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RC Servos Going Crazy - SIMTOOLS HELP

Discussion in 'New users start here - FAQ' started by Wilson Rios, Mar 26, 2019.

  1. Wilson Rios

    Wilson Rios New Member

    Joined:
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    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, DC motor, Arduino
    Hello guys,

    I just purchased SimTool Pro to start my 2-3DOF cockpit project.
    However I spent 5 hours reading threads after threads of this forum to get the RC servos to work.
    The information is poor, with opinions all over the place. Some people say, use ~ before, some say that's not needed, nobody says if the the Game Manager must to be opened and loaded to manually test the servos via Game Engine, it's very frustrating.
    While I appreciate the software, I see many beginners struggle with this RC setup.
    I am sure, many beginners will give up on their motion project due to the lack of knowledge and proper help.
    Anyway, just venting out.

    This are my setup.

    Loaded RC_Servo_Model_v2_ino t0 Arduino Uno R3, and 2x 9gr generic RC servos.
    Everything is fine here, I even tested teach servo to make sure they are working fine.
    But once I run the output testing of SimTool Game Engine, the servos goes all over the place.
    Yes, I do have my Arduino closed and with external power supply, and I tried the suggested setup.
    R<Axis1a>~L<Axis2a>
    R<Axis1a>~L<Axis2a>~
    ~R<Axis1a>~L<Axis2a>~
    I would appreciate if someone be kind enough to provide an accurate instructions.

    simtool_1.JPG


    simtool_2.JPG
  2. Wilson Rios

    Wilson Rios New Member

    Joined:
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    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, DC motor, Arduino
    Anybody?

    I have patched my LFS , saved it into the LFS directory.
    But when playing the LFS with Game Engine and Game manager opened none of the Virtual Axis move.
  3. MarkusB

    MarkusB Well-Known Member Gold Contributor

    Joined:
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    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, 3DOF, DC motor, Arduino, Motion platform
    After reading your posts (this one and one from another thread in which you complain about the quality of most of the contributions in this forum), I get the impression that you have expectations that will probably not be fulfilled. Better to clarify this now than later.

    Building your own simulator includes lots of trial and error and looking into various build threads for collecting information. And of course it includes asking questions, as you did. You can be sure that the members here are very helpful, which has been proven hundreds of times.

    But don't expect an accurate step by step instruction for your very specific problem. The only way to solve it is an iterative way - plus patience. You asked your question yesterday evening (German time) and expect a complete solution on the next day in the morning. Please give the members a bit more time.

    Ok, but I don't want to conclude this without a hint. Some time ago I used RC servos for a g-seat, and one time I had a similar problem as you have: the servos were moving randomly and did not follow the SimTools input.
    My mistake was to use a power supply that did not provide enough Ampere.

    You wrote that you are using an external power supply. But is it only for supplying the Arduino itself or did you connect it to the power cables of the servos? A wiring diagram or photo could help.

    About the "Interface Output" values: I confess that I also had to experiment with different variants. Unfortunately I don't have those in mind that worked at the end. I will check if I find a screenshot of them. If so, I will post it here.
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  4. Wilson Rios

    Wilson Rios New Member

    Joined:
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    Balance:
    473Coins
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    +3 / 0 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, DC motor, Arduino
    Thanks for your response Markus.

    I just hope the developers for the SimTools would at least provide more information in the manual or be prompt to be at the forum to provide support to paid users.
    I was expecting to have some more details of the hardware options and settings in the SimTool manual, but unfortunately I just noticed there is zero to none hardware instructions after I have paid the $70 price tag.
    I provide support to our customers over public forums as well, and typically wait few hours for forum members to assist someone. But I would not leave a customer a day or two without proper support, or I will definitely have an upset customer.
    It would be very useful to have some videos tutorials with instructions and directions with the most popular setup, instead having to go through tons of pages and reading at the forum trying to collect correct information. A handful of videos would save everyone lots of time and frustration, and that's my two cents for the developers.
    Anyways, thanks to Kenza's posting I was able to get my servos to work manually via Axis Testing, but nothing happens to the servos or at the Virtual Axis when I play LFS, which has already been patched.
    Any help will be deeply appreciated!

    Cheers!
  5. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

    Joined:
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    Innovative tech specialist for NGOs
    Location:
    St Helens, Tasmania, Australia
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    144,614Coins
    Ratings:
    +10,741 / 52 / -2
    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF, DC motor, JRK
    SimTools (motions software) and Xsimulator.net (community and community developed plugins are two different entities, see here for details: https://www.xsimulator.net/community/faq/simtools-and-xsimulator-partnership-explained.275/

    The FAQs are a gateway to member contributed information: https://www.xsimulator.net/community/faq/build-a-working-model-to-test-your-design-ideas.216/

    With LFS you need to run a race in first person mode before patching it for motion, as that generates some required files. If you did not do that un-patch LFS, shutdown SimTools, run a race in LFS, shut that down then reopen SimTools and patch LFS for motion.

    If the basics for LFS are then working you can move on to refining the motion profile for it: https://www.xsimulator.net/community/faq/steps-to-create-a-motion-profile.228/
    • Like Like x 1
  6. Wilson Rios

    Wilson Rios New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 25, 2019
    Messages:
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    Balance:
    473Coins
    Ratings:
    +3 / 0 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, DC motor, Arduino
    Thanks for taking your time to give me some directions.
    I did 5 laps with LFS using the training session, but I will try the race mode.
    I hope to become a contributor to the Xsim community in the near future.
    By the way, you have a sweet setup, that's very similar to what I have in mind.
    Thanks again!

    Cheers Mate!
    • Like Like x 1
  7. yobuddy

    yobuddy Well-Known Member Staff Member Moderator SimAxe Beta Tester SimTools Developer Gold Contributor

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    @Wilson Rios,
    Hi buddy!

    I only missed your post because it was not in the help forums for SimTools is all.
    https://www.xsimulator.net/community/categories/simtools-support-forum.133/
    These get monitored for people having trouble every day.

    Output testing does not require Game Manger at all buddy.

    There is quite literately 100's of projects built around SimTools.
    So there is no way for me to document each and every one, I do hope you understand.

    BTW, when you get LFS up and running, press 'V' on the keyboard to get inside the car.
    Telemetry only works from inside the vehicle. If you still get no action from running the game with your RC sim, Please make sure you have Axis Assignment for the game Live for Speed.
    (Please select LFS in the drop down list under axis assignments, click copy default, then click save.)
    (All new games added to SimTools with get a copy of the default profile found here.)
    (But since SimTools comes with the LFS plugin, you need to set it up.)

    Take care!
    yobuddy