Has anyone attempted a motion platform be it 2 dof up to 6 dof?If so, do you have any information or links. There is very little info available on the internet that is at an affordable price.I want a nice little home project.Anyone go any ideas?David

David,The topic comes up from time to time. Unfortunately it's a big project and few have been able to pull it off. A fellow named Roland van Roy built a 2 DOF motion system a few years back, but was transfered and seems to have dropped from the hobby. His system was suspended by cables and used large servo motors to move the cables. There is a design on the web (URL escapes me) that uses a shop vacuum and large self made pnuematic cylinders to move a small cabin that is more or less balanced in a gimble arrangement. There are several (or have been, perhaps they're out of business already) small companies that make basic motion bases for use by the entertainment industry. The information is out there. Try looking at sites of universities with aviation research programs. Delft, for example, has a very strong simulator lab.Mikewww.mikesflightdeck.com

Hows about a bit of reading here....http://www.isdale.com/jerry/VR/VRNews_Moti...tformLinks.html

Mike & David,http://www.simcraft.com >> that's the one Mike was refering too. I was on that site last night. I thought it looked very interesting though a whole lot harder to use on a full scale commercial simpit. It's OK for fighter jets or single persons sports planes however.I'll get you another interesting page if you're interested in this type of sim .. one second .. i'll trace my steps from last night backwards ;)http://www.acesim.com/ready.htmlThat's the one I think.Very interesting if you are into F16 or extra or piper cup or such ..

I think, the big problem of a motion platform is a good software...I work in some algoritms of the NASA for a 6 pots plataform and is very complex...But i have help of University of Huelva in Spain and some friends work with me in a prototype of software with filters for 3 axes.Is easy to simulate movements (you can download video of my prototype plataform of 3 pots in www.opencockpits.com), but not is easy simulate inertial forces.

There seems to be a destinct lack of information on 'how to'.I came across this site which is trying to use pneumatics but is still work in progress.http://www.cadsoftusa.com/~kls/fltsim/It would be nice to find a simple solution that wouldn't cost both arms and legs.I have checked out simcraft, and this so far seems to be the simplest solution although it's only 2 dof.Maybe it can be altered to 3 dof with an increase in vacuum.Has anyone built one of these or has heard any feedback???Thanks for everyone's input.DavidPS: Imaging if we could come up with a very simple solution that could be shared amongst us cockpit builders. We'd all have motion platforms, it would take this hobby to a whole new level.

If one were to consider a pneumatic based platform, perhaps automobile "air shocks" could be adapted somehow for the pistons. They are readily available and not too expensive.

Hello: It's been sometime since I visited this forum, and just wanted to add some "fuel to the fire". The idea of a home sim cockpit in my house will not leave my mind. My wife DOES wish it would, but I'm sure some of you have experienced that already!GusB's idea of auto shocks spurred me on to post this, and I would like to hear some opinions from those of you interested.Sometime ago I was talking to a biker about this idea, and he said he saw no reason why it would not work.For lack of a better term, I'll call this a "Passive Motion Platform". I envision a base with the sim cockpit on it. At each corner, or perhaps in a triangle shape, I would mount motorcycle springs. In the middle would be some type of main support, with a few inches of travel up/down and left/right, to take the weight. Movement would be "passive", caused by the natural movement of the "pilot" in the cockpit. I realize some type of electrical or pneumatic connection to the computer would be more realistic, but that is out of the scope of my abilities. I also have two small children, and do not wish to take any chances with machinery. As I understand it, only a few inches of travel in either direction is needed to replicate the illusion of flight.I welcome any comments or suggestions. Be Well!

>http://www.simcraft.com >> that's the one Mike was refering too. I was on that site last night. I thought it looked very interesting though a whole lot harder to use on a full scale commercial simpit. It's OK for fighter jets or single persons sports planes however.Does any one know of anyone who has built this simcraft model?Should I start a new thread with this title so it's looked at?David

I just have to say something this Platform Project is amazing!! Wow it is really possible and not expensive!! Hope someone does it!Roberto

>Movement would be "passive", caused by the natural>movement of the "pilot" in the cockpit. I realize some type of>electrical or pneumatic connection to the computer would be>more realistic, but that is out of the scope of my abilities.Hm. The best way to get a feeling of motion and flight without a real motion platform is to make sure the sim is fully enclosed and to make a *wide field of view* visual system. Your peripheral vision (the stuff you see on the "corner of your eye" if I got the term right) is the most important motion sensor for humans.The rest works with that. Now, if you have a shaking motion which does not correspond to the movement on the simulator world, it probably just makes you feel sick. A bad motion system is worse than no motion system at all.So if you want to have the most immersive feeling of a simulator without *major* effort and resources, build a fixed-base simulator with 100% enclosure and a very good, wide visual system. You can add "sound transducers" that rumble your seat etc, add a good sound system to create the feeling of sitting in an airplane with the rumbles, sounds of ambient wind etc - with all that done right, you can achieve wonders for a home sim. The motion thing is sort of the last thing you can add, when everything else is done right.All those motion chair things are looking sorta fun, yeah, but I dont think they really create a feeling of flight, *unless* you also have a completely enclosed sim on top, with the visual system being in sync with motion cues and something less than 20 milliseconds delay. Because your eyes and the motion sensors in our ears work much better together - you get a delay or something that is not quite right and you wont get the feeling at all. You just get sick.//Tuomas

>I just have to say something this Platform Project is>amazing!! Wow it is really possible and not expensive!! Hope>someone does it!>>RobertoRoberto,Which platform project do you find amazing?The Simcraft or the passive motion platform.I am seriously thinking about building the simcraft and making some modifications, but I need to know if anyone knows anyone who has built it.David

Well I would say the Simcraft looks amazing although in my point of view motion should be the last step on a project, there is so much to make in a cockpit but just an idea.Roberto

>Well I would say the Simcraft looks amazing although in my>point of view motion should be the last step on a project,>there is so much to make in a cockpit but just an idea.>>RobertoI have built lots of bits and pieces including a 777 quadrant full fsbus system etc etc. I've just finished building a CNC machine in order to make my panels (backlit of course).I was looking at it as a way of making it a single seater 777, just modify the layout in order to fit in the cockpit, so it's not just an idea, it's the logical next step(I think).David

All I can tell you, having motion platform build up is MOST Simbuilder's desire and dream. This topic has been brought up so many time for the last 5 to 7 years. like someone metion earlier its good to have home made motion system for single seat sim such as fighter. it's possibe for full deck sim too. but remember motion system based on weight, height, and width. The heavier it is the bigger motor, strong hydraulic or hydraulic-like, you will need. I have tried mine once, it didnt went well! And I know only simbuilder may have suceed fulldeck motion platform, take a look on their site and see if you can ask them for info. http://www.hyway.com.au/747/