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

HoiHman · Jan 31, 2023

tofod said:
btw .. if anyone want to be a sponsor for me .. please send me a msg .. I m would like to try DCS but the plugin is only available on discord channel you need to be a member to access ;(

You can use spacemonkey

SpaceMonkey/GTPSimfeedback/README.md at main · PHARTGAMES/SpaceMonkey

Contribute to PHARTGAMES/SpaceMonkey development by creating an account on GitHub.

github.com

Or here's the download link for the telemetry provider:

SimFeedback-AC-Servo/Plugins/DCSTelemetryProvider_1_2.zip at master · SimFeedback/SimFeedback-AC-Servo

SimFeedback AC Servo Version - Virtual Racing Motion Simulator - SimFeedback/SimFeedback-AC-Servo

github.com

There are no sponsorships possible anymore. Until further notice acces to the discord channel is restricted

Klingomucingo · Jan 31, 2023

HoiHman said:
There are no sponsorships possible anymore. Until further notice acces to the discord channel is restricted

tofod · Feb 1, 2023

HoiHman said:
There are no sponsorships possible anymore. Until further notice acces to the discord channel is restricted

oh ok .. thanks for the info

Dennis Karlsson · Feb 5, 2023

Does anyone have a link where I can find better damper feet?
I need them to be deeper too. The motion rig is sometimes falling off the dampers.

Jean-Paul Lanaux · Feb 18, 2023

I built the SFX-100 a few years ago. I am reworking the rig and I need longer cabling. My cables are approx 10'. I require 15'. How did you solve this? Make new cables? Buy new cables? Or make a new short extension cables with plugs that match existing (15' would be existing 10' connected to new 5').

tofod · Feb 20, 2023

Jean-Paul Lanaux said:
I built the SFX-100 a few years ago. I am reworking the rig and I need longer cabling. My cables are approx 10'. I require 15'. How did you solve this? Make new cables? Buy new cables? Or make a new short extension cables with plugs that match existing (15' would be existing 10' connected to new 5').

On my side I bought the ones with connectors and not cables, easier on my point of view for cables and when you have to remove one.

however I would make extension so you can have the lenght you need and have some flexibility for the futur in case your plan changes

juakinorro1987 · Feb 22, 2023

¡Hola! Después de flashear el arduino, se supone que ya cambiaron los actuadores a su posición central verdad?? Mi luz verde en sfx está encendida pero no responde mis actuadores. debería hacer algo más? Y en los juegos e incluir algun preset o algo parecido?

tofod · Feb 23, 2023

juakinorro1987 said:
¡Hola! Después de flashear el arduino, se supone que ya cambiaron los actuadores a su posición central verdad?? Mi luz verde en sfx está encendida pero no responde mis actuadores. debería hacer algo más? Y en los juegos e incluir algun preset o algo parecido?

Cuando hace clic en iniciar en simfeedback, los actuadores deben moverse y llegar a la mitad de la distancia máxima, incluso sin juegos

gwsmart · Mar 17, 2023

Hi sorry new to this thread. Can anyone point me in the direction of how you get a sponsor to allow access to start building the motion setup here in the UK please?

Thanks

Gary

Moxley6969 · Mar 17, 2023

HoiHman said:
Sorry Nick, can't help you out with this one. I have all my settings displayed through a simhub dashboard and almost never use SFB to change things.

For reference, The Scaling of the SFB got to me today so figured out what was causing it, I removed the 2 .dll files in the extension folder in 10.01 version and that seemed to not cause the window to scale funny on 4k monitors.

