6 DOF 12v Motors/ARDUINO/MMs (FIRST TIMER)

Hello All!

I wanted to start out by saying thank you to all whom paved the way for a novice such as myself to build something that as a child I could only dream of every time I left the Arcade! Ive scoured the forums, lurked, scrolled, Googled, Ebayed, and PMd to hopefully alleviate posting the question which require a reply such as, "Use the FAQ"... Ive come from background in Commercial electric and am a jack of all, master of none so to speak... With that being said I welcome you to ride along with me (see what I did there?) as I delve into what I now call the SIMULATION STATION!!!

I plan on going with a setup similar to that of @CLEOPHUS. I will utilize wood as opposed to steel like @SilentChill did to save on weight. I also, hope to document the entire build and have it complete by end of November! Just in time to gift it to someone for Christmas thus leaving me with no choice but to build another!

Below are the parts Ive purchased, or, plan on purchasing in the near future:

1. 6-DAKE Motors from Alibaba ($786 including shipping to US)
90WZYJ08-12V-350W-50K WITH DOUBLE SHAFT 12V 350W REDUCTION RATIO：１：５０

2. 3-Arduino Uno ($33.39 shipped)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Packaged-ARDUINO-UNO-R3-ATmega328P-ATmega16U2-Development-Board-with-USB-Cable/202423771914?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

3. 14-MMs 2 Per/Motor with 2 spare ($94.50 +$1.79 shipping to US)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Packaged-ARDUINO-UNO-R3-ATmega328P-ATmega16U2-Development-Board-with-USB-Cable/202423771914?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

4. 6-Linear 180 degree hall POTS - 6127V1A180L.5F-($82.38 shipped)
https://www.ttiinc.com/content/ttii...chTerms=6127V1A180L.5F&systemsCatalog=&x=true

5. 6-700W HP PSUs 1 per motor ($51.76 shipped)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Lot-of-6-HP-DPS-700GB-700W-Power-Supply-Proliant-DL360-G5-412211-001/352422088492?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

6. Racing Seat (Ebay) (108.99 free shipping)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/UNIVERSAL-WOVEN-FRABIC-HIGH-HEAD-REST-BLACK-PERFORMANCE-RACING-SEAT-PASSENGER/153152337153?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

7. Bread boards with Male/Female wiring ($14.22 free shipping)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Haiworld-breadboard-Jumper-Wire-KIT-For-Arduino-Raspberry-PI-And-Electronic/332612417236?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

8. 10 Port powered USB 3.0 adapter ($11.99 shipped)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/7-Port-USB-3-0-Hub-Power-Adapter-NEW-5Gbps-Useful-ON-OFF-Switch-Home-H5T6M/153126659553?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&var=452975182542&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

9. 12- Bridgeport coolers for MMs ($70.32 shipped)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Aluminium-Adjustable-Heatsink-Fin-Fan-Cooler-For-PC-Northbridge-Chipset-Cooling/271953403238?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

10. 6- Flex couplings

11. - 1/2" Threaded rod w/rod ends (TBD)

12. Various 4x4, 2x4, and 1x1 pieces of wood/brackets (TBD)

13. 3- 80lb Gas springs (TBD)

14. MMO FFB or Fanatec Clubsport? (TBD)

15. DIY Handbrake (TBD)

16. 4- 24" Monitors ($100)

17. HTC Vive/Oculus Rift (Unsure, depends on monitor setup)

Began wiring and received some goodies in!!!

Got quite a lot done in the past few weeks! Need to finish wiring the pots, motors, and build the upper half and were ready to roll!!!

UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE!!!!

Since last post, I have....

1. Built the base and seat
2. Wired up all electronics
3. Mounted seat to base
4. Replaced 6 MMs which had burnt out on one of the two boards! (Junk I know)
5. Replaced 2 PSUs, one due to faulty cap, and the other who knows.
6. Installed fans on each PSU to prevent overheating
7. Removed all MMs and purchased 3 Sabertooth 2x60's!!
8. Troubleshoot Arduinos/Motors/ST due to wiring. (Was wired for MMs which I didn't catch until the second day!)
9. Assigned all Axis/DOFs
10. Purchased Forum pass for plugins. (Currently waiting on!)
11. Applied for DIY Simtools key!

The list goes on... I cannot describe how I am feeling right now, on one end I am exhausted from completing everything, trials and tribs on my own with no one to bounce ideas off of. On the other hand I am completely overjoyed with the fact the I completed this with NO PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE!!!!

Thanks to all whom paved the way!! Pics below....

Nice work dude !! Another thread I missed somehow ?!? Look forward to seeing in action

Wise move getting the sabertooths you will never look back

wow... thank you for sharing your progress!

I would recommend you add a big battery to your list..

@SeatTime, Im seeing mixed reviews about the need for a battery for regen purposes. Its a VERY grey area for me as I do not completely understand why its needed. By mixed, what I mean is that Ive read the Sabertooths can be setup to run on just the power supplies without the need for a battery as long as the PSUs can handle the draw?

Please correct me if Im wrong, as well as enlighten me as to possible ST problems if a battery is unused.

@SilentChill, I couldn't agree more! Every time I plugged the PSUs in I would cringe at the thought of possibly losing another MM/Soldering in a replacement...


On a side note, I have a question regarding the Plugins.. Ive paid for the membership and have applied for simtools 2.0 license, how would I know when Ive been granted access to the plugins as well as SimTools 2.0?

@noorbeast,

I know how it works and have already purchased a "Download Package"/ I didn't know if once I purchased the package if access to download plugins was granted instantly or I had to contact yourself or someone else. I just checked and clicked on a download link for a plugin and it worked so I guess I answered my own question lol...

Now for simtools 2.0, I submitted a request for the free license but haven't heard if I qualified or not? Would you know off hand?

For SimTools I assume you'll get a license key somehow (maybe via email?) that you can use after downloading/installing SimTools to unlock the full functionality.

[edit: plugins were apparently resolved while I was typing this]

@dododge,

I hope to get a license key today so I can start using this rig! I believe I applied for the key last week but do not recall seeing an email either way.

I don't know their actual process, you could try the "contact us" link at simtools.us -- worked for me when I had an issue with a key last year.

As far using SimTools, you should at least be able to download and install it to get started, and it should work with Live For Speed even if you don't have a license. I think LFS is also downloadable and installable for free (you get one track and maybe a handful of cars) though I don't recall for sure if the demo version also provides telemetry. NOTE: I think you also have to drive at least once in LFS before applying the SimTools patch, because it has to generate some additional files first.

i find this amazing that you are using monster moto's and dell power supplies... is the platform responsive?

@noorbeast I will reapply now! Thanks!


@hannibal Ill try to upload a video, with the 700w PSUs and the MMs it was more than responsive enough, however, I didn't have a way to test each upon arrival which led to soo many being faulty. I WOULD NOT recommend them.

Quite simple really, your driving into a inductive load 'big DC motor'. When they change direction quickly the motor will generate a inductive pulse Ie. they will act as a generator. This pulse has to be absorbed somewhere - either in resistors as with the 2 x 32 or in a battery as recommended by the manufactures themselves - see the manual. Some power supplies (normally PC types) are more effected by this pulse then others, which is likely why you have seen mixed reviews. In the end, just a recommendation.

@SeatTime ,

From reading all of the threads regarding STs I believe the consensus is to parallel with a battery. If I do not, will the PSUs/STs trip out or?