1. Do not share user accounts! Any account that is shared by another person will be blocked and closed. This means: we will close not only the account that is shared, but also the main account of the user who uses another person's account. We have the ability to detect account sharing, so please do not try to cheat the system. This action will take place on 04/18/2023. Read all forum rules.
    Dismiss Notice
  2. For downloading SimTools plugins you need a Download Package. Get it with virtual coins that you receive for forum activity or Buy Download Package - We have a zero Spam tolerance so read our forum rules first.

    Buy Now a Download Plan!
  3. Do not try to cheat our system and do not post an unnecessary amount of useless posts only to earn credits here. We have a zero spam tolerance policy and this will cause a ban of your user account. Otherwise we wish you a pleasant stay here! Read the forum rules
  4. We have a few rules which you need to read and accept before posting anything here! Following these rules will keep the forum clean and your stay pleasant. Do not follow these rules can lead to permanent exclusion from this website: Read the forum rules.
    Are you a company? Read our company rules

Question IBT-2 Proof of Concept Before Moving On

Discussion in 'DIY Motion Simulator Projects' started by Fireblade69, Apr 2, 2020.

  1. Fireblade69

    Fireblade69 New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2015
    Messages:
    12
    Location:
    UK
    Balance:
    271Coins
    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    Hi Guys, I've been playing with Arduino and motion control to understand the requirements for building a 6DOF rig with a friend of mine. I think I've go the hang of the programming (thank you @RufusDufus for the post in setting that up) and we've sourced motors, steel frame and cradle and we're basing the design on @SilentChill's original rig with the train wiper motors.

    My question is regarding motor controllers. The intention is to move onto Sabretooth controllers but as they are quite expensive to use as a test bed, I've got some Monster Moto Shield from Sparkfun (probably fakes) and a pair of IBT-2 Drivers. I've pretty much given up on the MM as a test bed as they don't seem to have the longevity and there are lots of posts about them being a bit flaky and burny.

    So moving on with testing using IBT-2, because they are £10 (well, x2) and not £150 so if they blow up then it's not too much £££ wasted.

    The question I have is, how easy is it to transition from IBT-2 to Sabretooth once the wiring and connections are all sorted out?

    2nd item is not so much a question as an observation as well. I've got HP 305447-001 re-purposed PSUs, one for each motor but they cut out really quickly on hard reverses or hard surges of power. I've heard there is a Diode hack to resolve that but can't find any information on it, does anyone have any ideas? I have 8 of them so if I can get them to work it would be great but they get a bit hot without active cooling so I've got a 40A/480W PSU coming that is normally used for LED lights, hopefully it will drive two motors as the motors are 16A. Not sure about that so it might be a suck it and see thing.
  2. dieser

    dieser Member

    Joined:
    Jan 20, 2020
    Messages:
    54
    Balance:
    372Coins
    Ratings:
    +12 / 0 / -0
    as far as i know, wiring a sabertooth is way more simple than wiring a ibt2 or mm...
    so, you have to redo the wiring then, but you will need less cables...
  3. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2014
    Messages:
    20,461
    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 compare by checking out the respective setup guides:

    IBT-2 (mode 2): https://www.xsimulator.net/communit...3dof-motor-driver-and-windows-utilities.4957/

    Sabertooth: https://www.xsimulator.net/communit...ket-serial-pid-motor-driver-w-softstart.9277/

