SIMCLINE 2.0 Easy Simulation of Road Incline

The grade of a highway is a measure of its incline or slope. The amount of grade indicates how much the highway is inclined from the horizontal. For example, if a section of road is perfectly flat and level, then its grade along that section is zero. However, if the section is very steep, then the grade along that section will be expressed as a number, usually a percentage, such as 10 percent.(c.f. Encyclopedia.com)

Indoor training on the bike is developing from a boring exercise, on rollers only, to a immersive experience. Direct-drive trainers, rocker plates in many configurations, real life videos in HD, virtual reality in Zwift, animated 3D riders in 2D videos with Rouvy, and still more to come. Some of these developments help you to become a stronger cyclist. One of them is possibly enabling the rise and drop of the front wheel with the changing grade of the virtual road you ride. Rising the front wheel when training indoor, can help simulate your position on the bike as you ride uphill, which can aid in activating those muscles used when the trainer resistance is increased during climbing. In winter training plans of coach Hunter Allen (Peaks Coaching Group) for example, he regularly suggests in Climbing Sweet Spot Workouts to "put a 4 inch block under your front wheel on the trainer and complete the 20 minute efforts heading up" for more benefit of the indoor workout...

Wahoo was the first to introduce the Wahoo Climb indoor grade simulator. Dedicated to training plans of Hunter Allen, I spend a lot of time training indoor to improve my climbing skills, for riding fondo's in hilly and Alpine countries, with a 4 inch block under the front wheel! The two inspired me late 2019 to take the challenge: design and build a road grade simulator from scratch, that can be used with the TACX Neo that I heavily use for my indoor training in the winter and during virus lockdown(s). The result is published in august 2020 here at Instructables: Previously published SIMCLINE.

2022: Two indoor seasons later, the SIMCLINE (for TACX) was operated by me many, many times without any failure. So it turned out to be a solid and reliable design that several people have rebuilt and/or copied in the meanwhile. However, it is a daunting task (in time and effort) for many to build, it requires the use of quite some tools and you need to be relatively skilled in wood work. Therefore the idea has grown for an "easy" or "light" version of a next generation SIMCLINE 2.0. I have had quite some remarks from Wahoo KICKR users about the fact that the SIMCLINE can only be controlled by a smart TACX trainer. With the help of Christian B. (Canada) that disadvantage has been tackled in early 2022. Now there is a SIMCLINE software version for smart Wahoo KICKR trainers. You can test that with minimal components: See SIMCLINE for Wahoo on Github

2023: One indoor season later we were able to share the Simcline software version for all FTMS-enabled trainers (Zwift Hub, Saris, Elite and many others!). You can test that with minimal components: See: SIMCLINE for FTMS-enabled Trainers on Github

Design criteria for the 2.0 version of SIMCLINE

1. Everyone should be capable to assemble it in a weekend (once the components have been collected)
2. The use of a bare minimum of tools
3. Heavy duty use: rock and roll on the bike!
4. Suitable for different sizes of stroke lengths (of the Linear Actuator)
5. Apply the Linear Actuator device as it is (NO dismantling!)
6. Low cost
7. Reuse of the controlling software (of previous SIMCLINE) for smart TACX, Wahoo and FTMS-enabled trainers

Linear Actuator

1 piece Linear Actuator; Indicative properties *): 300 mm stroke; load 750N; speed 10 mm/s; 12 V; (Amazon.de)

1 piece 12 volt DC power supply (in: 100-240 VAC, 50/60 Hz; out: 12V DC, 3 A, 36 watt max)

Top Cap

1 piece 3D printed component *)

Floor Stand

1 piece 3D printed component *)

Carriage + Mounts

3 pieces 3D printed components *)

Components Box

1 piece 3D printed component *)

Carriage Cylinder

1 piece PVC pipe, outer diameter 50 mm, wall thickness 3.6 mm and max. length of 300 mm

Extruded Profile

1 piece 2020 Aluminium extruded profile max. length 600 mm

Linear Glider Strip

1 piece Aluminium or Steel strip 25 * 2 mm max. length 500 mm

Electronic Components

1 piece Adafruit DRV8871 DC Motor Driver

1 piece Adafruit Feather nRF52840 Express or recently the Adafruit ESP32 Feather V2

1 piece OLED display blue 128x64 pixels, Critical size: 25 * 27 mm (!)

