The rebuilding of my static sim cockpit into a motion sim

After a long time of planning and preparation I have started now the "transformation" of my existing race cockpit from a static model into a motion sim.

I'll use the simxperience-Strater Kit with 150 mm actuators, maybe in a next version the traction loss too. But for now the setup is planned as a 2-DOF system.

Step 1.

Three years I have used my cockpit without motion, now I'ts time to start a new era. The first action is to disassemble the cockpit

This is the starting point:

And now the result:



Now the first new parts have to be prepared. I hope all is correctly constructed and fits together.










After some hours of welding, grinding and pre coloring it looks very good

Because the seat must be moveable from front to rear the rear bar must be moveable too. Therefore the base frame must be extended





Next step is to preparing the moveable seat base and the actuator connector for the seat

Coming soon...

Nice job man, are you going for seat mover then?

Yes, it is planned as a seat mover. Maybe later i will extend it with traction loss.

Awesome Start to the project remember for your actuator's you'll be needing dampening of some sort. There's a reason the SimX Rigs are the way they are in regards to the "cushioning"


That is if you've already bought actuators ? Have you ? Have you researched what DC motor's are all about ?

The actuators are ordered.
I'll try to build a very compact sim because the room I use for it is limited so that I cannot realize a "big and heavy" design.

ok, that sounds like a plan. SCN actuators require at least 1m wide foot print at the rear, so I dont know how "compact" you are planning

1m in width is okay, I just did'nt want a box-like cockpit.

Now here are the next steps/parts I have done today.

The moveable seat base in parts and mounted together.

The ground plate with the mounted joint

The upper plate with the screws and standoffs

The parts are assemled now

Now the slider on both sides are mounted

The next part - seat ground plate


The seat with upper holder for ball joints

with mounted belts

upper side of seat ground plate with mounted seat


Next steps/parts coming soon ...

Awesome man, remember that the COG changes DRASTICALLY if you move the seat fore or Aft.

Did you make the belt mount/Rod end mounts on the chair ?

The belt is mounted on the left and right hand side underneath the seat plate on this plate, the central belt mount is located on the lower end of the connection strut between the upper rod ends mounting plate and the seat ground plate. Therefore the belt is mounted on the seat itself indirectly on the added parts.
I hope you can understand my English

I take it the rails are to adjust the seat placing. A good idea, EXCEPT, are you putting the actuators on rails as well to adjust with seat?
As @Nick Moxley says, moving it can affect centre of gravity.
And as you are using Bernards stuff, he will not warranty any actuator damage or mods outside his designs.
If you want the wheel and pedals to be more adjustable, make them on rails to slide back and forth and leave the seat set in the right spot of balance.

You are right, the actuators lower fix point will be moved in parrallel with the moveable seat. Therefore I'll connect the lower seat plate with the rear bar by a pair of rods to the ground plate underneath the rubers (the screwdriver points to the hole where the joint will be placed to connect this part with the seat plate )



All the dimensions and distances will be constant, also when the seat is moved.

The pedals and the wheel are already adjustable, but with the moveable seat I can achieve a very complete adjustment to the drivers dimensions.
The sim must be adjustable for me (1,79) and my son (1,85) and my daughter (1,50) too .

Ok, sounds like a plan, but id still be cautious of having actuators on rails. Actuators/motors can create a lot of force and may move. But hey, prove me wrong!
Heres what I did as a suggestion, in this thread, with thanks @eaorobbie , I left the motion seat as is and made up a sliding and adjustable wheel stand.
It suits 1.3m to 1.9m drivers now,and the wheel is heigh adjustable
http://www.xsimulator.net/community/threads/dual-racing-sims-2dof.5732/

Ok, I'll think about it. Maybe I'll prepare the alu profiles where the rear bar slides on and drill down a hole on every position in parallel where the seat slider is fixed so that the rear bar is fixed also. With a lock bolt I can lock the ground plate on this position.

Now the seat is completed and all parts are assemled.


The next stage is to move some parts of the audio system to other locations on the sim
Under the hood some cables must be moved, the frequency soft too.

Because the old location of the speakers are no longer useable I have found a good place is inside a mirror housing
Two mirrors are placed on the laft and right hand side on the sim body.

The mirror housings are prepared to hold the midrange speakers


After the SimXperience - Starter kit has been arrived

I have assembled the prepared parts.



After I have found the optimal settings for the position of the actuators the ground plate for the seat (mounted on the sliders) will be connected to the base plate of the rear bar through two threaded rods (where my finger is placed) Thus will move the rear bar in parallel with the moving seat and all parts are connected in a fixed position. Then I'll also shorten the threaded rod ends of the rear bar finally.



For the SimVibe functionality I have mounted two bodyshakers on every side of the seat. A retractable keyboard underneath the wheel I've added too.



Now I have to design and laser cut some parts to close and connect the rear ends of the aluminuim profiles (image below) and for the monitor mount.

Is that Seat mount for the rear arms just Riveted to the seat ?

@Nick Moxley
The upper actuator/seat connection is mounted to a 50 x 20 mm steel profile (image 1) which connects to the seat base plate (image 2). You can see it here:

Thereby the movement is transmitted down to the whole seat.

I would be weary of those rivets not being strong enough but i guess only time will tell.

These are screws (M5 x 20) I have used which are sunk in the metal. On the opposite side large slices are used for the distribution of the load.