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

sn4il · Jul 11, 2019

At least install GFCI type of outlet to be safe.

Tronicgr_6DOF · Jul 11, 2019

sn4il said:
At least install GFCI type of outlet to be safe.

Like these? I have this kind in my house, but the ground wire is missing entirely!!!!

Should had been a real ground wire available it would be wired like this:

Dennis Karlsson · Jul 11, 2019

Vantskruv said:
Anyone using the SFX100 with outlets which do not have ground/earth and it works fine? Should I take on the cost to hire an electrician to install ground on every outlet in my apartment?

I unfortunately do not have grounded outlets and my SFX-100 works just fine.

Vantskruv · Jul 11, 2019

I guess GCFI is same as we call it in Sweden "earthfailswitch", which is placed on the main central group, or main fuse box (whatever it is called in english). This is standard in all swedish homes.
The "earthfailswitch" is made to compare the current in the phase and the neutral, and switches off the main power if it detects a difference (30mA as standard in most households I guess).

So that is not a problem. I wonder if these industrial electric motors, with their motor-drives, is not made for connections without earth, or if it is okay without....I am not an electrical engineer, but isn't the earth helping out to filter out EMI-issues and voltage-differences created by those? Hence, electromagnetic interference may be so big that it is possible to damage other nearby electronics connected to the same net?

Edit: I have also installed another "earthfailswitch" in my motor-drive box which cuts at 10mA if something happens.
Edit: Thanks Dennis Karlsson, I will add you to my statistics.

sn4il · Jul 11, 2019

Like these? I have this kind in my house, but the ground wire is missing entirely!!!!

At least this type of outlet has controlled output and will trip the fuse first at ground fault.
This is what I found on this:
Ground Wire

Yes, a GFCI Outlet can be installed even if a ground wire is not available in the existing electrical circuit.
The GFCI outlet must be marked with a provided label that the outlet is not grounded.
The GFCI will still protect the user against ground fault just the same.
This method is legal and compliant with the electrical code.
This is ideal for these locations:
- Kitchen outlets
- Bathroom outlets
- Garage Outlets
- Outdoor outlets
PLEASE NOTE: Installing an outlet using this procedure will not create or provide a ground path for three wire grounded devices. This practice only provides GFCI protection against ground fault.

RowanH · Jul 11, 2019

Please also note laws and regulations differ for every country. What's legal for one may be completely illegal for another....

Tronicgr_6DOF · Jul 11, 2019

sn4il said:
At least this type of outlet has controlled output and will trip the fuse first at ground fault.
This is what I found on this:
Ground Wire

Yes, a GFCI Outlet can be installed even if a ground wire is not available in the existing electrical circuit.

The GFCI outlet must be marked with a provided label that the outlet is not grounded.

The GFCI will still protect the user against ground fault just the same.

This method is legal and compliant with the electrical code.

This is ideal for these locations:

Kitchen outlets

Bathroom outlets

Garage Outlets

Outdoor outlets

PLEASE NOTE: Installing an outlet using this procedure will not create or provide a ground path for three wire grounded devices. This practice only provides GFCI protection against ground fault.

In other words, does nothing for the EMI issues. I know now why my wifi router was resetting randomly when my Air condition was coming on!! LOL

sn4il · Jul 11, 2019

Just looking at that outlet I got a feeling you are located in NYC area??

Tronicgr_6DOF · Jul 11, 2019

sn4il said:
Just looking at that outlet I got a feeling you are located in NYC area??

San Diego, California

It will cost a fortune to wire ground on these outlets... Currently only my garage has some actual ground on the outlets...

bluey · Jul 12, 2019

Tronicgr_6DOF said:
San Diego, California

It will cost a fortune to wire ground on these outlets... Currently only my garage has some actual ground on the outlets...

Hi Tronicgr . Just a thought , if you have older house, does it have copper pipes for plumbing . if so attach a copper wire to a pipe, then run that to one of you control box earthing points and loop that to the other 3 control boxes??... regards denis

Mr Latte · Jul 12, 2019

Has anyone seen or done a video yet that shows an SFX displaying its tactile based effects?
I wanted to see the vibration/energy in the seat from the rig for braking/deceleration/bumps and dips.
Certainly would appreciate if someone can show/demonstrate this in a video.

Another question and sorry if this is stupid but can the SFX output only tactile and no motion for times you may want to enjoy it in a quiet mode?

Mascot · Jul 12, 2019

Mr Latte said:
Has anyone seen or done a video yet that shows an SFX displaying its tactile based effects?
I wanted to see the vibration/energy in the seat from the rig for braking/deceleration/bumps and dips.
Certainly would appreciate if someone can show/demonstrate this in a video.

Another question and sorry if this is stupid but can the SFX output only tactile and no motion for times you may want to enjoy it in a quiet mode?

Like this?

Edit: sorry, on mobile. Misread your requirement. Tactile as in bass shakers, right?
Ignore my video.

Mr Latte · Jul 12, 2019

Mascot said:
Like this?

Edit: sorry, on mobile. Misread your requirement. Tactile as in bass shakers, right?
Ignore my video.

Yes its the tactile vibration only that Id like to see if possible.
Possibly by placing only a glass of water on the foot support as that is often used to demonstrate bass shakers etc. If its not possible to have the tactile operating on its own with no motion, then it would be nice to see the reactions in a glass/container of water with the motion only and then the motion also with the tactile active.

Its not something I have seen anyone show but I am trying to get an impression how SFX handles effects like deceleration/braking as well as others like L/R bumps people have commented on in previous posts.