1 piece Pololu Time-of-Flight-Distance sensor VL6180X

1 piece Pololu D24V5F5 Step-Down Voltage Regulator 5V and 500mA

# pieces female to female jumper wires 100 mm

# pieces Heat-Shrink tube

1 piece 12 V DC chassis socket 5.5 * 2.1 mm

1 piece Mini Jack chassis socket 3.5 mm + 1 piece Mini Jack plug 3.5 mm

Small Assembly Parts

14 pieces self-tapping screws 2.2 * 4.5 mm (Component Box)

1 piece threaded rod M6 * 62 mm + 2 washers + 2 self-locking nuts (Top Cap)

1 piece threaded rod M6 * 54 mm + 4 washers + 2 self-locking nuts (Actuator)

4 pieces threaded rod M5 * 96 mm + 8 spring washers + 8 nuts (Carriage)

6 pieces bolts M4 * 20 mm + 6 washers + 6 spring washers + 12 Nuts (Carriage)

6 pieces V-groove steel bearings 4 * 13 * 6 mm (shaft*OD*thickness) (V624ZZ)

2 pieces bolts M5 * 16 mm + 2 washers + 2 2020 series T Nut M5 Thread (Profile)

7 pieces bolts (half round head) M5 * 6 mm + 7 2020 series T Nut M5 Thread (Glider strip + box)

*) Detailed hereafter in the Instructable

The SIMCLINE 2.0 is constructed with the following components:

• Linear Actuator, 12 V, with a length between 27 - 42 cm
• Aluminium extruded 2020 profile, 20*20 mm and a length between 52 - 57 cm
• Aluminium or Steel strip of 25*2 mm with a length between 40 - 45 cm
• PVC pipe, outer diameter of 50 mm with a wall thickness of 3.6 mm and a length of 20 - 30 cm
• Component box for SIMCLINE with all electronic circuits (3D printed)
• Top Cap with 6 mm hole for threaded rod (3D printed)
• Carriage Baseplate (3D printed) + 6 steel V-shape bearings
• Baseplate Cylinder mount (3D printed)
• Axle Cylinder mount (3D printed)
• Half rounded Floor stand (3D printed)

The above photos show unambiguously how these components are assembled and what their function in the construction is. The 3D printed parts are grey as well as the PVC pipe, a.k.a. "Carriage Cylinder".

3D Printing is King

The SIMCLINE 2.0 is fully dreamed up and designed in Open Source FreeCAD version 0.18. FreeCAD is made primarily to design objects for the real world. FreeCAD offers tools to produce, export and edit solid, full-precision models, export them for 3D printing or CNC machining, create 2D drawings and views of your models, perform analyses such as Finite Element Analyses, or export model data such as quantities or bills of materials.

I had no experience before with 3D printing, nor do I have friends (of friends) that have 3D printers and were willing to do the job. So I had to search for a manufacturer that could do the job within my limited budget. It took some time to find the right platform. I had a perfect experience with the platform: Treatstock , that powers online manufacturing and supports instant quotes. I have easily found on Treatstock a manufacturer in the neighborhood that did a perfect 3D PLA print job for a very reasonable price: The Cellist.

The PLA printed components are very precise, strong and can withstand high forces before they break! Moreover when designed well they allow for complex constructions.

Construction explained

The aluminium extruded 2020 profile is the mechanically sturdy backbone of the construction. At one side along the profile the aluminium or steel strip (25*2 mm) is firmly fixed at regular intervals of 7 cm. The strip forms with the V-shape bearings of the carriage a linear glider system that only allows vertical movements: the motion direction of the Linear Actuator.

The carriage baseplate (with 6 mounted V-shape bearings) is connected with 2 half round mounts that fix at the opposite side the front wheel hub axle and that clamp on, in the middle, the PVC Carriage Cylinder. 4 threaded rods M5 plus nuts lock the construction firmly together.

The PVC Carriage Cylinder is connected infrangible to the upper part of the Linear Actuator with the help of a Top Cap and a threaded rod M6. The Cylinder's inner diameter is large enough to move freely (up-down) around the lower telescopic rod of the Actuator construction.

