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Showroom My 4 dof + G Seat/Belt Tensioner cockpit build

Discussion in 'DIY Motion Simulator Projects' started by Moe Colontonio, Feb 10, 2021.

  1. Moe Colontonio

    Moe Colontonio Member Gold Contributor

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    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF
    After purchasing a Pro-Simu 3dof back in 2018, I decided to upgrade the whole setup to a 5 dof. I've added a few goodies along the way.

    Here's the original Prosimu 3 dof I started with:
    [​IMG]


    Started off with a simple frame plan, and precutting all the parts.
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Mockup for welding top frame
    [​IMG]

    Welded up
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Top frame, and lower frame with rollers installed. I used spring loaded "suspension" rollers to take up any slack or twist in the frame. https://www.mcmaster.com/catalog/127/1435
    [​IMG]

    Lower frame will ride on 1/4" AR plate
    [​IMG]

    Test fitting the SCN 60 Actuators
    [​IMG]

    Completed rig, with SCN20 traction loss. Complete specs:
    5 dof with simtools
    Virpil T50 CM1 with custom adjustable extension
    Thrustmaster Warthog throttle
    Slaw Device Rudder Pedals
    Pimax 5k VR or triple monitors
    Custom built AV8B left panel
    Custom built AV8B Nozzle Lever
    Bass Shakers

    [​IMG]


    Once completed, I started adding some goodies to it.

    Adjustable stick extension (just change the tube)
    [​IMG]

    Landing gear switch
    [​IMG]

    Hand built AV8 Nozzle lever, all aluminum, lever and STO stop are run with a Bodnar board.
    [​IMG]

    AV8B left cockpit side and Thrustmaster MFDs
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Added a GS5 G seat and belt tensioner, along with Brunner CLS Stick and Pedals
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]


    The problem is the setup is now too heavy for the SCN6-60s!
    [​IMG]
    • Winner Winner x 2
    • Optimistic Optimistic x 1
    Last edited: Aug 2, 2022
  2. Moe Colontonio

    Moe Colontonio Member Gold Contributor

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    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF
    About a week after completing the above rig, while browsing the forum I came across the SFX 100 actuators. I thought it was a cool project, and figured I'd upgrade at some point. I've now decided it's time, as it's become too heavy for the SCN60s with the addition of the G seat.

    I'm going to go with a Thanos controller, and 110ST motors to ensure that weight will not be an issue.

    To start, I had to design and build adapter plates to adapt the SCN100 to the larger 110ST motors.
    [​IMG]

    110ST motor mated to the SFX100 actuator. I purchased the actuator bodies from E Racing Lab rather than spend the time fabricating them out of aluminum. I prefer metal to plastic or printed parts. https://eracing-lab.com/collections/diy-projects/products/diy-professional

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    The ST110 motor to SFX100 will require a 10x19 coupling, which has been a challenge to find. I ended up going bigtime and buying a set of US made Oldham style coupleings from McMaster for $360. Guys on this forum did find me this solution, but I didn't want to wait. https://www.aliexpress.com/item/400...lgo_pvid=326da702-9d37-46c9-9628-b558ed2cf498

    Here's a link to the Fusion 360 CAD file (.f3d) for the adapter plate I designed, 6061 Aluminum. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YeajOnrvORI08XsY5Ww1tXxta5u9l4fu/view?usp=sharing
    [​IMG]
    • Like Like x 1
    Last edited: Feb 11, 2021
  3. Moe Colontonio

    Moe Colontonio Member Gold Contributor

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    3DOF
    More to come...
  4. cfischer

    cfischer Active Member Gold Contributor

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  5. Moe Colontonio

    Moe Colontonio Member Gold Contributor

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    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF
    I already purchased a SimXperience GS5 seat. I love the G seat, hate their software. I tried to get it to work with simtools, but it's just not gonna happen as I'm much better at welding than figuring out serial port inputs. So for now, I'm stuck with waiting on them to come out with plugins for the games. A 3rd party came up with a way to make DCS work, but I'm still waiting for MSFS 2020 which blows my mind that they haven't done that yet. A future project might be to throw out all their interface stuff, and make the motors run with arduino, but that will be a whole learning process for me and I want to get this thing done first.
  6. Moe Colontonio

    Moe Colontonio Member Gold Contributor

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    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF
    Completed adapter plates
    [​IMG]


    Cutting down the motor shafts
    [​IMG]