    The Dimension Engineering Resistor Calculator can be found here: https://www.dimensionengineering.com/calculators/power-resistor
    • Like Like x 1
  4. susocalfail39

    susocalfail39 Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2014
    Messages:
    48
    Location:
    GALICIA, ESPAÑA.
    Balance:
    50Coins
    Ratings:
    +14 / 1 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, DC motor, Arduino
    I have been with ibt2 for a long time and without problems and easy to connect and very cheap boards, I know people who have used them and also without problems, in a 2 dof, but in a 6 dof, is it really necessary to use the sabretooch? I ask alone.
    Use translator excuse me
    Regarding the sources, a server source used to protect me and I used 2 pc sources one for each engine, and without problems, we must also configure the smc3 well, if it is incorrectly configured the source jumps.
    Last edited by a moderator: May 5, 2020
  5. p00ky

    p00ky Active Member

    Joined:
    May 4, 2020
    Messages:
    109
    Occupation:
    Self Employed Laser Cutter
    Location:
    Wales
    Balance:
    350Coins
    Ratings:
    +56 / 2 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, Arduino
  6. Djalma Ribeiro

    Djalma Ribeiro Member

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2020
    Messages:
    65
    Occupation:
    Drone Pilot
    Location:
    Cuiabá, Brazil
    Balance:
    168Coins
    Ratings:
    +12 / 0 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF, DC motor, Arduino, Motion platform
    Taking advantage of the topic. Do you need to use a cooler to cool the IBT_2?
  7. p00ky

    p00ky Active Member

    Joined:
    May 4, 2020
    Messages:
    109
    Occupation:
    Self Employed Laser Cutter
    Location:
    Wales
    Balance:
    350Coins
    Ratings:
    +56 / 2 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, Arduino
    As far as I understand it (I havent recieved mine yet). The heat sink on the IBT_2 is on the reverse side from what needs to be cooled with only via stitching to get the heat through the board, so at a guess, yes. It's probably a wise idea anyway.
  8. susocalfail39

    susocalfail39 Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2014
    Messages:
    48
    Location:
    GALICIA, ESPAÑA.
    Balance:
    50Coins
    Ratings:
    +14 / 1 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, DC motor, Arduino
    [QUOTE = "Djalma Ribeiro, post: 197640, member: 36511"] Taking advantage of the topic. Do you need to use a cooler to cool the IBT_2? [/ QUOTE]
    not

    The ibt2 if they come with a heatsink, you don't need to put anything on them, and I only have them with a fan inside an electrical box
    20181106_162610.jpg
    • Like Like x 1
  9. susocalfail39

    susocalfail39 Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2014
    Messages:
    48
    Location:
    GALICIA, ESPAÑA.
    Balance:
    50Coins
    Ratings:
    +14 / 1 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, DC motor, Arduino
    I also don't use diodes or anything, with 2 pc sources, one for each board and without problems, another colleague has also been like this for 2 years and also without problems
  10. Djalma Ribeiro

    Djalma Ribeiro Member

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2020
    Messages:
    65
    Occupation:
    Drone Pilot
    Location:
    Cuiabá, Brazil
    Balance:
    168Coins
    Ratings:
    +12 / 0 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF, DC motor, Arduino, Motion platform
    Thanks! Where is your cooler?
  11. p00ky

    p00ky Active Member

    Joined:
    May 4, 2020
    Messages:
    109
    Occupation:
    Self Employed Laser Cutter
    Location:
    Wales
    Balance:
    350Coins
    Ratings:
    +56 / 2 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, Arduino
    Interesting to know. I'm still waiting on all the parts but the more I hear about the ibt2's the more I like them.
  12. Fireblade69

    Fireblade69 New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2015
    Messages:
    12
    Location:
    UK
    Balance:
    271Coins
    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
  13. susocalfail39

    susocalfail39 Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2014
    Messages:
    48
    Location:
    GALICIA, ESPAÑA.
    Balance:
    50Coins
    Ratings:
    +14 / 1 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, DC motor, Arduino
    I have the fan placed in the lid of that box, but it is not seen in the photo, I made a hole with a crown, and I screwed the fan and put a grid on it.
    When I have more time I will upload another photo, with the box closed,
    those electrical registration boxes are ideal.
  14. Gadget999

    Gadget999 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 27, 2015
    Messages:
    1,886
    Location:
    London
    Balance:
    11,543Coins
    Ratings:
    +453 / 9 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, DC motor, Arduino, 6DOF