Showroom NanoMotionRig – Quick Entry 6dof Motion Test Rig (Arduino 2560, 3D printed)

Hello everyone,

I wanted to share a small experiment I have been working on over the last couple of weeks.

The idea was not to build a full motion simulator, but rather a small setup that makes it easier to understand the basic workflow behind mtion systems – basically how telemetry data eventually turns into physical movement.

I called the project: NanoMotionRig.

The goal was to create a compact and easy-to-understand test platform that can be used to experiment with motion basics, rather than a finished simulator.


Basic concept:

The system uses an Arduino which receives axis data from SimTools via the serial interface.

For initial testing I used Live for Speed, mainly because it is quick to set up and works well for telemetry experiments.

Communication is handled through a standard serial connection:

BitsPerSec: 57600
Data Bits: 8
Parity: None
Stop Bits: 1

Interface Output:


X1<Axis1a>CX2<Axis2a>CX3<Axis3a>CX4<Axis4a>CX5<Axis5a>CX6<Axis6a>C

This allows up to six axes to be addressed.

The Arduino sketch itself is intentionally simple and mainly parses the axis values coming from SimTools.

Small disclaimer:
I’m not an Arduino programmer. The sketch was developed step by step with clearly defined functions in mind using ChatGPT, so there is definitely room for improvements or extensions if someone wants to build on it.

Mechanics:

The mechanical side of the project is deliberately simple.

The goal was not maximum performance, but a structure where the movement principles are easy to see and understand.

The rig basically consists of:

• a small base structure
• several simple axes
• standard components
• a few 3D printed parts
Everything was chosen so the setup can be built without a complex workshop.

Some of you might wonder why I used cam discs for the lift motion.
The simple reason is that this keeps the whole rig made from parts that are easy to 3D print, without requiring complicated geometries or difficult assemblies.

Electronics:

Electrically the system is also quite straightforward:

• Arduino
• motor drivers
• power supply
• axis connections
The wiring diagram mainly shows the full signal path from:

SimTools → Arduino → Servos

Software:

For testing I currently use:

• Arduino IDE
• SimTools v2.5
• Live for Speed
With the interface settings shown above the axes can already be moved using SimTools Output Testing

Documentation:

While building the project I documented most of the steps, mainly so I could reproduce the setup later if needed.

This includes things like:

• parts list
• mechanical layout
• wiring diagram
• Arduino sketch
• SimTools configuration
At some point I organized the notes a bit more, including a step-by-step assembly, 3D files, and a description in both German and English in case someone wants to try a similar small test rig.

The NanoMotionRig is mainly intended as a quick entry project.
The idea was to build something small that can be assembled over a weekend and produces visible motion results quite quickly.

It’s basically meant as a motivation starter — a way to get hands-on with motion control and realize that the whole topic of SimTools, Arduino and motion mechanics is actually not as complicated as it might seem at first.

The next step will be a Midi Motion Rig, still in desk-size, but designed to further develop and test the electronics, Arduino sketch and motion behaviour before eventually moving on to a full human-scale simulator.

So this project is basically the starting point for a larger motion rig build later on.