1. Do not share user accounts! Any account that is shared by another person will be blocked and closed. This means: we will close not only the account that is shared, but also the main account of the user who uses another person's account. We have the ability to detect account sharing, so please do not try to cheat the system. This action will take place on 04/18/2023. Read all forum rules.
    Dismiss Notice
  2. For downloading SimTools plugins you need a Download Package. Get it with virtual coins that you receive for forum activity or Buy Download Package - We have a zero Spam tolerance so read our forum rules first.

    Buy Now a Download Plan!
  3. Do not try to cheat our system and do not post an unnecessary amount of useless posts only to earn credits here. We have a zero spam tolerance policy and this will cause a ban of your user account. Otherwise we wish you a pleasant stay here! Read the forum rules
  4. We have a few rules which you need to read and accept before posting anything here! Following these rules will keep the forum clean and your stay pleasant. Do not follow these rules can lead to permanent exclusion from this website: Read the forum rules.
    Are you a company? Read our company rules

DIY G-Seat (from concept to final)

Discussion in 'DIY Motion Simulator Projects' started by early_m, Feb 21, 2018.

  1. early_m

    early_m Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2016
    Messages:
    317
    Location:
    Chelmsford
    Balance:
    818Coins
    Ratings:
    +340 / 4 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, DC motor, Arduino, Motion platform
    Following on from my initial concept https://www.xsimulator.net/community/threads/diy-g-seat.9848/ I have started building the final implementation of the g-seat.

    It will utilise the same functionality as the concept but be fully built into a car seat.

    Breaking forces will be simulated using paddles in the base under the thighs and acceleration forces using paddles in the seat back. Cornering forces will be applied down the sides of the driver utilising the side seat supports.

    Will try and specify parts, prices and sourced locations where I can.

    Will be a slow, on going project due to a new baby. Grabbing seconds where I can!
    • Like Like x 5
  2. early_m

    early_m Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2016
    Messages:
    317
    Location:
    Chelmsford
    Balance:
    818Coins
    Ratings:
    +340 / 4 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, DC motor, Arduino, Motion platform
    image.jpeg image.jpeg
    First challenge was to source a seat. It had to cheap while quite sporty, providing the side supports that is crucial for my design. A few weeks of searching and I found a 2009 Ford Focus seat at a scrappy - £40
    Last edited: Feb 21, 2018
  3. early_m

    early_m Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2016
    Messages:
    317
    Location:
    Chelmsford
    Balance:
    818Coins
    Ratings:
    +340 / 4 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, DC motor, Arduino, Motion platform
    Then to dismantling. Not as easy as thought. First thing was to buy a T50 torx head as this was the bolt type holding the back to the base.
    Covers came off relatively easy around the sides but are held in the grooves by an annoying metal hoop system. Not too difficult to unhook just time consuming.

    image.jpeg
  4. early_m

    early_m Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2016
    Messages:
    317
    Location:
    Chelmsford
    Balance:
    818Coins
    Ratings:
    +340 / 4 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, DC motor, Arduino, Motion platform
    Brake paddle area marked out and foam cut away

    image.jpeg

    There's a metal bar support built into the foam, but it sits lower than the paddle position so will leave it be.
    • Like Like x 1
  5. fortissimo

    fortissimo Member

    Joined:
    Dec 20, 2015
    Messages:
    54
    Location:
    france
    Balance:
    161Coins
    Ratings:
    +22 / 0 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, DC motor, Arduino
    Good luck for you projection,when is finish its amazing
  6. early_m

    early_m Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2016
    Messages:
    317
    Location:
    Chelmsford
    Balance:
    818Coins
    Ratings:
    +340 / 4 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, DC motor, Arduino, Motion platform
    I'm using SM-S8330M Servos with 30 kg.cm torque and speed of 0.22sec 60° @ 6v. They're only a shade over £11 - cheap and cheerful but from my testing they do the job

    https://hobbyking.com/en_us/sm-s8330m-137g-30kg-22-sec.html?___store=en_us

    Have bought 12 in total. 3 for each accelerator paddle. 2 for each brake paddle. 1 for each side paddle (if this is too weak I will add an additional servo to each side).
    • Like Like x 1
  7. early_m

    early_m Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2016
    Messages:
    317
    Location:
    Chelmsford
    Balance:
    818Coins
    Ratings:
    +340 / 4 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, DC motor, Arduino, Motion platform
    image.jpeg
    Bottom padding removed showing subframe. Actually not much room but can squeeze the servos in along the front edge which will fix directly to the frame. Rotary cutting tool on order to cut away hatched green areas
    • Like Like x 2
  8. early_m

    early_m Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2016
    Messages:
    317
    Location:
    Chelmsford
    Balance:
    818Coins
    Ratings:
    +340 / 4 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, DC motor, Arduino, Motion platform
    image.jpeg
    Butchered the rear padding this morning. Sides cut away for sway paddles and middle section for surge paddles
    • Like Like x 2
  9. Ijanen

    Ijanen Living Room Mechanic

    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
    Messages:
    41
    Occupation:
    precision mechanic, media designer
    Location:
    Germany, NRW, Halver
    Balance:
    408Coins
    Ratings:
    +28 / 0 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, DC motor, Arduino
    Very nice projekt. I'm looking forward to the finished product.
  10. early_m

    early_m Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2016
    Messages:
    317
    Location:
    Chelmsford
    Balance:
    818Coins
    Ratings:
    +340 / 4 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, DC motor, Arduino, Motion platform
    Rotary tool arrived so been slicing and dicing. Holes cut for servos and paddle hinges

    image.jpeg
    • Like Like x 2
  11. early_m

    early_m Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2016
    Messages:
    317
    Location:
    Chelmsford
    Balance:
    818Coins
    Ratings:
    +340 / 4 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, DC motor, Arduino, Motion platform
    Bit more progress this weekend. Fitted the braking paddles and the support bar which they will rest on

    1.JPG
    2.JPG
    3.JPG

    Getting some flex in the metal frame when weight applied on the servos due to cutting away a lot of material, so fashioned a brace to stop it.

