MY FSX TOPLANDING 2DOF

Hello forum x-simulator!
I present to you my first experience with simulators ....
One day, looking to buy a video game to put in the tavern, I find an old cabin of TAITO a good price. Intrigued and, considering the low price, I buy for 150 €! Bring it on home, I try, and surprise! the electrical system of handling of the cell does not work .....
In a short time I can solve the problem, it was the electronic board of management of the engines purr, solve the fault, and I restart it all with immense satisfaction.
Game for an hour and finish the levels ... The game was simple to make landings in certain conditions, very boring!
I go to sleep, the next day I wake up and think, and if I put FSX? interfacing with motors? I'm doing there!
The cockpit
Side view
Rear view

My work
I have finded a very useful program for interfacing command, etc. to FSX in really simply mode and free!!!
For interface with command i have used 2 arduino mega 2560 board
And i have make panel in very simply method.
For the AP i have bought a Saitek Multi Panel
For the throttle and joystick, i have bought an hotas warthog from thrustmaster.
For the rudder, saitek pedals.
For the rest totally handmade! except for monitor, pc components....
I will post soon more info!!

Well done so does it run SimTools ?

The Panel (switch, radio, gear and annunciator panel) run with link2fs program.
In the cockpit i mounted two monitor, one 15" for gauge (configured with Panel Studio) and one 32" for game.
I work to that project from 2 month and i realize this showed in photo.
There are in project an G1000 panel like real and some gauges motorized with steeper.
For the motion yes, my idea is to use SimTools!

The mechanical part of the simulator is composed by two DC motors mounted on two columns.
These motors drive two worm screws which, by means of two brackets ball, moving a board supported by a central joint. As your Projects 2dof moving seat, only bigger! and slow ......
The only problem, besides the slowness is that I can not add a potentiometer to the motor, if not with brackets and trying various inventions.
I have two limit switch for motor, a proxy to indicate the center of each column and an optical encoder very rustic at the other end of the worm.
A short post the photos.

This idea might help, I did this on my converted actuators for feedback
Feedback was a tricky one, but a combination of gears from a hobby shop and some leverage allowed me to use almost one full turn of a single turn pot. The extra lever on the large gear was to reduce overall turn, as it was about 380 deg, too little for a multiturn, but too much for a single turn.
Control is done by the famous JRK.

Ok @Ceresoli in that case you need to modify the Ard code to work with encoders and setup a way for it to calibrate itself , biggest issue when using encoders, a multi turn pot wold work better for you and can be used with any of the code without alterations. Then just wire the limit switches to cut out the power to the driver if the sim reaches that point so it doesn't bottom out or come off the end of the ball screw.
This idea will work but to keep it simple if you don't know how to modify the code please try to use a pot.
Sorry.

Many thanks for the reply! @bsft your is a very helpful idea!
For @eaorobbie , The multipot is a good idea, but for a complete up-down motion, the motor work for over 100 turns....
For the switch yeah, i would implement for cut-off, there ara 4 switch, not 2 for motor, the switch are interfaced 2 for cut-off, and two for reset when the simulator start.
Many thanks at all for the support!
This is the motion platform of my sim!

The mods i can write in the arduino's sketch, are follow:
When start, the motors are moving for put the platform on center position.
The structure are provided with some photoelectric sensor for safety (if someone put a foot or object under the platform, it can stop! but not reset, for 2 seconds when disabled)
A cabin door opened sw, when i's opened, the platform return in center position.
A Emergency sw, STOP and cut-off the energy at the driver. (nothing to do with the arduino's sketch)

I have added 2 proxy for motor control and an upgrade for fast motion.