Questions Regarding Alt. FW & GUI setup

[jsmith2307]

Greetings!
I’ve a JOYRIDER type simulator in need of a basic set-up. I have read the thread and watched the video many times but still have problems with the concept. One of the problems is how to set the limits on both the X & Y axis. While both axis are important, the Y axis is most important to me, (see pics) , the upper pulley (labeled) makes contact and can literally eat into the crossbar (labeled), not a pretty sight! On the other end it needs to be limited because otherwise it breaks like firewood ….big time. The last time I tried to set limits on the “Y” axis, I tried to go full down (forward on the stick) on the elevator and did not pull up fast enough and the result was a broken ( no, I swear I didn’t smash it into toothpicks) simulator . On the “X” axis, the belt slips on the pulley on a full turn left or full right turn….. not good, but at least I‘m not picking pieces of simulator up off the floor!
Values I desire for limits are :
X axis -Right Hand Turn @ 15 degrees & Left Hand Turn @ 12 degrees.
Y axis: Full up limit @ 22 degrees and full down @ 10 degrees


Another , problem I have, is what KP value(s) (is that why I hear motor grinding?) to use. With Tronic’s software I was using 5KP for X axis and 7KP for the Y. I wish to know how to set that up here if possible ! I included a screenshot of my current settings. I would appreciate any help you could give on the subject.
Thanks!
jsmith2307

[speed]

Hi jsmith2307:
First of all ... I guess you used a big pulley for each motor ... a small pulley should go on the motor axis to give you high torque on the built up and down ... smaller pulley or sprocket is powerful in driving force shaft .

the upper pulley (labeled) makes contact and can literally eat into the crossbar (labeled),

where exactly it makes contact ... this point is not clear ... manually move the motor and make us a closeup view video for this if possible ...


In one of the pictures you placed a neutral label while the chair is pitched down ... Did you mean so?

[jsmith2307]

Greetings Speed!
Thank you for reponding!

In one of the pictures you placed a neutral label while the chair is pitched down ... Did you mean so?

Yes, I ment to do that! It is neutral once one gets into the simulator.

where exactly it makes contact ... this point is not clear ... manually move the motor and make us a closeup view video for this if possible ...

It is possible! Video comming up!
jsmith2307

[speedy]

Hi jsmith2307:
Sure I'll reply ... and others are watching and thinking of the problem ... please don't think other wise ... actually it's the fun part of the simulator building game ... and I'd like to share it with you, May I ? please .

Yes, I ment to do that! It is neutral once one gets into the simulator.

Do you main that you set an exit position for you ... when the simulator is off ? ... and So when you get into the simulator and powering on motors ... it give you a horizontal leveling ...


If that so, I guess you will need first: to adjust the chair base to be parallel with that sidebar that you're measuring angles from ... and second: to get that exit position ... 1- attach the belt with the upper crossbar near touching the lower pulley ... and so ... 2- the leveling position will be in the middle way between pulleys and so the pitch up will be with the crossbar near touching the upper pulley and with the chair leaned backward as the sidebar .
if that arrangement is OK ... Go ahead and set the feedback pot to mach these mechanical points of this axis with the computer .

if that arrangement didn't give you exactly what you need ... you may move the hole wooden bar with pulleys and motor a little bit up in the frame ... and see if that works ...

[jsmith2307]

Greetings Speedy!
Thank you for your response!

Do you main that you set an exit position for you ... when the simulator is off ?

No, I did not set an exit position yet....I wanted to get the limits set before tackling anything new.

If that so, I guess you will need first: to adjust the chair base to be parallel with that sidebar that you're measuring angles from ... and second: to get that exit position ... 1- attach the belt with the upper crossbar near touching the lower pulley ... and so ... 2- the leveling position will be in the middle way between pulleys and so the pitch up will be with the crossbar near touching the upper pulley and with the chair leaned backward as the sidebar .
if that arrangement is OK ... Go ahead and set the feedback pot to mach these mechanical points of this axis with the computer

Sounds like a plan! I'll give a try when I get home from work.

