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Discussing motor options for larger people

Discussion in 'DIY Motion Simulator Building Q&A / FAQ' started by silkcom, Oct 3, 2023.

  1. silkcom

    silkcom New Member

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    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF
    I've been looking into making a 3dof from youtubers going over the subject. I'm really excited about one, but i'm worried that the motors won't be powerful enough for a 350 pound person.

    The motor i'm looking at right now is the crab pot 50:1 motors found on ebay for like $170 after shipping (i'm in the states)

    I'm wondering if there is another "mass produced" type motor that is stronger. I'd like to add $50 or something like that but only if it means a good 30% increase is power. I've seen some 80ST servo motors but they're like $350-400 a piece. I don't know enough about motors (though I've been learning a lot since looking into this whole thing), so i'm having a hard time knowing if different motors on ebay/amazon are better or not.
  2. silkcom

    silkcom New Member

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    I'm mostly looking to replicate @Halloween2go 's stuff, his youtube videos are great.
  3. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

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    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF, DC motor, JRK
    Secondhand wheelchair motors are likely a cost effective option, and while adequately powerful motors are a consideration equally so is careful planning around design.
    • Like Like x 1
  4. silkcom

    silkcom New Member

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    Are they stronger than the crab pot motors? If so they're usually similar in price so that'd be a bonus. The ones i've found are 120rpm at 24vdc or 60rpm at 12vdc both of those seem sufficient. None of them really seem to list their nm though. These are just the Jazzy wheelchar motors right? Added bonus they come with 2 of them in mirrored orientation so I wouldn't have to worry about that.

    As far as design, the current design is to match Halloween2go's setup almost exactly for his compact design. 3 frames, the top one having the chair and being balanced on a u joint from the 2nd frame, and the 2nd frame swiveling on the 1st frame with some skateboard wheels and a swivel.

    At some point I'd like to add a 4th motor to do a belt tensioning, so that'd be another benefit to just getting 2 motors at a time. Then if one of the motors blows out I can use the belt tensioner in it's place.
  5. silkcom

    silkcom New Member

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    3DOF
    I'm looking at the Quantum Q6 motors, they're 350 watt at 24v. I would assume they have around 120 rpm. The crab pot motors are 180 watts at 12v. Doesn't that mean these 2 are roughly the same power?
  6. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

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    Innovative tech specialist for NGOs
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    St Helens, Tasmania, Australia
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    +10,902 / 54 / -2
    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF, DC motor, JRK
    Yes I was thinking of the Jazzy wheelchair motors and yes they should provide more torque than the crabpot motors.
  7. silkcom

    silkcom New Member

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    I'm curious as to why @Halloween2go doesn't go with jazzy motors all the time. He has a video set from a year ago where he build a 2dof from 2 jazzy motors, but in his latest compact build he's using the crab pot motors instead. I'm curious as to why when the jazzy motors are cheaper and more powerful.
  8. silkcom

    silkcom New Member

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    3DOF
    Ok, I watched the final video from halloween2go's seatmover 8 upgrade where he talks about the problems with the wheelchair motor. The main problem he was having is that they're 18:1 where the crab pot motors are 50:1. This explains why he's going with the crab pot. Is there a way to use a wheelchair motors at a slower rpm with higher torque that is realistic to DIY? I mean I could build a custom gear box that is 50:1 instead of 18:1 but that seems unrealistic for someone who isn't a machinist.

    Is there any other way to use these motors? If not, is there any other motor that is 50:1 or 60:1 that is more powerful than the crab pot motors?