for lifting.

Most of us run 2dof, where it just dips you under braking . Heres a video of mine being 2dof http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbN8XF02 ... ature=plcp , I use big 12v worm gear motors.
I do not know a really solid answer on that one. Look at the videos and see what you would like.

anyone have a review of the simxperience.com kit with the two actuators and the controller/power box?

Is it better to have the seat move only or the whole platform so that screen, wheel, and pedals all move also?

Hello, purely only one mans opinion.. I have built 3.
Joyrider with screen attached, good for immense gaming, you get use to following the screen. Better for flight, but good for racing.
Frex, with wheel - pedals moving with you. Screen still. Think about when you are in a car. Whatever way you move, most of the time, your eyes are on a fixed point out the window, so screen stays still.
Seatmover.Makes interesting gaming, Interesting to have your arse moving and hanging on to the wheel mounted at the desk. I think good, but not as good as wheel - pedals moving with you. But very good for space saving.
My current ride is a frex - wheel - pedals moving , screen still. My favourite, but others have their preference.
Look at the videos of other peoples builds and have a think. Or even , design a seat mover with the ability to expand later.
Cheers, David.

Tks all for replys !
so if i go with 2 dof with pivot mostly in the front of my platform, and 2 actuator near the rear beneath the seat, both actuator can go up and down together to make you feel the g-force going a hill...is that possible with software?
By the way, why when you accelerate the seat goes backward which make you feel a negative g-force...shouldnt it be the opposite ?? i know it would look weird when you see around, but still, g-force wise is wrong, any comments?
tks again for help

You should spend some time looking through the diy-motion-simulator-projects-f22.html and read and look at photos and videos of peoples simulators. Spend some time doing that, and you may get more answers before you find more questions.