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

Simon Merritt · Aug 26, 2020

wingert said:
check the position of the shield on the arduino, maybe you a have a pin displacement.

Simon Merritt · Aug 26, 2020

wingert said:
check the position of the shield on the arduino, maybe you a have a pin displacement.

This diagram suggests that pin 8 is the estop. And pin 5 is 5v correct?

wingert · Aug 26, 2020

on DB25 pin 6 ENA is the E-stop and pin 9 is 5V.

Build Process – Controller wiring

opensfx.com

TomKesteleyn · Sep 3, 2020

I'll start this project. But I'm wondering if I can start because of the donation possibility that is temperary unavailabe. So I can't have an expert license from openSFX. Can someone explain me the difference between the free license and the expert. What do I miss and is it definitely worth it to start using the free license?

Dutchlincoln · Sep 4, 2020

Hello you all,
Today i mostly finished my rig.
A week or so ago, i asked saxxon if i could get added to the discord, and if i could make a donation for the expert mode. up until now there's no reply unfortunately.

I am really sorry for the commercial abuse that is stated on the website, but i have lots of proof that i'm just a private person that cot invected with the sfx100 virus..

Anyone have any advice on how to proceed?

Thanks.

anton_Chez · Sep 4, 2020

Start using it with the free regular version of the software. You might as well. You don't necessarily need the expert mode, but it good to have.

Dutchlincoln · Sep 4, 2020

Hello,

Today is the first day of more use of the SFX100 rig.
I expirience that the front feet sometimes come loose from the ground. They do not go down fast enough.
This happens at 1200, but at 3000rpm as well.
Intensity is set ay .75.

Mu actuators front and rear are 94 centimeter. Is this okay, or schould they be more towards eachother?
I use a Simlabs P1X, and they cannotbe more towards eachother without major modifications...

Gaming is really fun, but the tough bumps sometimes are horror for the neighbors.. (besides; its not goor for my floor tiles and my rig as well...

Any advice?

Thank you.

anton_Chez · Sep 5, 2020

Yes. Don't use the majority of the profiles made by others if you want to keep most of your teeth. Turn your smoothing on / up, and use a sensible acceleration. Smoothing or lack thereof is what causes the violence.

Makiabelo · Sep 5, 2020

anton_Chez said:
Start using it with the free regular version of the software. You might as well. You don't necessarily need the expert mode, but it good to have.

Without the expert mode, you cannot add more effects or create your own profiles, just modify the base of the existing ones. I think it is quite necessary.

anton_Chez · Sep 6, 2020

Yes but if he is not receiving a license for a month would it be better to not learn how to at least change the base effects?

MaD_King · Sep 6, 2020

Dutchlincoln said:
Hello you all,
Today i mostly finished my rig.
A week or so ago, i asked saxxon if i could get added to the discord, and if i could make a donation for the expert mode. up until now there's no reply unfortunately.

I am really sorry for the commercial abuse that is stated on the website, but i have lots of proof that i'm just a private person that cot invected with the sfx100 virus..

Anyone have any advice on how to proceed?

Thanks.

I will have the same issue, I'm in my final assembly phase, and I will start to test in few weeks, and no answer from saxxon I tried to contact by pm here, but no answer since 2 weeks

I'm a bit worried to have engaged this amount of money (started in May) and be limited by a "license" issue, I followed the recommendation and I'm 100% SFX proof

I hope at least to get an answer, just to be sure saxxon is alive

eSEA One · Sep 6, 2020

It has been a while collecting the parts. Not in any rush, spreading the costs over time. Also I don't have a place to put the rig until the Kids are out the house

I currently have a modified desk/office chair rig that is acceptable in the corner of the living room however a motion rig will be pushing the limits

Once these actuators are complete the next sub project is to build a seat and the final thing will be the profile rig as that will go together relatively quickly. Why! you ask, the diffrent colours of the sliders I had started with the black, with still some left on the reel but ran out and the new reel had not arrived yet so I printed with a partly used white only for it to run out just before the last one, by that time the new reel arrived! Now the marathon print parts do.

Here is the mockup for the seat. it will be made out of plywood, stitched filited and fiberglass seam construction similar to a system used for boat construction.

Laserbeak43 · Sep 13, 2020

I made a donation in may and never got the license for the software... How do I contact them?

anton_Chez · Sep 14, 2020

I mean, we never saw this coming, did we............................................

Honestly a bit over it all. I haven't raced with motion for like 2 weeks and the more I don't the more I seem to enjoy the racing for what it actually is. Racing.

