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Showroom DX - Compact Simulator

Discussion in 'DIY Motion Simulator Projects' started by noorbeast, Sep 29, 2014.

  1. mayoms

    mayoms New Member

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    @noorbeast --

    I have spent a day reading through your thread, and I am so impressed! I'm in the early stages of planning my first build, and yours meets two of primary requirements: being light and compact.

    I think that my build will Flight Sim focused, but I also share your interest in VR as a medium, and using the sim-chair as a way to explore the medium. I've also been thinking about it as a large haptic device.

    I don't intend to duplicate your build exactly, but there are many ideas that I certainly am inspired by it. I like how modular your frame is, and I hope to produce something similar. I'd like to be able to remove the front-foot rest carriage and stow it away when not in use. I'll also be using aluminum, bolted together - except perhaps for the seat base. I'll probably weld my u-joint to a steel tube that is bolted to the aluminum base.

    I was wondering if you had any cad drawings or other schematic type documents for the frame that you might be willing to share? I'd like to get a close look at how its assembled, so I can try and plan something similar. If not, no worries -- you've been more than generous with your detailed picture log.
  2. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

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    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF, DC motor, JRK
    No I do not have a cad plan, it is way to simple for that.

    The base is 500x500mm, but if I were to do it again I would go at least 600mm long by 500mm wide. The two inner frame pieces are just wide enough apart to fit the gearbox for the 3rd heave motor.

    The front top angle is notched to clear the gearboxes of the two front motors.

    There is angle iron inside the box tube at the front for reinforcing for the motor mount holes.there are 2 10mm bolts on each corner with tube spaces, one each end of the inner tubes.

    The suspended bottom aluminum plate and cross tube between the motors both add considerable rigidity to the frame.
    • Useful Useful x 1
  3. mayoms

    mayoms New Member

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    Thanks for those dimensions. I am going to take your advice and build the base at 20" x 24" (apologies for the imperial units, I used to build houses and think in inches/feet, but that's roughly 500x600mm.

    Also good advice on the sleeves. I went material shopping earlier today and grabbed some round aluminum tubing to use as a sleeve. My assumption is that this is keep the bolt from compromising the integrity of the square tubing as torque is applied to the bolts?

    As far as bolting the corners- I just picked up some standard zinc-coated machine screws, with top washers and lock washers. I attached images of the nut/bolt/sleeve tubing for reference. Did you do anything special to keep the bolts secure the movement and vibration associated with the sim? Are bolts with nuts and washers enough?

    Attached Files:

  4. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

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    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF, DC motor, JRK
    I used additional lock nuts in key areas, like the suspended base plate, and used dome nuts pulled up tight for aesthetic reasons for things like the duel corner bolts, which have inner spacers to you can make them pretty tight.
  5. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

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    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF, DC motor, JRK
    I had family visit from interstate over the weekend, so here are some snippets from our play time:





    • Like Like x 11
  6. mirkobastianini

    mirkobastianini Active Member

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    My Motion Simulator:
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    @noorbeast I think you are ready for the new project---->4DOF ;)
    • Like Like x 1
  7. SeatTime

    SeatTime Well-Known Member

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    My Motion Simulator:
    AC motor, Motion platform
    No, a G-seat would fit into his design brief perfectly and supply the extended Gs that he is missing :).
    • Agree Agree x 2
  8. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

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    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF, DC motor, JRK
    I am patiently waiting to see what emerges from all your G-Seat Skunk Works testing and refinement, as likely it will be worth the wait ;)
    • Agree Agree x 1
  9. djboss001

    djboss001 Member

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    My Motion Simulator:
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    Wonderful thread, it's the most compact simulator and the best finish I've ever seen, thank you for all the pictures, I can inspire for the creation of my next simulator. Congratulations and respect for your work!
    • Like Like x 1
  10. SeatTime

    SeatTime Well-Known Member

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    My Motion Simulator:
    AC motor, Motion platform
    Unfortunately allot of my new stuff won't fit easily into your rig, as I have taken advantage of a enclosed shell. If I was to recommend something that would fit easily into your rig, it would be a boden cable controlled side paddles around your rib area. You could possibly even run it off your existing 2DOF motors if they have enough spare torque. How's that for simple and very little extra weight :). I think you are smart enough to work out the details;) . Paddles are not as good as my current setup, but they are still a good step up on what you currently have.
  11. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

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    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF, DC motor, JRK
    My front 60:1 motors have plenty of torque and hardly get warm in prolonged use @SeatTime, so are not working hard.

    The boden cable is a good suggestion but one I would have to consider further, as I regularly move my rig and it is designed so that is really quick and simple to do. Perhaps I will consider it when I add the haptic seat I have had kicking around for ages...too much to do, too little time! In fact I have been leaving my sim at my dad's place, as I have been focused on other VR projects this last year and he has had other things get in the way of flying IRL, this last weekend was the first time my sim really got used at home since early 2017.
  12. SeatTime

    SeatTime Well-Known Member

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    My Motion Simulator:
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    Just something to consider if you ever find the time - should be quite a simple add-on, I understand how busy life can get, even retired, I struggle to get everything I want done. So many projects on the back-burner :rolleyes:, just trying to get my sim all squared up at the moment and I can move back to my CNC project, which I need for some new kit I am building.
    • Agree Agree x 1
  13. xiatian

    xiatian Member

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    My Motion Simulator:
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    Today, I finally have time to finish your thread. Your DIY seat is impressive. Perfect. My plan to purchase a computer has to be modified. To improve the configuration. After reading the video, I feel a problem with my seat data collection Perhaps the data is not reasonable and you can not feel the fine vibrations.
  14. Rocket man

    Rocket man Member Gold Contributor

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    awesome project!!!
  15. Haraguchi

    Haraguchi Member

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    Hi !
    I'm reading your post. It's impressive !
    Here in my city it is very difficult to find parts or even manufacture.
    My 2DOF will take a while to get ready, but I will consult your model.
    I did not finish reading everything, I'll do it slowly and see if I learn a little.
    Thanks for the tips!
    • Like Like x 1
  16. wangdaokun

    wangdaokun New Member

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    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, DC motor, Arduino
    The simulator is very suitable for household, weakness is less a rotation axis。
    Recently, I also in research and development of new simulation platform
  17. hannibal

    hannibal Active Member

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    My Motion Simulator:
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    i looked at page 1 - 10, didnt go through all 25 pages of posts.. after seeing your build with the buttkicker.. i just like to know if you run the buttkicker from low frequency audio from regular amp/ PC audio output, or do you apply the Gamevibe or Simvibe with dedicated sound cards and amp...
  18. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

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    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF, DC motor, JRK
    Dedicated usb sound card since the release of Game Vibe.
    • Like Like x 1
  19. Jordi Rafart Ribera

    Jordi Rafart Ribera New Member Gold Contributor

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    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, DC motor, Arduino, Motion platform
    Hi, I built a 2DOF, but I would like to expand a 4DOF or 6DOF.
    I looked at the engines you use, because they look very strong and resistant
    Your engines are 180 rpm, and my engines are 50 rpm.
    Do you really use 180 rpm? Because my engines work at 70% and I have a correct move.
    Thank you for the information and congratulations for the project.
  20. hannibal

    hannibal Active Member

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    My Motion Simulator:
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    thank you again... maybe my asus DGX card that has sat around finally could see some kind of use!