DIY project (WIP)

[Alberto Casado]

Though it would be nice to share while this is being built and also document myself a bit.
Unfortunately the next iteration will happen after Xmas (not going to be at home). It will take weeks of tinkering for sure.

The project:

• Revamp G27 pedals:
  • load cell for brake, following http://www.instructables.com/id/Racing-Sim-brake-pedal-load-cell-interface/step2/Construction/ (75% done)
    
  • inverted pedals (10% done)
  • pedal vibration for wheel locking (10% done)

• Dashboard compatible with RF1 engine game (following http://www.racedepartment.com/threads/diy-dash-indicator.89304/)
  
  • Hardware is pre-made (100%)
  • Tinkering with the sw to mix in the other functionality (0%)

• Vibration feedback for chair (very much self made, not following anything)
  
  • Adapt a comfortable chair, integrate with pedal stand (0%)
    • Shaker with telemetry related effects
    • hack subwoofer to build shaker (0%)
      
    • amplifier for shaker, might scrap some for old hifi. (0%)
      
    • rpm effects using voltage controlled oscillator and arduino (50%)
    • ...?

• Supporting infrastructure
  • RF1 plugin that sends telemetry data to network socket (taken from https://github.com/Grumbel/rfactorlcd)
  • Python scripts that chew the data and control arduino (10%)
  • I may offload later all the python to a separate beaglebone/raspberry pi (0%)

Some pics of the load cell test setup:

I tested already and works fine. I have just to settle on how much amplification and then solder everything to a little board. Probably also beautifying/reinforcing the load cell support.

 

[HUM24H]

Though it would be nice to share while this is being built and also document myself a bit.
Unfortunately the next iteration will happen after Xmas (not going to be at home). It will take weeks of tinkering for sure.

The project:

• Revamp G27 pedals:
  • load cell for brake, following http://www.instructables.com/id/Racing-Sim-brake-pedal-load-cell-interface/step2/Construction/ (75% done)
    
  • inverted pedals (10% done)
  • pedal vibration for wheel locking (10% done)

• Dashboard compatible with RF1 engine game (following http://www.racedepartment.com/threads/diy-dash-indicator.89304/)
  • Hardware is pre-made (100%)
  • Tinkering with the sw to mix in the other functionality (0%)

• Vibration feedback for chair (very much self made, not following anything)
  • Adapt a comfortable chair, integrate with pedal stand (0%)
    • Shaker with telemetry related effects
    • hack subwoofer to build shaker (0%)
      
    • amplifier for shaker, might scrap some for old hifi. (0%)
      
    • rpm effects using voltage controlled oscillator and arduino (50%)
    • ...?

• Supporting infrastructure
  • RF1 plugin that sends telemetry data to network socket (taken from https://github.com/Grumbel/rfactorlcd)
  • Python scripts that chew the data and control arduino (10%)
  • I may offload later all the python to a separate beaglebone/raspberry pi (0%)

Some pics of the load cell test setup:

I tested already and works fine. I have just to settle on how much amplification and then solder everything to a little board. Probably also beautifying/reinforcing the load cell support.

Sounds good! Also sounds like a lot of work

I always enjoy DIY stuff, so very much look forward to more updates.

 

[Alberto Casado]

After almost a year (and a bit of abandonment) I put some more work into the setup.

The project:

• Revamp G27 pedals:
  • load cell for brake, following http://www.instructables.com/id/Racing-Sim-brake-pedal-load-cell-interface/step2/Construction/ (100% done)
  • inverted pedals (100% done)
  • pedal vibration for wheel locking (10% done)

• Dashboard compatible with RF1 engine game (following http://www.racedepartment.com/threads/diy-dash-indicator.89304/)
  • Hardware is pre-made (100%)
  • Tinkering with the sw to mix in the other functionality (0%)

• Vibration feedback for chair (very much self made, not following anything)
  • Adapt a comfortable chair, integrate with pedal stand (100%)
    • Shaker with telemetry related effects
    • hack subwoofer to build shaker (0%)
    • amplifier for shaker, might scrap some for old hifi. (0%)
    • rpm effects using voltage controlled oscillator and arduino (50%)
    • ...?

• Supporting infrastructure
  • RF1 plugin that sends telemetry data to network socket (taken from https://github.com/Grumbel/rfactorlcd)
  • Python scripts that chew the data and control arduino (10%)
  • I may offload later all the python to a separate beaglebone/raspberry pi (0%)

I will add a couple of pictures of the setup shortly.
The next thing to do is to re-install all the arduino+python stuff and attach the dashboard indicator to the wheel support so I have something usable.

