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

Scoops · Jun 20, 2020

Motion sickness is made worse by you ears and eyes giving conflicting information to your brain.

if you are seeing a relatively motionless object and your ears are reporting movement then you will tend to get it. It Might help having the monitors stationary and not on the rig.

Either way small and often times and gradually increasing the times of exposure will slowly train your brain to cope

LukaUse · Jun 23, 2020

Many were asking me when will the next batch of CNC parts arrive. Its finally here with even better anodization and revised sliders

Real_Trisk · Jun 29, 2020

Hey, I just finished building my SFX-100 rig, and am to the testing phase. I exclusively race in VR, and I've found that as soon as I hit "start" on SimFeedback, the Valve Index loses sync with the lighthouses. As soon as I hit "stop," it comes back. I can't be the first one to have this problem, can I?

I tried grounding the rig, and grounding each motor housing to the rig as well. This didn't help. I tried plugging the lighthouse into a different circuit in the house, then plugged the 220v step-up converter into a different circuit, still doesn't work.

If I hold the headset just a foot/foot and a half to the left, outside of the rig, VR will work, but as soon as I try to put the headset on with SimFeedback started and the motors running, I loose sync and the headset shuts off. HELP!

mechsicko · Jun 29, 2020

Real_Trisk said:
Hey, I just finished building my SFX-100 rig, and am to the testing phase. I exclusively race in VR, and I've found that as soon as I hit "start" on SimFeedback, the Valve Index loses sync with the lighthouses. As soon as I hit "stop," it comes back. I can't be the first one to have this problem, can I?

I tried grounding the rig, and grounding each motor housing to the rig as well. This didn't help. I tried plugging the lighthouse into a different circuit in the house, then plugged the 220v step-up converter into a different circuit, still doesn't work.

If I hold the headset just a foot/foot and a half to the left, outside of the rig, VR will work, but as soon as I try to put the headset on with SimFeedback started and the motors running, I loose sync and the headset shuts off. HELP!

It's a little more complicated than simple grounding. The cables from the motors are a huge source of EMI because they are not shielded. The power wires need to be replaced with shielded wire, as outlined in this post https://www.racedepartment.com/thre...motion-controller.168360/page-20#post-3047521

I'm in the process of doing my motors as well... I ordered shielded wire from a place called zyltech as it was the cheapest available and the only stuff I could find in black in the US.. already got my cable and it seems pretty nice but I haven't installed it yet http://www.zyltech.com/10m-18-4-shielded-stranded-bundled-wire/

slikk66 · Jun 29, 2020

Real_Trisk said:
I tried grounding the rig, and grounding each motor housing to the rig as well. This didn't help. I tried plugging the lighthouse into a different circuit in the house, then plugged the 220v step-up converter into a different circuit, still doesn't work.

Do you happen to have the B type motors with detachable cables? if so, you can order shielded cables from NTL bearing, I don't know how much it would cost to order just the cables with nothing else, but I ordered my motors from them as well and the upgrade to shielded cables was only $22 for the set.

Real_Trisk · Jun 30, 2020

OK, I did the quick and dirty shielding option of covering all the motor power cables in household aluminum foil. One of the guys on the thread link Mechsicko gave me said doing that alone would reduce the EMI by about 90%. I tried it again and it immediately failed again. So it didn't help.

I dusted off my old Samsung Odyssey and tried that, since it doesn't use the lighthouses, and it worked, though not without an occasional hiccup/disconnect and reconnect.

One thing to note, with the foil on the cables, I was getting small shocks when touching the foil. I don't have it anywhere near open wiring anywhere, so I'm confused where that is coming from... unless that is literally all the EMI coming off the cables...?

Unfortunately, I have the A style motor, which was what the shopping list on opensfx.com said to get, so I don't know if I can make my own shielded cable. Where would I get those fancy ends from?

mechsicko · Jun 30, 2020

Real_Trisk said:
OK, I did the quick and dirty shielding option of covering all the motor power cables in household aluminum foil. One of the guys on the thread link Mechsicko gave me said doing that alone would reduce the EMI by about 90%. I tried it again and it immediately failed again. So it didn't help.

I dusted off my old Samsung Odyssey and tried that, since it doesn't use the lighthouses, and it worked, though not without an occasional hiccup/disconnect and reconnect.

