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Question Stepper Motors for Motion Sims?

Discussion in 'DIY Motion Simulator Building Q&A / FAQ' started by Marc R, Feb 10, 2018.

  1. Marc R

    Marc R New Member

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    Hello,

    im planning to build a 2DOF 360° Motion Simulator. I thought of using Steppers like Nema 42 or something like that. These have up to 40Nm of Stall Torque. Thats Insane!

    My Question:

    Is it a good idea to build a motion sim with Steppers?

    Thank You!
  2. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

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    • Informative Informative x 1
  3. Ringorumble

    Ringorumble Active Member

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    The fun Thing ist you get real high Torque Stepper with PSU and Controller for 140 Euro ... My 400 Watt gearbox Motor plus sabretooth plus PSU is Incl PSU and half of the sabretooth 300 Euro .. then some crank etc you are with 350 Euro .. If you dont need 60 cm travel you can build for Sure the Same but better Response actuator with at least the Same amount of Invest .. the only Thing what is Missing is a Code Using them.
    Otherwise i would have started Mine ...
    Seems Like as soon Somebody done a Code He goes commercial :)
    • Agree Agree x 1
  4. bruce stephen

    bruce stephen Hammer doesnt fix it, must be electrical

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  5. Marc R

    Marc R New Member

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    Thank you!

    Linear Actuators won't be an option for me, as i am building a complete 360° Cage. Will Stepper motors like Nema 42 (40Nm Stall) be enough to turn a complete frame (100kg) and me (65kg)? I could also use 2 Motors for each axis to get 80Nm of Torque.
  6. Bord-Ing.

    Bord-Ing. New Member Gold Contributor

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    In the back of my mind there ist the idea of using high torque steppers for a 6 dof simulator. But I have no time for testing at the moment.

    Michael Hensen is going with steppers. As I understood he is going to write a software with acceleration ramps for positioning.

    Do you have a link to those steppers? I only found some with 28 Nm holding torque.
  7. Gadget999

    Gadget999 Well-Known Member

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    i think steppers will work good on a ballscrew type actuator

    but not on a lever arm type actuator
  8. Marc R

    Marc R New Member

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  9. Marc R

    Marc R New Member

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    Im thinking of directly putting the Motor movements into the 360 Frame. 2 Motors for each Axis. I just have no idea if 60Nm is enough to make me and a big cage move, accelerate and breake quickly.
  10. brad nichols

    brad nichols New Member

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    I had the same idea. I started with a NEMA 23 3.0NM and a DM542T driver totalling $99. Wondering if the 23 stepper would be able to pull the weight, if not i wouldnt be out much. Then I also bought a NEMA 34 Closed loop stepper and driver(86J1880EC-1000-LS-JH Driver-2HSS86H). I posted a video of the motors working and getting data from an iRacing replay via simtools. https://www.xsimulator.net/communit...my-iracing-rig-in-progress.13103/#post-173664 Well last night i finally got the motors mounted well enough(still waiting on odds and ends parts) and I have to say it was insane! To be completely honest, felt much better and smoother then i actually anticipated. I will have some updates on my post hopefully on Sunday. I have a bunch of tweaking to do. I have to figure out an easy way to set the actuator positions. For example if you reset, reflash the arduino and have power supply on it will drive the steppers. Then in simtools when it connects to the game they always drive and usually bottom out my actuators. So im researching best approach on here now.
    • Like Like x 1
  11. Arta Yasa

    Arta Yasa Member

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    Hi sir, i have ball screw, and nema 23, it is posible to use for actuactor sir?? For build 2 dof or 4dof, like actuactor srt100 sir. But they used ac servo.
  12. Gadget999

    Gadget999 Well-Known Member

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    Stepper motors loose torque the faster you try to move them

    They need a spike in current to move one step at a time

    They can only move in steps so you can not use pid control to move them quickly from one location to the next
    • Friendly Friendly x 1
  13. Arta Yasa

    Arta Yasa Member

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    How about used motor scooter like a my6812 or my1016 sir?? Or just a ac servo 100 until 400 watt, it posible??
  14. Gadget999

    Gadget999 Well-Known Member

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    yes you can use scooter dc motors - a hoverboard motor may also be suitable
    • Friendly Friendly x 1
  15. Arta Yasa

    Arta Yasa Member

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    Direct sir for the scooter dc motor?? If used hoverboard motor how to add on ballscrew??
  16. Gadget999

    Gadget999 Well-Known Member

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    you will have to fit the ballscrew direct to the wheel - or use a belt / gearbox
    • Friendly Friendly x 1