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

Ringorian · Oct 12, 2018

Can you start an extra thread for that Like "anybody hast experience with dofreality Motion? "Would be nice to keep this thread mostly on topic.

Insert Coin · Oct 12, 2018

Or the ProSimu T1000 3DOF? Choices, choices...

Edit: agreed, better to start a new thread

sjb266 · Oct 12, 2018

Yeah there is already a thread for the ProSimu..

I only asked the question about the V3 as Henk is the first one here with the system up and running and many of us here already have the V3... myself included..

The SimFeedback system looks so far like it is in a different league to other affordable chassis mover setups...

anton_Chez · Oct 12, 2018

Last thing you'd want is to sell off the V3 and then be left wanting with the SFX system. Not that I'd be expecting that in the slightest. But you'll never know unless you've tried or had both.

Or ask Henk...

sebna · Oct 12, 2018

I believe Henk already said that he much prefers the SFX over V3? That was quite early on and I think based on "passenger" seat drive but I guess it is a good indication where it is heading

Ringorian · Oct 12, 2018

Choices choices choices .. Personal taste .. setting the Thing right ... For your own tastes .. and so on ... Just because because someone does need x IT could be that the other one doesnt .. Sometimes its good to Go without the known and start over .. how will you realize If You still need your seatmover if you are Not trying ... Smoothness on sway makes it .. smooth .. If You Like small "violent" on offs make smoothing small and you will get Sharp movements when 1g goes to 0.9 and back to 0.95 in the Corner .. for example.. and so on

At The end all that Counts ist that you have fun .. your Style .

Sfx100 ist Not the replacement for anyanything, its a damn cheap possibilty to have a great Motion for "small Money".
Which Starts normaly at about 300 percent more Invest and they have Not that Feature Set simfeedback gives you ..
Peace

Mascot · Oct 12, 2018

I'm 100% happy with my NLV3 but it's nagging me that the SFX100 might be 'better' somehow.
I really need to try one. Or perhaps it's better if I don't.

I still have concerns about a few things and to be honest I want a quiet life for the foreseeable future, so I might take another look at this in the Spring and see how people are getting on with it six months in.

HoiHman · Oct 12, 2018

Again i love the SFX100 and at full speed it's great. However i'm still missing "something"and i highly suspect it's my GS-4 doing the cornering effects. Still waiting on replacement servo control center.

Do i regret replacing the NLMv3 with the SFX100?

NO....

I do regret selling the NLMv3 before even trying to put it on the chassis and have the best of both worlds.

Next Level have stated that the NLMv3 can handle a d-box style rig, but i think there will be way too much wobble. You can already see that happening with their front / rear tractionloss add-on.

The short, fast and even violent movements of the SFX100 would produce the next wave of movements even before the NLMv3 can reach the end point of the first movement.

Then NLMv3 is a great solution, but the SFX100 is a step up for less money.
Feeling the heave effect on the entire rig is just what makes it SO great. You actually have the feeling you are sitting IN the car.

Like Jochen already mentioned, there are a lot of tuning possibilties with SimFeedback and i surely haven't tried them all. I only test drove a couple of times.

Retractable caster wheels might work, but they would swinging all the time during the motion. The best option is the cart which slides underneath.

sjb266 · Oct 12, 2018

Awesome Henk.. Thank you so much for a nice concise answer!

HugoB · Oct 12, 2018

I also think ‘heave’ is what makes it so real. For example when driving fast enough with your car, bumps almost simultaneously push all four wheels up. How much ENERGY is pushing you up and the slightest delay between front and back tell your brain how fast you are going. This can very accurately be reproduced with the SFX setup. I can believe you feel like you are ‘in’ the car and that you can tell more about what your car is doing on the road.

For HOW hard you are braking, you might need belt tensioner or G seat, or an extra SFX100 actuator for surge on the seat only, which is very doable.

But with NLV3 you will never have accurate, fast heave. Unless you combine it with i.e. SFX100

anton_Chez · Oct 12, 2018

I still think you could get the brake feeling with enough pitch or 'brake dive' from the SFX. The suspension does compress under brakes and the actuators would surely translate that feeling of stopping with the brake dive. Plus, you don't get that pushed-up-against-the-wheel feeling like you do with the V3. I like the fact I can feel brake strength through the V3 platform to some degree, which actually helps you brake smoother and more controlled. But, I do hate how I am cramped up unnaturally when braking, even my feet get a little bunched up when trying to heel toe downshift because of the seat movement. It's just a limitation of the way it transmits motion. In the SFX the car is doing what it would do in real life, obviously minus the G-Force. But, the continued dive of the suspension until you reach maximium brake power and also the release, combined with a tactile (be it stand alone units or the built in part of the actuators) should fill in the gaps. A constant energy build up of reasonable force would be great to complement the motion. We have capacity to do this in software already, plus the potential of the SFX software which is yet to be tapped.

sebna · Oct 12, 2018

Looking forward to opinions about how well integrates SFX with GS4 \ 5 \ Geko on top of it.

