The SimFeedback-AC DIY Motion Simulator thread

[sjb266]

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:

• O-Ring - https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Kit-419Pcs-O-Ring-O-Ring-Black-Rubber-32-Sizes-With-Case-3-50mm-W8D7/223152697816?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649
• D-Sub breakout board - DB25 25pin Female Adapter RS-232 Serial Terminal Module Breakout Board Connector
• Emergency Stop - https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Reliable-Emergency-Stop-Push-Button-Box-600V-Switch-for-Elevator/192115082001?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649
• Arduino Wiring - https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/40-pcs-Dupont-Cable-20cm-Jumper-Wire-for-Arduino-RPi-breadboard-AU-Stock/202436863098?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&var=502467628096&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649
• Breadboard - https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Mini-Solderless-Breadboard-400-Contacts-Tie-points-Universal-Available-New-lemon/123145741183?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649
• D-Dub Cable - https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Black-D...h=item3f6ace6403:g:038AAOSw9mpaSsU2:rk:1:pf:0
• Screw Shield for Arduino Leonardo - https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/New-Scr...h=item25a9d471a4:g:5BgAAOSwraJbc9rC:rk:1:pf:0
• Arduino Leonardo Replica - https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/DIY-Eduino-Leonardo-Module-with-USB-Cable-for-Arduino-ATMEGA32U4-Blue-Black/132719951279?epid=916281063&hash=item1ee6b9bdaf:g:2QUAAOSw5iNbWv6b:rk:123f:

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

 

[Freeon]

Looks like the SFX shield are no longer sold so I'll build my own. The DB25 connectors shown on the YT video of how to make them is back order. This is the one listed. https://www.digikey.com/product-det...177TSBH25SOL2RM8/L177TSBH25SOL2RM8-ND/4884293. Would this one be the same https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/amphenol-icc-fci/D25S24A4GV00LF/609-1509-ND/1001823.

Also for the Arduino Leonardo are there different kinds or are they all the same as long as it's the Leonardo. Looking online and some look different, particularly the board color. I just want to make sure that some don't have different chip or something and won't work. Currently looking at this one https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/arduino/A000057/1050-1040-ND/3476353

 

[Dennis Karlsson]

Just curious. Why would they get a cease and desist?

I think he recently read a post on Discord.

 

[RowanH]

They wouldn't get a C & D. The 'joke' is about something related that pi**es the core team off no end in that people *are* 3d printing parts and selling them for a fee. Which is not allowed according to the copyright & license terms of the files.

I wrote a post about this a couple of days ago. Basically, "don't be a d...."
https://www.rowanhick.com/2020/02/21/dont-be-a

We (the core team) are against this practise as it's completely against the spirit of the project. If NTL went and did this then yes that would cross the line.

I'm not sure why the joke/jab was made; maybe to sh*t stir, maybe to rile things up. One effect it does have is further distancing the creator(s) from threads just like these.

 

[Herbie Rooprai]

Sorry guys. I should have double checked it before posting, that seller is a scam.

So the only verified good lowest price AASD drive/motor is still this one:

253.32€ 40% OFF|400W/750W Ac 220V Servo Motor Drive Set 3000Rpm 1. 27nm/2.39Nm 80ST M02430/60ST M01330 RS485 3/5/10M Kabel 2500 Lijn 60Mm/80mm|AC Motor| - AliExpress

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com

www.aliexpress.com

Looks like they are selling 2 versions... MODbus communication support RS232 or RS485. Which is the one to get?

 

[eSEA One]

Just curious. Why would they get a cease and desist?

I think it was a joke

 

[C64]

Looks like the SFX shield are no longer sold so I'll build my own. The DB25 connectors shown on the YT video of how to make them is back order. This is the one listed. https://www.digikey.com/product-det...177TSBH25SOL2RM8/L177TSBH25SOL2RM8-ND/4884293. Would this one be the same https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/amphenol-icc-fci/D25S24A4GV00LF/609-1509-ND/1001823.

Also for the Arduino Leonardo are there different kinds or are they all the same as long as it's the Leonardo. Looking online and some look different, particularly the board color. I just want to make sure that some don't have different chip or something and won't work. Currently looking at this one https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/arduino/A000057/1050-1040-ND/3476353

I have some bare boards and full sets of components available, you will need to solder them on. I am in the UK, PM me if you are interested.

 

[Freeon]

I have some bare boards and full sets of components available, you will need to solder them on. I am in the UK, PM me if you are interested.

PM sent

 

[sjb266]

Funny story.. NTL have sent me a small Christmas gift for the last 2 years with a note of appreciation for all the business they have been getting! Even though last year I had no contact with them they still sent me a gift!

