FTO AUSTRALIA

Awesome info there actually cheers. My question was more how are the actuators triggered, you say from the steering wheel, so a sensor around the steering column? And are you planning on it pitching forward and back based on acceleration/deceleration?

Technikhaus wrote:My question was more how are the actuators triggered, you say from the steering wheel, so a sensor around the steering column?

At the moment, I have a thin rope (about 1.5mm) wrapped around the steering column.Youll see in the pics that it is currently attached to 2 bits of stainless steel wire. This stuff bends, but springs back into place. When you turn the wheel, it pulls down the rope.This pulls down the stainless steel wire which depresses a microswitch. I tried using springs to start with, but got too much tension, resulting in the wheel startup check failing. When the microswitch fires, it swaps the polarity on the actuators using the 5 pin relays. When the relay is not triggered, the actuators is pushing up. When the microswitch fires, it swtiches on 2 relays. These reverse the power and earth wire, which causes the actuator to pull down. Ive also had to add a protection circuit to stop the actuator burning out.This is another microswitch that is triggered after about 3 cm travel of the actuator. This stops it travelling any further.

Technikhaus wrote:And are you planning on it pitching forward and back based on acceleration/deceleration?

Would like to, but without a circuit board, I cant see how. Any additional changes would be competing with the existing mechanism I have in place as you could be cornering while braking for example. Wish I understood how to build circuit boards, but unfortunately this alludes me at this point.

Image on screen look a lot better in reality. For some reason looks washed out. Anyway, a couple of pics:





And a very short video. Not sure clicking on it will work.Right click download instead.

http://www.completefto.com.au/assets/temp/sim.zip

Man, that is so awesome. Seeing it in action is cool, can't wait to try it out.

Now you just need to make another so people can race each other.

Have a 2nd logitech steering wheel, shifter and pedal set.Just missing 1 pedal. May try and build into passengers side yet.

OK, update. Mods to Logitech shifter circuit board successful. Have managed to build an external port on the shifter to allow me to change the buttons to other things. I now have a working handbrake (works in game). I also have an in dash start button that works as well.

So, have been working on the steering wheel. Have relocated all buttons and tip shifters to the wheel. Have had to extend all the wiring and the circuit board is now inthe FTO wheel. I just have to do the front face now. And now, some pics.

Update time.....

Have bought a circuit board that allows me to wire up the speedo, tacho, temp guage and fuel gauge to the computer. This arrived a couple of weeks ago. All gauges now wired up and calibrated. Havent tried with a game yet, but no reason to believe they wont work. Board bought from this site:

http://www.symprojects.com/shop/pro-gauge/

Have also built a new mechanism for the actuators. I now have the ability to change where the actuators cut in and have much better fine control.

Sweet as. Can go as fast as you want and not die.

Yep, sure can. And it can go 0-100 in well under a second

Awesome work you're doing mate, can't wait to see this thing in person.

OK, finally got the buttons on the FTO wheel and tip shifters working. These were transferred from the logitech wheel.

is there anything you cant do?

seriously impressed!
cam got big quick too!

is there anything you cant do?

Nah, I just make sh*t up. Bennoz and Vectose are the geniuses of the club

cam got big quick too!

Yep, he did didnt he

OK, another update

Pic of the new actuator setup on the front of the car:



Keyboard in centre console:



Here is the steering wheel now, complete with tip shifters, working buttons and shift lights in the centre:



And introducing.... 2nd player controls:

I dunno Dwayne I think you'll give Rob a run for his money yet! Looks like it might be a bit hard to get in the passenger side though.

bjk wrote:I dunno Dwayne I think you'll give Rob a run for his money yet!

No custom circuit boards in this project. I have done a little bit of wiring, but its pretty basic stuff really.

bjk wrote:Looks like it might be a bit hard to get in the passenger side though.

Is a little tricky for someone my height. The shifter is built into the door lining though, so not as hard as you think.

Barely on here anymore, and last I heard of this was when you rang me for q's.

Awesome work as always Dwayne, love the steering wheel and keyboard.

Planning on cutting up a bonnet and making a front blanking plate?

Astron_Boy wrote:Barely on here anymore, and last I heard of this was when you rang me for q's.

Awesome work as always Dwayne, love the steering wheel and keyboard.

Planning on cutting up a bonnet and making a front blanking plate?

Originally I was going to, but the TV hides the engine bay completely from within the car, so im not sure there is much point.

Apart from outside visualisation, not much.