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Zeraxx's 2 DOF Racing Sim

Discussion in 'DIY Motion Simulator Projects' started by Zeraxx, Jun 28, 2018.

  1. Zeraxx

    Zeraxx Member

    Joined:
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    Balance:
    188Coins
    Ratings:
    +17 / 0 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF
    Hey guys I've been a lurker for a while enjoying all the posts and trying to learn as much. I'm a mechanical engineer in real life, but have dabbled with embedded systems so very familiar with micro controllers and Arduinos.

    I have been sim racing for a while and have been wanting to get some sort of tactile feedback. My main goal is to simulate G-Forces as a driver would feel (to a lower magnitude of course) because of this I have decided to go with a seat mover. My current is below:

    [​IMG]

    My plan is to cut of the seat attachment and redo the design to accommodate motion. By utilizing a U-Joint under the seat.

    Currently I'm in the accumulation phase and I have the following ordered. I do not know how to weld so I'm still trying to figure out how I will be able to attach the push rods to the motor, I did see a post on where users could weld a bolt to a servo arm, but again I do not have access to a welder nor do I know how. Any advice would be helpful in this area.

    My Current Config.

    Arduino UNO R3:


    12V 50A PSU (x2)


    Sparkfun Motor-Monster (VNH2SP30-E) :
    https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10182

    10K Ohm (300deg) Pots (x4, Eventually I want to upgrade to HALL sensors)
    https://www.sparkfun.com/products/9939

    U-Joint Design
    (x1)
    (x2)

    Things I'm still trying to figure out :
    1) How to mount my motors to the baseboard.
    2) How to connect my Servo Arms to the Motor Axle.
    3) Push Roads (can these just be bought at a local hardware store).

    Anyways I will be posting back whenever everything arrives and I start the building process.

    Thank you for reading, and if anyone has any suggestions or ideas I'm all ears as this is my first motion rig.
  2. Zeraxx

    Zeraxx Member

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    188Coins
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    +17 / 0 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF
  3. bruce stephen

    bruce stephen Hammer doesnt fix it, must be electrical

    Joined:
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    Messages:
    1,286
    Occupation:
    general contractor
    Location:
    michigan
    Balance:
    9,110Coins
    Ratings:
    +1,237 / 9 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, DC motor, Arduino, Motion platform, 6DOF
    i would recommend sabertooth controllers from dimension engineering over the sparkfun monster motos as it may take four monsters to run those motors(two each). this cane be achieved with one 2x32 sabertooth.
    • Agree Agree x 2
    • Like Like x 1
  4. Zeraxx

    Zeraxx Member

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    +17 / 0 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF
    Not sure why only half my links actually posted, but yeah I wasn't sure what the current draw under load was going to be on the motors. I will definitely have to consider that when I burn up the MM as I already ordered it. The sparkfun MM is quite a bit more expensive then the other MM I've seen linked here, figured it was because of the rated 30A now I'm wondering if that's combined or per channel.
    • Like Like x 1
  5. MarkusB

    MarkusB Well-Known Member Gold Contributor

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2015
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    552
    Location:
    Germany
    Balance:
    4,212Coins
    Ratings:
    +594 / 2 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, 3DOF, DC motor, Arduino, Motion platform
    I went to a locksmith training workshop around the corner, and they did this little welding job for me at once. Actually they even wanted to do it for free, so that I had to force some money into their hands. :)
    You can also ask a regular locksmith. It does not take them more than 5 minutes.
    • Like Like x 1
  6. Zeraxx

    Zeraxx Member

    Joined:
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    Balance:
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    +17 / 0 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF
    I actually saw a post where a user used a 12M bolt and "pinched" it with a nut, I'm going to see if I can reproduce something similar. If so that might be the easiest, but your suggestion is a very good suggestion if that falls through for sure!
  7. Zeraxx

    Zeraxx Member

    Joined:
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    Balance:
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    +17 / 0 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF
    [​IMG] Got everything in the mail so day 1 started. Made some motor mounts out of a steel angle. Only had 3 hours today but got the motors mounted and the PSUs in place.
    • Like Like x 2
    Last edited: Jul 5, 2018
  8. Zeraxx

    Zeraxx Member

    Joined:
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    Balance:
    188Coins
    Ratings:
    +17 / 0 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF
    Just finished her up this morning, first impressions are took a little time to understand simtools and get the "feeling" I wanted. Turned down the pitch and increased the roll. However, I seemed to have lost force feedback when shifting which kinda sucks. I'm guessing because I turned it down to far?

