Tutorial SMC3 Arduino 3DOF Motor Driver and Windows Utilities

What is the current version of SMC3? On Github, the current version is 0.7. This thread mentions 1.0. I have a mode 1 driver type and brushed motors.

Hi Joe, I sent a PM to you - at least I tried. Have you received it? Anything else you need? Is there a way to share your source code?

And I wonder, what kind of motors you recommend? Can anybody provide a link to motors, you made some good experience with?

hello,
I am just starting my 6dof project to use with msfs2024 (6 rotating dc motors). Hexagon base with 6 motors. I never used this SMC3 with arduino uno r3, which can run only 3 motors. My question is: will I need 2 arduino uno r3 boards, connected to 2 different comports. Like: Interface 1: ComPort:3, [A<Axis1a>][B<Axis2a>][C<Axis3a>] and Interface 2: ComPort:4, [D<Axis4a>][E<Axis5a>][F<Axis6a>]? Am I correct? Need some help here. Is this the way to command 6 motors? Is there any other solution?

Thank you for your answer. If a get a top view of my 6 rotary motors, from top right position, going clockwise, I will have motor 1 (which will be axis 1a), motor 2 (which will be axis 2a), motor 3 (which will be axis 1b), motor 4 (which will be axis 2b), motor 5 (which will be axis 1c) and motor 6 (which will be axis 2c). Is my interpretation correct?

For me, everytime I calibrate, I set force on one axis at a time. You might want to disconnect them from the platform so they don't stress it while other axis do not move. You provide force to one axis and you look which of your actuator move (heave is good as all axis move to the same direction), and you identify them. You can change order of axis via wiring, USB Port, or applied force to them. The most important is that they are well identified, according to your ordering method, and that the force you apply to each of them correspond to what you want.
Personnally, now that I have only 3 motors, I assign one arduino to each one of them and use the USB Port in Simtools interface to change their order (left, right, rear).
When I had a 6DOF, I put actuators side by side in pairs and use the USB Port to choose one of the 3 position (left, right, rear). It depends how you constructed your rig and how your brain works.
I hope this will help you in any way. It is confusing at first, but once you get it, it is pretty simple.
After that, it is a matter of dividing the total amount of movements you have for each actuator to every forces that affect it (roll, pitch, yaw, heave, surge, sway).
Good luck.

Pierre.

Thank you Pierre. I was reading the SIMTOOLS manual, page 94 - GENERIC 3D ROTATING. This is the hexapod structure that I intend to use. Axis 1 to 6 are defined there clockwise (from top right), and the next page shows that axis 1a is defined as roll, axis 2a is defined as pitch, axis 3a is defined as yaw, axis 4a is defined as heave, axis 5a is defined sway and axis 6a is defined as surge. Forces are defined in that stage. So, if I keep this procedures I will get good results right? I also understood that it will be necessary to have 3 arduinos UNO to control those 6 motors, each one on a specific ComPort.

No sorry, this is not how I use it. I use Generic 2D Advance. For me, Axis 1a is the complete motion of my motor (from the lowest to the highest). This complete motion represent 100% of my Axis. In your picture, 20% of axis 1a movement is allocated to the Roll. There are many slot for forces in Axis 1a, and since we have 6 forces (roll, pitch, yaw, heave, surge, sway), I need to provide a percentage of each forces to that axis.
Me, I have only 3 axis on my rig, so I am limited on how I can simulate forces. I have no Yaw available.


I did not test the way you want to do it (Generic 3D).
Pierre.

Hello,
I prepared a diagram based on what I’ve learned from other members of the group for a 6DOF platform using DC motors.
I would like to understand the relationship between the six forces (roll, pitch, yaw, heave, sway, surge) and the six axes (Axis1a through Axis6a) shown on page 95 SimTools manual. Also, how this relates physically to the motors on the platform.
I appreciate your comments and guidance.