One thing to note, with the foil on the cables, I was getting small shocks when touching the foil. I don't have it anywhere near open wiring anywhere, so I'm confused where that is coming from... unless that is literally all the EMI coming off the cables...?

Unfortunately, I have the A style motor, which was what the shopping list on opensfx.com said to get, so I don't know if I can make my own shielded cable. Where would I get those fancy ends from?

Not sure what you did but it's more involved than wrapping the wires with foil, the supply end of the shielding needs to be connected to the ground wire and at the connectors but not at the motor.

To make shielded wires you reuse the existing connectors...

smailk · Jul 1, 2020

Hi! Have I missed the window to get on the USA group-buy list for the SFX-100 shield? I have already sent a PM to Patrick. He was last active in this thread over two weeks ago.

ThugUK · Jul 1, 2020

This is why i am reluctant to 'upgrade' from the Rift CV1 (even though i would love to).
I have NEVER had EMI issues.

diablo2112 · Jul 1, 2020

Many of these "EMI" issues are very likely ground loop problems with USB connections. Google "USB Ground Loop Isolator", and use these for any USB connections to your rig, including the SFX connection to the PC.

You really don't want to ground cables at both ends if you have EMI running around. This just induces stray currents. You want to ground these cables at one end, only, and preferably all from the same point (known as a "star" ground setup).

Real_Trisk · Jul 2, 2020

Thanks diablo, I will try that. Is this what you mean? https://www.amazon.com/iFi-iDefende...sb+ground+loop+isolator&qid=1593678953&sr=8-3

The Index is plugged into my Alienware graphics amplifier while my SFX-100 is connected into a USB hub that's plugged into the computer's USB port, so they aren't anywhere near each other on the chain... I'm also going to try ferrite cores.

MarkMekhaiel · Jul 3, 2020

Hey,

I have a query regarding one of the suppliers on the 'shopping list' part of the guide and finding an alternative, namely kinetiksystems.de. I need to order 3 parts from them:

K50 Systemprofil 100x100 Nut 10, Aluminium natur-eloxiert.

Aluminium Systemprofil 100x100 Nut 10, Sägezuschnitt: von 50 - 6000 mm

www.kinetikmsystem.de

KM.RH10M8 Reduzier- und Schneidhülse M8 (Ø10.2 mm) selbstschneidend, Stahl verzinkt

KM.RH10M8 Reduzier- und Schneidhülse RH/M8 (Ø10,2 mm) selbstschneidend, Stahl verzinkt ANWENDUNG: Die selbstschneidende Reduzier- und Schneidhülse RH10/M8 wird bei einem Lochdurchmesser 10.2 mm zur Reduzierung auf M8 Gewinde angewendet,...

www.kinetikmsystem.de

K45.N10 Nutenstein mit Feder Nut 10 - M4 M5 M6 M8 | Stahl galv. verzinkt

K45.N10 Nutenstein Nut 10 mit aufgeschweißter Feder - einschwenkbar. Gewinde: M4 M5 M6 M8

www.kinetikmsystem.de

I paid for all these parts nearly 2 months ago, and received a confirmation e-mail stating my payment was received, and it would be shipped at the start of June. Since then, the company have ignored e-mails from me every week, and I am having 0 contact back from them.

Is there any alternative for me to source the above parts? Given they'recustom cut I'm hesitant to just order off of a random site,

Thanks in advance,
Mark

Freeon · Jul 3, 2020

MarkMekhaiel said:
Hey,

I have a query regarding one of the suppliers on the 'shopping list' part of the guide and finding an alternative, namely kinetiksystems.de. I need to order 3 parts from them:

K50 Systemprofil 100x100 Nut 10, Aluminium natur-eloxiert.

Aluminium Systemprofil 100x100 Nut 10, Sägezuschnitt: von 50 - 6000 mm

www.kinetikmsystem.de

KM.RH10M8 Reduzier- und Schneidhülse M8 (Ø10.2 mm) selbstschneidend, Stahl verzinkt

KM.RH10M8 Reduzier- und Schneidhülse RH/M8 (Ø10,2 mm) selbstschneidend, Stahl verzinkt ANWENDUNG: Die selbstschneidende Reduzier- und Schneidhülse RH10/M8 wird bei einem Lochdurchmesser 10.2 mm zur Reduzierung auf M8 Gewinde angewendet,...

www.kinetikmsystem.de

K45.N10 Nutenstein mit Feder Nut 10 - M4 M5 M6 M8 | Stahl galv. verzinkt

K45.N10 Nutenstein Nut 10 mit aufgeschweißter Feder - einschwenkbar. Gewinde: M4 M5 M6 M8

www.kinetikmsystem.de

I paid for all these parts nearly 2 months ago, and received a confirmation e-mail stating my payment was received, and it would be shipped at the start of June. Since then, the company have ignored e-mails from me every week, and I am having 0 contact back from them.