    4.JPG

    As the paddles have a limited movement the servos can not be directly linked to the paddles using track rods, so have used an idea initally seen mentioned by @Spit40 which uses small RC rubber wheels mounted to the servo horn

    5.JPG

    Will come up with a better solution for the wheel runners but wanted to test it out.

    Initial testing:



    Seems to work well. Poor quality hinges to blame for lateral movement.

    After this initial test I have now decided to change from 2 paddles to a single paddle as this will only be dealing with the braking force.

    Should have ordered more wheels as they're now out of stock. Once back in the base is pretty much done.
    • Like Like x 6
    • Creative Creative x 1
  12. early_m

    early_m Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2016
    Messages:
    317
    Location:
    Chelmsford
    Balance:
    818Coins
    Ratings:
    +340 / 4 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, DC motor, Arduino, Motion platform
    Bit more progress on the base

    Swapped out the 2 paddle setup for a single paddle. Finished the right side by adding the servos and wheel runners (made these adjustable by placing rubber grommets in between)

    IMG_1047.JPG

    IMG_1048.JPG

    Ans added some upholstery foam
    IMG_1049.JPG

    After some initial testing on LFS it seems to work very well. Servos have no issue applying force. CTC is currently 30mm.

    • Like Like x 2
  13. early_m

    early_m Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2016
    Messages:
    317
    Location:
    Chelmsford
    Balance:
    818Coins
    Ratings:
    +340 / 4 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, DC motor, Arduino, Motion platform
    The back is going to be trickier than the base and will take some investigation work into how best to make it work.

    Have started with adding the surge paddles. Once aligned I can take a look at servo placement.

    IMG_1044.JPG

    IMG_1045.JPG

    IMG_1046.JPG
  14. early_m

    early_m Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2016
    Messages:
    317
    Location:
    Chelmsford
    Balance:
    818Coins
    Ratings:
    +340 / 4 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, DC motor, Arduino, Motion platform
    image.jpeg
    Servo motors in place and connected to the paddle with joint blocks. Did some testing and a one hinge setup just doesn't work as it allows the paddle to flex, placing too much force on the top/bottom servos.

    image.jpeg

    Swapped to 2 hinges and also 3D printed a bracket to connect the rods to the paddle. This now works very well and intial tests with LFS are promising

    image.jpeg
    • Like Like x 4
  15. early_m

    early_m Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2016
    Messages:
    317
    Location:
    Chelmsford
    Balance:
    818Coins
    Ratings:
    +340 / 4 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, DC motor, Arduino, Motion platform
    IMG_1844.JPG

    Both sides now assembled
    • Like Like x 3
  16. early_m

    early_m Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2016
    Messages:
    317
    Location:
    Chelmsford
    Balance:
    818Coins
    Ratings:
    +340 / 4 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, DC motor, Arduino, Motion platform
    Turned my attention to the side paddles which will simulate the sway g forces down the side of the body.

    I discovered that I had enough room down the side of the frame to mount a servo so this really helped simplify the design.

    Designed and printed a bracket to mount the servo

    image.jpeg
    image.jpeg

    Mounts onto the bolts for the paddle hinge and connected to the flap with an RC track Rod

    image.jpeg

    Both sides complete

    image.jpeg

    Initial tests with LFS are fantastic. The side paddles are a step up from what only the rear paddles can offer in terms of cornering g's.

    Next step is to add some foam padding and get it dialled in.

    Will upload a video of it in action soon.
    • Like Like x 2
  17. early_m

    early_m Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2016
    Messages:
    317
    Location:
    Chelmsford
    Balance:
    818Coins
    Ratings:
    +340 / 4 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, DC motor, Arduino, Motion platform
    Testing of the wheel braking concept



    Adds an extra sense of braking. Works very well. Will be implementing into the final rig.
    • Like Like x 4
    • Creative Creative x 1
  18. AussieSim

    AussieSim Member

    Joined:
    May 3, 2017
    Messages:
    74
    Location:
    Australia
    Balance:
    1,452Coins
    Ratings:
    +35 / 0 / -0
    The side panels look like a huge advantage over a traditional GS-4 style G Seat.

    Looking forward to the video.
  19. early_m

    early_m Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2016
    Messages:
    317
    Location:
    Chelmsford
    Balance:
    818Coins
    Ratings:
    +340 / 4 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, DC motor, Arduino, Motion platform
    Here is a video of all the seat components working together. A lap of LFS in the BMW



    The seat is now pretty much done. Need to finish off some padding and tidying of the cables. I've now decided to put this into a dedicated frame housing the seat, wheel and peddles and will place all the electronics within the frame.

    Here is a pic of the seat with all covers off

    image.jpeg
    • Winner Winner x 5
    • Like Like x 4
    Last edited: Jun 26, 2018
  20. early_m

    early_m Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2016
    Messages:
    317
    Location:
    Chelmsford
    Balance:
    818Coins
    Ratings:
    +340 / 4 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, DC motor, Arduino, Motion platform
    Yes they really do make you feel like you're being flung into the corner which I found was lacking with just back paddles