Jims Motion platform with GearMotors or Step motors

[gflinch]

Just to let you all know, what I am working on should be around $250-$500 No were near that cost. As far as I can tell, what I have on paper should be really simple.

[dodiano]

What are you planning for a controller?? And software to interact with FS and the platform??

Thanks.

Roberto

[gflinch]

Again, This is "on paper" reality maybe diffrent. But basically similar to what Jim used on his. Relays and a second computer that will interpreate the input from the sim. Should end up with a simple i/o basic program telling the motors how far to move.

Greg

[gflinch]

Just to let everyone know, I have setup a website, that I plan on documenting my plans and ideas, if you care to visit you can go to http://mysite.verizon.net/gflinch/index.htm I will be updating it weekly. My initial plans are on there for the motion platform I am working on. Anyone know about torque loads of stepper motors?

Greg

[dodiano]

Excellent! Thanks for theupdate we will follow this site closelly!

Roberto

[wannabeaflyer]

Hi Jim ...Its Only Little ole me LOL seems i did a Homer Simpson And Had a D'oh Moment when i Placed the order for the DSE cards ....should have read my own Parts list .. Net result, as soon as my 1st 2 cards get here i will place a repeat order... The parallel Output card i just built was an old kit i had in my lofT for Donkeys Years Your Project just gave me the incentive to build it ..Turns out it works by Sending The ASCII Character "a" = Relay1 On & " A" = Relay Off and so on from A through to H for all 8 output lines , Will need to Play around with the Code to see if its something i can use ,if only for Evaluation Purposes..

Gonna push my LUCK here jim and Ask the Question ?? Went back to the Breakers Yard and he was kind enough to let me have a Closer look at the Steering box two things came to mind a these are Heafty Lumps of metal and B the ratio seemd a little more than 1:1 ( I Could be totally wrong There ) So was wondering what sort of torque are we looking at from say a wiper typical motor ( Reason being i have seen some barnd new Units for sale at only a few Pounds More than what i would be charged by the Breaker ) Output at the shaft is around 10NM .. is this kinda torque in the right direction or are we looking at much more.. ( Unit felt stiffish to turn by hand at steeering wheel input. Will Post this on ISFBI to help get feedback from the shyer members out there LOL

[wannabeaflyer]

Hi Jim sorry to be a pain but just needed some more tech advice ...Basically spent the last week scouring the net for more info and am looking at how to implement a 3DOF sim based on your design but cant seem to find out how the Heave axis is implemented on your system.... have sources should that found a breakers yard which may be able to get me 3 off Steering boxes and Pumps for a BMW 7 series inc pipes and Arm also 3 off Windscreen wiper motors form the same type of car .. Prop Shaft as well so looking good For the major Elements Coil Spring ???? still trying to work out size Etc .Have a basic Concept and outline Drawing for the Actual Sim Platform But need to Tidy up a load of little details before Metal is Cut .Wood is Chopped , House destroyed LOL .Any info would be Greatly Appreciated as always Hope one day to do you proud... PS as my existing simulator was built around IO Cockpit Interface Cards ( Spanish Company who supply IFC cards Ready Built ) OPENCOCKPITS.COM was wondering if any one has been down this road using your Mechanics and theres electronics

. Just a thought

[wannabeaflyer]

Come on Guys and Gals , looking at the Number of Views, this topic seems to have generated a fair amount of Curiosity so come guys lets help each other out Info is free and you never know what it might spark in terms of innovation.. Jims done a greet service by showing us mere Mortals that 2DOF and Even 3DOF motion Cockpits are not the preserve of the deep Pocket guys (no offence intended ) so it's great to see a dooable ( Not in the oxford Dictionary but works for me ) alternative for the Home Tinkerer.. Been playing with the software and Sourcing bits as per jims Design and have to say it's not a bad way to go ..done right it wont cost an arm and a leg ( no pun intended) and Seems to me that my Boys Playstaion 2 has had more money spent on it, than it would to put Jims Concept into operation.... So Just one member (New but Keen ) trying to help move this forum along Rally Cry ...Yell Big Shout Out ... and Before i Go Big Big Big Thanks to The Man ( Jim & Not Forgetting Liz ) and The Guys that helped him Get as far as he has .. We Need More. any tit bits , deep Thoughts , Shallow Thoughts get typing .LOL

[Roland]

Likewise, I have been thinking on a simple system to achieve heave (vertical movement). With roll and pitch, balancing the platform greatly reduces the power needed to drive the axis. Could this be done with heave as well? The only thing that comes to mind then is the see-saw system: placing the platform on one side of the beam and a heavy weight on the other side. pushing up or down would be sufficient. However the inertia will be tremendous. There seem to be some arcade motion systems using this method.
The other method I have been thinking of is placing the platform on a partly inflated air mattress (or inner tire). If you could quickly squeeze part of the mattress it would lift the platform. (actually some sort of pneumatic system) Nothing spectacular, but something like buffering could be possible.
The three actuator system with spring in the middle is another possibility used by some platform makers, but the actuators would still be required to lift or pull some 70 - 80 % of the platform weight. Not sure Jim's streering box could bear that kind of weight.

Just thinking out loud....

Roland
http://www.simprojects.nl

[wannabeaflyer]

Hi Jim ... Had a Eureka Moment last night regarding my incorrect assumption of the Steering box Operation .. in an earlier post i said i thought the input / output ratio was 1:1 , Seems i got confused what i actually noticed was quite correctly that whenever you rotated the Input shaft there was movement at the Output shaft ..i think what i should have done was take note of how many turns were required at the input to give maximum travel at the torque arm connected to the Output ..the unit seemed to have the required Travel arc of about 9" so will have to go have another look ...in saying that still would be nice to hear peoples thoughts on the approximate torque need at the input end of this arrangement ( Steering Box /Geared DC motor ) Sorry to be a pest Cheers Guys