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

A foldable DIY Sim RIG with G-Seat

Discussion in 'DIY Motion Simulator Projects' started by Banfy, Jun 28, 2020.

  1. Banfy

    Banfy FR/AU

    Joined:
    Jun 11, 2020
    Messages:
    131
    Location:
    Australia
    Balance:
    299Coins
    Ratings:
    +55 / 1 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    DC motor, Arduino
    Actually yes, i just found out how to set manually the min max values

    let me rephrase what i try to do:
    My servo can rotate from zero (no pressure) to 180 degrees (full pressure)

    currently , i have my servo rotation from 0 to 90 for negative surge( breaking), and 90 to 180 for positive(acceleration)

    i would like the range 0 to 180 to be assigned only to positive acceleration.
    When braking or in still position , the servo rotation should be at zero (no pressure)

    i hope it is more clear ;-)
  2. MarkusB

    MarkusB Well-Known Member Gold Contributor

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2015
    Messages:
    552
    Location:
    Germany
    Balance:
    4,212Coins
    Ratings:
    +594 / 2 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, 3DOF, DC motor, Arduino, Motion platform
    Hi @Banfy,

    yes, it is clear what you mean.
    When I was using servo motors, I did the modifications in the Arduino code.

    I got the idea (plus the code) from @Spit40, who offers his modified Arduino sketch here for download.


    See also this post, where he explains some more details about clipping the values.
  3. Banfy

    Banfy FR/AU

    Joined:
    Jun 11, 2020
    Messages:
    131
    Location:
    Australia
    Balance:
    299Coins
    Ratings:
    +55 / 1 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    DC motor, Arduino
    thank you Markus, i will look at this
  4. Banfy

    Banfy FR/AU

    Joined:
    Jun 11, 2020
    Messages:
    131
    Location:
    Australia
    Balance:
    299Coins
    Ratings:
    +55 / 1 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    DC motor, Arduino
    I confirm it works. Doing so seem more suitable for racing whereas having the positive and negative range might be more suitable for flight sims.
    the key code lines are the one below:
    //No -ve on G-seat : 128 = middle
    if (actuatorPosition[currentActuator]<128) actuatorPosition[currentActuator]=128;

    // scale the new position
    // Range is now 128 - 255
    // Maps between min and max
    actuatorPosition[currentActuator] = map(actuatorPosition[currentActuator], 128, 255, kActuatorScale[currentActuator][0], kActuatorScale[currentActuator][1]);
    //
    • Like Like x 2
  5. Banfy

    Banfy FR/AU

    Joined:
    Jun 11, 2020
    Messages:
    131
    Location:
    Australia
    Balance:
    299Coins
    Ratings:
    +55 / 1 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    DC motor, Arduino
    @RaceRay or @noorbeast
    Hi guys

    Can you confirm my DIY license request has been received?
    I did not qualify to the 30days membership when i applied, but in 5 days i will ;-)
    Very eager to test my rig further !
    thanks
  6. Banfy

    Banfy FR/AU

    Joined:
    Jun 11, 2020
    Messages:
    131
    Location:
    Australia
    Balance:
    299Coins
    Ratings:
    +55 / 1 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    DC motor, Arduino
    I applied the 29th of june btw
  7. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2014
    Messages:
    20,463
    Occupation:
    Innovative tech specialist for NGOs
    Location:
    St Helens, Tasmania, Australia
    Balance:
    144,614Coins
    Ratings:
    +10,741 / 52 / -2
    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF, DC motor, JRK
    Approved.
  8. Banfy

    Banfy FR/AU

    Joined:
    Jun 11, 2020
    Messages:
    131
    Location:
    Australia
    Balance:
    299Coins
    Ratings:
    +55 / 1 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    DC motor, Arduino
    thank you!
  9. Banfy

    Banfy FR/AU

    Joined:
    Jun 11, 2020
    Messages:
    131
    Location:
    Australia
    Balance:
    299Coins
    Ratings:
    +55 / 1 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    DC motor, Arduino
    Let me adress shortly the second part of the rig which is about giving life to these junk parts ;-)
    I first added a buttkicker and it changed totally the VR experience. this is commercially available so no comment.
    Then I found the youtube channel from an Aussie guy named AMstudio who describes very well some DIY projects. Check his channel, links provided below for 2 DIY project I have done
  10. Banfy

    Banfy FR/AU

    Joined:
    Jun 11, 2020
    Messages:
    131
    Location:
    Australia
    Balance:
    299Coins
    Ratings:
    +55 / 1 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    DC motor, Arduino
    The first one is the addition of rumble motors (the one found in console gamepad) on the pedals, as described in this tutorial:

    It allows to feel wheel slip , wheel lock in particular, very useful information to enhance the driving and the feedback from the game. This is probably supported by the pro version of simtools.
  11. Banfy

    Banfy FR/AU

    Joined:
    Jun 11, 2020
    Messages:
    131
    Location:
    Australia
    Balance:
    299Coins
    Ratings:
    +55 / 1 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    DC motor, Arduino
    I did this mod on a G25 pedal set and on my CSL elite pedals
    rumble pedal.jpg
  12. Banfy

    Banfy FR/AU

    Joined:
    Jun 11, 2020
    Messages:
    131
    Location:
    Australia
    Balance:
    299Coins
    Ratings:
    +55 / 1 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    DC motor, Arduino
    I have extended this mod to simulate the rear wheels by simply adding 2 more rumble motors under the seat at each side. Honestly, it can replace the buttkicker and is far more subtile and precise, but less strong. Works well on a deck chair, not sure on a comfy racing seat...

