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Long time lurker, first time poster :D

Discussion in 'SimTools compatible interfaces' started by xenocide702, Nov 27, 2011.

  1. xenocide702

    xenocide702 New Member

    Joined:
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    First of all, I'd like to thank all of you. This website has been an absolute gold mine of knowledge and eye candy.

    My plans begin with a DIY force feedback wheel using a stock BMW e30 steering column. To go along with the wheel, I will be driving a BMW e28 instrument cluster. Eventually I do plan to build a motion platform as well, however that is a project for a later date.

    I am an engineering student and 80s BMW fanatic living in the US, and have a fair grasp on the complexities involved. I have done a quick model for a belt driven steering box assembly using a wiper motor for force feedback.


    The plate and mechanical stops are set up (with the current gear ratio) to give three turns lock-to-lock. The stops and the plates are made of HDPE plastic, the gears are aluminum and fiberglass reinforced polycarbonate, the belt is 3/8 wide 0.200 pitch kevlar reinforced polyurethane and should be well up to the loads it'll encounter. Assembly of the gearbox will start as soon as the bearings come in :)

    As for the cluster, I've done several tests to see how I can interface with the gauges. I started out testing with the arduino duemilanove because the code was easy to write and I had one lying around.


    I'm trying to push myself beyond the simple interface of the arduino, so I've been working with the PIC18F4550 as well. I have RS232 comms working via a MAX232 chip as well as a 16x2 LCD for status indication.
    [​IMG]
    This is the main board (above), which will hold the PIC18F as well as the high power H-Bridge for the wiper motor in the steering wheel.

    It will connect via 8 pin header to a daughtboard which will be housed in the cluster:
    [​IMG]

    This daughterboard will hold the amplifier transistors for the gauge needles as well as the LED driver chip for the shift light. The stock service interval lights will be used for the sequential shift light.
    [​IMG]

    Progress has been slow but steady, I finally felt I had made enough progress to share ;D

    My main concern at this point is the x-sim profile. What effects should I use (and how) to simulate realistic force feedback in the wheel. I plan on using USO to the PIC18F (and have successfully done so in the past), but I'm unsure as to which effects I should use. The thing I really want to be able to feel is the threshold of understeer, you know how the wheel just goes limp when the front wheels start to plow and/or lock up. :sos:

    Thanks again for all your help thus far, and I welcome all comments, criticism, and questions! :cheers:
    xenocide702, Nov 27, 2011
    #1