The SimFeedback-AC DIY Motion Simulator thread

sjb266 · Sep 17, 2018

Hey guys. Thought I’d create a thread for those taking the plunge into this brilliant DIY project..
I will be starting mine soon and I know there are others thinking about it.. so feel free to share your knowledge and experiences so we can all enjoy this platform to its full potential. A huge thanks to the developers who have really knocked this one out of the park!

Website: https://opensfx.com/2019/02/20/welcome-to-our-new-site/

Github: https://github.com/SimFeedback/SimFeedback-AC-Servo/wiki

For all the internals for the actuator contact Amy - skye@ntl-bearing.com
She can supply everything you need. Just remind her you want the ends of the shafts chamfered and make sure she sends the right sized ball screw - we have had a couple of issues reported. She is very helpful though and the cost is pretty good.

Huge thanks to @RowanH for writing a comprehensive user guide which can be accessed here - https://www.rowanhick.com/sfx-100-build-and-running-guide

In addition, @anton_Chez has contributed a list of post numbers for some of the important settings etc..
Post #320 SFX-100 thread
Post #327 SFX-100 thread for Discord correlation
Post #339 SFX-100 thread
Post #418 SFX-100 thread
Post #424 SFX-100 thread
Post #439 SFX-100 thread
Post #449 SFX-100 thread
Post #517 SFX-100 thread
Post #554 SFX-100 thread
Post #580 SFX-100 thread
Post #826 SFX-100 thread
Post #837 SFX-100 thread
Post #864,866,867,868,870,887,889,897 SFX-100 thread
Post #911,914 SFX-100 thread
Post #988,992,998 SFX-100 thread
Post #1147 SFX-100 thread
Post #1492 SFX-100 thread
Post #1511,1517 SFX-100 thread

I will try to keep this page updated with links to source the parts in other parts of the world. Just post whatever links you have and i'll add them here.

Please note: Not all the parts listed below are essential for the project. For the essential parts refer to the original shopping list.

Australia:

Thanks to @AussieSim for the following links:

10A power lead(s) * 4
https://www.jaycar.com.au/2m-black-mains-extension-lead/p/PS4152

Top quality wire stripper
https://sydneytools.com.au/product/boxo-cutws205-multifunction-wire-stripper

RCD/safety switch power block
https://www.bunnings.com.au/arlec-4-outlet-heavy-duty-portable-safety-switch_p4420028

WD-40 lithium grease for the ball screws
https://www.bunnings.com.au/wd-40-specialist-300g-high-performance-white-lithium-grease_p6100408

Vibration pads
https://www.bunnings.com.au/whites-on-site-100-x-12-5mm-rubber-anti-vibration-mat-4-pack_p3961547

WD-40 Dry PTFE spray for the slider (free shipping)
https://au.rs-online.com/mobile/p/lubricants/7577134/

Arduino Leonardo (free shipping + frequent 10-15% off discount)
https://www.arrow.com/en/products/a000057/arduino-corporation

DB25 cables * 4 (free shipping)
https://www.arrow.com/en/products/ak401-2/assmann-wsw-components-inc

PETG * 3 (free shipping)
https://www.arrow.com/en/products/petg17bk1/mg-chemicals

WAGO-like connectors to avoid a breadboard (perhaps use genuine ones if you are doing 240V AC)
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32906719488.html

D-Sub breakout boards * 4
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32297675967.html

3D printer Creality Ender-3 Pro
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32918302452.html

Wires from Arduino to D-Sub breakout (remove black plastic from the WAGO end)
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32887680826.html

Crimp connectors for AC wire leads
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32813550981.html

ScottSonder · Feb 25, 2019

What's that email?

RowanH · Feb 25, 2019

Just use the message function within Aliexpress... view his store page, then click on Contact Now bottomish left.

All things being equal someone probably just fat-fingered a price somewhere.

ScottSonder · Feb 25, 2019

RowanH said:
Just use the message function within Aliexpress... view his store page, then click on Contact Now bottomish left.

All things being equal someone probably just fat-fingered a price somewhere.

Whew you're right! Cheaper than before

Just decided to pull the trigger given the stock levels and amount of interest these seems to be getting. Probably doesn't matter. I was going to build this over a longer period of time..but the results look too sweet.

MeNoMoney · Feb 25, 2019

ScottSonder said:
Daang, that went up a lot.

I Just paid them £780 in Total for 4 including shipping. Sure it was showing at £850ish 2-3 days ago.

David just messaged me about 30minutes ago offering to putdown on the customs forms much cheaper value and shipping so if all goes well that will/ should save me quite abit on the old £20% uk VAT and £%? Import Duty I normally get stung with.

ScottSonder · Feb 25, 2019

Now if only the German aluminum source would answer an email

I understand the situation though. It's crazy what instant gratification has done to expectations these days.

ScottSonder · Feb 25, 2019

Seems obvious, but we don't need any of the Modbus stuff right? They're talking to me about RS-232 and RS-485.

anton_Chez · Feb 25, 2019

Most of us have not bothered with that stuff.