HugoB · Jul 12, 2019

Mr Latte said:
Yes its the tactile vibration only that Id like to see if possible.
Possibly by placing only a glass of water on the foot support as that is often used to demonstrate bass shakers etc. If its not possible to have the tactile operating on its own with no motion, then it would be nice to see the reactions in a glass/container of water with the motion only and then the motion also with the tactile active.

Its not something I have seen anyone show but I am trying to get an impression how SFX handles effects like deceleration/braking as well as others like L/R bumps people have commented on in previous posts.

What do you mean tactile only? Heave + RPM? If you disable roll, pitch, surge and sway, you will feel road effects nicely, but otherwise have a calm ride, if you limit travel distance. If you enable RPM tactile you will have that too, are you interested in that? This way you will feel bumps nicely, but you won't feel pitch from braking... which is a pity.. I don't know why you would want tactile only? Can you explain? I think you can make some canned effects for deceleration/braking, using a vibration Hz graph with the actuators, but I don't know how, maybe @saxxon66 can explain? Though I don't think you can send vibration to every actuator separately though.. or I haven't found it. I'm sure you can do a lot more with transducers and SimVibe & the likes, for chassis mode etc.

But I don't know why you would want the actuators to do such canned effects.. it's better to have telemetry data translate to actual roll/pich/heave IMHO and use transducers for RPM, since you will also limit the vibration energy going into the floor. I have one BK Concert under my pedals and one directly attached under my fiberglass seat, I only need around 20% power to feel RPM in my whole rig, it's total overpower. All the other track details, rumble strips, gear changes, flat spots, whatever you want can be felt with crystal clear resolution through the SFX100 actuators. So much so that I never use full speed or full acceleration, it would just feel like my wheels are made of steel. I have some smoothing on every profile, otherwise I would loose all my fillings. Suffice to say, the SFX100 actuators with SimFeedback software are fast and powerful enough to be total overkill for any surface detail or other tactile effect, it's just a question if you really want to feel so much. Most cars have rubber wheels and suspension (except Karts

) so you will need a lot of smoothing to calm down all the track surface details and make it feel like a real car.

Dennis Karlsson · Jul 12, 2019

Mr Latte said:
Has anyone seen or done a video yet that shows an SFX displaying its tactile based effects?
I wanted to see the vibration/energy in the seat from the rig for braking/deceleration/bumps and dips.
Certainly would appreciate if someone can show/demonstrate this in a video.

Another question and sorry if this is stupid but can the SFX output only tactile and no motion for times you may want to enjoy it in a quiet mode?

Motor RPM and other tactile effects are much noisier than regular motion movements.
If you want vibrations you should buy a tactile transducer.

Mr Latte · Jul 12, 2019

Guys I don't have the software downloaded, I don't know what effects this offers for tactile.
I know this offers some form of RPM for tactile and heard it can produce strong directional bumps too but what else or other effects can offer vibrational detailing and do you guys use or enjoy?

The RPM does not concern me as we can produce much better RPM and gearshift sensations via Simhub. I can create my own effects to work over or transfer across multiple channels.

@Dennis Karlsson I have over 20 tactile transducers for a build sitting around. I don't need to buy another. I am simply querying what tactile effects and controls SFX offers how good they are and if possible to see a video demonstrating some of them.

Sorry if I missed it but I don't think it has been highlighted in detail before.
Images or videos appreciated.

Dennis Karlsson · Jul 12, 2019

Mr Latte said:
Guys I don't have the software downloaded, I don't know what effects this offers for tactile.
I know this offers some form of RPM for tactile and heard it can produce strong directional bumps too but what else or other effects can offer vibrational detailing and do you guys use or enjoy?

The RPM does not concern me as we can produce much better RPM and gearshift sensations via Simhub. I can create my own effects to work over or transfer across multiple channels.

@Dennis Karlsson I have over 20 tactile transducers for a build sitting around. I don't need to buy another. I am simply querying what tactile effects and controls SFX offers and if possible to see a video demonstrating some of them.

Sorry if I missed it but I don't think it has been highlighted in detail before.

Oh, then you're all set. =)

I've tried RPM through SFX-100. It works but it sounds awful. I have not seen special tactile effects for gear shifts though. I usually feel gear shifts anyway with the SFX-100. Just with regular motion.

HugoB · Jul 12, 2019

You are right @Mr Latte , there hasn't been a lot of discussion about the tactile abilities of the SFX100 & SFB software. As far as I know you can't send tactile data independently to each actuator (but maybe it can be implemented, it's a matter of choice by the developers I guess). So you are limited to whole frame tactile. Tactile meaning a Hz graph as output from any telemetry input. Of course the actuators are fast and precise enough to do tactile up to something like 100Hz if I'm not mistaken. The thing is most (maybe all? even with D-Box?) people use transducers for this application and use the actuators for roll/pitch/heave.

HugoB · Jul 12, 2019

Here are some telemetry outputs from AC that you can freely use on whatever axis you want, including tactile..

Mr Latte · Jul 12, 2019

HugoB said:
You are right @Mr Latte , there hasn't been a lot of discussion about the tactile abilities of the SFX100 & SFB software. As far as I know you can't send tactile data independently to each actuator (but maybe it can be implemented, it's a matter of choice by the developers I guess). So you are limited to whole frame tactile. Tactile meaning a Hz graph as output from any telemetry input. Of course the actuators are fast and precise enough to do tactile up to something like 100Hz if I'm not mistaken. The thing is most (maybe all? even with D-Box?) people use transducers for this application and use the actuators for roll/pitch/heave.

Yes Ive searched for more info on this aspect of the SFX but still none the wiser.
I am trying to do the following:

A) Clarify what effects it supports, images or list (some of which may be sim specific)
B) Determine what controls for altering the felt sensations are
C) Can Hz be entered or how are Hz utilized
D) Most popular effects owners are using
E) Least popular effects owners use and why