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Materials for "bolt together" sim frames

Discussion in 'DIY Motion Simulator Building Q&A / FAQ' started by hjr2, Jun 26, 2018.

  1. hjr2

    hjr2 Member

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    My Motion Simulator:
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    Any suggestions for metal bar or brackets that are easily bolted together? I am looking for something with holes or other ways to attach fasteners spaced throughout it's contruction, but still rigid enough to be used for a build. Any pictures of rigs that might use something similar would be appreciated as well.
    hjr2, Jun 26, 2018
    #1
  2. AussieSim

    AussieSim Member

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    AussieSim, Jun 26, 2018
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  3. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

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    My Motion Simulator:
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    8020 aluminum profile is made to be bolted together, though it can be an expensive option depending on where you are in the world.

    You can even design your own frame using MayCad: http://www.may-cad.org/en/p1.htm

    I could not justify the cost so created my own bolt together frame using square plain aluminum box sections with double right angle pieces each end to form a U channel. It is light and strong if you use the motors and other elements to tie in the structural rigidity: https://www.xsimulator.net/community/threads/dx-compact-simulator.5866/

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    noorbeast, Jun 26, 2018
    #3
  4. hjr2

    hjr2 Member

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    That looks better than what I had in mind, those cockpits make the material look pretty easy to work with as well. I am planning to design from scratch, hopefully there's a source for 80/20 in Canada.
    hjr2, Jun 26, 2018
    #4
  5. hjr2

    hjr2 Member

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    Cost is a concern. What you did here looks pretty close to what I could do with what's availble to me at the local Canadian Tire. I also recently picked up a decent tap and die set and am hoping to use it in the project, and this looks like a worthy contender.
    hjr2, Jun 26, 2018
    #5
  6. hjr2

    hjr2 Member

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    I found 8020 locally through this site http://store.cpiautomation.com/mechanical/aluminum-extrusion/1020-t-slotted-aluminum-extrusion/
    It's about $10 CAD/foot for the large one that looks like three stacked on top of each other.
    hjr2, Jun 26, 2018
    #6
  7. AussieSim

    AussieSim Member

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    AussieSim, Jun 26, 2018
    #7