1. Do not share user accounts! Any account that is shared by another person will be blocked and closed. This means: we will close not only the account that is shared, but also the main account of the user who uses another person's account. We have the ability to detect account sharing, so please do not try to cheat the system. This action will take place on 04/18/2023. Read all forum rules.
    Dismiss Notice
  2. For downloading SimTools plugins you need a Download Package. Get it with virtual coins that you receive for forum activity or Buy Download Package - We have a zero Spam tolerance so read our forum rules first.

    Buy Now a Download Plan!
  3. Do not try to cheat our system and do not post an unnecessary amount of useless posts only to earn credits here. We have a zero spam tolerance policy and this will cause a ban of your user account. Otherwise we wish you a pleasant stay here! Read the forum rules
  4. We have a few rules which you need to read and accept before posting anything here! Following these rules will keep the forum clean and your stay pleasant. Do not follow these rules can lead to permanent exclusion from this website: Read the forum rules.
    Are you a company? Read our company rules

Showroom Smitty's Rotary Servo 6DOF build (Complete!)

Discussion in 'DIY Motion Simulator Projects' started by smitty, Dec 15, 2021.

  1. smitty

    smitty Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 24, 2021
    Messages:
    126
    Balance:
    787Coins
    Ratings:
    +171 / 1 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    6DOF
    Hi, yep I think I have it all worked out. Won’t really know for sure until it’s built. Basically the one thing I had wrong was the angle setting on the thanos should be 180, I had put in what my rig was going to use. But flypt will handle the endpoints.

    another buddy build! Are you making two of them?
  2. InTheory

    InTheory New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2023
    Messages:
    5
    Balance:
    34Coins
    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    Thanks for the reply. Good to hear because the Thanos is what I am going to be using.

    Eventually we will make another but we are gonna do 1 as a prototype first. He is doing the building(welding cutting, grinding, etc..). I will be doing the programming/computer work.

    Look forward to the completion of your build.. It is looking amazing. Wish you guys had more time to dedicate. I do hate waiting for updates to awesome things.
  3. smitty

    smitty Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 24, 2021
    Messages:
    126
    Balance:
    787Coins
    Ratings:
    +171 / 1 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    6DOF
    A few more pics. We finished building the other 2 servo cabinets. I found that a couple sets of spark plug wire markers work great for tagging all the cables! Much nicer than labelmaker stickers.

    also started to draw in some fans for wind simulation. Using 24v seaflo 4” fans. (24v because that’s what the ffb joystick is using) Now that the frames are almost done welding, the mount tab for these will probably be the last extra thing before paint.

    Attached Files:

    • Like Like x 2
  4. Thanos

    Thanos Building the Future one AC Servo at a time... or 6

    Joined:
    Jul 6, 2017
    Messages:
    1,357
    Occupation:
    Electronics Engineer
    Location:
    United States
    Balance:
    2,765Coins
    Ratings:
    +1,049 / 9 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    AC motor, Motion platform, 4DOF, 6DOF

    I like that rack, plenty of space for proper cable management!!! :thumbs
    • Like Like x 1
  5. smitty

    smitty Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 24, 2021
    Messages:
    126
    Balance:
    787Coins
    Ratings:
    +171 / 1 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    6DOF
    A little more progress.. I took home one of the bases to finally start mounting some servos.
    01912CF7-EC15-4C30-941B-1B9D37357638.jpeg

    Meanwhile at the shop we did the first “motion test”!!

    Attached Files:

    • Like Like x 3
    • Funny Funny x 1
  6. smitty

    smitty Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 24, 2021
    Messages:
    126
    Balance:
    787Coins
    Ratings:
    +171 / 1 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    6DOF

    Attached Files:

    • Like Like x 2
  7. smitty

    smitty Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 24, 2021
    Messages:
    126
    Balance:
    787Coins
    Ratings:
    +171 / 1 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    6DOF
    Huge update!!!
    got the arms machined, broached, tapped and slotted. This was the piece needed to finally assemble!

    I wasted no time getting the upper frame mounted. Some final adjustments in flypt and it was going thru motions.

