Showroom Building Journey of "Crate" Racing Cockpit

@ferslash : try looking as well for "body shaker": you may be luckier? http://www.audiophonics.fr/hautparleur-vibreur-100-body-shaker-p-2947.html

Ok, finally started to weld metal parts yesterday. Now pivot, motor mounts, and part of the frame is ready!












I also finished a simple software that measures temperatures from four temp sensors and displays temps on lcd. Going to add two current sensors and safety limits, when something goes out of bounds, alarm goes on.

Nicely welded! congrats!

Your motor supports look strong but maybe a reinforcement (triangulation) could be necessary to keep it straight under load?

Thanks, Mat! Steel is 5mm thick, they are quite strong. But I'll reinforce them if necessary.

From now on, my sim rig has a project name: "Crate"

Here is a video of it's simple "monitoring software" starting up. It measures temperatures from 4 sensors (1 connected in the video) and current from two sensors (not connected). Readings in amps1 and amps2 are actually from analog pins not yet connected at all...

Hi, long time stalker, first time commenting. I wanted to answer a couple questions from earlier in this post even though it's probably too late for the OP. The first was about harnesses. If you know drivers from a local track/racing series, they typically have to replace their harnesses every so often. For example, when I start my own rig, I've already talked to a friend who drives NASA Thunder Roadsters in North Carolina. They have to change theirs every two years or more even if the harnesses are in good condition per safety protocol. Might as well retire them to a motion sim where they can live out their twilight years doing what they do best... Plus they're real and not some hokey straps.

The second was about the butt kickers. I have some experience with the AURAs and I can say they are fantastic if not a bit weighty. I use 2 per couch, one on the back and one on the bottom. They make you really feel that bass. I will say that if you can somehow mount these using a bracket or bolting through a plate, something that allows attachment from the other side, that would be best. This not only makes a very tight fit, but also secures the shakers from coming loose - something that can happen when screwed into wood. Also, make sure you've got a good amp that's plenty powerful enough for the job. I have a 250W Dayton amp that runs my four and it will overheat within minutes if I crank it all the way up (of course that's constant peaking ). If you use simvibe, that will alter how you have it wired too (series vs parallel, etc). I'm a big fan of always having more power in reserve if needed.

That's all I got for now.

second hand harness on a sim is fine, you are not under the same stress as a car.

Well...in most cases:

Tnadz, thanks for sharing your thoughts. When I was searching my racing seat, I briefly thought secondhand seat and harness, but since I don't know real track drivers etc., it was easier to use ebay I'm completelly satisfied with my chinese hockey straps for under 30€

And yes, I also mounted bass shakers with bolts and nyloc nuts through the plate, stays in it's place. To the final version I'm going to properly isolate seat and pedalbaseplate with industrial "vibe isolators" (don't know what they are called in english...) so plates would "float" over the steel frame. In theory atleast

Some progress




Upper images are adjustment points of baseframe, it will be cut where the black lines are, then pedal and steeringwheel frames are movable over 25x25 pipe. But it is easier to build with everything still being one frame.

No time to continue metalworks yet, but some progress with the electronics. Continued to work with the monitoring, now one of the current sensors is attached and working. And added connection between the two arduinos: alarm is sounded if motion side of the system is not on or connection interrupts for some reason. Got good and annoying alarm sound



Sorry about the out of focus video, it is furstrating to keep camera (phone) in the other hand, do something with your other and try to look the camera and what you are doing

Simtools make a beeping sound for a bit when there is a controller disconnected.

Spent 11 hours straight from 3: 00 am, (when you have time, you must use it ) and got the frame as ready as it needs to be for testing.

All the parts of the frame


Finished pedal stand


frameparts (30x30 pipe) connected with 20x20 pipe for pedal and steeringwheel distance adjustability


Used steeringrodsfrom my ATV continued with 16mm pipe


Levers for motors

Looking good , make sure ya post a video of a test run, Progressing nicely mate.

Thanks eaorobbie, will surely post video when the time comes! Today I moved frame inside, attached seat, pedalplate and wheel plate, and most importantly got somewhat functional potentiometer mounts. There are no 360 degrees of movement available for safety, but otherwise I'm pretty satisfied for now.

Pot mounts


Some shots of the current state






Next I will take some time to make/find a box for electronics and make proper wiring for them so then I'm able to start testing with the real thing!

Went to my storage to find something to use as a box and my eye caught an old diskette box and it is just perfect! Right size, easily accessible, under the bottom is room for bolts and center has this plate where you can organize cables.

noob question lool but will simtools work with http://www.pololu.com/product/1350 ?? ty

Don't know for sure, but I'm afraid no.

IT'S ALIVE! Now must get some sleep and going out of town for the rest of the week, so I will post some video next week, maybe earlier. But shortly, it works! Still twitching, maybe those poor pots (still) or underengineered potmounts, or Arduino, but nevertheless, VERY pleased for the end result! A whole new level for simracing for me and was pleasantly surprised how raw and ruthless it feels with hard setup even with wiper motors. Thank you guys for making this possible! Will post more info and video later.

Yes it can