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6 DOF from scratch

Discussion in 'DIY Motion Simulator Projects' started by Pierre Lalancette, Dec 18, 2016.

  1. Thanos

    Thanos Building the Future one AC Servo at a time... or 6

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    My Motion Simulator:
    AC motor, Motion platform, 4DOF, 6DOF
    Yes, its a tiny 3D printed FFB portable that I made to carry around.

    https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3012316
    • Creative Creative x 2
  2. Pierre Lalancette

    Pierre Lalancette Sir Lalancelot Gold Contributor

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    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF, DC motor, Arduino, 6DOF
    Its been a long time since the last update.

    First, there was the vacation. A week of quad, than a weekend of boat. You see, all those thing we try to simulate are actually really fun in real life.

    quad.jpg

    I only find time to redesign and print parts of my actuator. Of course, I did a lot of mistakes and retakes.

    IMG_2005.JPG

    During that time, my printer bed connector melted down and I had to re-solder it somehow. By miracle, I succeeded. I'm trying to get a new part from Hictop before my repair breaks also.

    IMG_2002.JPG

    And I had all the parts ready to go. So I thought...

    IMG_2008.JPG

    Because I did not notice that one of my part was going beyond the boundaries and it would give me even more troubles. It was also design way to tight. More on that later.

    At least, I got myself a new Dremell tool. I looked at all the nails that I had to cut, and I did not want to do them with a simple saw. But the real boost I got from it was to how easy it was now to cut a carbon tube. Made me happy.

    IMG_2009.JPG

    Tonight, I tried to assemble my actuator. This is when hell break loose.

    - I could not open my acetone can. The child proof cap turned out to be a adult proof cap. I ended up destroying it and putting my acetone in a glass jar.

    - I use my epoxy to assemble my carbone tubes. Looked at the video on how to do it right and started. My balance did not seam precise enough. When I pushed at the end of the tube, it twisted and came out the wrong side. I made a real mess. My mix did not look right at all. I tried anyway. Putting my tubes together, I did even more of a mess, putting epoxy into the screw holes. Tried to clean it up. Did a mess. I will let it dry this week, to probably find out next week it did not stick at all.

    - Not giving up, I decide to solder the pot and the limit switches temporary and assembles the parts.

    - The parts of the pot was way too tight. I couldn't make it fit on the actuator. Even after buffing it with the Dremell. Trying to make it fit, my actuator felt on the ground. Nothing broken, but such a scare. That is when the pot soldered wire gave all up.

    I try not to be superstitious, see signs everywhere telling me what to do and not to do. But this night, I gave up. Not because the Universe is telling me to stop, but because after 3 hours of nothing, I was so pissed.

    Anyway, my stuff is all packed up in a corner because the bathroom over the sim is getting renovated, and I had to make room for the workers. So I cleaned up the space. Until all is done, I will probably listen to the Univers.

    IMG_2010.JPG
    • Like Like x 2
  3. Jerry Atrick

    Jerry Atrick this is my sim Gold Contributor

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    My Motion Simulator:
    4DOF
    Hi Pierre, sounds like its a bit of a challenge, but I'm sure it will be a great build in the end!

    Regards Jerry:)
  4. mariano68

    mariano68 Active Member

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    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, Arduino, 4DOF
    Shit happens :(
    Maybe check the last actuators design, they are easier to make, try to go back to the K.I.S.S. principle
    I already have all the parts lathed and cut etc, if I had have to do them now from the beginning, I would do them totally different.
    Anyway, don't give up!!!
  5. Pierre Lalancette

    Pierre Lalancette Sir Lalancelot Gold Contributor

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    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF, DC motor, Arduino, 6DOF
    Don't worry, I have no intention of giving up. I am just so bad at anything manual, I manage to screw up things easily. A lot. Fortunately, I learn a little bit every time and I manage to get goo... okay with time. It's all a matter of getting past my frustration of not doing things right the first time. This thing takes so much time and I am loosing so much of it just by being bad, it is frutrating. And those things are not that complicated.

    But all those thing I learned! Last year, I was strugleling at designing simple stuff for my 3D printer. Man, did I come a long way. Also, Hictop are sending me new replacement cables for my printer. So, life ain't so bad.

    Shit happens. Thanks for coping with my useless rant.
    • Like Like x 3
  6. Pierre Lalancette

    Pierre Lalancette Sir Lalancelot Gold Contributor

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    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF, DC motor, Arduino, 6DOF
    Look what I've got yesterday.

    IMG_2022.JPG

    I have three question about those bad boys:

    1. Should I put anything under the batteries, in case of an acid spill? If so, what should I put?

    2. I have the intention of wiring the batteries as such, with the switch to remove them from the circuit if needed. Any recommendation against this way?

    battery.jpg
    3. My friend, who provided me the batteries, told me I had to bring them down regularly and charge them back to keep them alive. Like having a light connected to the batteries that I could turn on to make them work once in a while. For those who are using batteries with sabertooths, are you doing anything special to keep your battery system in good shape?

    The mess I did while gluing the actuator turn out better then expected. But that's for an other update, when the actuator will be assembled and working.
  7. SilentChill

    SilentChill Problem Maker

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    My Motion Simulator:
    DC motor, Arduino, Motion platform, 6DOF
    1. That's how I have mine wired up pretty much except I only have 1 battery.

