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Does anyone have a pic of linkage: actuator to platform?

Discussion in 'DIY Motion Simulator Building Q&A / FAQ' started by ebinary, Jul 16, 2009.

  1. ebinary

    ebinary New Member

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    I am at the point of connecting actuator to my base and platform. I puchased a couple of tie-rod ends otherwise known as universal bearings, but they don't seem to have the degree of movement I will need.

    It seems that each side of the actuator needs a connection with two degrees-of-freedom. Has anyone found a great off-the-shelf solution for this, or an easy way to create the connection?

    So far, I've bought a few brass bearings and couple of 1/2 cleavis pins, which seem promising if I need to DIY the connectors.

    Thanks,
    Eric
  2. adgun

    adgun Active Member

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  3. ebinary

    ebinary New Member

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    Thanks adgun,

    Those are simlar to what I have already, but I don't know that they will have enough travel. I am building a 6DOF and it seems like rod ends only have about 15 degree of travel from center

    What do you use to connect the actuator to your base - a rod end as well?

    I'm looking for a joint like the only in the redering on the bottom of page 4 of this document:

    http://www.exlar.com/Engineering%20Stuf ... ulaton.pdf

    Thanks, Eric
  4. bertrandchap

    bertrandchap New Member

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    Hello,
    perhaps you can try univeral joint to joint the lenght to the platform, but be careful about the axial compression you will have with the payload of a 6dof platform.
  5. ebinary

    ebinary New Member

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    bertrandchap,

    Thanks for the tip, but I am not sure what to beware of specifically.

    Are you saying that univeral joints are known to fail when compressed along their long axis?
  6. bertrandchap

    bertrandchap New Member

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    Hello,
    the universal joint are designed to transmit a torque, so generaly they don´t have a strong specification for the axial compression.
    But you can find universal joint able to resist to a force of 500N for the axial compression.
  7. ebinary

    ebinary New Member

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    BTW... to close the loop on this discussion, I used heavy duty casters on both sides of the actuators to support the large range of movement required by my 6DOF. Pictures are posted in the photo gallery.

    They work great, except for a little slapping noise from the play in the bearings when they change directions. Maybe I can add a rubber boot to slow and muffle that behavior.