Sebj's 80/20 Motion Chassis - Work in Progress 17 17

[sebj 616]

I have an idea for the seat, doing a central pivot in the wooden frame underneath and securing it on one end in some notches/holes.

 

I'm first looking for wheel adjustment ideas, keeping the seat in a fixed position.

[Paul GT73 1,398]

I'm not sure about legs up f1 style positions, as you guys know ive just come from a low position where the base of my seat was 3 inches lower than my pedals, my legs were never as high as a f1 cockpit but it felt fine with both GT and F1, even now in my new set up open wheel feels good with a little pitch and seat height adjustment.

 

  am I wrong in thinking that if you were in a GT position in a rift then all you would have to do is pitch it right down and seat height up, then stuff a cushion behind your head?

[sebj 616]

EDIT:  

 

F1

http://sphotos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/148647_385578128193502_1205254959_n.jpg

 

 

GT3

http://www.isrtv.com/forums/uploads/monthly_07_2014/post-18207-0-30899400-1404760319.jpg

[SteveS 1,391]

Gregg Lagnese has some really great ideas for adjustable rig setup. I used many of his hints and tips for adjustments. Plus he has some great videos and blueprints.

http://lagnese.me/Hub/Simulator_Blueprints.html

http://youtu.be/Wo6zo-kjCEA

Part Ii
http://youtu.be/UUH9SDZUeMs

My rig I can move wheel up/down, in/out and change the angle. Also made the triple monitor holders which can be moved back and fourth, all based on Gregg's concept. From an adjustment perspective this is one of the most Greggs design ideas are really great and very well thought through.

Sebj I know a really great laser cutting guy who does outstanding work for reasonable price. When you can get metal precision cut, all sorts of sim rig design possibilities for rig adjustment are possible. I'm also happy to offer to do some 3D CAD mock ups if this helps.

[Kevin Jowett 309]

An interesting twist, been away too long.

We've had the adjustable seat conversation before, that's a pretty simple one. When I was messing with the old rig I made some pretty aggressive seat angles and unless your wheel mount is adjustable (and a little more freedom than the video suggests) everything feels out of wack.

I do like the adjustability of the suggestion from Steve in the video above but I'd want to make sure the rigidity is still there. One of the things this doesn't completely address is the pitch of the wheel itself, sure as the entire "column" moves down the angle of the wheel adjusts slightly but would require a bunch of vertical movement.

 

What about a wood platform mount that has spring loaded quick release pins. With your wooden structure and how strong we know it is it could easily support this. The sides of the cockpit could have a variety of holes to recieve the platform at different angles.

This way seb you're not just about GT and F1, if you get into vintage rally cars you can increase the angle of the wheel to make it authentic too.

 

I love the idea of OculusR but am wondering what you guys do to see your shifters and button boxes? I got really excited about possibly using it in my next build until Doug mentioned these details.

[UNKLE 1,429]

I don't worry about possible issues until I encounter them - some folks like to claim there will be issues when in reality it won't be as big of a deal as you first thought.

 

Certainly adjustability of the rig will be more important than ever and I'd guess the wheel and related devices just need to be in the general area of where they are represented in the virtual world to trick the brain.

 

Button boxes is a different story but I'm sure there'll be a variety of technical solutions that will be implemented after CV1 that will resolve these issues. 

 

The most sensible solution in my mind would be for tracking hand movements and then overlay a button box UI that represents the location of your real world button box. I could see an enhancement of SimCommander 4 allowing that feature, honestly though that solution seems overly complicated.

 

Do we really use our button boxes that much to warrant a solution like that when having enough buttons on the wheel and voice attack seems to suffice for most folks?

 

I'd really like to see an enhancement of voice attack where you say a command and the spotter acknowledges like you are talking to your pit crew. For example if you say "pitting in, change two tires" the spotter responds with a "confirmed, box box box in this lap".

[sebj 616]

Kevin, I am on the same page as you in keeping it rigid. I dont want anything vibrating too much since I have SimVibe shaking the chassis. I will have to examine the spring loaded idea, seeing something like this would help me imagine how to implement it.

 

UNKLE, I currently use voice attack with iRacing and all the buttons I use are on the GT2 wheel. honestly, I dont see a need for a button box at all. I use voice attack to auto type the basic phrases like "thanks","pittin in", etc.

 

I have the muscle memory of the buttons and as it has a rotary dial , I can easily scroll through black boxes, options and make selections. This is why I am focusing more on sitting position with the wheel/pedals in the right place/height to support the VR sitting position. It may be that my position today will just about be good enough and I wont have to make adjustments or any major ones.

 

As for spotter speaking back to you. You can easily configure this. You can assign a macro for iRacing to change two tires and in voice attack configure it to action this shortcut plus have it speak back to you and say that phrase. Windows has a built in speech engine to do this. If you dont like the voice you can get additional voices here:

 

http://www.ivona.com/us/for-individuals/voices-for-windows/

 

Elite Dangerous players are doing this already!

