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

 

[AlexP37]

@GEEDOGG looking great, but be careful your monitors are way to close. When you fire it up the whole rig will lift a few centimeters.

Make sure the rig can move freely when you activate the actuators.

I find this a downside to motion, you cant put the monitors up close where they were before.
Solution could be to mount the monitors directly on the rig or race in vr.

 

[anton_Chez]

I do both. Normally am in VR (except for when Oculus decides to remove functionality from a device you paid money for on a whim, regardless of whether or not you have a scheduled race that night. More on that later....) or if I am forced to use the screen, my single 35" is mounted directly to my chassis. I'd rather it wasn't, to be honest, now that I am building the SFX-100 system. But at least it's not as bad as having triples mounts to the rig like I used to have. The good thing about the V3 is that it didn't matter that my screen was bolted to the chassis. Now it kind of does. At least there is no issue of hitting it, however.

 

[GEEDOGG]

@GEEDOGG looking great, but be careful your monitors are way to close. When you fire it up the whole rig will lift a few centimeters.

Make sure the rig can move freely when you activate the actuators.

I find this a downside to motion, you cant put the monitors up close where they were before.
Solution could be to mount the monitors directly on the rig or race in vr.

Thanks for the advice,My monitors are mounted to the rig. When I built the rig I built it based on the P1 after watching Barry Rowlands review of the D-Box never really thinking I would have motion some day but just in case I won the lottery or something my rig could handle the motion. I also saw someone on YouTube with a D-Box with triples connected to his rig

. I figured if motion was to much for the monitors I could buy a couple more pieces of profile and add feet to the uprights and straddle the rig.

 

[AlexP37]

I’m not even racing yet and already thinking of selling my triple stand.
They are to far away to my liking, before i had them almost in my face and the immersion was great.

Dunno what to do really, what are the cons of mounting them on the rig ?

 

[anton_Chez]

Have you used VR? It's the best fit for motion you could hope for.

 

[AlexP37]

I’ve had the rift before but sold it after 6 months. VR is the best immersion wise but the resolution just sucks at the moment.

Yes yes i have a gtx 1080 ti and supersampeling etc etc. It just sucks.
For me personally it is, what is the point of immersion when it gets distorted by resolution.

Just waiting for second gen. VR and i will jump back in.

 

[GEEDOGG]

I’m not even racing yet and already thinking of selling my triple stand.
They are to far away to my liking, before i had them almost in my face and the immersion was great.

Dunno what to do really, what are the cons of mounting them on the rig ?

I'm hoping no cons lol the one thing I can think of would be damaging the monitors with the shaking which is a BIG con other than that it's all pros if you watched the YouTube video I just added it looked pretty good having everything moving. I still like racing on my triples as well as VR and when I have people over everyone can't handle VR so they can try it with the monitors.

 

[GEEDOGG]

I’ve had the rift before but sold it after 6 months. VR is the best immersion wise but the resolution just sucks at the moment.

Yes yes i have a gtx 1080 ti and supersampeling etc etc. It just sucks.
For me personally it is, what is the point of immersion when it gets distorted by resolution.

Just waiting for second gen. VR and i will jump back in.

As of now I'm like you with the resolution I race my trips 75-80% of the time.But after tomorrow when I'm up and running things could be different with the motion I may have to look past the resolution LOL.

 

[anton_Chez]

VR marries so well with motion that for me it's a distraction with the motion going while looking at screens. You do get used to it but the motion is the missing link to truly fooling your brain while in VR and even as a graphics whore I can look past the resolution of the Rift with a supersample value of 1.4 on most titles, and 2.0 on Raceroom. You just need to spend time in it to forget the image quality of a screen. Appreciating being in the cockpit and looking into apexes is immediate.

But anyway, just a suggestion. I wouldn't want to be shaking triples around on it. Even my old 27" screens would have given me grief.

 

[Antracing]

Well I've just tried running it again and this time ran fine in a road session for about 5 mins then the motion just stopped? I checked all the wiring, restarted the simfeedback software but nothing would work, green light was on for telemetry but red for motors.

I totally reinstalled simfeedback and reflashed the arduino and it started working fine again but after another 5 mins motion stopped again?

I clicked the stop button in the software and the platform dropped but now doesnt raise at all.

Anyone any ideas? I'm going to check the actuators physically are ok but must say they seem ok.

 

[HoiHman]

Check if the com port is set right in simfeedback, sometimes you need to set it again after a succesfull firmware flash.

Close simfeedback, start it and check your comport settings

 

[Antracing]

Yes checked that and its fine, also tried different ports.
It just started working again for 1/2 a lap then the motion just stopped again. and while I'm typing this the platform just dropped. This time all the lights were green.
Arduino software sees the arduino so cant really be a connection.

Could it be an issue with the servos?

 

[Antracing]

PS when its working it feels fine.

 

[Antracing]

Just tried rending the firmware to the leonardo and got this :-(

 

[HoiHman]

I have considered mounting a monitor to my rig, but some profile are so intense there's no way i could run them without fearing the monitor would break. The only way i could see tripples lasting on a SFX100 rig is by not running extreme hard and fast profile.

The D-box in the video above is an example of a good but reduced profile.

Here's an example how you can use the connector that comes with the servos and solder wires directly to it.



I used an old piece of ethernet cable.



This way you don't need the breakout connector and the D-sub cables allowing for a cleaner and more compact controlbox, but...... if it's not working you will have a harder time finding out what's wrong.

That's why saxxon66 choosed a breakout bord with breakout connectors

 

[HoiHman]

Just tried rending the firmware to the leonardo and got this :-(View attachment 281639

Replace the USB cable, try a different USB port, run "unblock" again as administrator, do not place simfeedback in "program files or program files x86

That's all i can think of right now.

 

[Antracing]

Interestingly when I try to send the firmware with the servos turned on I get the above message but with them off it loads - i think - I dont get any message to confirm the firmware send is completed though the bar just dissappears - is this normal?

 

[MADShootStuff]

Hey Fella's here's a few pics. I'm almost done my electrician's coming by Sunday to run my 220v line. I can't wait to give her a go. I finally figured out how to upload the full image lol.

Looks great!

I assume you're in the US if you're having a circuit installed. Was there any particular reason you didn't go with a step up converter?

I'm the first one that I'm aware of that's going that route and I'm slightly concerned there will be an issue. Mostly just because no one else has done it yet, the math checks out based on the power draw readings posted a while ago.

 

[GEEDOGG]

Looks great!

I assume you're in the US if you're having a circuit installed. Was there any particular reason you didn't go with a step up converter?

I'm the first one that I'm aware of that's going that route and I'm slightly concerned there will be an issue. Mostly just because no one else has done it yet, the math checks out based on the power draw readings posted a while ago.

I was waiting for someone to try the step up converter first lol. my rig is in my unfurnished basement so it won't be hard to run the line from my breaker box over to my rig. I guess your the beta tester for the step up converter for the SFX-100 in the U.S it will be nice if it works that will definitely get more people to take the plunge. To answer your question like you I was concerned I wasn't sure if it would be enough to power everything or if there would be any other issues using it. The one thing I did know was if I ran the 220v line it should be fine.

 

[HugoB]

Just tried rending the firmware to the leonardo and got this :-(View attachment 281639

Have you tried running your Arduino from a powered USB hub, if you aren’t already?

Also try USB 3.0 and 2.0 and different cables, that was the main culprit if I remember correctly with others before.