Is there any alternative for me to source the above parts? Given they'recustom cut I'm hesitant to just order off of a random site,

Thanks in advance,
Mark

Yes. You can use item 24. That is what I used. You will however need to re print some parts if the are all printed already. Here are the details https://opensfx.com/mods-item24-extrusion/

Another thing to note a lot of people including me did have issues with the sliders being slightly to large and not fitting inside the profiles. If this happens you have 2 options. Tweak the STL and re print. You may have to do this several time until you get it perfect. Or like I did and sand them. Took me about 10-15 minutes each and was a nice snug fit.

MarkMekhaiel · Jul 3, 2020

Freeon said:
Yes. You can use item 24. That is what I used. You will however need to re print some parts if the are all printed already. Here are the details https://opensfx.com/mods-item24-extrusion/

Another thing to note a lot of people including me did have issues with the sliders being slightly to large and not fitting inside the profiles. If this happens you have 2 options. Tweak the STL and re print. You may have to do this several time until you get it perfect. Or like I did and sand them. Took me about 10-15 minutes each and was a nice snug fit.

Why didn't I come here 6 weeks ago....

Thanks for the link! From that article it looks like I'm not the only one in this position...

Really appreciate the speedy reply, I guess I'm off to go and re-print some parts

Furnace Inferno · Jul 3, 2020

MarkMekhaiel said:
Why didn't I come here 6 weeks ago....

Thanks for the link! From that article it looks like I'm not the only one in this position...

Really appreciate the speedy reply, I guess I'm off to go and re-print some parts

The kinetik stuff will come eventually but they don’t respond to any emails from what I’ve seen

Freeon · Jul 3, 2020

MarkMekhaiel said:
Why didn't I come here 6 weeks ago....

Thanks for the link! From that article it looks like I'm not the only one in this position...

Really appreciate the speedy reply, I guess I'm off to go and re-print some parts

From what I have read here I think Furnace Inferno is right that the Kinetik will show up eventually. It sucks that they don't respond to emails. Depending on were your from it will be 3-4 weeks to get the item24. But at least for me they responded to all my email follow up. You could always order item24 and sell whichever comes in after the other.

jkn87 · Jul 13, 2020

hi guys. i have some issues.
my 4 motors where working ok when i tested them with simfeedback some days ago with motors unmounted. today i mounted everything (so actuators are finished) and when today i tried the simfeedback the actuators dont move at all. I tried the "Pn..00" bla bla for testing the electronics and they move ok when i press the buttons "up" and "down" on the electronics.
So summing up i just tried my mottors with simfeedback one time few days ago and all was ok with telemetry. Today is 2nd time i try simfeedback now with full actuatore mounted and simfeedback is not sendind signal (i checked the leonardo flashing, the com port, everything is ok).

Any idea what it can be? maybe something related to saxxon (the creator) discontinuing support as the last news are he stopped due to some unfair opensfx legal issues from other parties?

Insert Coin · Jul 13, 2020

jkn87 said:
hi guys. i have some issues.
my 4 motors where working ok when i tested them with simfeedback some days ago with motors unmounted. today i mounted everything (so actuators are finished) and when today i tried the simfeedback the actuators dont move at all. I tried the "Pn..00" bla bla for testing the electronics and they move ok when i press the buttons "up" and "down" on the electronics.
So summing up i just tried my mottors with simfeedback one time few days ago and all was ok with telemetry. Today is 2nd time i try simfeedback now with full actuatore mounted and simfeedback is not sendind signal (i checked the leonardo flashing, the com port, everything is ok).

Any idea what it can be? maybe something related to saxxon (the creator) discontinuing support as the last news are he stopped due to some unfair opensfx legal issues from other parties?

Did you check the e-stop button and e-stop wire?