Hopefully you get your license Laser, if not just do a Paypal chargeback if you can. Seeing as it's a donation, you might be a bit screwed but you can always try.

Mascot · Sep 14, 2020

Laserbeak43 said:
I made a donation in may and never got the license for the software... How do I contact them?

MAY? Crikey.
I just tried generating an invitation for you to the SFX Discord but that place is locked down tighter than a nun's chuff and won't let me do it.
I was never really comfortable with some of the paranoia associated with this project (conformity seemed to be a prerequisite and opinions were often treated with distain) but I really hope things ease, common sense takes over and people who have 'donated' (lol, I love that term when used in this context) get what they have paid for. It's a great motion system once the shackles are off and everything is working how it should be. Hopefully you'll get to that stage sooner rather than later.

HugoB · Sep 14, 2020

You could get the Thanos controller and just use SimTools. Should be very similar or maybe even better since the hardware seems more matured with filters etc. I love my SFX100 system with SF but am sometimes slightly concerned if it will continue to work forever and be supported. On a lighter note: just got AMS2 motion perfected and have to say it's brilliant.. miles ahead of AC imo, but that's probably more down to the physics and car models. The new V10 F1's on Spielberg feel amazing, I just want to drive forever. It makes AC feel off and lifeless.

Laserbeak43 · Sep 14, 2020

Honestly I got the Thanos controller a week after not getting a response from SFX, and haven't looked back. But now I'm curious as to why they just decided to run off with my 55 USD....

anton_Chez · Sep 14, 2020

Because it's only ever the other people that are bad. Thanos controller, bad. 3D printing parts for other members, bad. Disagreeing with anything said by the cult following? BAD.

Enjoy your Thanos controller mate. I mean seriously who didn't see this coming a mile away.

Thoroughly enjoying not even turning my platform on when racing.

HugoB · Sep 14, 2020

anton_Chez said:
Because it's only ever the other people that are bad. Thanos controller, bad. 3D printing parts for other members, bad. Disagreeing with anything said by the cult following? BAD.

Enjoy your Thanos controller mate. I mean seriously who didn't see this coming a mile away.

Thoroughly enjoying not even turning my platform on when racing.

I do really enjoy motion, but maybe that's because I approach simracing as a vent for stress, I like doing a couple of laps or a casual race after work or in the evening, to relieve stress and get my mind off things. I like to feel the realism of motion and feel like I'm really there. Without motion (and VR!) I feel detached so less magic for me. I'm not in a league, I don't do regular races, I'm not chasing any top times or ratings.

If I was, possibly motion could be a hindrance, making me slower and to be competitive I'd also switch it off.. but then again, maybe I'd also turn down my force feedback settings, since I enjoy feeling a lot of the road and kerbs.

@anton_Chez are you in a league and do you race competitively? Do you feel like motion and strong FFB makes you slower? Do you casually enjoy hotlapping the NS for example enjoying the scenery?

anton_Chez · Sep 15, 2020

@HugoB Yeah I am man, I do tonnes of racing now. Took me a few years after I discovered sim racing and now it's pretty much all I do. I give motion a hard time and this project in particular. Some people won't like me for it, but it is what it is. But in all honesty, it's cool to have. It's just not the life or death thing some make it out to be. I actually 100% prefer a good tactile, static system for my racing. Motion can make you slower, it doesn't inherently mean you will be slower than not using it, but depending how you have it all set up and the cars you're driving it can definitely affect your driving. It probably will never make you faster, but it does help point out dodgy parts of a track in a situation where the wheel FFB may fail to give you all the info you need.

I go through phases. Sometimes I use motion, sometimes I leave it off for just a quick test of something and then for the next month I find myself racing and practicing without it on at all. Sometimes I tinker with it, sometimes it's frustrating, sometimes it's cool. I've solved the USB issues I had for nearly a year and that in itself was barely worth the hassle of having motion at all. It's just another thing to potentially go wrong and with PC's and software being as fickle as they are (game crashes mid race, USB drop outs from you wheel, pedals losing a sensor, etc) you just don't need stuff like that going on especially in endurance team events when you have other people relying on your hardware.

I just hope people either get the support they expected when they started building their kit, or the project just stops and builders go another way for their software and interface. The design is out there now and people will do whatever they want with it. Not using SFB? Oh well, get whoever you want to print or build your actuators and use a different interface.

Maybe a better way of handling it all might have seen this go down a different road.