Good to hear they are taking the initiative on the motors etc and get in on the action! Someone has to supply this stuff and it will certainly make it easier for the end user..

 

[anton_Chez]

Funny story.. NTL have sent me a small Christmas gift for the last 2 years with a note of appreciation for all the business they have been getting! Even though last year I had no contact with them they still sent me a gift!

Good to hear they are taking the initiative on the motors etc and get in on the action! Someone has to supply this stuff and it will certainly make it easier for the end user..

Wow. And I'm the bad guy for making a 'joke'. Which when you think about it is actually a legitimate question.

A company, providing parts for the build, acquires MORE parts to make the end user experience easier, and sent a present to someone that helped them make more money because of it.

HOW, is that different to the 3D printed parts saga? I can only assume that the 'advertising' of such packages wouldn't really have that much reach. But then again, neither does a post on a forum relating specifically to the project at hand.

Look, I agree with the whole don't make money off someone else's work. I understand that it could be viewed as piracy, almost. However, if people cannot see the point that I am trying to make, simply that people ARE making money of builds (it's impossible not to), then I don't know what to say.

As builders, we are effectively part of like a bro code, where it makes zero logical sense why one party selling parts is free to profit yet builders cannot (not complete builds, parts to complete the build, big difference). I have absolutely ZERO interest in making money from this project. I simply offer the food for thought.

I also am a business owner and it's in my nature to find opportunities to increase my profit margins while offering a compelling service worth paying for. I suggest I am not the only one.

Also, I can be a sh*t stirrer by nature. My nature has also helped countless people across Discord and Race Department, just to name a few places.

 

[Tronicgr_6DOF]

I contacted skye@ntl-bearing.com. and got response from Amy so looks like she is still the contact. Gave me a quote for everything and asked if I needed the motors and drives as well. I guess she knew what I was building. I haven't heard anyone mentioning they bought motors from NTL. Is there an issue with there motors or did they just start selling them? She quoted me $145.00 USD each which is the lowest I have seen by far. She listed them as :

1 x 90ST-M02430 220V 750W Servo Motor （Version A/B Optional）

1 x AASD-15A Driver

1 x 3 Meter Motor Cable

1 x 3 Meter Encoder Cable

1 x 25 Pin Centronics Connector

I guess they realized they can make profit...

 

[thenic123]

I've received my Schaffner EMI filter today but as everything is now working without any issues I'm going to leave alone for now. A quick question though, should I decide to fit it one day.

Currently I'm using 4 x power leads to the motor controllers rather than the daisy chain method and I'd prefer to leave things that way. These are plugged in to a multi-plug extension lead, which is solely used for the controllers and this, in turn, is plugged in to a dedicated wall socket.

If I were to cut the extension lead in two and insert the filter, (for continuity I'd need to split the earth wire from the input side of the filter and join it up to the output side of the extension cable), do you think the filter would have the same affect as per the daisy chain solution above?

Thanks.

I'm doing this method also. Would like some input from members for the 4 power leads, not the daisy chain method. I read in this thread that the Schaffner 2090 model emi filter works better for low to mid range frequencies and the 2070 works for high frequency. Is this true ?

Any links to Australian sites for Schaffner emi filters?

 

[thenic123]

My take at reducing the EMI of the servos:

View attachment 326399

As others have mentioned this video shows the result of using a power line filter and ferrite cores.
Read this article for more information about servos, EMI and ferrite. Please note the picture of the servo controller at the bottom right with the ferrite core around the U, V and W wires. @Tronicgr_6DOF wrote a post about EMI as well.

I have bought a bag of 50 low frequency ferrite rings and put four of them around the cable and looped each wire through another ferrite ring for more effect.

View attachment 326400

I also added a Schaffner FN 2090-16-6 power line filter which should reduce EMI going back into the power lines (and thus to other equipment). I bought the 2090 instead of the 2070. If you look at the data sheet of the 2070 and the 2090 the damping is similar:

FN 2070 (graph shows damping)
View attachment 326401

FN 2090
View attachment 326402
Schaffner says “FN 2070 two-stage filters are designed for high frequency attenuation”. As stated in the Granite Devices article above: “For motor control applications it is recommended to get low to medium frequency ferrite cores for maximum efficiency.” It seems unnecessary to me to use a power line filter for high frequencies and the 2090 is 18 euro cheaper than the 2070.

I also added clip-on ferrite cores on all USB cables and grounded my rig. I’m planning to route the servo power cables through the channels of my rig as some form of EMI shielding.

Is this enough? I don’t know yet, I’m still building my SFX100, I hope so.

@cfischer9009 has gone even further by replacing the unshielded servo power cables with shielded ones, something to consider when there are still EMI problems.

