2dof project started

After lots of reading and watching I have started to build my own 2dof chair.
I already had a playseat trophy, so this is the basis of the chair.
I started with simple windscreen wiper motors, as my 24v wheelchair motors are not in yet.
I have 1 issue still, that is with 1 motor. It keeps going into off modus, where I see the yellow line dropping to zero and it only moves in 1 direction..... I think that my clone Arduino uno (340 model) is the issue as when I build my shaking motor system, also based on arduino, had also issues with this one. A new R3 arduino is on its way.
When everything works, embedding simhub in it is the next step.

Small update:
I was uding this Arduin0(clone Uno)...but never got it to work...always 1 motor which had issues with starting... Now swapped it to an official R3... perfectly working.
So maybe more will run into this issue....or it was just bad luck on my side...but my advise....avoid these clone Uno's....
I wasted lots of time in resoldering the wires, swapping IDT's, swapping power units etc....

Now on the agenda.... Balance everything...so that when I sit... everything is perfectly in balance....

Status 90%
Things done last night:
- Swapped motors to front
- Balanced chair
- started configuring Software(try to use simtools 3, really like the new look and feel)

To do:
- Strengthen/tighten some parts, as there is some movement in the chassis
- cablemanagement
- Simhub connection

Things learned:
- Do not use Arduino clone
- Start balancing earlier... As when I thought I was finished almost a few days ago, it was moving horrible. Too much weight at the back of the seat... So had to rebuild part of the frame....but it is hobby..so always fun

Now, I will start racing, somewhere next weeks my wheelchair(24v) motors will arrive and those will be placed on the chassis, but already surprised by the cheap 12v windscreen motors...


What a nice project

It's Alive

Still with the cheap windscreen motors, later this week my final motors should arrive.
But to be honest, these cheap 29euro motors are already very strong, very impressed. Maybe it is because I invested a lot of time in finding the perfect chair balance when sitting in it. As at this moment, when sitting in the chair, it can be moved towards all directions with 1 finger. So the motors do not have to be that strong.

And it Finished

Very much impressed the way it works... I had to swap the rodconnectors a few times as they have too much play in it (note to myself: Aliexpress quality not use for this )...
So now It is working with my Loadcell, Simhub is working for my Shaker motors and Buttkicker..
Had to play a lot to find the perfect settings as the games act differently. So ACC was working very well, where the same settings did not work perfectly for Rfactor2... Now after some adjustments it is perfect!!!
These motors are very powerfull, so adjusted the power in SMC3 and set it in the game also not 100%.
For me, I do not want to have a rollercoaster experience when driving

Very impressed by this community and the way I was able fo find information... I am not a very technical person, but managed to get my chair working brilliantly
So thanks Xsimulator forum

Small Finishing touch

As this project is fun to keep extending, I have added 2 (aliexpress) temp sensors(each on a side), which are reading my IDT2's, just to make sure that they do not overheat. But at this moment these IDT's are not getting warmer than 30c... But in the summer, maybe good to keep an eye on.

Hey mate, so neat you did this - i am thinking about exactly this modification based on the playseat trophy since a week now, and it feels so good to finally see someone already did what i thought about - also the way you realized the profiles.

I am still thinking about one more thing: wouldn't it also make sense to build this one with three motors, two in the front and one in the back, in order to
A) also realize elevation/heave movement
B) get rid of the (also very costly) u-joint assembly

What would you think?
As I am a total newbie to sim racing, I have no idea if it is worth realizing a heave motion with such a setup.

Also I am thinking to add another motor for yaw movement later, which will add yet another layer ofc.

Thanks for listening

That's a great motion.

that's a good point, thank you!
Guess that's the reason why I haven't seen any projects with three or four wheelchair motors yet. The u-joint handles those twisting forces on its own?

wow, seen your thread - extremely nice work and documentation
guess this is more of a project for another day

i‘ve seen a 3dof without u-joint, but it was also made extremely rigid and with lots of cnc parts, worm-gear, double Y-arms etc.

very helpful to me - i‘ll start with a 2dof and get to the next level when the time is right

The way I have build this setup is for making it also a 3-dof chair.
The challenge I foresee is to make the chair move without too much play. At this moment the chair is working without any play or small stuttering(due to the engine gears)...mainly thanks of the usage of dampers..
So I am looking for the best way to connect my Cardan for movement from left to right without play....where I can position my existing dampers.... but without increasing the height of the chair too much....
Planned to make steps in this within a few weeks (now PTO time)...I have ordered some plates for connecting the Cardan... so when they are in...will start ....

thanks a lot for your reply!
I am working on my setup since three days now - but i tried to install the same motors both on the back, attached to the frame.
I guess I will have to switch them to knee position also, the levers cant handle the forces, at least not in 12mm aluminium, way too soft. But the rig moves fine already, had luck with the u-joint.
Also i realize that the motors have to get stabilized, as already expected they have too much torque so they do move a lot when just mounted with two M6 screws into the nut profile - do yours work "smoothly" on knee position with just those two mounting points?

And the most important question for now for me: what dampers to choose - with what forces?
Thank you kindly!

my first attempt and a lot to learn ofc..

I have mounted them with 4 screws...2 in front direct to the alu profile...and 2 with large screws on the oposite site of the alu profile. With this, they are very rigid on the profile.
I do not think that the motor in front, or back is a difference. The most important is that the chair can move very easily when you sit on it. I had to adjust this many times, now when not attached to the motors, I can move the chair when I sit in it with 2 fingers.

Important with these engines is that u use them on approx 19v... more will burn the IDT's and will give way too much power.

I have bought very cheap motorcycle steering dampers(via Aliexpress, approx 35 dollars)...

That sounds good, about the position of the motors.

What force/how many Newtons are those dampers designed for? I'm about to try some for 100N or 200N.. not sure what's best.

when you say you can move with two fingers, you mean when in leveled position right?
I seem to have found the pivot point, it is movable when i sit in easily - but when the rig is top down (which is my parking position currently, as long as the levers are not attached), I have to use a lot of force to "stand" up.
I guess this is okay, but is it the same with you?

Many thanks about your information with the 19V - I am currently running them at the 24V ofc...
Maybe you could also tell me your best found SMC3 settings here, please?

https://nl.aliexpress.com/item/4000416287542.html?channel=twinner

these are the dampers I use, how much N they are, I do not know. the thing I use them for, is to damp the first mm of movement between up and down, as these motors are gearsdriven, so always some play in it. With these dampers this play is almost gone. Also important to position them at the place where you have enough movement, so the damper do not block the up/down movement of the motor.

Yes, when leveled(when sitting in) and with the motors not attached, I can move myself with 2 fingers.

I am not behind the game pc now, but will make a screenshot of the SMC settings I am using, also when playing a game, I never use 100%, most of the games work best for me when using 65-80% (in Game manager).

well, out of 5 24V PSUs i have here, only one is capable to be reduced down to 19V, the others potentiometers are only able to reduce to 21V..
I also never wanted to manipulate PSUs.. but would it be possible to solder in another poti with higher resistors?

Or: what PSUs are you using at 19V? Meanwell?