Dennis Karlsson · Feb 25, 2019

What shaker is that and does it shake enough mounted on the rig like that?

metalnwood said:
View attachment 293406

metalnwood · Feb 25, 2019

@Dennis Karlsson The shaker is the buttkicker LFE https://thebuttkicker.com/buttkicker-mini-lfe/

I thought that with the 8020 frame I would feel more of it than my old rig but I don't. I only have it really going for rumble strips where I thought it might do a better job than the SFX. The SFX does a good job of the rumble strips but I had thought that the transducers would also do a good job thereby letting the SFX stick with handling just the movement.

Without the SFX, they do a good job. With the SFX, they seem a hell of a lot more muted so it may not be the 8020 that is muting them, it could just be that you have a case of a busker who sounds bloody good on the street but playing next to AC/DC and you can't hear him so well.. I know others are mounting them more directly to their seats but I have no room to do this under the seat as mine is quite low.

anton_Chez · Feb 25, 2019

It's a combination of things that's making it harder to feel, but the motion would probably be the most. I have one under my pedal tray and one under the seat, with some isolation pads. I can feel it pretty good there, also in the pedals. BUT, I only really use engine RPM now so it's not even working when going over rumble strips. So I can feel them all the time. Just for RPM they are worth it. They help to give a sense of speed especially when nothing much else is going on, such as on a straight.

ScottSonder · Feb 25, 2019

I have 4 ADX Max shakers attached to my rig, already creates some pretty impressive immersion on my P1 and VR. I don't even have a printer to make a proper mount yet either. These things have so much more value than the Buttkicker stuff I replaced.

Mark Pickmond has a pretty amazing profile for chassis mode on the owner's club which avoids the garbled mess.

@anton_Chez You really can feel everything with chassis mode and 4 solid shakers. Not just vibrating chairs, discernible response to telemetry and game

metalnwood · Feb 25, 2019

@anton_Chez Which transducers are you using? I tried rpm and it wasn't so good but that was not using simfeedback which I assume you are using? It you think its worth it and you are not using a monster transducer then I may move mine to try.

Scott, they look good. When I got mine people were not looking at a lot of options. Buttkickers and clarkes.

acekrusty23 · Feb 25, 2019

Actuator internals arrived today from emily/ Amy.
All good.

Dennis Karlsson · Feb 25, 2019

Thank you.
I was thinking about adding shakers to my rig but now I think I will stick with the SFX:s I'm building.

metalnwood said:
@Dennis Karlsson The shaker is the buttkicker LFE https://thebuttkicker.com/buttkicker-mini-lfe/

I thought that with the 8020 frame I would feel more of it than my old rig but I don't. I only have it really going for rumble strips where I thought it might do a better job than the SFX. The SFX does a good job of the rumble strips but I had thought that the transducers would also do a good job thereby letting the SFX stick with handling just the movement.

Without the SFX, they do a good job. With the SFX, they seem a hell of a lot more muted so it may not be the 8020 that is muting them, it could just be that you have a case of a busker who sounds bloody good on the street but playing next to AC/DC and you can't hear him so well.. I know others are mounting them more directly to their seats but I have no room to do this under the seat as mine is quite low.

Mascot · Feb 25, 2019

@sjb266 Hey Simon, can you add https://opensfx.com/2019/02/20/welcome-to-our-new-site/ to the top of the first post please? Got a few friends thinking about this project and this thread will be their go-to guide.

anton_Chez · Feb 25, 2019

@metalnwood I use the same as you do, BK Mini LFE's x 2.

I've had Aura bass shakers before in the past, too, in chassis mode with Simvibe. There is no need for something like this once you build the SFX100. You'll see that when you try to run tactile for anything that the actuators are actually already capable of producing (eg bumps on rumble strips and bumps on road via heave, road texture detail also depending how sensitive you have your profiles tuned) you will wonder why you're bothering. Now, granted this is my experience with smaller units. If you have massive LFE units or the bigger Clarke's that offer a better hz range and more power, then you may find the result more satisfactory than me.

But for models BK Mini and under (ADX, Dayton pucks, Aura bass shaker, etc...) your best usage of them is for a nicely tuned engine RPM that you feel over the whole range to make the chassis feel more alive.

sjb266 · Feb 25, 2019

Mascot said:
@sjb266 Hey Simon, can you add https://opensfx.com/2019/02/20/welcome-to-our-new-site/ to the top of the first post please? Got a few friends thinking about this project and this thread will be their go-to guide.

No problem.. all updated.. including info for our new contact at NTL-Bearing, Amy...

o Tiger Feet o · Feb 25, 2019

What have people been paying for the servos from Ali? The price has changed twice in the last 10 minutes. Currently at $213 each. Also if you select 3 or more with delivery to UK its saying to 30-50 days.

EDIT: $196 now with a maximum of 4 on any order.

anton_Chez · Feb 25, 2019

Damn, grab them now then!

We paid 279 each or something, including shipping to Australia. My total was around $1050 USD roughly. David sent me two separate packages to get below the threshold for duties and GST. What a gent.