A post about the fn 2090 version

 

[Dennis Karlsson]

@Tronicgr_6DOF Does the SFX-100 have the 10kHz coil whine with your AMC-AASD15A?

 

[Furnace Inferno]

Wow. And I'm the bad guy for making a 'joke'. Which when you think about it is actually a legitimate question.

A company, providing parts for the build, acquires MORE parts to make the end user experience easier, and sent a present to someone that helped them make more money because of it.

HOW, is that different to the 3D printed parts saga? I can only assume that the 'advertising' of such packages wouldn't really have that much reach. But then again, neither does a post on a forum relating specifically to the project at hand.

Look, I agree with the whole don't make money off someone else's work. I understand that it could be viewed as piracy, almost. However, if people cannot see the point that I am trying to make, simply that people ARE making money of builds (it's impossible not to), then I don't know what to say.

As builders, we are effectively part of like a bro code, where it makes zero logical sense why one party selling parts is free to profit yet builders cannot (not complete builds, parts to complete the build, big difference). I have absolutely ZERO interest in making money from this project. I simply offer the food for thought.

I also am a business owner and it's in my nature to find opportunities to increase my profit margins while offering a compelling service worth paying for. I suggest I am not the only one.

Also, I can be a sh*t stirrer by nature. My nature has also helped countless people across Discord and Race Department, just to name a few places.

I mean I’m not sure it’s the same, for one they are selling the motors for less than the current market price and secondly the motors and other parts are off the shelf bits.

The people/person who is selling large quantities of 3D printed parts is not only lying to people about the actual cost of the parts needed to do so but after being told to stop then continues to do so under the false pretence they are doing it for free with “donations” if people want to and the ones he’s received just so happen to be exactly the same as what they were charging before... Then you have to consider the 3D print designs he using don’t belong to him, it’s more like someone taking the motor plans, building their own and then selling them for profit, you can bet the motor makers lawyers would be all over their arse!

At the end of the day just because the creators aren’t interested in making money off of the project (which should be lauded as it means we all have a cheap alternative to the commercial stuff that is just as good!) doesn’t make it suddenly ok for others to try when they’ve explicitly made it clear it was against the copyright.

Anyway constant discussions about it get boring, the people taking the piss and profiting of the project or trying to know who they are. Hopefully it doesn’t just discourage Saxxon to stop supporting the software or continued developments on things like added diy surge or traction loss platforms as the seat belt tensioner I’ve added is amazing and I’d add TL and Surge if there was a good blueprint to do so.

 

[Freeon]

Where are you located ? I happen to have a location local to me and will be visting this week sometime.

baljeet@itemcentral.ca
item Central
28 Keewatin St.
Winnipeg, MB R3E 3B9
Canada
www.itemcentral.ca

A reseller from Quebec got back to me. Anyone know a good source for the T-nuts that fit the item24 profile. They quoted $47 for 20 pieces. I found some online for cheaper of but not sure how to tell if they are the correct profile and if they will fit.

 

[camerusa]

Hi everyone I just started building my SFX100 and I was wondering if anyone else had issues reaching out to Kinetik in Germany? Their email addresses all bounced back and no one answers the phone. I hope they are still in business because it’s strange for a company email to get an email delivery notice failure

 

[Dennis Karlsson]

Hi everyone I just started building my SFX100 and I was wondering if anyone else had issues reaching out to Kinetik in Germany? Their email addresses all bounced back and no one answers the phone. I hope they are still in business because it’s strange for a company email to get an email delivery notice failure

Their website seem to up at least.

 

[camerusa]

Their website seem to up at least.

Yes but none of the emails work not even the email listed on PayPal merchant info. In your experience how responsive Kinetik is? How quickly do they ship? I am surprised that I ordered with them 4 days ago and no status has been provided whereas my order on AliExpress for servo is already dispatch to DHL.

 

[Dennis Karlsson]

Yes but none of the emails work not even the email listed on PayPal merchant info. In your experience how responsive Kinetik is? How quickly do they ship? I am surprised that I ordered with them 4 days ago and no status has been provided whereas my order on AliExpress for servo is already dispatch to DHL.

It was by far the slowest of all the places I sourced the parts from. Took several weeks to get the stuff.

 

[Furnace Inferno]

Yes but none of the emails work not even the email listed on PayPal merchant info. In your experience how responsive Kinetik is? How quickly do they ship? I am surprised that I ordered with them 4 days ago and no status has been provided whereas my order on AliExpress for servo is already dispatch to DHL.

Mine didn’t take too long but I’ve seen others take ages. That being said I did email them as I wasn’t sure what length I ordered from the email confirmation which had no details on it and they never replied so don’t expect an answer even if you do get through. Everything turned up fine though.