Hannibal's thread into DIY motion platform

once i have everything connected, im going to work with the Fly mover PT software (@pmvcda!!!!) ...

i have to admit, i have no idea where to begin.
i remember going through @SilentChill 's mega thread..
something about setting PID values and what not..
lol.. soooo much to do

looking like something..

Awesome dude !! Well done, your so nearly there not quite as long as Pierre took either

If you want to find your C.O.G , put everything( steering , racing chair pedal ect…and dont miss your body ) on your rig , remove it from the simulator and put 3 digital balance under each corner !
Like this you will see where is your best position to drive your set up with 3 corners of the same weight.

edit :1- You can buy Aluminium Checker plate and doing the same of my mine ! more heavy is better if you dont want move until the kitchen with your wife
2- If it not too late , you can rotate 15-30 degree ( a little bit ) actuator 1 and 2 if you need more space (clearance left right )for your pedal support , this little change will help you when you need Yaw clearence . may be your support pedal will hit the aluminium extrude .

i never thought to use measuring devices to find center...
i figured i center myself in the frame..
but, i will keep this in mind!

about the pedal support, are you suggesting to rotate 15-30 higher or lower, @Flymen

i think you mean higher.. but i want to ask, anyway!

Like the pic , if not your support pedal will hit where are the black line , 15-30 degree are the rotation of actuator 1 and 2 like the blue arrows.
the pedal support depend how you like your position of your legs …. straight or no ,, depend if your seat is hight . but lower support dont help to hit your actuator 1 and 2 .

thank you for pointing out damage points @Flymen

guys.. need help.
i like to start setting up the computer side of things..
i pretty much configured simtools..
i dont know what to do next to configure all the actuators for a game

i mean i can try to read through threads again..
if i am going into the mover interface, i will follow
https://www.xsimulator.net/community/threads/flypt-mover-interface.13464/

guys, do i have to do anything in the SMC3 utility before i start?
i remember reading something about setting Kp, Fpid and all that stuff.. i thought that the utility is just for testing purpose, unless i am wrong, and it sets global parameters?

what should i do next to configure software? if i wanted to configure LFS, i have no idea what each actuator should do in terms of pitch, yaw and all the movement...

feeling overwhelmed lolol

@Pierre Lalancette @wannabeaflyer2 @Flymen @pmvcda @noorbeast

im trying to understand if there is a guide for setting axis assignments...or at least if there is something more 6dof friendlier than the simtools instructions...

i guess i will have to go through @SilentChill 's thread and @SixDegreesOfFlight 's videos again in the morning... going to sleep now..

soooooooo much to do! lol

i am grateful @noorbeast

if the SMC3 utility is to set the base configuration, and the .ini file only applies to one arduino,
does that mean i have to have 3 separate SMC3 folders for each of the arduinos i have for my 6 dof?

(i am amazed that i can actually say i have a 6dof, like you guys...)


***update***
looks like i can only run once instance of SMC3 utility at a time..

may i ask, where is the values actually stored when configuring SMC3? other than changing the comm port parameter and running SMC3 each time..im not sure how it differentiates between arduinos...

personal reference.
at the moment trying to setup simtools axis assignemtns
https://www.xsimulator.net/community/faq/which-way-to-set-simtool-axis-movements.230/

https://www.xsimulator.net/community/faq/axis-assignment-percentage-totals.120/

sample
https://www.xsimulator.net/community/threads/prototype-6dof.5045/#post-49771

***Update***
i was able to get a default axis assignment (following @vulbas) to work as expected
i tried on LFS, works well.
but behavior in NoLimits2 roller coaster is not expected.. any suggestions!
i know there is a formula, i saw a guy on youtube who managed to get corresponding telemetry for movement...
ok, taking a break. spent way too much time..lol

hoping the power supplies will charge the gel batteries.
everyone have a great weekend

ok, getting the hang of it.. im adjusting vulbas formula into mine
but setting for my actuator orientation and testing combinations for limit trips..
https://www.xsimulator.net/community/threads/6dof-preset.5800/

i noticed that everytime i start up the PC, and try to run a motion controller game,
i have to at least run SMC3 on each arduino before i start the simtools game manager and game engine every time my computer is restarted or turn on for that day... am i missing something?