    2.My battery is just sat on the wooden base and it has never leaked any liquid yet

    3. I just let my PSU's charge the battery and its been fine now for over a year I have not done anything special with it at all
    • Informative Informative x 1
  8. SeatTime

    SeatTime Well-Known Member

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    My Motion Simulator:
    AC motor, Motion platform
    Most quality marine or other deep cycle batteries use a substrate and no loose fluid as such, therefore it is not possible for them to leak. I use mine in conjunction with a solar array to power a portion of my house when not being used for the sim. I have a power supply available to charge them, but have never used it. Sim powered by the sun.. very green :).
    • Informative Informative x 1
  9. Pierre Lalancette

    Pierre Lalancette Sir Lalancelot Gold Contributor

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    My Motion Simulator:
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    Thanks guys, this is exactly what I was hopping to ear. Don't do anything, don't make any effort and all your problems will be solved anyway. Okay, I still need to connect it, but it is low maintenance, and that's what I like.

    Because of my bathroom, I get extra time at home. I spend some of it to get part that I cannot get on weekend. I have means to attach the actuator to any structure, some m3 screws for the limit switches and a kill switch rated at 300Amps. I took some big nuts, but that's not what I want.

    IMG_2024.JPG

    This is what I want! I found that picture in the thread of @SixDegreesOfFlight . How do you call those nuts and how can I get them? My trusted nuts and screws store had no idea what I was talking about.

    nuts.jpg
    • Like Like x 2
    Last edited: Sep 5, 2018
  10. Pierre Lalancette

    Pierre Lalancette Sir Lalancelot Gold Contributor

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    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF, DC motor, Arduino, 6DOF
    Today, I worked on the power supply.

    I bought connectors for the battery pole, and I broke one. It did not seems to fit well on the battery's pole and I screw it really hard. Turned out that those thing are really soft. It is better to use a hammer and hammer a perfect fit out of them. Fortunately, I only needed 2 even I bought 4 of these. I hammered an other one on the smaller negative pole, and if worked fine.

    IMG_2033.JPG

    I only had time to fit one set of psu with the battery. All worked fine. I wanted to put the batteries in the middle, but they are so big, they may interfere with the actuator near them. I will probably move them on the side like in this picture.

    IMG_2035.JPG

    The actuator are coming along too. The epoxy I did turned out working pretty fine and I had a glued actuator shaft. The carbon tubes were not at the right place and it did not fit all the way. I was about to give it up when I thought at my new Dremmel tool. With it, I could buff away the blocking parts in a cloud of carbon dust. Probably really unhealthy . Anyway, it worked! The new potentiometer holder part now fits easily.

    IMG_2013.JPG IMG_2014.JPG IMG_2015.JPG
    IMG_2016.JPG IMG_2017.JPG
    IMG_2020.JPG IMG_2021.JPG IMG_2018.JPG

    Now I need to set up the limit switches with my relays. Should be a lot of fun. And I am still looking for the name of those v-shaped nuts!
    • Like Like x 2
  11. SeatTime

    SeatTime Well-Known Member

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    My Motion Simulator:
    AC motor, Motion platform
    Just for everyone's info, the positive/negative posts on those batteries are normally a different size and you need to purchase a 'set' to suit. Also - IMO always wear the proper PPE - overalls, gloves, respirator and have a vacuum cleaner handy when sanding/filing/cutting carbon fibre. + don't hammer stuff onto these batteries ...
    • Agree Agree x 1
    Last edited: Sep 6, 2018
  12. OZHEAT

    OZHEAT Active Member

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    My Motion Simulator:
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    Try wheel nuts at an automotive spare parts store or wreckers, alternately you can also use nyloc nuts as they usually have a chanfer on them.
  13. Pierre Lalancette

    Pierre Lalancette Sir Lalancelot Gold Contributor

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    3DOF, DC motor, Arduino, 6DOF
    Listen to the advises of @SeatTime ! Do as I say and not as I do! Seriously, be safe.

    Thanks @OZHEAT , "wheel nuts" seems to be the right name. I am now looking for those.
    • Like Like x 1
  14. BlazinH

    BlazinH Well-Known Member

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    They are also refered to as lug nuts in the usa.
  15. Pierre Lalancette

    Pierre Lalancette Sir Lalancelot Gold Contributor

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    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF, DC motor, Arduino, 6DOF
    Lug nuts, great! There are plenty of those at the "Canadian Tire" store. And there are plenty of "Canadian Tire" stores in Canada.

    I just don't feel that the bolts are gonna be threaded the right way. I will probably be looking for new ones also. :/
  16. BlazinH

    BlazinH Well-Known Member

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    Last edited: Sep 6, 2018
  17. Flymen

    Flymen Flymen Gold Contributor

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    My Motion Simulator:
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    Good job !
    But check that my friend :
    Take care with those * Pot * a little bit pressure on axe cause some problem !!!/pmvcda
    These motors (e30 150 ampflow) are heating after 1 hour no load /bruce-stephen.
    Last edited: Sep 6, 2018
  18. Pierre Lalancette

    Pierre Lalancette Sir Lalancelot Gold Contributor

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    My Motion Simulator:
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    Hummm, the smell of tire in the morning... @BlazinH, that was a great idea. Checked them out. 15$ for 12 and 54$ for shipping. :eek: I will change my bolts.

    @Flyman, the pot system have a bolt to take the pulling pressure. I could bind the strap without the pot in it. As for the motor, it sound good on paper. We will see in real live soon.
  19. BlazinH

    BlazinH Well-Known Member

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    To be honest I wasn't shopping price for you just showing what is normally used for what you want to accomplish. But on price it's probably not worth this sellers time to ship one at $1.25 without charging a lot for shipping, would you? That's why you ask how much shipping they will charge when purchasing multiples before paying. Or you could try finding a seller in your own country.
  20. BlazinH

    BlazinH Well-Known Member

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    Hummm, I just added 12 to my cart and it says free shipping over $6.00. Must be because you are in Canada.