 

[Alberto Casado]

As promised, some pictures

The complete setup

I went for a discrete look when not racing, removing the wheel frame is easy.

And the wheel frame is held by two homemade supports behind the monitors. I have to upgrade the screw to something I can operate by hand (thumbscrew + nut embedded in the wood probably)

The chair is a normal ikea chair, just raised and tilted a bit to the front. Very comfortable both for racing and working on the computer. The grip is enough, I don't slide when I brake.
It does not look too weird in the living room. It can also be simply lifted from the base and used elsewhere.

Finally, the pedal set lives in what the designers of the computer table expected would host a printer. I can stretch my legs when working on the PC, or lift them and race. The brake pedal has a 20kg load cell (there is not much leverage on it, so 20kg on the pedal face = 20kg on the cell, enough for me).

 

[Insert Coin]

Idea perhaps: I'm using C-clamps to fasten the wheel plank (at the front of the desk), you can fasten them by hand.

 

[Paul Blythe]

Nice ... really liking the mod for the Poang chair.

Really wish I'd seen this thread before paying out for a Ricmotech LC. Don't mind getting my hands dirty in the name of saving money

 

[Alberto Casado]

Another good step. I made some glue-code between a RF plugin and the Arduino HUD from batrako.

So from: RF1 plugin that sends telemetry data to network socket (taken from https://github.com/Grumbel/rfactorlcd)
I forked that project and removed all the fat I did not need: https://github.com/albertogomcas/pyRFtelemetry

• Revamp G27 pedals:

• load cell for brake, following http://www.instructables.com/id/Racing-Sim-brake-pedal-load-cell-interface/step2/Construction/ (100% done)
• inverted pedals (100% done)
• pedal vibration for wheel locking (10% done)

• Dashboard compatible with RF1 engine game (following http://www.racedepartment.com/threads/diy-dash-indicator.89304/)
  • Hardware is pre-made (100%)
  • Tinkering with the sw to mix in the other functionality (100% done)

• Vibration feedback for chair (very much self made, not following anything)
  • Adapt a comfortable chair, integrate with pedal stand (100%)
    • Shaker with telemetry related effects
    • hack subwoofer to build shaker (0%)
    • amplifier for shaker, might scrap some for old hifi. (0%)
    • rpm effects using voltage controlled oscillator and arduino (50%)
    • ...?

• Supporting infrastructure
  • RF1 plugin that sends telemetry data to network socket (taken from https://github.com/Grumbel/rfactorlcd) Forked https://github.com/albertogomcas/pyRFtelemetry
    
  • Python scripts that chew the data and control arduino (100% done)
  • I may offload later all the python to a separate beaglebone/raspberry pi (0%)

I need to ponder now what is more interesting, delta times in the display or pedal vibration

 

[Alberto Casado]

Oh boy, the seemingly easy delta time is a hard bone with rfactor plugins. I need to chew on that one longer than I though.

Nevertheless, I basically rewrote the arduino HUD, cleaning up the code, making communication more reliable and adding features. Behold:

Features:
- Gear / Speed
- Fuel / Lap number
- Fuel / Autonomy (laps until out of fuel)
- Place / Time behind car in front
- (todo) Delta time

http://imgur.com/a/lSYkR/all

Grab the stuff at https://github.com/albertogomcas/pyRFtelemetry

 

[Alberto Casado]

And so, the status of the project (I will not repeat links here, look previous posts):

• Revamp G27 pedals:
  • Load cell done
  • Inverted done
  • Pedal vibration 10%

• RF1 / GSCE HUD
  • Display race info 80% (functional as it is)

• Vibration feedback for chair
  • Integrate with pedal stand done
  • Possibly cancelled ideas:
    • Shaker with telemetry related effects
    • hack subwoofer to build shaker (0%)
    • amplifier for shaker, might scrap some for old hifi. (0%)
    • rpm effects using voltage controlled oscillator and arduino (50%)

• Supporting infrastructure
  • Python scripts that chew the data and control arduino done https://github.com/albertogomcas/pyRFtelemetry

 

[asteroulis]

Please don't cancel your simvibe todo..you cannot imagine how much it adds to the game. Simxperience have the software on sale for black Friday. you could save some bucks.

 

[Alberto Casado]

I'll keep it open then. The 80-so eur of simvibe is almost what I spent in the full project so far (besides the arduino), so if I go for it it will be homemade.

 

[asteroulis]

No problem with the homemade Shakers. I started with an old woofer I had sitting around and I was very happy. My only problem was the looks and the big footprint . The software itself is what makes the whole difference.I think it's 20%off for the sales. Don't miss it especially now that you're on a budget.