HoiHman · Mar 18, 2023

HoiHman said:
You can use spacemonkey

SpaceMonkey/GTPSimfeedback/README.md at main · PHARTGAMES/SpaceMonkey

Contribute to PHARTGAMES/SpaceMonkey development by creating an account on GitHub.

github.com

Or here's the download link for the telemetry provider:

SimFeedback-AC-Servo/Plugins/DCSTelemetryProvider_1_2.zip at master · SimFeedback/SimFeedback-AC-Servo

SimFeedback AC Servo Version - Virtual Racing Motion Simulator - SimFeedback/SimFeedback-AC-Servo

github.com

There are no sponsorships possible anymore. Until further notice acces to the discord channel is restricted

https://www.racedepartment.com/threads/the-simfeedback-ac-diy-motion-simulator-thread.159524/page-404#post-3625348

gwsmart said:
Hi sorry new to this thread. Can anyone point me in the direction of how you get a sponsor to allow access to start building the motion setup here in the UK please?

Thanks

Gary

Only a couple posts up is the answer

MacRozie · Mar 24, 2023

Hi all - could I get a quick parts list check before I order? Ignore the quantity which is incorrectly doubled for everything.

Details:
- looking to build the standard SFX100
- will use a Thanos controller
- will print my own parts

Question: Are the lengths correct? (Bolded sizes of 300mm and 320mm). I’ve seen different lengths in different posts, just making sure.

This thread (and all of you here) are absolute legends and I’ll never be able to thank you enough for all the knowledge. So excited to get things ordered.

Dene8 · May 23, 2023

Hi Guys,

Had my SFX build up and running a few days now, IRacing & AC working great.

Can anybody please point me in the direction of where i can get more game profiles from, or am i supposed to create them myself? How would i get this up and running on Dirt 2.0 for example?

Thanks

Freeon · May 23, 2023

Dene8 said:
Hi Guys,

Had my SFX build up and running a few days now, IRacing & AC working great.

Can anybody please point me in the direction of where i can get more game profiles from, or am i supposed to create them myself? How would i get this up and running on Dirt 2.0 for example?

Thanks

There should be a profile included for most if not all sims. For Dirt 2.0 you have to modify a file. See here https://opensfx.com/supported-games-and-instructions/

Dene8 · Jun 2, 2023

Freeon said:
There should be a profile included for most if not all sims. For Dirt 2.0 you have to modify a file. See here https://opensfx.com/supported-games-and-instructions/

Thanks, for some reason my profile folder only had 2 profiles in it! I've re-downloaded an older version of simfeedback that has all the profiles in so i've got everything up and running now, apart from BeamNG :/

knob2001 · Jul 7, 2023

Hi.

2 questions related to the SFX100 with Thanos, MotionCompensation OpenXR, Sim Racing Labs, and the Witmote.

First, the MotionCompensation->

- OpenXR handles the poses of the HMD
- The MotionCompensation retrieves the data from the IMU (Wimote) and creates a virtual pose that corrects the real pose of the HMD

So, in order to do that I must start iRacing (in my case), jump to the circuit and:

Set up the Joystick mode in SRS to send virtual telemetry to Thanos instead of the iRacing telemetry.
Calibrate my virtual view inside the HMD
Calibrate SRS MotionCompensation (the two black bullseye)
Activate the Overlay in MotionCompensation to see the 3-axis cross (Center of Rotation)
Move that COR symbol to the center of your cockpit (the exact point between the servos and their max-min height)
Activate the MotionCompensation with the already calculated offsets
Move the joystick to the max. left, check if the COR correction is working. If not, move the COR until you remain in the center of the car and not displaced to the left.
Repeat in all other axis.

The problem I have is although the COR is more or less where it should be, there's a significant amount of undesired rotation inside the HMD. The correction the MotionCompensation does to the real pose is not fully countering the movement of the cockpit. That means that in any given curve, my head is moving almost outside the car, returning to the center after the curve and creating an uncomfortable strafe movement.

Is the checklist I mentioned above right? Am I missing something? I know I can move the COR around, but I can't see any major improvement at all.

Second question:

The movement of the cockpit is extremely violent at slow speeds. Although I have activated the Auto Smoothing Low Speed, 6kph is too slow. Exiting boxes is done at 30kph minimum, and in Virginia, my Cockpit almost jumps out the window until I reach the open circuit. Same with changing gears. It's too violent. Can I block that in telemetry somehow?