Should be good combination

. I am especially interested if all the timings can be matched together to give convinceing experience. I think Barry had problem with it hence the reason he does not use his GS4 with D-Box.

RaceNut · Oct 12, 2018

sebna said:
Looking forward to opinions about how well integrates SFX with GS4 \ 5 \ Geko on top of it.

Should be good combination . I am especially interested if all the timings can be matched together to give convinceing experience. I think Barry had problem with it hence the reason he does not use his GS4 with D-Box.

I've read reports of other D-box/GS-4 users with very positive results so I'm pretty confident it can be done but, as always - preferences vary.

RaceNut · Oct 12, 2018

@HoiHman
I know what you mean about the seat-mover combined with stationary controls. My wheel is stationary (desk mounted) although, the pedals are frame mounted, so I do get some of that added brake-dive effect when using the D-box.

Still, the Actuator setup can produce momentary forces as a result of directional changes albeit, less dramatic than the seat-movers. With more travel to utilize (4" vs my 1.5"), there should be access to more drama.

Ringorian · Oct 12, 2018

In one of my Videos i use a Lot of way für surge and this works pretty well die letting you know the braking forces .. you can use 5 cm each way, If You give surge 3 cm and the actuators are Close enough for getting a nice Pitch combined with VR its a pretty goood Thing. And the good thing is that your Position ist Not changing to your Pedals and wheel ..

HugoB · Oct 12, 2018

Ringorian said:
In one of my Videos i use a Lot of way für surge and this works pretty well die letting you know the braking forces .. you can use 5 cm each way, If You give surge 3 cm and the actuators are Close enough for getting a nice Pitch combined with VR its a pretty goood Thing. And the good thing is that your Position ist Not changing to your Pedals and wheel ..

That's the big advantage of having so much travel...

4'' is a lot, if compared to D-Box's typical 1.5''

I'm sure you can do a lot of awesome things with so much travel that most people using 1.5'' don't even consider, like stacking effects, the way you explained. This is very very exciting.

Ringorian · Oct 12, 2018

Check this, after the First LAP you hear Game Sound .. There ist another one with the fiesta i think . You should get a little more what is possible

There are also simukit Videos on my Channel

Michal Burisin · Oct 12, 2018

Ringorian said:
Check this, after the First LAP you hear Game Sound .. There ist another one with the fiesta i think . You should get a little more what is possible

There are also simukit Videos on my Channel

This is great! Smooth operation with lots of travel and basically zero noise, it's great what you can achieve with profiles!

HugoB · Oct 12, 2018

To link your video @Ringorian , I like this one:

It shows how well synchronized the FSX100 actuators are with the simulator movement!

Do you have any close-up videos of the actuator latency? How does it work, how does the path from sim telemetry data go through software to arduino to motor controllers, and where is the most time lost, what kind of ms are we getting with commercial setups and with these? I looks almost instant!

HoiHman · Oct 12, 2018

Jochen, you have no idea how often i watched those videos

When you're back from you holiday i would love to have the Rally profiles. I really liked your Iracing profile too.

Today i connected my 5 buttkickers that are on my GS-4. Initial conclusion : With high and fast profile settings you only need them for RPM , nothing else.

If i turn them up too high they just start to interfer with the motion clues from the SFX100. 5 buttkickers on 1 seat can do that easily.

Perhaps at lower settings, it might complement. Will test it later.

I do have one issue, with heavy motion my rig is still "jumping forward" This makes @Mascot post closer to reallity that he actually realised. Right now it only takes a couple of laps on the ring and some adjustments along the way to get to the other room

I suspect uneven load between front and rear actuators might be the cause of the problem. Perhaps different motorsettings between front and rear can solve this.

I can confirm that surge can be pretty intense with the SFX100. Pitch is also pretty awesome, especially if you are driving on tracks with a lot of altitude changes.

When my rig is finished, i will probably go for a monitor + TV setup for the personal tuning period. Not only simfeedback needs tuning, but on a new rig and with different motion simvibe and the AccuForce need tuning too.

Having trying different kinds of motion here's my rating

5. Geko seat ( tried, but not owned (sorry Tim

)
4. Next Level Racing Motion V3 (owned)
3. SimXperience stage1 (owned)
2. GS-4
1. SFX-100