The Lower part of Linear Actuator and the lower part of the extruded 2020 profile are infrangible connected to the half rounded floor stand. It positions the whole construction on the floor.

When the Linear Actuator is switched to go upward/downward, the upper telescopic rod of the Actuator pushes/pulls the attached Carriage Cylinder upward/downward along the linear gliding system. The firmly fixed front wheel hub axle mount is following this motion naturally. This results in the up or down positioning of the front wheel hub of the attached bike, controlled by the SIMCLINE software and electronic components (in the box).

The application in the construction of the SIMCLINE 2.0 of a) the very sturdy 2020 aluminium profile and b) the linear glider system result in a overall construction that has the precise stiffness qualities one would wish for. A Linear Actuator is not designed to cope with lateral forces, it can only push-pull heavy loads in longitudinal direction. One has to support such a device with a tailor-made construction that accounts for all lateral forces, that are emerging when you are rock-and-rolling on the bike.

The Linear Actuator is one of the very critical and price-determining components. They are offered in different sizes, operation speed, pushing force and prices. Most of them are produced in China but also in the EU and North America.

Maximum Load

How much pushing force they can produce is very important because the actuator has to lift you and the bike upward, hold that position and lower in a controlled way. As a rule of thump you have to choose maximum load corresponding with the full riders weight. In a sitting position it is only the half of the rider's + bike weight, but the actuator should be over-dimensioned to account for a standing position and forward leaning on the handle bars! The pushing force is usually expressed in Newton and 10 Newton is about 1 Kilogram (Example: 750 N = 75 Kg). To be at the safe side apply a Linear Actuator that is capable of pushing your full weight + half the bike weight!

Operation Speed

Operation speed (expressed in mm/s) is dependent of the load that the Linear Actuator has to lift upwards. Usually 2 different operation speed values are specified: with maximum load and without load, free moving speed. Only the maximum load speed value is what counts during operation and it should be as high as possible for responsiveness. However, speed comes at a price and you have to find a compromise between the two! In general a Linear Actuator that has a maximum load speed of 5-6 mm/s is about the lower limit. Below that speed the responsiveness becomes unrealistic: on some hilly rolling roads the Linear Actuator simply can't keep up with the very rapid changes in inclination: like +7% followed by -7% within a few seconds. However when you aim mostly for longer climbs (Alps, Pyrenees and alike) it is no problem that it takes the Linear Actuator some time to reach the average grade of the climb, since that will prevail most of the time during the ride!

Stroke Length

Stroke length is another critical factor that will determine how much variation in road incline it will be capable to mimic. If you want to copy the Wahoo Climb capabilities you should go for a stroke length of 30 centimeters that will give you a range of -10% to + 20% of road incline. However, you very rarely meet roads with +20% and one can argue that the additional training incentive, due to your adapted bike position, at a lifted front wheel at +20% is not that much larger than lifted at +10% or +15%. Afterall if you climb the Mont Ventoux or Alpe d'Huez you meet only rarely values above +12%. So training your adapted bike position at max 12% lifted front wheel would give you definitely the right training incentive! Riding downhill at -10% lowered front wheel, is not giving you any training incentive. Actually it is not very comfortable and it will not help you to ride the perfect cornering lines at high speed. Personally I limit the downhill value to -5%.

Your Choice

The present design allows you to select out off a broad range of mechanical Actuator dimensions. How you value operational features will determine what you experience during actual use. Far from perfect but it is possible to switch of Linear Actuator type later and keep the rest of the components operational.

Check!

• Most offered Linear Actuators come with built-in end-limit-switches that avoid potential damage when the actuator is moving uncontrolled to a top or bottom end-position. These are crucial, so check the Linear Actuator of your choice for this feature!
• There is NO need to buy additional mounting brackets, the SIMCLINE construction takes care!
• Depending of the selected size of Linear Actuator (in retracted position) you have to choose the corresponding lengths for the PVC Carriage Cylinder and the Aluminium Extruded 2020 Profile. See the scheme to select the correct values!