Thanks and regards!

Jarek76 · Jul 7, 2023

Hi
Maybe someone will be interested in it, parts for building the SFX100 from the group not the cheapest but also from China, very good quality:
DAKAI SFUR1605T 4D C5 Ballscrew

20.4€ 14% OFF|C5 Ballscrew SFU1605 Enkele Kogelmoerbehuizing Aanpasbare Einde Machinaal Voor Cnc Onderdelen 3D Printer Bal Schroef 1605 250 500 1000 2000Mm|Lineaire Gidsen| - AliExpress

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com

www.aliexpress.com

I use ITEM profiles and attach ITEM slider file to dakai sfur1605t because original ITEM doesn't match them.

SFX 100 DAKAI Ballscrew SFU1605 ITEM slider by Volf76

Hi Slider for the linear actuator used in the SFX100 project https://opensfx.com/ This is a version for aluminum profiles 100x100 from ITEM and made for DAKAI SFUR1605T 4D C5 Ballscrew with a place for a magnet if someone wanted to use magnetic switches like me. This is the store where I bought...

www.thingiverse.com

Instead of noisy LMEK30UU on bearings I used
Engineer Aluminum Plastic Solid Polymer Linear Motion Bush Bearing they fit perfectly.

88.96€ |Ingenieur Aluminium Plastic Vaste Polymeer Linear Motion Bush Lager Ronde Flens LMEK30UU LMEK30 Europa Versie 30x47x68mm| | - AliExpress

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com

www.aliexpress.com

If something happened to the insert, I did not physically check it, but it should fit IGUS JUM-01-30, I will check it when I buy it.
Regards, Jarek

MiniMadRyan · Aug 13, 2023

Hi All,

Just got my parts kit from NTL Bearing and Amy. Couldn’t be happier with the order process. Amy was excellent to deal with, and the quotes provided were great. The order shipped 4 days after payment, and arrived here in Ontario Canada 4 days after that. Customs charges weren’t bad, only around $100 Canadian, so overall much cheaper than other places.

Quick question though, I noticed that on my kit, my extrusions, and ballscrews were all 50mm longer than the documentation on opensfx. Does this mean the kits are now 150 instead of 100 travel?

Freeon · Aug 15, 2023

MiniMadRyan said:
Hi All,

Just got my parts kit from NTL Bearing and Amy. Couldn’t be happier with the order process. Amy was excellent to deal with, and the quotes provided were great. The order shipped 4 days after payment, and arrived here in Ontario Canada 4 days after that. Customs charges weren’t bad, only around $100 Canadian, so overall much cheaper than other places.

Quick question though, I noticed that on my kit, my extrusions, and ballscrews were all 50mm longer than the documentation on opensfx. Does this mean the kits are now 150 instead of 100 travel?

I know they now sell both the 100 and the 150. I assume your quote or invoice probably list if it's the 100 or 150. Just curious are you sure you were dealing with Amy? I got and email from her 3 months ago saying she had moved to another company and the new company also sell sfx stuff. Maybe she went back to NTL.

MiniMadRyan · Aug 19, 2023

Freeon said:
I know they now sell both the 100 and the 150. I assume your quote or invoice probably list if it's the 100 or 150. Just curious are you sure you were dealing with Amy? I got and email from her 3 months ago saying she had moved to another company and the new company also sell sfx stuff. Maybe she went back to NTL.

That’s the interesting thing is that my original request and quote were labelled as SFX100, but when looking at the itemized quote, it listed extrusions and other components In lengths that would be for a sfx100 kit.

Either way, not complaining, just found it was interesting. As for Amy, I emailed her using the email address found on these forums here, and heard back from the same address. I wonder if they have 2 people working the accounts now, as I also got a response back from Lily around the same that Amy replied initially.

Either way, their costs, shipping, packing and delivery times were fantastic. I’d highly recommend them to anyone looking for a kit!