    Still have lots of wiring to do, so most things are just zip tied in for now. Joystick mounting parts are the last thing needing machining so the only game I can test now is NoLimits rollercoaster. After getting motion compensation centered, we took it for its first ride!! So amazing!!
    7656988C-AB9B-46C1-BBBE-6E6AFE0F4945.jpeg

    2A440CBE-94B0-4AFD-9B05-327A5A0DFB1E.jpeg 77A14675-F9B1-47F0-BAA6-CF5CE67741CF.jpeg 6591C64E-0528-4387-BB2E-E585BF155F8C.jpeg 7A81D7D8-7967-436D-A461-1FD4C89A398E.jpeg 53DD8AD4-6256-4676-88A9-00A1299D99F9.jpeg 139BE693-A227-4DF5-83D0-861158B4AA7D.jpeg 58AA6ABB-83F3-43CB-8BD7-0732C362A3C4.jpeg 7612E0C5-A313-4213-B367-5CDD63C9F350.jpeg 7656988C-AB9B-46C1-BBBE-6E6AFE0F4945.jpeg 75B14E67-2C6C-48D5-B899-4BB16BE7FEDB.jpeg

    Attached Files:

    • Like Like x 2
    • Winner Winner x 1
  8. cfischer

    cfischer Active Member Gold Contributor

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2015
    Messages:
    369
    Location:
    Colorado
    Balance:
    2,668Coins
    Ratings:
    +256 / 1 / -0
    Fun to watch the details unfolding. Looking forward to a video
    • Like Like x 1
  9. smitty

    smitty Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 24, 2021
    Messages:
    126
    Balance:
    787Coins
    Ratings:
    +171 / 1 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    6DOF
    Cleaned up the area to take a nice picture!
    I’ve been able to try some driving games like AC, and dirt rally 2, both work great. Need to make some joystick parts yet.

    6597CBE9-A5D6-4F83-B328-3F20871F1445.jpeg
    • Like Like x 1
    • Winner Winner x 1
  10. smitty

    smitty Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 24, 2021
    Messages:
    126
    Balance:
    787Coins
    Ratings:
    +171 / 1 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    6DOF
    Took some videos today! Here's the first one
    • Like Like x 6
  11. smitty

    smitty Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 24, 2021
    Messages:
    126
    Balance:
    787Coins
    Ratings:
    +171 / 1 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    6DOF
    I figured i should make a post here about some of the tuning issues i had and how they got resolved. I got some help in the other threads and discord.

    This is how it was:


    It's just a slow 5sec +/-100mm heave loop.

    I got the complete AASD manual from http://cnctechproductions.com/files/AASD-china.pdf - Its quite a bit longer than other versions floating around on the interwebs.

    First, i put the e-stop to Kill Power and ran Fn018 on some of the motors one at a time. This makes them wiggle a bit and reports back the inertia it finds. This number is then entered into Pn257. Default was 1.00, i have it at 3.00 now.

    Then since there are no PIDs on these drives, i found the 'stiffness profile' in PN259- it is a bunch of presets that change a few settings together based on how mechanically rigid everything is. Default was profile #4, i put it down to #3. Also make sure Pn258 is set to 1 so that it uses the profiles.

    After testing that, it looked pretty good but still had a wiggle. Pn110 adjusts the smoothing filter time in ms. I used the app phyphox which records accelerations (and can output flypt player files!) and put it on the seat. Here's the results from changing that:
    [​IMG]

    Finally i did the same with Pn113 feedforward. I didnt see as much change as Pn110 but settled on 40.

    And here's the final result:
    • Like Like x 1
    • Winner Winner x 1
    • Informative Informative x 1
  12. smitty

    smitty Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 24, 2021
    Messages:
    126
    Balance:
    787Coins
    Ratings:
    +171 / 1 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    6DOF
    Rig #2 coming to life!
    IMG_3463.jpg
    • Like Like x 3
  13. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2014
    Messages:
    20,941
    Occupation:
    Innovative tech specialist for NGOs
    Location:
    St Helens, Tasmania, Australia
    Balance:
    147,362Coins
    Ratings:
    +10,861 / 54 / -2
    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF, DC motor, JRK
    Great to see your rig is 'on the move' :thumbs

    Those levers look massive, what is the actual CTC for them?
  14. smitty

    smitty Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 24, 2021
    Messages:
    126
    Balance:
    787Coins
    Ratings:
    +171 / 1 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    6DOF
    200mm, they are big bars of 2024 aluminum. i also put tap holes in at 180mm and 160mm in case i had made some grave calculation error and it wasnt strong enough to lift us. thankfully it is!
    • Like Like x 1
  15. Will974

