Krusty's Build Log - 2DOF

Warning.... I'm not sure if I will stick with this as I tend to have a lot of projects incomplete at any given time... As my saying goes, "A project is always complete once I've learned I can complete it..." Just my way of saying sometimes it's OK to quit a project mid stream! LOL

I have looked at building motion simulators for about 10 years now and now that my son is 14 years old, works part time at a local race track and wants his own simulator I guess it's time to finally see what I can cobble together with old parts.... I've got a decent maker's workshop with a lots of electronics (Arduinos), a 6090 CNC, 45W CO2 Laser and various wood working tools, etc.

I am starting to play with some large steppers from a half completed 4x8 CNC build that I ran out of space for and abandoned. Yes I know, steppers are not at all ideal, but I figure if nothing else it should be a great intro into physics / geometry of a rig etc and a good place to get started now without an initial investment. With a bit of luck I am hoping my son can score a bunch of old parts from the garage at the race track like a seat, Universal Joints etc.

BTW, I once built a fully functional Arduino based 737 Auto-Pilot panel for Microsoft Flight Sim, but never tackled the motion simulator...

Looking to have fun at least and learn lots! Thanks for having me at your party!

As I mentioned above, I started playing with a Large-ish stepper.

It is a NEMA 23 (57BYGH115-003B) 425oz-in.

I am building it into a giant servo motor and am coupling it with a 3:1 belt drive to increase torque. With a 2 inch lever I calculate it to be approximately 40 lbs of lifting force.

My current plan is to couple it with an arduino and drive it with a Servo signal exactly like your run of the mill servo. I will probably integrate a hall effect sensor for positional calculations.

Rough dimensions of the "servo" are 6" x 4" x 7.5" and I am driving it with 24V on a Wantai Stepper driver at full step for greatest troque.

BTW, I found SimCalc, what an awesome tool, thank you!

Here are a couple of pictures so far...

Yes !
Nice building on wood !

Watching !

Thanks!

Small update, I found a 10K potentiometer and quickly 3D printed up a housing to hold it. I wrote a very quick temporary Arduino script to read the "servo" position and then drives the stepper towards the set point and all works well! I then cut out a 3" servo horn and it's got some nice torque to it, but I'm not sure if it will be enough. ill play again tomorrow evening...

Very good work! Please, tell me how your project continues