Congratulation on having a moving 6 DOF (and taking less time them me to build it up ).

I don't have to set up the SMC3 each time I start it. But, I make sure the arduinos are disconnected from any power when I stop the rig (from the main power and the computer). That reset them to the center for me.

For no limits 2, I think I did this, but I can't remember for sure:
https://www.symprojects.com/nolimits2-roller-coaster-simulation-telemetry

When I try a new game, I only leave the heave at low value. It easy to see, all actuator should work at the same time. It's a good way to start for me.

I made a small tut on how I calibrated my rig back in the wood days.
Could be useful.

6 DOF from scratch

thank you @Pierre Lalancette
you helped me a great deal, i was lucky to have you around to answer questions.
i dont know 10 months seem to be an eternity.. but i still have alot to do

ok, so you also have to start SMC3... i do the same, and close it.. and start it for the other arduinos.. (seemingly redundant)

i got nolimits to work.. but i feel like i dont set the axises correctly for nolimits, where as LFS behaves as expected...
its like the coaster in the game goes up, but sometimes the frame goes with up, sometimes it does opposite.. i dont know, i gues i have to figure out the right combo... it seem to work better when i applied Extra 1, 2 ,3..
i dont know..

Hi Hanibal
I wanted to say congratulate to your successful running the 6DOF !!! Isnt I a great feeling after so much work?
I also love your welded upper frame. It looks super strong, but not too heavy. Are you confident with the dimensions of your steel tubes? (I think they are 1 1/2", so aprox 40x40mm?).

My second question: I saw you also use car batteries on your rig. How did you connect them with the power suply? parallel? Diodes? How would you rate your solution after the first tests?

I am asking this, because I am a step before making final decisions regarding my new battery-PSU-solution and also welding the upper frame....

Thanks a lot!!!

Wickie

thank you @PeterW

yes, it is definitely a great feeling.

for your first question, so far i feel good about the construction.
i used steel tubes 1-1/2" x 1-1/2". mostly 14 guage, though at first i was going to go for 11 guage (1/8") but felt it could have been heavy at the time. looking back, i think it would have been OK to go with 11 guage. but i am happy with results of the construction. how it performs is another story since i have yet put all the accessories, seat etc. will get back to you on that.

second: i used mighty max 35Ah batteries (6x) and LED power supplies @24V. for the most part i followed @SixDegreesOfFlight 's circuit design, and because i used sabertooth 2x60, the batteries were required as per manufacturer of the sabertooth. i even emailed dimenson engineering if i can decrease the number of batteries since i was using LED P/S in parallel, but said the sabertooth should have 35Ah..

i used pretty much all the components that @SixDegreesOfFlight but added a delay circuit for the arduino since you the sabertooth has to be on first before arduino to establish serial communications. wiring pretty block diagram here in video

tests are going well, just configuring requires research to get the 6dof to work as expected.
i jumped on the 6dof on one test with nolimits2, it was jarring, but solid. (have to tweak the smoothness of movements)

At this point in time, im just trying to get telemetry from my perferred games, dirty rally 1 plugin seems to be broke at this time, and i have to better configure nolimits2, the motion behavior is not like what it should be in game.

i will say that power i solid, and frame seems to be solid at this time...
hope this helps!

No, I don't have to start SMC3. I have it set once for every motors (2 for each port/arduino), and it's done. But, I turn down the power (main and computer) of every arduino if the rig stop to respond correctly. That reset it all to the middle position when I turn the power back on.

I have not started dirt rally yet. My last attempt fails. But there is a script lately on pmvcda threat to put in the configuration file to make it work. I need to test that.

link to script? would appreciate! thankx @Pierre Lalancette
today i was successful with assetto corsa. it was easy
but i had one actuator hit the top, as the game launched the frame up.
i heard a loud conk, but limit switch did what it had to, but i think the igus polymer sleeve got pushed up....
today i am adjust limit switches for shorter stroke ..

FlyPT Mover Interface