[Paul GT73 1,398]

all this talk is making me think about making a 2nd rig in an f1 position.

[UNKLE 1,429]

We just want any excuse to build ourselves a new rig

 

Edit:  That's cool about voice attack Seb.  I guess iRacing or DWarehouse will at some point improve the spotter pack to accommodate this feature.

[Kevin Jowett 309]

Interesting feedback on my button box/shifter comment, of course I haven't jumped into the VR as deeply as you have at this point.

Seb, these are pretty much the style pins I was speaking of...

 

[UNKLE 1,429]

All that's missing is a grenade

[sebj 616]

Thanks Kevin. I can see how to make it now. Now to figure out a forward backward slider,maybe a seat slider or something like that. There may be a solution in the one Steve posted earlier. 

 

And yes, VR is going to change things for the better. One VR headset will save so much on custom dashboards and triple screens. The new prototype unit is getting excellent feedback, I'm pretty much sold on the idea now of going VR from watching YouTube videos of people sim racing or flying. This means an investment in something like the Saitek X55 hotas too.

[sebj 616]

all this talk is making me think about making a 2nd rig in an f1 position.

 

I'd enjoy that build thread. Please make one  

[UNKLE 1,429]

Check this out Paul, it's a real carbon fiber and kevlar Formula seat that can be bought:

 

http://www.formula-seven.com/shop-products/carbon-fiber-and-kevlar-formula-sae-seat/

[Paul GT73 1,398]

very nice but too rich for me, I'm gonna build it to a tight budget, if its just for rift use then don't matter none what it looks like I guess, i'll start with this maybe.

[UNKLE 1,429]

A go kart seat would work well - I've seen a few cool go kart style rigs over the years. I've seen another even better than the one below but can't find pictures of it. It was red and chrome I believe and had integrated speakers

 

[Paul GT73 1,398]

almost done getting my wheel between base and screen....had to lose my paddle shifters as my monitors are 40 mm deep at the bottom....maybe i'll mod thses paddles but dont use em anyways,,,how you deal with that seb?

[sebj 616]

I have enough space between the paddle shifters and screen. The screen practically touches the front of the wheel base, I still have enough room for my fingers when turning the wheel and shifting. I have a picture I think on my build to show how close it is.

 

http://www.isrtv.com/forums/topic/10412-sebjs-diy-sim-chassis-fanatectransducerstriple-screen/page-2#entry102222

[Paul GT73 1,398]

thanks for pics seb, i got no chance of using paddles but like i say i like to stick shift....ran it for a while and gotta say at first i didnt like it, before i had a 600mm distance with 145 fov...now i got 450 mm with a 175 fov.....i thought it would make things bigger but everything seems a little small?  ive had a little tweak of the virtual seating position and im starting to come around....just different i guess....i do like seeing more interior like the dash and instruments...not sure so far but i'll stick with it for a while and see what gives.    ps. i would post pics but for some reason i can only upload up to 9.2kb of files???

[sebj 616]

Good that you brought that up. I do have to adjust the CAM file for each car. They are all very similar but I move the seat back to about -30 in each car and i also move the cockpit up about -10

 

I use the virtual wheel to help with that alignment.

 

You are sitting pretty close, closer than me even. I'm 508mm I think...

 

I think the reason it feels too big or too small has to do with how we perceive size in 2D. Imagine sitting far away from a projector and having to project a very large cockpit image to align it with your wheel. i.e. sitting 12 feet away. It would seem that the cockpit you are looking at is 'way too big for reality', but in relation to your distance it is 1:1. Having monitors behind the wheel makes the cockpits a bit smaller in effect than real life, even though they are 1:1 since you are sitting so close.

 

Best way to do this is to run 32-40inch screens behind the wheel base I think. My solution will be CV1,

 

hope that made sense...i think this is what you were describing. I still like the monitors behind the wheel since I get more view to the sides, its good to have a large FOV. 

[Paul GT73 1,398]

after 3 hours of driving and tweaking i got it down...absolutely love it, got used to it pretty quick and nice to be able too see out all of the offside window....and the dashes all look gorgeously detailed.

[sebj 616]

I am glad you are enjoying it Paul 

[FannBlade 188]

How well do you like the bent shaft on your shifter? I have one here yet to be mounted and just holding it in place doesn't feel comfortable...but may be because it's not mounted yet and it's hard to hold in place. Been thinking about getting new shaft or mounting it at an angle.

Yours look like same place mine will be mounted.

Thoughts???

[CaTaPulT 658]

Hi FannBlade, I have DSD bent shaft shifter also, agreed, when holding it in my hands, I didn't like it much, once I mounted it, I loved it, it feels great!

Take care

 

Regards:  >>>> Jack <<<<

[FannBlade 188]

Thanks,that makes me feel better!