Simulator rig progress

Juha’s simulator rig build is progressing amazingly fast. Can’t wait to hop in and take it for a spin! To me it looks like a smart way to put a rigid simulator together with small amount of parts.


Simulator rig

We asked couple of friends to help assembling the SimuCUBEs of the Indiegogo campaign, and as reward from their help I gave them SimuCUBEs. Well, this is what happens when you give them to brilliant people:

Simulator rig frame where the seat, steering wheel, pedals and SimuCUBE will be installed

Simulator rig frame where the seat, steering wheel, pedals and SimuCUBE will be installed

Cutting simu rig plywood parts with CNC router

Cutting simulator rig plywood parts with CNC router

This is a project of Juha which has been inspired by the earlier build of another help contributor, Mika. More updates will follow!

SimuCUBEs are becoming real

Boxes after boxes started piling up during the last week, and we had no choice but start occupying a new room for them. We expect rest of the parts, including some 4000+ screws to arrive within a week. After that, we start to figure out how to put it all together!

Piles of SimuCUBE parts

Piles of SimuCUBE parts

SimuCUBE final hardware has just born

Today we received the first samples of final SimuCUBE board designs. Testing of it shows no flaws so we’re giving the green light for the first 250 pcs batch assembly! All parts are already in stock, so assembly should not take too many days.

SimuCUBE with the needle bed SimuCUBE production tester device

SimuCUBE with the needle bed SimuCUBE production tester device

The photo above shows also the work-in-progress test bed for SimuCUBE that will be used to test & verify the operation of every shipped SimuCUBE. The device under test will be placed on the top of the bed and the spring loaded pins will contact certain pads on the bottom of the SimuCUBE board to allow tester to contact all necessary signals at once.

SimuCUBE status update

Just a quick update on how things are going with SimuCUBE; we are waiting for the first set of final SimuCUBE PCBs to arrive within a week to verify that everything is ok. Also the first prototype of the acrylic case for NDR-480 and SDR-480 power supplies is cut and assembled, after a couple of adjustments everything seems to work fine and the cases are going in to production next.

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The first SimuCUBE is real!

Prototypes of SimuCUBE motherboards and acrylic case have just arrived! The first successful test drive has been done with a big smile :) We hope to have Indiegogo campaign launched on the next week. Get ready for early bird specials!

SimuCUBE front

SimuCUBE front

SimuCUBE rear

SimuCUBE rear

SimuCUBE motherboard with IONI Pro HC and 320 power supply

SimuCUBE motherboard with IONI Pro HC and 320 power supply

Construction of the acrylic case

Construction of the acrylic case

With 30 Nm peak MiGE motor

Aside with 30 Nm peak MiGE motor

Ingenious SimuCUBE hardware & enclosure design and photos by Aki.

Acrylic cases for SimuCUBE system

We’re working on to make a reference design of acrylic enclosure for a SimuCUBE system. The box will fit all necessary force feedback system electronics, including a 320 W power supply. In our tests 320 W was fully sufficient for a 20 Nm wheel and well usable also with higher torque systems with power draw limit of IONI.

Work in progress acrylic case for SimuCUBE system

Work in progress acrylic case for SimuCUBE system. Design by Aki Korhonen.

Connector side

Connector side. Design by Aki Korhonen.

The plan is to eventually offer a kit of all components, SimuCUBE + IONI Pro HC + PSU + case parts. Stay tuned!