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DIY Flight Sim Projects

DIY Force Feeback Flight Yoke

Plans now available! -  DIY force feedback flight yoke project

DIY Mini Motion Platform

Mini Motion Platform

- plans bundled with the V2 motion software and EV plans orders. Click to see short video clip.

Motion Platform Drive Hardware

64SPU-1 motion platform drive system signal processor unit - now available

Flight Sim Motion & Force Feedback Software and Hardware

 

This section of the Built For Fun site describes a growing number of projects that are quite a bit different from the electric vehicle projects available on the rest of the site. I've had a go at designing and building a number of DIY flight simulator motion platforms (or motion bases) and had a look at a few other flight sim projects such as control loading (force feedback).

 

The main motion driver software and key control system electronic cards are available to buy on the site for use in your own motion platform projects.

 

In addition some of the plans developed during the projects are available with the motion software or free for use in your own flight sim related projects.

 

Plans, software and cards for DIY force feedback flight controls are also now available.

 

NEWS

 

OCT '11 - DIY Linear Actuator, Mini Motion Platform, Motion Platform 2 and DIY FFB Flight Yoke plans are now all included in the Full Download Plans Set available from the plans order page.

 

OCT '11 - A preliminary look at a sister project to the FFB Flight Yoke - this is a set of FFB Rudder Pedals - some images and info here.....

 

SEPT '11 - Plans, software and electronic cards are NOW available for the DIY FFB Flight Yoke project.

 

MARCH '11 - The latest instalment of my ongoing effort to develop a good DIY force feedback flight yoke - much better force smoothness now achieved using brushless motors and drivers.

 

 

 

 

 

Flight Sim Related Projects and Products

BFF MOTION DRIVE SOFTWARE

Essential drive software for DIY motion platforms - very low cost and packed with features.

V2.6 now available with the new integrated virtual oscilloscope and power calculator add-on.

Motion Platform Drive Hardware

MOTION SYSTEM DRIVE HARDWARE

Low cost servo control hardware for DIY motion platform builders is now available. Developed from several platform builds this hardware is fully integrated with the BFF Motion Driver software - for 2/3 DOF DIY motion platforms.

DIY FORCE FEEDBACK FLIGHT YOKE

Plans NOW AVAILABLE for an effective DIY control loading flight yoke for simmers. Much better force smoothness using brushless motors and drivers...

FORCE FEEDBACK BRUSHLESS MOTOR CONTROLLER

Now available - brushless motor driver for smooth force feedback in DIY flight controls.

6-DOF BFF MOTION DRIVE SOFTWARE

Motion software for 6-DOF Stewart (Hexapod) type platforms - presently available in beta status for FSX/9, X-Plane and Condor Soaring...

12bit ADC microcontroller interface card

12ADC-1 12bit ADC CARD

To upgrade the standard 10bit potentiometer position feedback to 12bit res. to match the performance of MA3 encoders without the cost.

PLATFORM 2

A more conventional motion platform - less movement range than Cockpit 1 but easier and cheaper to build - FREE plans now available on the web pages.

MINI PLATFORM 3

The most recent platform design, reduced motion range but easier to build - probably my favourite.

Click to see short video clip.

COCKPIT 1

The first motion platform project - a compact cockpit with large pitch, roll and heave movement ranges. This was an interesting but fairly complex build - too complex to release a set of plans.

USING SABERTOOTH MOTOR CONTROLLERS

Some development work to add support for Dimension Engineering Sabertooth and SyRen motor controllers to the BFF Motion Drive system.

DIY Force Feedback Flight ColumnDIY FORCE FEEDBACK FLIGHT COLUMN

An earlier attempt at building a good quality force feedback flight control system. This time with a flight column and disc armature motors. Now further developed into the DIY FFB Yoke project.

MOTION PLATFORM POWER CALCULATOR

Beta software for estimating the power rating requirements on conventional design 2 & 3 DOF platforms - should be a great help during platform design stages.

DIY LINEAR ACTUATOR

A cheaper alternative to expensive bought linear actuators - plans bundled with Motion Driver orders and included with the Full Plans Sets download and CDROM orders.

CONTROL LOADER SOFTWARE

Software for driving DIY flight control loading (force feedback).

 

LOW NOISE POSITION FEEDBACK

To get the best out of a platform drive low noise position feedback is important - how I got on with US Digital MA3 Encoders.

BFF I2C ISOLATOR CARD

I2C data bus isolator card for use with the 64SPU-1 to protect against electrical noise from the motion platform servo drive motors.

ARTICULATED PROJECTOR

A new motion enhancement for DIY platforms and sim setups - have a look! Free construction drawings available.

 

IMPORTANT - Building a DIY motion platform is a big project, even for competent DIY'ers. It involves knowledge of both mechanical and electrical/electronic systems, it can be expensive and it can be dangerous to people and equipment. The information provided in these web pages is provided "AS-IS" without warranty or guarantee of any kind and is provided in good faith to assist other builders in their efforts. The information does not include complete and detailed instructions on system building, commissioning or operation. If you chose to use this information in your project you do so at your own risk - it is up to you to properly understand what you attempt to build and operate. See our full Terms and Conditions.


LINKS - some DIY platform building sites worth visiting if you want some inspiration.

http://simprojects.nl/ - Roland van Roy's site - a great source of ideas & data on a range of flight sim related projects.

http://www.youtube.com/user/tronicgr - Thanos Kod's YouTube channel showing his work with a JoyRider style  motion cockpit - lots of videos.

(Both Roland and Thanos have beta tested the Motion Software - many thanks.)

http://www.jimspage.co.nz/intro.html A low cost DIY motion platform.

http://www.classicsim.com/ A fairly large scale cockpit..

http://digilander.libero.it/tornadoblu5/index1.htm

http://www.mikesflightdeck.com/ - not specifically for motion platforms and cockpits but another very informative site.

http://www.geneb.org/pitkit/ - a compact single seater cockpit made from timber - might prove a good basis for a motion cockpit design.

 

 

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