    Anyways here is a picture of the final result. Overall very happy, for my fist simulation rig.
    [​IMG]
    • Like Like x 1
  9. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2014
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    Occupation:
    Innovative tech specialist for NGOs
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    St Helens, Tasmania, Australia
    Balance:
    144,602Coins
    Ratings:
    +10,741 / 52 / -2
    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF, DC motor, JRK
  10. Zeraxx

    Zeraxx Member

    Joined:
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    188Coins
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    +17 / 0 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF
    Thanks bud, lots of ups and downs, at one point I thought I ruined my two monster motors due to bad soldering lol.

    Thanks for the links is it possible to simulate sway and surge with a two motor setup like mine? Or is it just a way to pull g force data out of the game?
    Last edited: Jul 8, 2018
  11. MarkusB

    MarkusB Well-Known Member Gold Contributor

    Joined:
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    Germany
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    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, 3DOF, DC motor, Arduino, Motion platform
    With your setup you simulate sway and surge in the same way as roll and pitch, just with the difference that sway and roll go in oposite directions.
    • Agree Agree x 2
  12. Zeraxx

    Zeraxx Member

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2018
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    38
    Balance:
    188Coins
    Ratings:
    +17 / 0 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF
    Thanks for the info! Ill have to dig around tonight. So in simtools for racing sim I don't need pitch and roll but actually surge and sway?
  13. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2014
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    Occupation:
    Innovative tech specialist for NGOs
    Location:
    St Helens, Tasmania, Australia
    Balance:
    144,602Coins
    Ratings:
    +10,741 / 52 / -2
    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF, DC motor, JRK
    You can use them all, but start with surge, sway and heave, then move on to configuring roll and pitch.
    • Like Like x 1
  14. Zeraxx

    Zeraxx Member

    Joined:
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    Balance:
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    Ratings:
    +17 / 0 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF
    You guys are officially awesome, I just set up surge, sway, heave, pitch, and roll, and good god. The sest combined with vr it "Feels" like I'm there. I find myself trying to drive smoother just in fear of being thrown around like a rag doll lol.
    • Like Like x 1
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  15. Patrik Zapletal

    Patrik Zapletal New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 8, 2018
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    Balance:
    122Coins
    Ratings:
    +2 / 0 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, 3DOF, AC motor, Arduino, Motion platform
    Good work. How do you play when you have no pedals and steering wheel attached to the movable simulator? It is comfortable?
  16. Zeraxx

    Zeraxx Member

    Joined:
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    Balance:
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    Ratings:
    +17 / 0 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF
    Very comfortable, I'm guessing your asking about my design choice of a seat mover or a whole motion rig?

    At first I wanted to do a rig, but the more research I did, the more I realized it went against what I was looking for in a simulator. My main focus is to reproduce tactile feedback a driver would get from a car, I wanted sharp quick responses. As I did my reading I learned that a seat mover is much better at reproducing those g force effects. You feel the tension in your feet and legs like a real driver would feel combined with vr I don't even feel like I'm moving indepdently. The motion rig is EXACTLY, what I was looking for and I recommend if that's what your also looking for.

    Here's a a stream I did with the new motion rig. Where you can seen how well the motion pairs with the inputs from the game.
    • Like Like x 1
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  17. Patrik Zapletal

    Patrik Zapletal New Member

    Joined:
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    Balance:
    122Coins
    Ratings:
    +2 / 0 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, 3DOF, AC motor, Arduino, Motion platform
    Thank you, I'm just starting to build my own 2DOF and my problem is space. If I did not have a pedal-and-wheel steering wheel, it would save me a lot of worries. Does he not care when pedaling his legs? Are they not too far in some position? Thank you for the information
  18. CBC_North

    CBC_North Member

    Joined:
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    Occupation:
    Computer Engineer
    Location:
    Ottawa, Canada
    Balance:
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    +34 / 0 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, DC motor, Arduino
    What did you end up using in your final design in terms of drivers? One MM per motor or did you have to use 2 each as suggested?
  19. Zeraxx

    Zeraxx Member

    Joined:
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    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF
    Yeah I had 2 sparkfun MM's, and I configured them so that they could handle the full 32 A for one motor, so 1 MM to 1 Motor.
  20. CBC_North

    CBC_North Member

    Joined:
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    Occupation:
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    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, DC motor, Arduino
    Thanks, that was my plan and I thought that would be sufficient but the suggestion above concerned me.