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2 dof race-simulator and controllers - building thread

Discussion in 'DIY Motion Simulator Projects' started by Fred Johan Østli, Jan 10, 2022.

  1. Fred Johan Østli

    Fred Johan Østli The old rocking chair

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    Hello. I am from Norway, so first excuse my not so perfect english :)

    I decided to start this thread now. I have ordered components, so there is no way back :)

    My project is building a 2 dof sim, and maybe add traction loss, if 2-dof succeed. The system I will use is Arduino rev3, and IBT-2 motor-controllers with vipermotors, I will also build wheel, pedals and H-shifter using Arduino leonardo, Ibt-2 (force-feedback.) I got inpired by the youtube series from D-Max (Haloween2go)

    A little more background: I am not a sim-racer, but 10 years ago I used to play GTR2 and started to think about building a sim, I was active at the X-sim.de forum, and soldered som boards and H-bridge, but that plan stalled. I love DIY and building stuff, an I have buildt guitars, boats, Ice-sailers (they are fast!!!) etc. I am more used to woodworking than metal and electronics, but I did weld together a bandsaw mill with a 7 hp brushless motor on it (There you have some real force-feedback :)) My DIY philosophy is that all I can manage to do myself, I do myself, both for the fun of it, and to reduse cost. I also like to recycle stuff, because it is good for the enviroment, and the wallet :)

    I have not 100% decided the design. All I can build in wood will be wood, because with my DIY sawmill i have milled al lot of material, so wood for this project is free. I live on an old farm, so some scrap-metal laying around here will be used where that strenght is needed. Therefor the design wil partly adapt to what my recourses are.

    Because i will use vipermotors, I want the design to be as balanced as posible. I like the balance in the joyrider-rig, but I do not need that much movement for a race-sim. I am trying to design a rig with the pivot point closer to center of gravity than the commond universal joint under the seat. I will try to make a drawing and share with you when ready. I believe if the rig is more balanced, there is less stress on the vipermotors.

    Thats it all so far. I am happy for all kinds of responses on this thread. It is 2-3 weeks before components arrive, and in that time I will work on the design. (or just decide to adapt one of yours)

    Regards

    Fred
    • Like Like x 1
  2. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

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    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF, DC motor, JRK
  3. Fred Johan Østli

    Fred Johan Østli The old rocking chair

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    Thankyou Noorbeast. I will likely use shoulder mount, and i am not looking for big angels/large movement. But if i can make it even more balanced, maybe the vipermotor can move a rig with pedals and wheel. It is also posible I make a rollercoaster sim for some kids, and in that case I want the ability to adjust ratio. :)
  4. Fred Johan Østli

    Fred Johan Østli The old rocking chair

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    Rocking chair consept. My idea is to keep center of gravity low, and more balance to make it easyer on the vipermotors :)

    Attached Files:

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  5. Jumping Coin

    Jumping Coin Member Gold Contributor

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    I was always curious about a rocking chair concept. Looking forward to see how it turns out!
  6. Fred Johan Østli

    Fred Johan Østli The old rocking chair

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    A little update: In building my rig I recycle somee materials from an office chair and other furnutures. its not looking pretty, but I will make a fake leather skin and some paint on it. Its kind of a rocking chair on a rocking chair :) I can balance sitting on it, but to far pich or roll I will loose balance. But I think the vipermotors will have an easy job, if i keep the angels moderate. I have got the motors but waiting for the controllers. I am also working on a H-shifter, and started to plan wheel and pedals.
    20220117_174550.jpg 20220117_174556.jpg
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  7. Fred Johan Østli

    Fred Johan Østli The old rocking chair

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    A little uppate: i have made a H-shifter, not completed the finish, but tested with Arduino Leonardo and the EMC firmware and software. Looking good so far, I realy like the work mr EbolzMagy do https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe6N3hxeEd2DB_undoxaIMQ . Also connected some pots for pedals,

    upload_2022-1-23_19-20-55.jpeg

    upload_2022-1-23_19-21-17.jpeg

    Attached Files:

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  8. Fred Johan Østli

    Fred Johan Østli The old rocking chair

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    I am now working on a FFB wheel with Arduino bts7960b EMC, and a windshield motor. I did a test today with a small motor and an encoder from a printer. A little drive in GTR2 with encoder as stearing wheel, worked well :) i have read that the bts7960 might have some heat-sink issues. Tomorrow I will do a test with the windshield motor, but want advice on improve cooling, and safety. Nothing burned yet, but I know its a risk. I have a cpu-fan i will use.

