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6Dof Linear Hexapod Build

Discussion in 'DIY Motion Simulator Projects' started by Pinballcat, Mar 24, 2021.

  1. Pinballcat

    Pinballcat New Member Gold Contributor

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    My Motion Simulator:
    Motion platform, 6DOF
    G'day all
    Thought it was about time to share my modified build based on @Peacemaker105 Awesome unicorn build , ( with some mods and inspiration from @SilentChill as well)
    Caught his Videos on youtube by accident mid-last year and have disappeared down the motion sim rabbit hole for the last 8 months:D.

    Price List: all in Australian dollars

    Bajer Emergency stop $155
    @Thanos Aasd controller $468
    6x Uni joints $37
    6x M12 Rod Ends $22
    6x FK12 bearings $91
    6x Couplings $95
    6x 600mm 1610 ballscrews $330
    6x 80ST 2430 750w Motors $2100
    Steel $200
    3d filament $60
    Pvc Pipe $60
    Seat + Adjuster $280
    extras supplied by Work :rolleyes:
    Total $3860 aud about $2800 usd


    Sorry if the pics are a bit disjointed realized that I didn't take nearly enough.

    20210324_131443.jpg 20210324_131509.jpg
    Still very much a work in Progress :grin
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    Last edited: Mar 24, 2021
  2. Pinballcat

    Pinballcat New Member Gold Contributor

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    My Motion Simulator:
    Motion platform, 6DOF
  3. Pinballcat

    Pinballcat New Member Gold Contributor

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    My Motion Simulator:
    Motion platform, 6DOF
    So will start with the Basics.
    Used most of the design for the actuators from Peacemaker's unicorn build.
    but decided to go 600mm 1610 ball screws this meant I had trouble getting carbon fibre tubing in the length I needed. So ended up making the shafts out of 28mm stainless tubing, luckily I have access to a machine shop through my Job. also struggled to get the Igus bearings at the time of my build so machined the end caps of some High strength low friction plastics that we use for industrial screw conveyors at work. 20210207_191925.jpg 20210207_192345.jpg 20210209_173437.jpg
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  4. Pinballcat

    Pinballcat New Member Gold Contributor

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    My Motion Simulator:
    Motion platform, 6DOF
    Next was the frame must admit I didn't do much in the way of Calculations for the extra size in actuators just increased Peacemakers sizing by 10% as he had suggested in one of his posts. 20210219_213328.jpg 20210308_170052.jpg
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  5. Pinballcat

    Pinballcat New Member Gold Contributor

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    My Motion Simulator:
    Motion platform, 6DOF
    Ended up having to cut 100mm out of top frame due to it being able to hit on front actuators if at full extension on pitch and roll. 20210225_155455.jpg
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  6. Pinballcat

    Pinballcat New Member Gold Contributor

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    My Motion Simulator:
    Motion platform, 6DOF
    While I was modifying it a built the monitor stand and steering wheel mount.


    Wow I didn't realize how much mess I had around until I went back through pics :eek: 20210309_212731.jpg 20210310_135621.jpg

    I will clean it up when I'm finished (what I keep telling the Missus )
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  7. Pinballcat

    Pinballcat New Member Gold Contributor

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    My Motion Simulator:
    Motion platform, 6DOF
    Pics of Temporary Wiring setup and my Daughter helping out for a school project. 20210316_161428.jpg 20210317_221110.jpg

    Took a ridiculous amount of time to wrap the power cables to stop EMI whish I had read about it before ordering the motors, would have got shielded cabling ...Dohhh
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  8. Pinballcat

    Pinballcat New Member Gold Contributor

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    My Motion Simulator:
    Motion platform, 6DOF
    First Movement....Yaaaahhhh
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    Last edited: Mar 24, 2021
  9. Peacemaker105

    Peacemaker105 Active Member Gold Contributor

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    My Motion Simulator:
    6DOF
    Nice work mate!! Looking good :)
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  10. wannabeaflyer2

    wannabeaflyer2 Well-Known Member

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    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, Arduino, Motion platform, 6DOF
    Nice work @Pinballcat . great to see another 6DOF up and running . Did you CNC your Actuator Plastic plates material looks like the stuff i used ( Delrin ) Acetal co polymer . strong stuf and greast for machining ,

