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Impressed Rookie looking to perhaps try out before building.

Discussion in 'New users start here - FAQ' started by cfischer, Sep 7, 2015.

  1. cfischer

    cfischer Active Member Gold Contributor

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    Hi guys, like the title says I'm impressed with the motion sims out there and how they turn your body to use gravity as a force in the game. I really am interested in building one but I will spend a good deal of time in research mode before I get there.

    I am really interested in getting into one of these. Wouldn't mind paying for a ride, private or commercial. Just want to see what its like first hand.

    I would like to start with anything I suppose but the ones I'm most interested in are the ones that move your body a fair amount like these.



    I understand that a 6dof or even that 4dof sim is a ton of work/money to get going and am excited to put cnc experience and several 1.3kw brushless ac servos I have laying around to use.

    I'm in Colorado if anyone is here too or knows of a place to go check a sim out.

    Thanks in advance!

    -Chris
    • Like Like x 2
    cfischer, Sep 7, 2015
    #1
  2. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

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    Doing research first is a very very good idea!

    Think about your own criteria for use as well, while large axis movement sims may look impressive and can be good for flight sims, they are not so good a choice for a race sim. Also realistically define your budget. Generally speaking large actuator based motion simulators are very expensive.

    Have a look at existing member builds for ideas and inspiration: http://www.xsimulator.net/community/forums/diy-motion-simulator-projects.22/

    You will find the FAQ section covers many detailed design and build related topics: http://www.xsimulator.net/community/faq/

    If you are not sure what something is or means then check the glossary: http://www.xsimulator.net/community/faq/glossary-of-acronyms-and-names.66/

    Feel free to ask questions, the members here give freely of both their time and expertise.
    • Agree Agree x 2
    noorbeast, Sep 8, 2015
    #2
  3. cfischer

    cfischer Active Member Gold Contributor

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    Thanks for the feedback noorbeast.
    I have noticed through my small bit of research that large axis movement machines are not popular for racing sims.
    It looks like from here that those large axis movements are not necessarily bad for racing, just that they are hard to do well because it's a lot of movement and a lot of mass and racing involves rapid changes.
    Also the thing I've seen "the best" sims praised for is there tactile response.

    If you watch the motion-sim.cv video there is not much high freq data reaching the driver. Too much mass and a huge moment of inertia with those three screens. The stewart platform video demonstrates much more high freq data reaching the driver but still not as much as something like a CXC simulator does.

    Anyway I guess what I'm saying is that I want both high freq/really intense input as well as larger movement. Really I just want to experience the large movement so I can dream of how to put the two together.
    cfischer, Sep 8, 2015
    #3
  4. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

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    My Motion Simulator:
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    In the end simulation is a mind trick and it is a balance you have to find for yourself between complexity and cost.

    Outside of a centrifuge trying to recreate G-forces, which is often used to justify large axis movements, is at best limited. Stewart and other similar rigs can have motion profiles to generate tactile feedback, it is really just a question of how they are tuned, within the reality of how far and fast you can move a given mass.

    In terms of your aims you can look at combinations of technologies, such as motion simulation and high fidelity haptic devices. For example transducers are widely used in sim racing and there is promising development of other high fidelity haptics such as RigNewton, which I posted about earlier today: http://www.xsimulator.net/community/threads/rignewton-opensource-diy-haptics.7316/
    noorbeast, Sep 8, 2015
    #4
  5. bsft

    bsft

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    Look around your area to see if there is any hire sim places you can go to
    bsft, Sep 9, 2015
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  6. cfischer

    cfischer Active Member Gold Contributor

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    @bsft Yeah I did and it looks like there is a pair of cxc sims to try. Really wanted to try a large travel setup. For whatever reason it is so attractive to me.
    @noorbeast The haptic stuff is really neat. I wondered about bass shakers too. How would you test the latency of something like that I wonder?
    cfischer, Sep 19, 2015
    #6
  7. bsft

    bsft

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    @cfischer , heres a proper profile on a force dynamics 401 for car racing

    Ive had emails between the manufacturer and yes, big movement is optional
    bsft, Sep 19, 2015
    #7