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A foldable DIY Sim RIG with G-Seat

Discussion in 'DIY Motion Simulator Projects' started by Banfy, Jun 28, 2020.

  1. Banfy

    Banfy FR/AU

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    Hi Everyone

    I am starting this thread to share my latest project and show how this forum inspired me.

    I am passionate about sim racing and DIY RIG for let's say...probably more than 25 years, since Grand Prix on Apple 2, then GP series and GPL
    I moved overseas 6 years ago and stopped sim racing, but trying VR last year brought me back full speed into the sim racing eco system

    I move quite frequently and between continents so a triple screen 80/20 RIG is not for me.
    So I started this project, considering portability as a constraint. This is a 100% VR RIG so sensations come first and Design comes last!
    Let's start...
  2. Banfy

    Banfy FR/AU

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    My Motion Simulator:
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    First thing first, the base
    I looked in my garage and found and good structure to start from
  3. Banfy

    Banfy FR/AU

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    An Ikea chair and a Lafuma Deck Chair...
  4. Banfy

    Banfy FR/AU

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  5. Banfy

    Banfy FR/AU

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    My Motion Simulator:
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    The RIG will feature:
    -4 rumble motors (1 per wheel, letter R on the picture)
    -a Buttkicker (letter B)
    -a wind Fan
    -a G-Seat with Simtools
    -a seat belt harness with tensioner

    I will put a larger wheel plate by replacing the chair seat (in green) and I will add a pedal plate.
    The wheel is the TS-PC with Fanatec CSL Load cell skel2 with acc.jpg
    • Like Like x 2
  6. Banfy

    Banfy FR/AU

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    Now, let me show the final results and I will provide details in further posts
    As I said, design is not the priority ;-),but it does not look to bad from this angle actually
    seat full back.jpg seat front.jpg

    to be continued...
    • Like Like x 2
  7. Banfy

    Banfy FR/AU

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    Viewed from the back , it is another story ...
    I have just finalised the Gseat part, so it is still work in progress
    seat global 1.jpg
    • Like Like x 1
  8. RaceRay

    RaceRay Administrator Staff Member SimAxe Beta Tester

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    My Motion Simulator:
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    Lol! Well done and funny at the same time.

    When I first looked at your chairs I thought you are going to make a joke but your creative work is impressive.
    It's interesting how the human mind works: One sees two old chairs - ready for trash and someone else creates a full-fledged low-cost motion simulator out of it:thumbs
    • Agree Agree x 1
  9. Banfy

    Banfy FR/AU

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    • Like Like x 1
  10. Banfy

    Banfy FR/AU

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    My Motion Simulator:
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    The good thing with part ordering from overseas, is that it gives you the time to think and rethink and rethink again your plans until you receive them ;-)

    I could not find the hinges used by other contributors, but i found T-hinge in my local HW store, strong enough to do the job.
    I bought some random 60kg servos, they look fine, we will see how they handle over time.

    My plan has been to do a G-seat system with minimal integration so i can very easily remove it from the seat.
    It has to be low profile to fit in a moving box and to be installed beneath the sit.
    and finally , It has to be simple and easy to fix
    I have choosen the pneumatic option
    It fits on this 34x45cm board. it is around 15cm in height
    this is step 1:
    base 1.jpg
    • Like Like x 1
    • Informative Informative x 1
  11. Banfy

    Banfy FR/AU

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    step2:
    I have added some cutting board to increase the pressure surface. I might do it even larger for more pressure force. base2.jpg
    • Like Like x 1
  12. Banfy

    Banfy FR/AU

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    My Motion Simulator:
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    base3.jpg and step 3, with the arduino and power cabling
    I use 7.5V/3A for each servos
    • Like Like x 1
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  13. Banfy

    Banfy FR/AU

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    My Motion Simulator:
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    On the seat itself, i use this blue foam padding. It helps for confort and provide many attachement options for the air wedges.
    I have put 2 at the back for surge and sway: seat wedge back.jpg
  14. Banfy

    Banfy FR/AU

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    and 2 under the legs at the front, for surge and sway as well.
    I have put the small wedges only. I might add a 'butt' lifter later for flight sims ;-)
    IMG_20200628_171856.jpg
    • Like Like x 1
  15. Banfy

    Banfy FR/AU

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    My Motion Simulator:
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    A bit of time to get familiarized with simtools, , launching LFS with those settings: IMG_20200627_155720.jpg


    And it works!
    Quite easy finally, just need a bit of fine tuning now
    • Like Like x 2
  16. volker metzger

    volker metzger New Member

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    awesome work !!! Great that it worked , Greetings Volker
    • Like Like x 1
  17. Banfy

    Banfy FR/AU

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    is it possible with simtools to use a DOF on a certain range, not from -100% to 100% but for example from -20 to +90?
  18. Banfy

    Banfy FR/AU

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    to be more precise with an example
    actually, with -100 to +100 range , my surge at zero puts the servo position in the middle and apply already some pressure on the wedge.
    i would like zero pressure for surge between -100 and zero, and the full servo rotation dedicated to surge positive values (full servo range allocated to positive acceleration)
    I am not sure if this should be done with simtools or with the arduino code...?

    In the tuning center, i have not seen a way to manually assign min max which could potentially solve my problem
  19. Banfy

    Banfy FR/AU

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    i am still using the demo version, maybe it is limited in that regard?
  20. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

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    My Motion Simulator:
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