    Just gotta add one minor Proviso regarding the Upper frame , i have to add from experiance that when tuning these systems ( whilst learning the setup) scuse the language but S'#t happens and these actautor are pigging seriously fast and Powerful , so only thing id say you may need to beef up would be placing some gussets at various weld joints cos when these things hit bucking broncho mode they are visious ( ask me how i know LOL ) as always No critisism intended as you have done excellent work fully loaded seat and fast acxceleration in event of test crash are violent , Mind You @Peacemaker105 and Others are running fine so may not even be a issue for you .. Lovely work and man cave to diee for LOL Great stuff :cheers:popcorn
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  11. Pinballcat

    Pinballcat New Member Gold Contributor

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    My Motion Simulator:
    Motion platform, 6DOF
    Cheers
    I considered the gussets last time I had it apart to modify the frame height, hence why the actuator paint job looks a bit beaten up.Will upgrade the whole frame once I am happy with it. I made the guides on the milling machine at work on 12hr night shift...nothing like getting paid to make parts for your sim lol..The material is Dotmar not sure of the numbering , we use it for wear guides on conveyors at work, tried to use 3d printed ones but cracked one while installing so wasnt happy with strength even with pteg, have the speed in the controllers set to 1500 at the moment as still struggling to get a good basic 6dof preset in simtools. the man cave has been sadly neglected over the last 6 months or so due to the motion sim have sold off 6 arcade machine to try and create space for it. If you love Pinnies and ever get to Tasmania look me up have 19 in the collection now
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  12. Pinballcat

    Pinballcat New Member Gold Contributor

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    My Motion Simulator:
    Motion platform, 6DOF
    Finally managed to get the rig moving well couldn't get a decent 6dof axis preset working in Simtools. so At the suggestion of @Thanos and @Peacemaker105 I decided to give Mover a shot. Worked a little too well wish I had a Vid of the first run with no Filters. The second is still pretty violent. Thanks, peacemaker for taking the time to send me some profiles, made all the difference once I saw that the Actuator numbering swap check box is in the Pose's

    • Like Like x 3
  13. Pinballcat

    Pinballcat New Member Gold Contributor

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    My Motion Simulator:
    Motion platform, 6DOF
    Tomorrow I'm Having a clean up around my Room:rolleyes:o_O
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  14. Thanos

    Thanos Building the Future one AC Servo at a time... or 6

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    My Motion Simulator:
    AC motor, Motion platform, 4DOF, 6DOF
    Use a green screen behind it, to place it in a nice scenery background, like a tropical beach maybe :grin
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  15. RacingMat

    RacingMat Well-Known Member Gold Contributor

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    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, DC motor, Arduino
    great achievment!

    oh yes, +10
    don't play with your safety (breaking the sim is one thing, hurting you or a nice by-stander is another thing)
    • Like Like x 1
  16. Nuno lo

    Nuno lo New Member Gold Contributor

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    Hi pinball cat its coming along beautifully mate. Im in the process of starting mine. Quick question.
    How did you work out the sizing of the top frame in particular the distance of the angle bracket apart from the where the rose joints attach to the brackets. My base is identical dimensions to peace makers base. TIA
  17. Nuno lo

    Nuno lo New Member Gold Contributor

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    Photo attached for previous question

    Attached Files:

  18. Pinballcat

    Pinballcat New Member Gold Contributor

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    Hi Nuno
    sorry I hadnt got back to you but have totally rebuilt my rig so I could access the seat easily and install triple screens, hadnt posted any pics yet I will do up some drawings and send them to you if you still need them
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  19. Nuno lo

    Nuno lo New Member Gold Contributor

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    Hi mate I've worked that part but thanks for replying. Did you use m10 rose joints or m12? And stainless steel bolts to go through them? Thanks mate
  20. Pinballcat

    Pinballcat New Member Gold Contributor

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    My Motion Simulator:
    Motion platform, 6DOF
    I used m12 but the cheap ones from alliexpress flogged out within a couple of months so would recommend higher quality ones , I used stainless cap head bolts as I could turn them down on the lathe at work allowing them to work as alignment spacers
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