... you may move the hole wooden bar with pulleys and motor a little bit up in the frame ... and see if that works ...

I'm trying to avoid that but if all else fails....I'll do it.

jsmith2307

[jsmith2307]

Greetings!
First, I start with Extractor (Sender)- Converter (profiler) - Flight Simulator 2004 - pause. Is this correct? Then I position the sim in high, neutral, and low and take photos. I have three pictures that represent high, neutral, and low positions on the simulator.

PIC_1.JPG (156.45 KiB) Viewed 35490 times

High

PIC_2.JPG (248.35 KiB) Viewed 35490 times

Low

PIC_3.JPG (247.82 KiB) Viewed 35490 times

Neutral

if that arrangement is OK ... Go ahead and set the feedback pot to mach these mechanical points of this axis with the computer

The question is.......... at the risk of sounding dumb, how does one do this?
jsmith2307

[speedy]

Greetings jsmith2307 :

I wanted to get the limits set before tackling anything new.

Go ahead and set the feedback pot to mach these mechanical points of this axis with the computer ...
The question is.......... at the risk of sounding dumb, how does one do this?

these two questions will be answered automatically at the end as they are the last fine tuning step ... setting upper and lower limits will be in the SenLo and SinHi field of the xSimCTRL program and save it to the ATMEGA ... once you've reached the appropriate positions [ high, medium, and low] for each axis ... Use the corresponding numbers as upper and lower limits ... and as you play you'll change them a little as may needed ... Don't confuse yourself with numbers on the LCD now ... just set the mechanical s to run smoothly without accidents as you stated in the first post ...

And one more thing, I've noticed that you're not using the full range of the feedback pot ...why is that ?

regards
spe edy

[jsmith2307]

Greetings!

I've noticed that you're not using the full range of the feedback pot ...why is that ?

I thought that, in conjuction with the SenLo & SenHi would set corresponding numbers as upper and lower limits! Maybe that is why I experience dift when I completly shut down & startup the simulator! The numbers don't change, but the behavior of the simulator changes dramatically on the same settings. Usually, it is right on the first time,.... but the next time it varies wildly!

jsmith2707

[prilad]

I thought that, in conjuction with the SenLo & SenHi would set corresponding numbers as upper and lower limits! Maybe that is why I experience dift when I completly shut down & startup the simulator! The numbers don't change, but the behavior of the simulator changes dramatically on the same settings. Usually, it is right on the first time,.... but the next time it varies wildly!

Hi, jsmith2707

SensLO and SensHI realy sets upper and lower limits for sensors (potentiometers). Let me explain with an example

Suppose the potentiometer has a working range of 255 degrees (i know that potentiometer has 270 degrees working range, but suppose )

if SensLo = 0 and SensHi = 255 we have full range as working range...
It mean that when USO sends to AMC axis value = 0 motor will go to pos = zero degrees of potentiometer. And when USO sends to AMC value = 255, motor goes to 255 degrees of potentiometer...

if SensLo = 0 and SensHi = 128 we have half range (0 .. 128 degrees) as working range. For axis value = 0 motor will go to 0 degrees, but for value = 255 motor goes only to 128 degrees.

For searching of real limits of potentiometers you must:

---First step: to set SensLo = 0 and SensHi = 255.

---Next step: to set (by hand) lower axis position and read on the LCD display potentiometers value (for example value = 50)...

---Next step: to set (by hand) higher axis position and read potentiometers value (for example = 210)...

---And finally you must to set SensLo = 50 and SensHi = 210...

But you must understand that after settings SensLo and SensHi when REAL position of potentiometer = 50 on LCD you will see value = 0... and when REAL position of potentiometer = 210, on LCD you will see value = 255...

And if you want to change pot limits, you must in the first to set SensLo=0 and SensHi=255

Regards,
Ale

[jsmith2307]

Greetings Prilad!
Thank you for responding! This sheds some light on the subject! I'll try this!
jsmith2307