6 DOF from scratch

I settle down for a smaller base, with a slightly inverted actuators.
If the actuator could do 400 mm of travelling (will probably be a lot less) the highest position would go at 175 cm approximately.
A metal support for the seat looks like a better option than wood. Will see what we can do. Still to be develop.

And no, it is not a base of the old Elite game.

am busy catching up on this project... an interesting read. great bait to get me hooked on a 6DOF

P.S - I'm also running a HTC Vive + Perception Neuron.

I am glad that my project may inspire others.
Time and dedication are two essential key here (money is another factor ).
Did not know about Perception Neurone. Can you use it other than motion capture?

Yeah, weekend gifts!



In the small one, 25 mm adapters directly from England. It appears its the only place in the world to have those. Every things around here is imperial.



But they fit. I wish they would have been a bit tighter, but they should do.



Fortunately, I could also gather a few things from around here.



I could have done the power supply, or cut my base while waiting for other parts. But I had to do major cleanup.


Because I need space for my new acquisition: A hictop 3D printer. Since everybody seam to say it's a wonderful and useful tool.



The amount of parts is impressive.



And I though that building an actuator could be frustrating. Try a 3D printer. But it is coming along. I knew I did not have time to build it all. I might finish it next week, if I receive the replacement part for the strap that I cut too short. :S

Looks like your budget has gone the same way mine did

Budget? What budget?

This is what I received this week:

[No Picture]

It feels strange. Can't be Christmas every week I guess. Well, it's fathers day anyway this weekend and I had plenty of work to put my 3D printer together. And you know what, it's done!



Almost... Unfortunately, I'm still missing the strap that I screw up. They say it's shipped, but they don't say when I'll receive it.
I was able to test the movements of the z and y axis. It's stepper motor, but, it feel like controlling dc motor actuators.
It did not catch fire. That's always a good sign.

Ok, now I understand why it stopped.

I knew I was not on the naughty list... Yet. The Uline catalog is not really related to this build, but I received it none the less, and is always nice to look at.



My strap! And a bigger one for the actuator. Unfortunately, I am still missing the gear for the potentiometer.



So now, I have a working 3D printer. My first print did not turned out too bad.



Ok, it is quite small. But you have to start somewhere.
It is our National Celebration this weekend. Don't know if I'll do much on my build.

Yay for the Post man bringing goodies , I almost(not really) like the delay on shipment sometimes, You often forget what you've ordered and its Legit like bring a kid again on Christmas morning......that is if you dont read the Declared contents Lol


Dont be afraid to ask some printer related questions in the Printing section, Its tricky at first, but you'll get the hang of it. And if you dont like your Slicer your using too much, Hit me up and i can supply something, Mucho's better.

I did not even noticed that there is a printing section to the Forum. Will check it out for sure. I don't want to go too deep into 3d printing yet, because I know myself, and if I do, I will neglect my 6dof building. I just want to make decent print for now, so I can make parts for my simulator. There is so many hacks for the printer.

Still, breaking my rule right away, what do you mean by Slicer? I am not yet fluent in the 3D printing vocabulary.

a "Slicer" would be the program that takes a .Stl and makes it printer ready. Some are more cumbersome than other's, some take For EVER to render the slice, and some cost legit $$$. but you know, just lmk eh.

Yeah!



The gear for my potentiometer. The only missing part now to get a full working actuator prototype would be the v shaped wheel. On your right, the precious epoxy to keep it all together. The spring are belt 'tentionner' for my 3D printer. I know that they are not recommended that much, as they may introduce other problems, but until I can print proper part for it, they will do.



This is not from mail, but from local store. Still, they are directly related to this build. Trying to get mot precision in my life, I got myself a caliper. The little part is a plastic piece that is 22mm in diameter, I thought it could be useful and bought one piece to test. The vice-grip is an accessory for a future tool... More to come on this.



I should be working on all of this tonight, but I am tired. I when to an ANNIHILATOR show last night and pass my bed time big time. I'm getting old for that type of stuff. But it was great.

This morning, I got up early and when outside to check out my measurements of the base. I did a crude cut out made of cardboard and trace it to the ground. Again, precision is... Absent. But it makes sens and it should be right. The cat is there for size reference.



Why didn't I cut it right away? MOSQUITOES!

You can be sure that she's the boss around the house, and she has 2 foremen... forecats to help her out.

I have found one part in a foundry around that I bought to test. Its threaded rod is a bit short and I don't have the nut that goes with it. I am not sure it is the right solution for me. The plastic tube do fit in the carbon tube. Not sure if I will use it, and for what, but it is a possible option.



But we were only Friday (Canada day holiday) and some services were still open today, like, delivery:


After a week of silence, I can hardly keep up with the arrivals. Once again, the budget has gone through the window. But, I won't be asking myself if I can drill a straight hole anymore. I know I can now.



With all the thing happening this weekend, I had no time to test my received parts.



Ok the gear for the potentiometer is tested, and the belt tentionners are installed. And finally, I could find a Marlin Hictop firmware! It can run, I can concentrate on my power supply at last!



And my cat boss told me it was time to go outside, the mosquitoes were gone. This is a great example of my wood cutting skill. I think I'll make the platform out of steal.



And it is not over! I have a delivery paper into my mailbox. But that will be for next week folks.

Something strange happened to me this evening.

I asked a friend to pass by, to look at my actuator prototype. He's a mechanic, building machines with computer controlled drills and grinders, what ever they are called. I wanted him just to cut me plates for my actuators, so I would not used wood.
He came and look at my actuator. I could almost see the despair in his eye. Then, he told me everything that was wrong with it. I showed him some actuators and simulators. We discussed the needs, the different approaches, and he took my prototype. He said he would do a drawing, put it in his machine and that I would have plate ready in minutes. He really didn`t like my wood skills. I did not showed him my base.
So, I really lost control of my project this time. At the same time, I cannot argue with him, he's one of the best mechanic I know. I know that everything will work perfectly.

Well, I have work to do on my power supply and my base, until I found out what my actuator will look like.

I know that feeling... I have a friend that always do the same, this time he is too busy to help me and I got stuck cause I'm too used to get his help. .
So relax, get yourself on what you better know and enjoy the help