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

Flag Ghost · Mar 22, 2019

Another great one.. I have no patience for that. haha

HugoB · Mar 22, 2019

Yup I should actually be doing other stuff around the house than printing castles

Mascot · Mar 22, 2019

Furnace Inferno said:
I just filed them myself I think the internals are slightly different as everything else lines up perfectly. Probably did more than I needed to though as I didn’t want the motors working harder against the friction of the slider so they slide in/out nicely.

I wouldn't worry too much about the capability of the servos. They could lift a real car, never mind a virtual one. Friction wear would mean a tight-fitting slider is soon a perfectly-fitting slider.

Furnace Inferno · Mar 23, 2019

Well I’ll have to wait and see about that. Got the 2nd actuator done now, 3rd probably won’t be until Sunday evening once I’ve finished printing the mounts and then the final one I should have everything printed by Tuesday but I can’t build it

.

Motors I’ve got booked in for end of week delivery so I’ll start working out the Arduino and make sure my wiring/parts are all good. Plus I can play with getting it fixed into the box and prepatory wire tidying

.

anton_Chez · Mar 23, 2019

Mascot is right. When I pulled my actuators apart the sliders came out with just my hands lifting them out. They were hammered in, remember? As long as they can fit with a little bit of extra help, over use they will be perfect. I guess hammering might give the wrong impression. It's like when you're trying to turn something and it just won't budge. But a knock, rather than a push, is what gets it moving. They were more 'sticky' than just straight up not fitting.

But yeah when I serviced them, they came out easy as.

Pyronious · Mar 23, 2019

I've been out of town this week and arrived home today to a pile of parts from T-Nutz. Now if only my extrusions would arrive!

I also received my prototype PCB's. It's late here but I couldn't resist the urge to populate a board with parts. I have to sleep now so I'll test it tomorrow. More soon!

Mascot · Mar 23, 2019

Those look fantastic!

C64 · Mar 23, 2019

Great stuff. What does the rj45 do ?

Pyronious · Mar 23, 2019

C64 said:
Great stuff. What does the rj45 do ?

That’s a connector for the e-stop cable. I had some connectors lying around and a bunch of spare cat5 cable so it seemed like a reasonable solution. There is also a 2-pin jumper so it could be wired to that, or shunted to override the e-stop.

Ringorian · Mar 23, 2019

Great stuff @Pyronious

o Tiger Feet o · Mar 23, 2019

Awesome work @Pyronious .

UK group buy anyone?

Dennis Karlsson · Mar 23, 2019

Pyronious said:
I also received my prototype PCB's. It's late here but I couldn't resist the urge to populate a board with parts. I have to sleep now so I'll test it tomorrow. More soon!

Would it be possible to buy one of these PCBs from you?

ThugUK · Mar 23, 2019

Me too.
Not even started to look at what’s needed, never mind start buying or building.
I would support it if someone could make items and we could buy them. That way we will all be able to have the best of everything, made by people who are specialists in making that one component.

C64 · Mar 23, 2019

I have been chatting to Pyronious about getting his design made in europe so they can be made available here easily and cheaply. When he's happy with its function he will let us know.

Glutton4punishment · Mar 23, 2019

I thought I would let people know how my order went. I contacted Amy and asked for the bearings, ball screws ect. 2 weeks ago. Everything showed up last night. As far as I can tell all of the screw holes were drilled in the right locations, no rust to clean up everything looked pretty good. If I had any complaints it would be in the packaging. Everything was thrown in the box without any packing except the plastic bags that the items were in. Everything is steel and pretty tough except for the couplers which got beat up a little. One more step forward.

Bleak December · Mar 23, 2019

C64 said:
I have been chatting to Pyronious about getting his design made in europe so they can be made available here easily and cheaply. When he's happy with its function he will let us know.

Awesome, thanks! Count one more here interested. Still cleaning my shopping list and willing to start building soon.

Pyronious · Mar 24, 2019

Good news. The breakout board is working. It's actually really cool to just plug the PCB into the Arduino and have everything wired up in one tidy package. Super clean.

I'd really like to make these available to people, but there's no affordable way to order them as a one-off. Even the 3-board prototype run worked out to about $22 per board, and that doesn't include any of the parts (DB25 connectors, pin headers, etc).

So in an effort to make this project available to people, it probably makes the most sense to do a small production run in China. They can get the cost down much lower than my US-based fabricator. I expect that I can probably get the cost of a DIY kit (board + parts, you solder it together) down to $25 USD, maybe lower depending on how many we order. That's still cheaper than the $30 Amazon wants for the DB25 breakout connectors. I may or may not offer fully assembled "plug-and-play" boards as I don't really want to be soldering a bunch of stuff and it kind of flies in the face of the DIY spirit of this project. I will say that soldering this board up is super easy and a great introduction to soldering.

So for now I'd just like to gauge people's interest. Please follow this link to the survey. Filling it out will help me gather data to see if it makes sense to do a small production run. Thanks!