    [​IMG]

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    [​IMG]v
  9. Fred Johan Østli

    Fred Johan Østli The old rocking chair

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    OK, I did the first test with my ffb wheel. I use the gears from the old logitech wingman and the wheel, but I skipped one gear, as the windshield motor is stronger. Seems to work ok, but I did blow a fuse with the ffb strengt on maks in GTR". The fuse was 10A so a lot less than the motorcontroller rating. Nothing got hot in my test, and all well with 86% strenght in the game, and full strenght in EMC-settings :)

    [​IMG]

    Next is making a box over it,get the wires properly fastened, and connect gearbox and pedals. When the controllers are done, I will continue with the seat-mover :)
    • Like Like x 3
  10. itsumairu

    itsumairu Active Member

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    My Motion Simulator:
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    nice build!
    I think the windshield motor is enough to get a good FFB.
    I just have a suggestion, if you want to get a smoother experience, you should change the mechanical drive to pulley and belt.
    just like logi G29 vs T300, its much better experience on T300.

    good luck with your build!
  11. Fred Johan Østli

    Fred Johan Østli The old rocking chair

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    Thankyou itsumairu. Yes I will definetly consider pulley and belt. My old Logitec wingman had broken ffb, and this was a relatively quick fiks to have some force feedback again, and also get some experience using with the electronics, and the windshield- motor. I will most likely rebuild the wheel when i have finished the seatmover :)

    Must also say I will only play GTR2 and the other old Simbin games, until I get a better PC. I decided I first wanted to have the tactile experience, before upgrading to more grapichal immersive games
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  12. Fred Johan Østli

    Fred Johan Østli The old rocking chair

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    Ok, I almost finished my pedals, just need som fine sanding and paint, I know they are not the nicest looking, but feels pretty good :) On the break pedal I have a loadcell only 20 kg, so I might buy a bigger one but it works. i have a little spring that makes the start of the breaking light, and a little deadzone. Now I will start experimenting with the 2dof seatmower. All metal parts on this project is made of some 4mm aluminium sheet i have. I am making a rear platform ready for mounting on the rig, and will use that to do testing with SMC3 and Simtools

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

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    [​IMG]
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  13. Fred Johan Østli

    Fred Johan Østli The old rocking chair

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    All wired up and working in SMC3. Next is testing it with SimTools, in GTR2. I will mount the electronics more permanent and make a box over it. I have one 15amp fuse for each motor (the third is the force feedback wheel) and there is an option for a traction loss axis too later. I have a switch on this little platform, but will mount a kill-switch with axis from the seat. I decided to make a link for the pot, and not mount it directly on the motor shaft,,, easyer to make and the pot is protected inside.

    Soon some updates on the rocking chair too :)

    [​IMG]
    • Like Like x 3
  14. Fred Johan Østli

    Fred Johan Østli The old rocking chair

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    Another milestone in my building-process. I installed SimTools, and (after some trial and error+forum-reading) got the arduino, controller and motors work in output-test, and a little test in LFS. So the electronics are now ready to be a part of the chair. :) There will be some more experimenting with SimTools. Only using Yaw and Surge for now, but i guess i can add pitch and roll...

    It will be really interesting to see how the motors and controller like the job of moving the chair, but the rocking chair concept should make it easier. I have made a short linkage (27mm) on the motor, but I have not measured the degrees. I guess i have about3-4 cm action on the linkage.. I do not need a lot of motion. I have read that often "less is more" in racing simulators. I will also make buttkickers and make some force feedback on the pedals, to add to the experience :)

    [​IMG]
  15. itsumairu

    itsumairu Active Member

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    that pedals looks so solid! great job!
    what material did you use? aluminum?
  16. Fred Johan Østli

    Fred Johan Østli The old rocking chair

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    I live on a farm, and for some reason there was a couple of 5mm aluminium sheets laying around. I have used that for cutting parts for pedals, shifter, and base for the seat-mover. I like to recycle stuff, so all parts for the seat and rig will be recycled materials. The pedals are solid, but there is always room for improvement. I think that is the fun part of diy, you do whatewer you want, and use your creativity :)
    • Like Like x 2
  17. itsumairu

    itsumairu Active Member

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    agree! thats why I walk this DIY path too..
    I use PVC for pedals, and I don't please with its rigidity.
    next, I'll get some material as you, to get a better overall build.
    can't wait to see your finish build!
  18. Fred Johan Østli

    Fred Johan Østli The old rocking chair

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    Buy an angel grinder (if you dont have one already) and visit a scrapyard! :)
    • Like Like x 1
  19. itsumairu

    itsumairu Active Member

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    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, DC motor, Arduino
    Actually its been on my shop list.
    Before do diy stuff, I don't think it's necessary to have one, but now I do.
    I really like to build right now, than do a laps on simracing. Lol
  20. Anthony atallah

    Anthony atallah Member

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    My Motion Simulator:
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    Interesting and easy way to attach the pot
    • Like Like x 1