DIY 6DoF DCS helicopter simpit project

My project requirement is for a helicopter flight simulator (for DCS)
so 6 DoF (stewart platform) is the optimal config and only real option for immersion along with VR.

Problem is, with no experience I am jumping in the deep end. with my hands tied behind my back, straight into 6DoF.

I am a pensioner so will be as shrewd as possible and hopefully learning from as many of your mistakes as I can to fast track/ short-cut to a working viable solution. I simply cannot afford to make any of my own...

I'm looking to produce a stewart platform that will support my 100kg + warthog HOTAS , car seat and some switch panel peripherals.

I have much reading to do...

I used to have a flight link helicopter control suite
http://www.flightlink.com/
but ditched it to build my own setup with a few more functions on the HOTAS

I picked up a second hand warthog and I've been working on building a helicopter collective using some off the shelf grips and working on a base, but attempts to source them have been difficult, one of my sim-pilot colleagues built this brilliant huey collective
https://avimator.net/229wiki/index.php?title=Space_Cadet
but I'm usually fly attack helo's and need more buttons on the collective, more along the lines of the UH-60 collective head, which is more akin to the head of a cyclic / joystick.

I'm put in a few submissions to virpil for their recent panel competition, of the 6 submitted, 4 were shortlisted and of the 2 helicopter panels are, 1 might actually make it to the final stage of the competition.

Im hoping that virpil are going to produce a helicopter collective base that simmers can choose their own grip, that will cost much the same as a joystick and not 3-4 times that for one of the boutique collectives found on the net.

started tinkering.....

I'm at the point thought where I need to determine what motors I will need to spec and start perusing for what is within my budget

as well as initially determine whether I will be making my own linear actuators or going with rotational/worm gear instead.


at this point I'm thinking I'll be going with Thanos off the shelf solution
https://www.xsimulator.net/community/threads/amc1280usb-motion-simulator-controller.10517/
to take some of the heartache out of the controller aspect.

I've followed the plans from this post
http://motionsim.freeforums.net/thread/176/dof-step-diy-project-blueprints
as I like the idea of being able to disassemble the base for transportation (if required)

I've tweeked the upper platform so that it is slightly recessed and has a pedal shelf extended and lower, this will need to be watched carefully for collision potential when I start animating the platform.

I've thrown in some steel rods with rod ends at 800mm just to kick me off for height.
once I know what actuators & motors Im going to go with, I can replace these components with the real units and get some motion happening.

I'm sure there is much more tweeking of the frame to come to alleviate issues and eliminate collision impact points...

I noticed a post here about linear actuator bundles
https://www.xsimulator.net/communit...th-a-bunch-of-stroke-options.6750/#post-75329

https://openbuildspartstore.com/c-beam-linear-actuator-bundle/

Was there any feedback on whether this bundle could handle the being beef'd up with a larger motor
(i was thinking along the lines of something like this: https://www.motiondynamics.com.au/120w-4100rpm-12-24-dc-straight-motor.html )

Does anyone think that the bundle is cost effective?
given that I would still need to change the top plate & pillow block as well as the tube assembly & connection

My battle with Fusion360 continues and its slowly taking shape.

I've tweeked my upper platform slightly and the model is almost completed so that I can begin creating pivot points to start animating and inspecting for collisions

I've added a tapered step at rear on each side for easy access,
(& allow for the platform to sit upright on its own)
hopefully without too much additional weight and they don't get in the way
but given that they are slightly outboard as well, there is slightly more lever ...
I havent dont any motion joints yet to perform an assessment of potential collisions
so they might need to go
it would be nice to keep at least one, if so it would be mounted on the right side
to even up the additional weight of the warthog throttle on the left hand side (& slightly forward).

once thats complete I will then need to learn how to use simtools
something I'm actually quite dreading...

(if I cannot work out how to do the proof of concept I'm not going to get very far.)

interested on thoughts from anyone

Apols for my absence, RL keeps getting in the way....
I have become a bit distracted and been considering options.
But I have been keeping myself busy and got myself the plans to the A-10C seat and have been merrily modifying it so that I could incorporate a G-seat into it.
the side servos would have to have some sort of cover, probably just source a electrical junction box and hack it out a bit...
the only panels that required modification are indicated in blue and green so the seat remains for the most part true to the original design

Im considering building the entire A-10C simpit & then placing it in an enlarged 'dream-flyer' 2DoF tilt platform (~10<13 degrees pitch and roll) and the g-seat would then compliment that.
(Massive footprint though)

Are you planning on using VR with this? Everything I've heard is that fully built out cockpits tend not to give nearly as much benefit with VR as they do with monitors/projectors because you don't have a good sense of where your hands are within the cockpit. You'll also add a lot more weight on the platform and need more expensive motors/power supplies if you go with a full cockpit.

long overdue update
After discussions with some senior members here, I realised a 6DoF platform wasn't really the best option for me.
I've been waiting for the Bergison motion integrated G-seat to be released (DIY plans)
which I happily grabbed, & am now in the process of building.

welcome
you have just jumped into the rabbit hole.
dont make my mistake of DIY arduino and sabertooth.
GO THANOS AMC Controller with AASD15A servo motors

G'day
Honestly I hadn't gotten that far with my build/design investigation
I kind of stopped once I had found the bergison integrated motion G-seat, as it ticked all the boxes i needed for (VR) rotary winged flight.
For the controllers much & have simply followed the build instructions/recommendations from Bergison in this regard, he is utilising two Sabertooth dual 32A Motor Drivers and two Kangaroo x2 Motion Controllers

Who knows, one day I may revisit this platform, but will probably need a lotto win first.

you have a link for this bergison integrated motion G-seat?
may try to build a g-seat also using the arduino sabertooth hardware that i ended up storing since i upgraded my 6DoF to AASD-15 and thanos

https://makers.bergison.com/