    I see in the Thanos wiring diagram that he's got inline RFI filters on the motors. Will I need this if I only have the motors plugged into my power supply, and nothing else? Might add an AC cooling fan for the server case but that's it.
  7. cfischer

    cfischer Active Member Gold Contributor

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    • Like Like x 1
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  8. Moe Colontonio

    Moe Colontonio Member Gold Contributor

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    3DOF
  9. cfischer

    cfischer Active Member Gold Contributor

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    I've read others doing this with success. Thanos has a video on wrapping cables, uses a jumper wire to bridge across the connectors.
  10. Moe Colontonio

    Moe Colontonio Member Gold Contributor

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    3DOF
    Any issues with switching the power supply to all 5 motors/controllers at once? In other words, I'm gonna plug everything into a 240v/30A PDU, then switch the PDU itself.

    Also, if I wrap the cables with RFI shielding and ground that, do I still need the inline filters?
  11. cfischer

    cfischer Active Member Gold Contributor

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    PDU should be fine turning on the drives.
    I would personally do all the things for the emi/rfi.
    If you want to cut corners I would say the most important two things are ferrite cores and shielded wires. You only need one inline filter as its only for things upstream of the drivers.
  12. Moe Colontonio

    Moe Colontonio Member Gold Contributor

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    My Motion Simulator:
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    I finally got the time over the weekend to assemble all the actuators/adapters/motors. I did notice that 2 of my ball screws were nice and easy to turn, and 2 were much stiffer. The good ones I can turn with 2 fingers on the input shaft, the stiffer ones I can't, but can still easily turn them once the coupler was installed. I'm going to try to test them each tonight and see how they run with the 110ST.

    [​IMG]
    • Like Like x 1
  13. Moe Colontonio

    Moe Colontonio Member Gold Contributor

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    Well, actuator test complete.


    Now to assemble the cabinet for the controller and get them all wired up, then start cutting on the existing rig to get the new actuator mounts welded on.
    • Like Like x 2
  14. Moe Colontonio

    Moe Colontonio Member Gold Contributor

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    My Motion Simulator:
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    Got the welding done for the new mounts, got everything painted, and the big parts assembled.

    Cut off the old mounts, and came up with a bracket system for the SFX
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Test fit went well
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Parts painted, this Rustoleum Hammered crap is great. One coat and super durable.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Assembly started.
    [​IMG]

    Got everything bolted together, still waiting on the traction loss stuff so I'll use the SCN for now. Tonight I'll start the wiring.
    Last edited: Mar 5, 2021
  15. Moe Colontonio

    Moe Colontonio Member Gold Contributor

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    My Motion Simulator:
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    I have no idea why the above images are not showing. Imgur is garbage, can anyone recommend an image host, or tell me how I can just post them here?
  16. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

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    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF, DC motor, JRK
    • Like Like x 1
  17. Moe Colontonio

    Moe Colontonio Member Gold Contributor

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    My Motion Simulator:
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    So I got everything pretty much wrapped up over the weekend. I'm happy to say it's all working well, it's much faster, smoother, and quieter than my SCN6 setup. I'm still waiting on a couple of cables to extend and the traction loss linear actuator.

    I grounded across all the shielding, going straight to the power supply ground, and from the shielding to the motor housing. I simply used stainless hose clamps to hold the wires in place. No EMI issues that I can detect.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    All back together, gotta tidy up some wiring, and again put the new ST80 traction loss in. For now I'm keeping the SCN20 on there.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Is there a way to speed up the RPMs the motors run at for calibration? The @Thanos board was a huge time saver, I highly recommend it.
    • Like Like x 1
    • Informative Informative x 1
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 9, 2021
  18. Moe Colontonio

    Moe Colontonio Member Gold Contributor

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    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF
    Here's a couple videos, the first one showing the rig in action, the other showing how much noise it makes.



    • Like Like x 2
  19. Moe Colontonio

    Moe Colontonio Member Gold Contributor

    Joined:
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    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF
    Just a few more pics of the updated rig. I've added:

    -Traction loss with a proper leadscrew instead of the slower SCN-20
    -Upgraded the Brunner CLS-E with the top of the line CLS-P
    -Added the Virpil Collective, there's a quick release to remove the Harrier nozzle quadrant so you can use the collective

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
    • Like Like x 2
    • Winner Winner x 1
  20. Kenshiro27

    Kenshiro27 Active Member

    Joined:
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    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, Arduino
    Hello
    you made a great machine, nice job