7 replies to this topic

[Brett77]

Team,

This is a general call out to see who is using and enjoying a motion sim with GPL.

If its a custom unit then it would be great to see how you arrived at it.

If its off the shelf then that's great too, are you happy with it?

I'd like to look into one, I'm sure others would too and there is very little I can find on it.

Thanks in advance...

[bob williams]

Hello Brett77,

I have been using A frex simconmotion for about 7 years. Its a 2DOF setup powered by two SCN5 actuators. Recently I switched to the SimTools software wich is free. They also support GPL now. The cummunity is great and for every sim new plugins are quickly available. Frex is also switching from their own software to SimTools.
For me the motion is a completly new dimension for using racesims. Combined with triple screen, good headphones and a dark room its very immersive. When you want to use GPL with motion you either have to buy a complete package from frex. Or build your own motion platform using SimTools avilable at http://www.xsimulator.net/ wich is cheaper. For question about a complete setup or DIY, the forums at http://www.xsimulator.net/community/ are the best place to start!

Good luck!

[M Needforspeed]

can we get a price range for one off the shelf ?

[Brett77]

bob williams, on Jan 11 2016 - 02:53 PM, said:

Hello Brett77,

I have been using A frex simconmotion for about 7 years. Its a 2DOF setup powered by two SCN5 actuators. Recently I switched to the SimTools software wich is free. They also support GPL now. The cummunity is great and for every sim new plugins are quickly available. Frex is also switching from their own software to SimTools.
For me the motion is a completly new dimension for using racesims. Combined with triple screen, good headphones and a dark room its very immersive. When you want to use GPL with motion you either have to buy a complete package from frex. Or build your own motion platform using SimTools avilable at http://www.xsimulator.net/ wich is cheaper. For question about a complete setup or DIY, the forums at http://www.xsimulator.net/community/ are the best place to start!

Good luck!

Hi Bob - I noticed your name as I was skulking around the xsim/simtool sites.  Great to hear about your experience.  It seems reasonably inexpensive if you're prepared to DIY (about $340 per actuator according to http://www.miraiinte...m/home/scn5.php) then use the free software - is there anything more to it? Can you share a pic?

It looks like you need two actuators for 2 degree range of motion, the more degrees of motion (4, 6) seem to give a smoother result and would no up/down as well as left/right/back/forth.

The cost is obviously on top of everything else you need (decent seat and monitor frame, PC, monitors) - but over a number of years us GPL junkies tend to invest a little more as we go.

The off the shelf systems seem to be around $1K-$2k for 2 degrees without anything but the frame and motion kit.

Here's a video of 2DOF in GPL:
https://www.youtube....h?v=FLd1Xzy7gPg

I'll keep planning, I have a ButtKicker Gamer 2 which works greater for a little more immersion, (there are DIY Bass Shakers and iVibes in the seat vibration this category too), if you can get the right .wav sounds to vibrate it works well.  

Motion is a step beyond that, some videos seem to show wild motion and I'm wondering if that really something I'd want to use over the course of an 30 minute or longer session.

All the best - Brett.

[bob williams]

The video in your post is a windscreen wiper setup I believe. Scn5`s are much faster! See this video for how they move https://www.youtube....?v=xj9q5oLnwfQ.
2DOF for me is already very good. I think the scn5 actuators work best. They move super fast and braking and accelerating feel very responsive. Also a 2DOF setup takes up a small amount of space and your pedals and monitors keep stationary. I find you don`t need alot of movement to get an immersive feeling. The reponsivenes and quickeness of the motion is much more important imo.

The shopping list would be;
- 2 x scn5 they are pretty cheap at frex http://frex.xsrv.jp/...products_id=211
- power supply for scn5`s http://frex.xsrv.jp/...products_id=255
- control box from frex http://frex.xsrv.jp/...products_id=253
or 2 rs485 to usb converters.
- aluminium square tubing and nuts and bolts at your local hardware shop.

of course you need your steering wheel pedal setup and pc / monitor.

[bob williams]

M Needforspeed, on Jan 11 2016 - 04:02 PM, said:

can we get a price range for one off the shelf ?

Most off the shelf don`t support GPL. As far as I know only simtools supports GPL. So you need to buy a complete product from frex. http://frex.xsrv.jp/....php?cPath=1_40
Or buy a Motion system from Simxperience http://simxperience....ulatorkits.aspx and convert to the simtools software. (I believe that`s possible)
Or DIY...

Edited by bob williams, Jan 12 2016 - 08:12 AM.

[twinpotter]

Or a very expensive Vesaro Racing system  

http://www.vesaro.com/

https://www.youtube....h?v=Th6PVQRz5_8

https://www.youtube....h?v=gmlXxjLEsAU

TP:

[Brett77]

I think I have a project to work on... and with luck by Christmas 201X, I'll be close to finishing it.

Bod, that XSim community site has some phenomenal self-built rigs thanks for the heads up on that, interesting to have a look.

I'll spend a little more time on that site over the weekend.