    Will974 Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2020
    Messages:
    130
    Occupation:
    Industrial Ingeenering Teacher
    Location:
    Reunion Island
    Balance:
    923Coins
    Ratings:
    +122 / 1 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    6DOF
    Beautiful rig mate !!!! :thumbs What is the cost of the 6 servomotor + reductor ? Have you calculate the failover threshold of your rig ? (are the feet far enough apart?) What is the diameter of the circle that contains the six feet on the floor ?
  16. smitty

    smitty Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 24, 2021
    Messages:
    126
    Balance:
    787Coins
    Ratings:
    +171 / 1 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    6DOF
    the cg of the cockpit with me in it at full heave is 1200mm from the floor, so i made the base feet on a 1200mm circle. the front foot is a little further out because pitch moves more than anything else. It cant move much at 1200mm though, at normal midpoint ride height the cg is 1000mm. even with some violent motions it hasnt moved yet. The base weighs about the same as cockpit+rider, it's 1/4" plate and 3/16" wall square tubing (steel). i havent felt the need to lag it to the floor but i think one of my buddies plans to.

    servos & gearboxes came from aliexpress, looks like they are both a lot cheaper than when i bought them 1.5 years ago o_O
    servos https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2251832657924811.html
    gearbox https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2251832781256249.html
    • Like Like x 1
    • Winner Winner x 1
    • Informative Informative x 1
  17. smitty

    smitty Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 24, 2021
    Messages:
    126
    Balance:
    787Coins
    Ratings:
    +171 / 1 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    6DOF
    so.. it appears I’m going to need to lag this thing to the floor:
    IMG_6005.jpeg

    Not sure if it’s been creeping up or happened in one move, since I use it with vr goggles on. But it’s definitely 6” forward from where it was!
    • Agree Agree x 2
    • Friendly Friendly x 1
  18. smitty

    smitty Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 24, 2021
    Messages:
    126
    Balance:
    787Coins
    Ratings:
    +171 / 1 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    6DOF
    • Like Like x 3
  19. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2014
    Messages:
    20,941
    Occupation:
    Innovative tech specialist for NGOs
    Location:
    St Helens, Tasmania, Australia
    Balance:
    147,362Coins
    Ratings:
    +10,861 / 54 / -2
    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF, DC motor, JRK
    Your rig looks great in action :thumbs

    I would be really interested in your views about your force joystick, how do you find it, the pros and cons, including bang for your buck?
  20. smitty

    smitty Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 24, 2021
    Messages:
    126
    Balance:
    787Coins
    Ratings:
    +171 / 1 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    6DOF
    The force feedback is phenomenal! I discuss finding it in post 21 but having used it now for a few months, no joystick or pedal with a spring can come close. It's so nice to feel the stick go from floppy on the ground to stiff at cruise. And turning elevator trim relieves the pressure by moving the center point just like a real plane. You can adjust friction, dampening, inertia, and force to make every aircraft feel different.

    The only thing it could be compared to is the hardware from Brunner, which is twice as expensive and uses a closed-source control program. They also don't offer a stick, just a yoke and pedals. VPForce units use windows-standard DirectInput for FFB communication just like the old Microsoft Sidewinders.

    There still is no website, but https://vpforcecontrols.com takes you to the discord where you can get on the waitlist to order a complete turnkey joystick. It's currently a 1-man operation so the wait is pretty long (over 6 months!) You can then just pop on any of the fancy grips from Thrustmaster, WinWing or Virpil.

    But, if you just order the DIY kits, which are 2 motors and the bare usb board, they will ship in just a few days! For us DIY types, there are many designs being passed around on the discord, most are pulley-belt designs but I really like the gearboxes i used on them. They are the same type, just smaller, of the ones i used on the 6 main axes so there's no backlash and as a bonus they match! He also has larger motors available, so if your application requires more grunt like pedals you can get that too. Currently, DIY is the only way to do pedals.

    The forces are incredible though. The config software lets you set up maximum effect forces, counterbalancing, and compensating forces so that no matter what you have on top, it can be adjusted to move effortlessly and stay where you put it. The work he did on eliminating the stepper motor "steps" is amazing.

    dials.png

    Using it with MSFS currently requires another program, XPForce, for the telemetry where you can set up profiles for all the different planes and helis. For quick adjustments I made a little box to use the 2 pot inputs on the usb board (you can change the function they do)
    • Like Like x 1
    • Winner Winner x 1
    • Informative Informative x 1