SimTools v3 Public Beta

No need to run as Administrator.

Hi pikky, I always run Simtools as Armin…. But still nothing…..

Hi, the new interface is great! Is there a complete tutorial for axis configuration?

I know, the newer Assetto EVO plugin, is only available for V3, it’s been shared couple off messages up….

I've been using SimTools for almost five years now. Beta v3 has been in use since its release in the fall of 2022. In the beginning, I was happy with the beta.

But my problem drives me crazy. This will be last attempt to solve this matter, I'm so frustrated with this. The text is a bit long, but I kindly ask you to read and help if you can.

My configuration:

• Windows 11
• SteamVR + Vive tracker
• Fanatec DD1 + Fanatec App
• Simucube Active Pedals (only 1 y old) + Simucube Tuner
• SimHub
• QubicManager
• Crewchief
• Games: AMS2, RRRE, LMU, RBR rally

My sim has industrial‑grade linear actuators powered by high‑torque servo motors (commercial sim platform, I don't want to reveal the name of the brand here.)

I've driven over 1000 hours (only VR), mostly without problems. For the last two years now, I have been suffering from a problem that is difficult to solve, which occurs often, but not always.

Problem: The motion simulator device seems to get some motion value signal peaks or something like that. When I'm driving on an almost flat track, and I'm just turning the car slightly, there's a signal spike on the axle on the other side, and it clicks the motor. The clicking sound is so annoying that it interferes with driving. The same when turning in the other direction, but not always the same way. This happens even though I drive slowly, straight and turn calmly. It's as if something interprets that a small turn requires a big signal for a moment(?). Even when driving a lot faster a long, flat corner, no potholes (in a gravel rally), then there may be a big axel motor click in the middle of the bend, but there has been no jump in the car's movement.

Sometimes I can play for many hours without any problems. It can happen that the driving works perfectly, the simulator chassis moves silently and sensitively. Then another day you can't even drive on a flat road when the axle motors get a signal that it should jerk a little. Sometimes for example Raceroom or AMS2 doesn't work, I switch to RBR rallying, and with that it works ok. On the day of writing, the rally could not be driven because the clicking can be heard, even when the platform was barely moving.

All this with the same SimTools profiles and the same cars/tracks.

I have been able to get different cars to work in a really elegant way on my simulator platform by tuning min/max values. On a bad day min/max values need to be raised to minimize the clicking. However, I stopped adjusting it, because it doesn't make any sense that one day the min/max values are great and the other day the axles rattle with the same values. I just stop racing and try another day.

There is always a chance that my simulator platform isn’t working properly. There is just no indication of it. There are no errors in the logs, no disconnects. At its best, the device works wonderfully. And I don't understand how the device works sometimes well, sometimes badly. You would think that the poor operation would increase over time, and soon the device would not work at all. It just hasn't happened.

Tried so far:

• Adjusts min/max profiles to make them better. When there is so much room in the mix/max profiles that the device almost stops moving, that doesn't help either. Then the device moves weakly, but there are clicks, e.g. even at slow speeds.
• Make sway min/max higher
• I have stabilized my sim weight is evenly distributed. My seat and peripherals are positioned so, that my seat stays level, when I shutdown.
  
• I've been looking at Virtual Output, but I can't find out that anything strange is happening.
• I've exit and reopened SimTools, and reconnected to the game.
• I've tried to start only the simulator game (steering wheel and pedals) and connect to it with SimTools. In other words, all other utility software is turned off. I've suspected that telemetry-related utilities would be harmful, but apparently that's not the case either.
• I have replaced the USB cable.
• I've tried to examine USB signals with USB utilities.
• Could some other device be the cause of the malfunction? It doesn't seem like it.
• If I reduce USB devices? It doesn't help.
• If I put the motion sim in a different port? It doesn't help.
• I've been driving without an antivirus sw.
• Once I decided to boot the computer as soon as I heard the first click. It helped that time, I could drive hours after it with out noises. I thought it could always help. But no.
• Roll rate and Pitch rate are one thing that I have tested a lot. I'm still not quite sure how to set them up. For example, when I take Capture, I get values of +85/-85. I have then tried setting them to a low value, e.g. 1 or 2. It doesn't help. I thought, that when I set them to zero, the problem was solved. But no...

Q: If you set the roll rate and pitch rate +0/-0, are they completely off? Anyways, if it's off, it doesn't help either.

SimTools is the cause of the problem?

Is it possible that SimTools is the cause of the problem? Could it be possible that plugins don't always connect well to the game? There is a conflict with the game, and it does not receive a steady signal? (I ask a maybe stupid questions, please bare with me)

Could USB traffic be to blame? If so, what would be the best way to explore it further? However, why would the problem of USB traffic always show up in the same way? That is, when the car turns a little, a click is heard. Or when you brake a little, you may hear a click. You would think that there would be a clicking sound when the car is stationary, or it just goes straigh, or in every other situation. And why not always?

I hope you will ask me something that I didn't remember to tell, or what I haven't noticed to test.

PS: How could I test on another computer that I can use all the plugins? The license is tied to the main device's SimTools. I think I tested it once with a laptop and LFS, but it didn't resolve my issue. It didn’t work any differently.


Thank you for your help in advance!

Here are examples of my min/max values and axis setup: