Lalancelot's Rigs Experimentations

you can use 2 motors when you couple them without backlash they act as one

Thanks adgun. I will keep that in mind if I eat too much and my rig can`t handle me anymore.

Just in case someone would like to know how I design any part of my rig, I tried to document the manufacturing of a better potentiometer connection contraption.
I had my first version that was not turning the potentiometer enough to have a proper displacement on the actuator. So I had to use gears. I had to learn how to make gears:

Somehow, that part was really difficult for me to imagine and find the proper design. I did some sketches:



Still, I could not get it align in my head. I started to draw line in Fusion trying to figure it out. More sketches.



Then I got it:



The Fablab where I use to print is victim of its success and I could not find an available printer there. So I used my access to other places to get to this printer:



I had never used it before. It was almost never used and I had to calibrate it. It turned out not too bad:



After some clean up and assembly, I got this:



And it works:



Still, I had to force a few things to make it work. So, I corrected those for a new print, adding one spacer to better align the gears.



It works great with a simple and cheap potentiometer. It has no stress, and I can adjust the range of movement simply by moving this assembly closer or farther from the actuator.

Here is my train of thoughts.
Pierre.

Recently used Hall Effect sensors on my DIY rudder pedals and wondered how they would go as position sensors for DC motor feedback, very configurable to really any angle with no gears or wear.

Hall Effect sensors. That's the first time I hear of those. It is a really interesting concept. My only concern about using this for an actuator is that an external magnetic force comes to disturb the read (like an unfortunately placed magnetic screwdriver). But at the same time, it would be unlikely, as I don't want to operate the actuator if there is anything close. I really wonder how I could implement those on an actuator? Thanks for the tip. I will look into this.
At the same time, my set up look like it works in ideal conditions. The PETG print looks like it can run a really long time in a smooth manner.


Pierre.

Oh! It's been a while.
I've been swept of my feet by the amount of work that I got from my job that I just hat to stop working on my simulator. My phone decided a life on his own and I had to flush all the pictures of my progress. And, I have been given a 50" TV for free.



My setup desperately needed a update.



So I started to build a table. It would have been much easier to buy one, but I had the wood. Why not?



I also reused my old platform from my previous simulator for the electronic support.



But then, all by drill's batteries when dead. Since it is really old, it will need to recharge a long time before I'll be able to finish. The table is just enough straight to be usable.



Then I though, why don't you just finish screwing the rest with a screw driver? That is when I understood why we have powered tools. My hand are screaming in pain after all the screw driving. But the TV is up and running.



Oh! Did I mention it is a 3D TV?
Pierre.

After hours of looking at the tables setup, changing them, look again, I came up with the most promising layout for the electronic (so I think).



My concern is that with that big TV in the way, my only access to the electronics will be by passing under the back part of the rig. I will have to crawl in, or detaching it to be able to pass. Not the best solution.



Easy access to electronics = fail.
Pierre.

I had attached my PSU together using tie-wrap, but they simply broke.



So I guess it's time for a better solution. So, I designed a PSU support in Fusion.


Printed:



Cleaned up:



The white part is a failed print. But it gives a great idea on how they are gonna stack up.



I made a design mistake by aligning the ventilation hole to the the current support and not the one bellow.



But there is enough space for the air flow, I do not worry.





I also made a ventilation dome to the Saberthoots.



Four screw and I can take it of to access the electronics.


Then with all three PSU stacked together.



I stacked them that way so I can easily access theirs terminals at the back.



I do need a wire management system.
Pierre.

You didn't have any more fans?

Of course I did!




Pierre.

When I looked up to my last post, I saw May the 10th. I could not believed it. But at the same time, I cannot work on it during summer as I am away. Still, it's a long time ago. Half a year! I did work on it a few time since, but I just didn't have the time to do updates.



First, new laptop. My old laptop with 500 meg of ram could not handle anything, anymore. Not exactly related to the sim, but for those who followed my first thread, they know how I love to flash my new acquisitions shamelessly.



I have decided to put a box around my batteries for safety and I did some holes to put fan. I did not make perfect holes. Once again, a great testimony to my woodwork skills. I know, the air flow won't be perfect, but I do not expect much heat in there. It is mainly for the 12 volt psu.




It is pretty ugly, but it works. I can even look inside. The 5v breaker is stick to the side of the psu. It will go through the limit switches and decide if the 12v reaches the relay to feed the motors.



Then started the painful task of wiring the psu to the batterie, then to the Sabertooth. I used electrical cable 12/2 that are rated to 20 amp and I twisted the 2 wire together. Unless I am terribly wrong, this gives me 40 amp cables. But I had to do a cable for the positive and the negative. The cable management is... as good as it gets. But all seems to work properly. Well almost. My batteries are showing signs of failure. They stay at 11v when not powered. I will need to wait this summer for possible replacement from my friends who runs a marina. I also added a 100amp breaker. I wonder if the rig will reach that high. With only 3 motors for a start, it should not go much over 30 amps.



I made connectors for the 12 v, so I can remove the batteries' box and the fans.



With everything connected. Now I need to install the 12v relays at the Sabertooths' outputs, plug the limit switches, and wires the motors. More cable management ahead.



I have received one of my 3 needed aluminum part. I wanted to test before ordering 2 other 520$ CAD part. Anyway, I could not afford the 2 others. Damn, I could not really afford that one.



The weels are all insalled. The support shaft will be shorten.




It fits perfectly. I will need to find 1000$ CAD... Rob a bank?

Hello everyone, I did not wait six months this time to make an update. I have made available the first episode of SimulatorTV! (don't worry, it's only 1m40s long) where I test one of my actuator at full speed and full power.



The actuator is not centered and the potentiometer is not that precise (it's a really cheap one). But, the power looks good and it can go the long way. It is noisy though.

It's going well. Teachers here may go one strike. I might have extra time to work on it, but no more money to do so.

Pierre.

Yesterday, I tried to run my actuator with my first arduino and I could not make it to work. The green line that shows the position of the actuator was always at the top, no matter what I tried. I tested my two other boards and they worked just fine. I may have fried one of my arduino.

But it's ok, because for now, I will only need 3 of my actuators. But there is still a long way to go. Until a working rig, you can check SimulatoTV! Episode 2, when I move my actuator with the game Dirt Rally 2.



Pierre.

I have wire my actuator to the sabertooth.



It only misses the relay to have a final connection.



Now, everything connected.



So, it's time for another SimulatorTV! This time a little bit longer. We will talk about the PID adjustment.



Pierre.

Great news, my arduino board is not broken. It was a faulty wire. Not an easy bug to find. But now, everything works. Yeah!



Note that the values in smc3 here are not calibrated. It was only to get a signal from the potentiometer.

Pierre.

Yet another episode of SimulatorTV! This time about how the electronics is setup. I did a similar video before, but this time, the electronics is all setup properly.



Pierre.

From all the skills I thought I would learn while make a simulator, learning how to make a knot was not one of them.



I wanted to test the principle of of how I will set it up with 3 actuators. The way I attached here is only temporary. I need to find a better solution. I'm starting to have ideas how.



It starts to take shape.



If you want to see it moves... Kinda.



Pierre.

hi, can't wait to see what happens next, I'll keep an eye on it!câlin :

I am away from my rig during the holiday season. This is why not much is happening right now.

Since I am away from my rig, I made a episode of SimulatorTV! about WingmanAI from Shipbit. A AI copilot that can execute key commands from what you say.



Pierre.