Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: indy007 on April 06, 2005, 01:25:04 PM

Title: SimCraft 2dof motion simulator
Post by: indy007 on April 06, 2005, 01:25:04 PM
Had some extra $$ laying around, and went ahead & got the blueprints since it's USB now. link (http://www.simcraft.com) Currently works with FS2004 (which I'm addicted to now)... but I'm sure with a memory scanner and clever code, it'd be possible to get it to work with other platforms. On the software side, it replaces the gauges in the aircraft with new ones that function the same, but also feed output to the device.

(http://www.simcraft.com/images/1.jpg)

(http://www.simcraft.com/images/2.jpg)

(http://www.simcraft.com/images/10.jpg)

Gonna have to modify it to fit an ACES II seat, a few extra monitors, and some glass panel gauges.. but that's just enlarging the dimensions a bit and recalculating the pivot points.

Wish me luck!
Title: SimCraft 2dof motion simulator
Post by: Schaden on April 06, 2005, 01:26:14 PM
You're not married right?
Title: SimCraft 2dof motion simulator
Post by: indy007 on April 06, 2005, 01:28:26 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Schaden
You're not married right?


Nope :) Just a great gf that is understanding about my ubernerd toys.
Title: SimCraft 2dof motion simulator
Post by: Skydancer on April 06, 2005, 01:30:06 PM
Bloody Hell!!!!!

Wouldn't it be cheaper just to go learn to fly!?
Title: SimCraft 2dof motion simulator
Post by: Furball on April 06, 2005, 01:37:55 PM
you haven't thought very far ahead... have you.

where are you going to hold your beer without spilling it?
Title: SimCraft 2dof motion simulator
Post by: indy007 on April 06, 2005, 01:38:42 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Skydancer
Bloody Hell!!!!!

Wouldn't it be cheaper just to go learn to fly!?


The motion platform is about $1000 total... so I'd say no.. at least not if you want to stay current with your PPL. I'm planning to eventually, but that's at least 2 years off.

I woulda posted the pic of the g-suit & regulator setup for even more immersion... but I'd get my virginity back if I went to that level.

Quote
you haven't thought very far ahead... have you. where are you going to hold your beer without spilling it?


In a little kid's sippy cup.
Title: SimCraft 2dof motion simulator
Post by: mason22 on April 06, 2005, 01:44:37 PM
she's cheating on you.
Title: SimCraft 2dof motion simulator
Post by: Furball on April 06, 2005, 01:49:40 PM
Quote
Originally posted by indy007

In a little kid's sippy cup.


will go frothy?
Title: SimCraft 2dof motion simulator
Post by: indy007 on April 06, 2005, 01:52:23 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Furball
will go frothy?


Dunno if it's gonna be a major problem. I don't even like beer to be honest. Wine mostly.. and if that gets frothy... probably not a good idea to drink it.
Title: SimCraft 2dof motion simulator
Post by: Nuke33 on April 06, 2005, 02:00:01 PM
Indy you crazy Hangar Banger !
Title: SimCraft 2dof motion simulator
Post by: Furball on April 06, 2005, 02:12:40 PM
Quote
Originally posted by indy007
I don't even like beer to be honest.


Okay.. at first i just thought you were just some kind of super geek.  Now i think you are just plain weird.
Title: SimCraft 2dof motion simulator
Post by: indy007 on April 06, 2005, 02:38:36 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Furball
Okay.. at first i just thought you were just some kind of super geek.  Now i think you are just plain weird.


Not the first time I've heard that.

Quote
Indy you crazy Hangar Banger !


69th! I'd be furballin' with y'all more lately.. but man... FS2004 got me. :)
Title: SimCraft 2dof motion simulator
Post by: Gh0stFT on April 06, 2005, 04:19:08 PM
Hey Indy, this simcraft thingy looks very heavy, how does
it move? any videos out there with motion?
Something like this? (http://www.force-dynamics.com/video.shtml)
I like the FD 301 design very much, its small and have ultra smooth moves.
I'm sure it would work with flightsimms too.

R
Gh0stFT
Title: SimCraft 2dof motion simulator
Post by: indy007 on April 07, 2005, 07:59:24 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Gh0stFT
Hey Indy, this simcraft thingy looks very heavy, how does
it move? any videos out there with motion?
Something like this? (http://www.force-dynamics.com/video.shtml)
I like the FD 301 design very much, its small and have ultra smooth moves.
I'm sure it would work with flightsimms too.

R
Gh0stFT


The FD 301, like every commercial motion platform I've found, starts at $10,000. The SimCraft can be built for around $1,000. It's a gimbal'd frame, balanced on the pivot points. It takes very little effort to move it as long as the balance is correct. Instead of mechanical or hydraulic cylinders, it uses home built cylinders powered by a shop-vac. The valves are controlled by a USB controller get it's output from software, which in turn control the displacement of air forcing the cylinder pairs up & down. It also has built in "wash out", which is where the platform zero's itself slowly enough to where you don't notice the movement.. so if you're in a deep bank for some time, you can go further into the bank and still get the movement sensation.

On top of that, there's all kinds of other little immersion tricks. Sound transducers in the seat, a g-suit setup (which inflates itself and clamps you down under high g forces), the native multi-monitor support of FS2004... now I'm really hoping Falcon 5 has the same reference file output (for simpits) that Falcon 4 uses...
Title: SimCraft 2dof motion simulator
Post by: Saintaw on April 07, 2005, 08:52:19 AM
Does it move like the things you put your kids on when you go at the mall... or can you do a full loop in it?


Oh, and I think Mason is spot on :D
Title: SimCraft 2dof motion simulator
Post by: indy007 on April 07, 2005, 09:23:10 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Saintaw
Does it move like the things you put your kids on when you go at the mall... or can you do a full loop in it?


You get 30 degrees on both pitch & roll. In a blacked out environment like that, you don't even need more than 20 degrees to trick your brain into feeling the entire movement.
It has an option for a bit of yaw, but the designer said it's not really noticeable. If AH supported this, I'd build it in... but it doesn't, so I'm gonna leave it out in favor of a more portable support frame.

Quote
Oh, and I think Mason is spot on :D [/B]


I'd be jealous too if I didn't have what I have :D
Title: SimCraft 2dof motion simulator
Post by: Eagler on April 07, 2005, 09:43:10 AM
Quote
Originally posted by mason22
she's cheating on you.


with another woman to boot...
Title: SimCraft 2dof motion simulator
Post by: Sox62 on April 07, 2005, 10:37:06 AM
How does it move when you plug porn into it?