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

acekrusty23 · Mar 24, 2019

Pyronious said:
Starting work on a 3D-printable enclosure for the controller assembly:

Love it. Great job mate.

Flag Ghost · Mar 25, 2019

Worked on the arduino wiring today. Used one of the case designs on thingiverse and widened it quite a bit so I could fit the wago connectors. Turned out well.

Tim Palmgren · Mar 25, 2019

@Flag Ghost Is the screw shield necessary or just makes it a lot easier to keep things tidy with respect to wiring?

Tim Palmgren · Mar 25, 2019

Just received my package from NTL Bearing, doesn't smell too good not that it really matters but put it this way, the room it is sitting in is now filled with an unpleasant smell.. Everything inside was loose and looking pretty battered, grease everywhere. Is this typical of what everyone else has received? It is what it is obviously, the bits are in there, still need to check if the holes are drilled properly etc..

https://imgur.com/hBf2ZgQ
https://imgur.com/t0iAvmw
https://imgur.com/5lWjUbZ

o Tiger Feet o · Mar 25, 2019

Thankfully my Chinese box of tricks was all present and correct.

Yes it stunk.
Yes it was a greasy mess.

Pretty much like my local Chinese takeaway

The smell soon goes when you de-grease everything

Mascot · Mar 25, 2019

Tim Palmgren said:
Just received my package from NTL Bearing, doesn't smell too good not that it really matters but put it this way, the room it is sitting in is now filled with an unpleasant smell.. Everything inside was loose and looking pretty battered, grease everywhere. Is this typical of what everyone else has received? It is what it is obviously, the bits are in there, still need to check if the holes are drilled properly etc..

https://imgur.com/hBf2ZgQ
https://imgur.com/t0iAvmw
https://imgur.com/5lWjUbZ

Pretty much how mine arrived.

anton_Chez · Mar 25, 2019

The torn packaging is almost certainly through transit, something they aren't totally responsible for but better packaging helps to eliminate that. I say that very quietly as I've recently packed up the V3 for shipping across Bass Strait from Victoria to Tasmania.......

But yeah that's how mine came and I found no problems with it at all. It's basically machinery equipment, put together in a factory. Not going to bode well for winning greatest smell award...

o Tiger Feet o · Mar 25, 2019

You know the setting on the servo controllers, 'RPM 1200-3000'. Is that how quick the system responds to telemetry as appose to how 'intense' or 'server' it is?

anton_Chez · Mar 25, 2019

It's how fast the drivers allow the motors to run. Relative to the min max speed sliders and acceleration slider in SimFeedback.

Flag Ghost · Mar 25, 2019

Tim Palmgren said:
@Flag Ghost Is the screw shield necessary or just makes it a lot easier to keep things tidy with respect to wiring?

The screw shield just makes it really easy to assemble and I like how the wires are very secure as well. You usually don't get both ease of use and security. I also used ethernet cables w/ the associated RJ45>DB25 plugs.
If anyone wants the widened case for wago's let me know and I will post the .stl file.

ScottSonder · Mar 25, 2019

Flag Ghost said:
The screw shield just makes it really easy to assemble and I like how the wires are very secure as well. You usually don't get both ease of use and security. I also used ethernet cables w/ the associated RJ45>DB25 plugs.
If anyone wants the widened case for wago's let me know and I will post the .stl file.

Nice setup, you're saying the other end of those cables are DB25 plugs, or do you just mean you soldered them yourself? Didn't quite know they were a thing. I wouldn't mind that .stl file though, looks like a good fit.

Flag Ghost · Mar 25, 2019

ScottSonder said:
Nice setup, you're saying the other end of those cables are DB25 plugs, or do you just mean you soldered them yourself? Didn't quite know they were a thing. I wouldn't mind that .stl file though, looks like a good fit.

Yes DB25's that accept an RJ45 from an ethernet cable.

Flag Ghost · Mar 25, 2019

I've attached the stl files for the widened SFX-100 arduino case. Rename the file to .zip and extract. The walls are imperfect as I hacked the original design using tinkercad but it works great for a wiring case. I attached the wago's with some 3M double sided mounting tape. As the original designer mentioned, you may have to adjust the z heighth of the wiring clamp in order to fit your specific wire gauge properly. Enjoy!

Credit for the original design goes to thingiverse user NickMoxley.
Original design https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3402880

ScottSonder · Mar 25, 2019

I wish I knew about those cables beforehand, very clean. Looks like I'm going to re-do my wiring, thanks for posting those mate.

Furnace Inferno · Mar 25, 2019

How are UK peeps wiring the power to the servos? I can’t workout how L1/L2/L3 are meant to be wire nor the ground wire on the servo motor.

minderacer · Mar 25, 2019

Flag Ghost said:
Yes DB25's that accept an RJ45 from an ethernet cable.
View attachment 298339

Nice, I should have looked into that.

BluePotato00 · Mar 25, 2019

[Sorry, wrong forum thread!]

Furnace Inferno · Mar 25, 2019

Edit 2: UK wiring only - Brown = Live; Blue = Neutral; Green/Yellow Stripped = Ground

This is what I’ve gone with having read the advanced booklet, L1 as live, L2 as Neutral and the the earth connected to the chassis which in turn the servo motor is also connected to, is that good?

Edit: Never mind that was the correct wiring just setting parameters. Suggested 1200rpm or 3000rpm decisions, decisions...

C64 · Mar 25, 2019

test with 1200rpm, if all seems good then move on to 3000rpm.

NeedforSim · Mar 25, 2019

Pyronious said:
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!