    Attached Files:

    • Like Like x 1
  13. Banfy

    Banfy FR/AU

    Joined:
    Jun 11, 2020
    Messages:
    131
    Location:
    Australia
    Balance:
    299Coins
    Ratings:
    +55 / 1 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    DC motor, Arduino
    Then I did a Wind simulator, with Arduino, using the same motor shield as the one from the rumble motors.
    You will find the DIY project on Amstudio as well. I did it with 1 and 2 Fans. 2 fans allow a right/left wind generation but i would rather use them to double the wind force.
    I am using straws to get a directional flow and additional wind speed, maybe 20%

    Attached Files:

    • wind.jpg
      wind.jpg
      File size:
      265.6 KB
      Views:
      218
    • Like Like x 1
    • Creative Creative x 1
  14. Banfy

    Banfy FR/AU

    Joined:
    Jun 11, 2020
    Messages:
    131
    Location:
    Australia
    Balance:
    299Coins
    Ratings:
    +55 / 1 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    DC motor, Arduino
    Latest mod, is the seat belt tensioner
    Not sure you noticed it on the full rig picture at the beginning of the thread, but I am using a G25 here!
    It give enough torque thanks to both motors and the gear system.

    This is an amazing addition to all those mods above. Feeling the braking actually made me search for a solution to feel acceleration, as it was missing now, hence this G-Seat project.

    Warning: I would still recommend using simtools and servos to do this instead, safer as I stall the motors and this might be a bit hazardous.

    Attached Files:

    • g25.jpg
      g25.jpg
      File size:
      222.5 KB
      Views:
      228
    • Like Like x 1
  15. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2014
    Messages:
    20,463
    Occupation:
    Innovative tech specialist for NGOs
    Location:
    St Helens, Tasmania, Australia
    Balance:
    144,614Coins
    Ratings:
    +10,741 / 52 / -2
    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF, DC motor, JRK
    The Arduino + stackable Adafruit boards are a great for such projects :thumbs

    I have suggested to @yobuddy, the SimTools dev, that it would be great to simplify ease of use in the next update of SimTool, as G-Seat (servo and/or pneumatic), detailed rumble, cheap wind and harness simulation, as you have done, are all possible and could be made so accessible and simple.
  16. Banfy

    Banfy FR/AU

    Joined:
    Jun 11, 2020
    Messages:
    131
    Location:
    Australia
    Balance:
    299Coins
    Ratings:
    +55 / 1 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    DC motor, Arduino
    Hi Guys,
    I am having so much fun with this G-SEAT using simtools on my favorite sims ;-)
    Glad to say that Version 2 of it is almost done, not so foldable anymore but for the good, stay tuned for updates...
    cheers
    • Like Like x 2
  17. Jumping Coin

    Jumping Coin Member Gold Contributor

    Joined:
    Aug 7, 2020
    Messages:
    93
    Balance:
    470Coins
    Ratings:
    +54 / 0 / -0
    Excellent write-up, Banfy! I've also been inspired by Volker and xxPelle's posts (and now your's as well)!

    I had the same problem trying to find the hinges. I literally went through every hinge on a hinge outlet store's website and couldn't find them, so I was planning on getting similar T-hinges as well. I really like how used one hinge for two air bladders.

    What size T-hinge did you use?

    The blue foam padding was a nice touch. What did you use for the seat cover over the foam? Definitely inspirational!

    Thanks!
  18. Banfy

    Banfy FR/AU

    Joined:
    Jun 11, 2020
    Messages:
    131
    Location:
    Australia
    Balance:
    299Coins
    Ratings:
    +55 / 1 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    DC motor, Arduino
  19. Banfy

    Banfy FR/AU

    Joined:
    Jun 11, 2020
    Messages:
    131
    Location:
    Australia
    Balance:
    299Coins
    Ratings:
    +55 / 1 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    DC motor, Arduino
  20. Jumping Coin

    Jumping Coin Member Gold Contributor

    Joined:
    Aug 7, 2020
    Messages:
    93
    Balance:
    470Coins
    Ratings:
    +54 / 0 / -0
    Awesome, thanks for the quick reply! Can't wait to see v2.0!