New project

Hello.My name is Giorgos and I am writing from Greece.3 days ago I saw a video with a driving simulator and I liked it very much so I decided to try to make one for myself and my children.I am reading all these days and I don't know from where to start for this project.
For beginning I am thinking of making a 3 dof simulator and if we like it, maybe I will make something bigger as a 2nd project.I am writing down any useful information that I read in the projects but my big problem is with the sim.I cannot understand what kind of sim I am gonna need and how to do it...
Is somewhere some kind of general information that I must read?I mean for hardware and software.
Please feel free for any advise that is going to help me!
Thanks in advance!!!
P.s. excuse my bad english... it's been many many years that I haven't use them...

Hello.All these days I am reading and reading and reading...(I want to thank everyone that shares their projects, so people like me that starts making projects can read, and have a start) but I think I made up my mind about the design.I think I will go for something like Dof Reality's design.
At this point I have some questions.
1)Is it better to make it from iron or aluminium?I don't want to be very heavy so I can move easily.Please tell me the measures for the one or the other.
2)I am reading about the motors.Many people using windshield motors which are about 120-150w.Are they strong enough or I should try to find something else, about 250-300w?
3)Except of the chassis I think that I want to try to make a sequential shifter, pedals, handbrake, maybe a steering wheel with lcd display and in the future a driving console to replace the one that I will buy.Will I find the appropriate hardware(maybe arduino?) and software for the setup to the computer?

I've read a lot in the peripheral section and I have make up my mind about the designs.Not all of them have information about the software that's why I asked.For example, I will make this handbrake https://www.xsimulator.net/community/threads/my-2dof-with-dc-motors.6314/page-2#post-77010 but there no information included about where the cable is going to connect or the software (if needed). Am I misnig to read something??

I built a modular Button Box some time ago. With pedals, throttle control
with integrated analogue stick and handbrake.
I bought a universal USB controller from Leo Bodnar.
http://www.leobodnar.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=94&products_id=183

There are several analog axes and you can make up to 32 buttons
and a 8 way hat switch.

More reading...more questions.I want to ask something about the motors again.
I want to put dc motors.If I buy windshield motors from 24v truck would it be more powerful than 12v?
If I buy a motor with high rpm for example 3000 can I reduce them with something like the one in the attachment?In the seller's site says that it can reduce motors from 12 to 48v and 90-350w.Unfortunately doesn't say up to how many rpm it can reduce.If I don't use this can I reduce them with gears?Tell me please that maximum rpm that the motors must have.
Is it possible instead of powering the motors with a server's power supply to power them from a car's battery which it will be in charger 24/7?
Some questions about the steering wheel that I want to build.
I saw some projects that build with small motors and some others with very big motors.Is it about the resistance in the wheel or something else?
At the steering wheel I will put some buttons and potentiometers.I read many projects that uses arduino.Because I don't know how to program the arduino and because I want to keep the hole project simple I thought of something else.If I take a keyboard pad and find which button goes where can I link the buttons there?
And a question for the pedals that I want to build.
In the accelerator pedal I think that I should not put potentiometer because they are sensitive.Somebody told me to put a distance sensor.I want to ask if it is gonna be accuracy in this short distance.

Somebody an answer please....

Thank you for the answer.If I connect them to a 24v battery (always connected to a charger)?

I think what yobuddy means is that there a lot of factors that can affect the power requirements. A lot of users on here use either dc motors or actuators. It's easier to calculate your power demands off of the published specs of commercial dc motors. Look up a seller by the name of pgsaws on ebay and look at either the 25:1 motors or the 50:1 motors. They are used heavily on many rigs and are fairly easy to setup. You can run them off of a pololu 12v driver board or there is an arduino solution with motor drivers. You can also use the 24v motors that you have available but you will have to do some experimenting to see what works for power requirements unless you can provide us with some specs. Make sure you remove the ground isolation from the motor chassis. There is a tutorial on here on how to do that. Good luck with your build. There is a ton of great info on here. Lots of research and trial and error will teach you more than you can imagine.

Thank you for the answer.I am trying to have all the information I am gonna need when I start building the whole project and that's why I ask so many things (especially for the motor), and of course I am reading a lot.In Greece is not easy to find the appropriate dc motors and I have to make sure what I am going to buy from abroad. The problem is that I have to wait over a month sometimes until it arrives(if I buy them from outside of European Union).I am planing to begin the whole project around May and I want to have the motors until then.All the other material can be found here.You said something about specs.What kind of specs you need?

@geos3 specs we need for the motor is the working voltage 12v 24v etc, Ampere they need with load (ratted current), rpm of the motor its self without the gearbox, gearbox ratio and the torque of the motor.this seller has some specs to understand what i am saying.https://www.motiondynamics.com.au/worm-drive-motor-12v-24v-200w-180-rpm-20nm-torque.html
for wiper motor types(scrap yard motors) its a bit difficult to find some specs except the working voltage as we assume it from what kind of vehicle it came out

i would recommend you not to try everything at first... making a sim and a steering wheel at once may be too much... make your sim rig, and find a cheapo not simple (not force feedback wheel) buy a used one on your local store.

about motors, dc 12v is the simplest option, since a 12v power source is super simple to find. i would recomend you use a reporpoused power source from a server. (do not mess around with 24 volts at your first sim if you want simple construction)

most of people begins with car wiper motors as they are universally available... but your best option for 3 dof or two, is a nice big worm gear dc 12v motor... similar to the ones sold by motion dynamics

https://www.motiondynamics.com.au/domestic/

find something like this motors or nice wipers... dont look further.

for countrol... if you want simple and nice solution, use two pololu jrk12v12.

other options would be cheaper but a bit complicated.


*** after your first construction you will find your self more confident and relaxed, and then it is the time to try funky stuff, but you wont take the big risk of let your sim uncomplited due to the over complication of going throw hard and difficult harware options.

best regards... (you have a lot of options, for the firstime, you should take the more simple options)

best regards

A small update about some motors that I found and I need your opinion.
I thought that maybe motors from car winch(if google translate translates the word correct because I don't know the exact word in English) will be good enough for the project so I found the motors at the attachments.
Technical details for the 1st one 0.4hp / 0.3kw - max ampere 40 - when fully load (907kg) 1.8m/min
Technical details for the 2nd 0.6hp / 0.48kw - max ampere 50 - when fully load (3161kg) 1.8m/min
Technical details for the 3rd 0.95hp / 0.7kw - max ampere 62 - when fully load(909kg) 2.74m/min
Unfortunately I couldn't found the exact specifications as needed above but if somebody can take as look at them the models are 1) DW3 2) DW4 3) DW2000
Is one of these good enough?

Has anyone ever tried motor from car's steering wheel, which has electrical steering, for the moves?My cousin, which is a mechanic told me that it is more powerful than windshield motor but I can't find how much. Do you think is it strong enough?