By design the SIMCLINE 2.0 allows you to apply differently dimensioned Linear Actuators with a stroke length of 30 cm to even a short stroke length of 15 cm. Key in the design is the introduction of a central "Carriage Cylinder", that holds not only the 6-bearing-carriage but also the front hub axle mounting components. It is allowing for much freedom of positioning of the front hub axle relative to the base! The front wheel hub axle position is in this design fully decoupled from the Linear Actuator itself. In principle it could be clamped on to any position at the full length of the "Carriage Cylinder". Only considerations of practice limit the position. Notice that with a stroke length of less than 15 cm the front wheel hub axle position is even attached above the top connection point of the upper telescopic actuator rod!

In the above images the "Carriage Cylinder" is shown at 40% transparent rendering. That will allow you to see the otherwise "hidden" Actuator construction. The markers at the right side show: -10%, level, +10% and +20% road grade. For comparison the positioning of the axle hub and Actuator is at flat road level (34 cm above the base).

The Linear Actuator is only attached to the construction at the ends: bottom and top connection holes. Notice that this is in essence what the Actuator is designed for. It is only designed to push or pull in a straight parallel line a load up or down.

Within the stroke length of the Linear Actuator of your choice, the positioning of the axle hub determines in detail what range of road grade will be mimicked by the SIMCLINE 2.0. For example when you would have chosen for a 25 cm stroke length, the road grade range is between -10% and +15% or between -5% and +20% or between -7% and +18%, etcetera. Moreover, at any time you can choose for a different range within the limits of the stroke length! All you have to do is release the clamped on carriage plus mounting components and shift it up or down, along the Carriage Cylinder, to get in the position that corresponds to the desired range of road grade. From that moment on the SIMCLINE mechanism is moving your front wheel in full accordance with the new physical range!

All the electronic components can be stored and fixed in the component box.

At the top side of the box the OLED SSD1306 display is shown in an open window. This window is visible for the rider during a ride. Notice that the display has a critical formfactor to fit in the box 25 * 27 mm! The display is fixed inside with 4 screws.

The Time-of-Flight sensor that measures the position of the axle hub is placed and fixed with 2 screws at the inside of the overhanging part of the box. Downward is an open window. That way the laser it utilizes has a clear field of fire and undisturbed reflection-time measurement.

The processor board and the motor driver board are fixed to the standoffs that are visible on the bottom side of the box, that is mounted itself along the 2020 profile with 2 screws.

One rectangular bottom opening gives access for the micro-USB connector to the nRF52 processor when it is mounted inside. The other round openings are for 12 V connectors: motor control lines and 12 V power lines.

The box is closed with a lid that only needs one closing screw.

Small parts list:

14 pieces Self-tapping screws 2.2 * 4.5 mm
2 pieces bolts (half round head) M5 * 6 mm + 2 2020 series T Nut M5 Thread

## pieces female to female jumper wires 100 mm
1 piece 12 V DC chassis socket 5.5 * 2.1 mm
1 piece Mini Jack chassis socket 3.5 mm + 1 piece Mini Jack plug 3.5 mm

The Top Cap at the top and the Floor Stand at the bottom fix with 2 M6 threaded rods the very only two connections with the Linear Actuator.

The Top Cap is connected with the upper telescopic rod of the Linear Actuator and the Carriage Cylinder. The 3 components are linked with a M6 threaded rod that pierces through all 3. Two nuts at the outside fix the components and the M6 threaded rod firmly. NOTICE: Apply for all actuator stroke lengths above 15 cm the Top_Cap_STL file. Only when you apply a stroke length of less or equal than 15 cm you need to have the Top_Cap_Sleek_STL file to be 3D printed!

At the bottom side of the Linear Actuator its connection point is linked to the Floor Stand with a threaded rod M6 that is fixed in position with 2 nuts to the outside of the Floor Stand. The long slot allows for very precisely positioning of the Actuator parallel aligned with the 2020 aluminium profile.

The 2020 aluminium profile is sled 4 centimeter deep in its position and firmly fixed with 2 screws. The Floor Stand is designed for extra robustness to be able to absorb lateral and rotational forces of both components. The stiffness is very high! The rounded bottom of the Floor Stand permits the SIMCLINE to lean slightly forward and backward with the moving axle hub.

Parts list

1 piece 2020 Aluminium extruded profile length 600 mm

Linear Glider Strip
Aluminium or Steel strip 25 * 2 mm max. length 500 mm
5 pieces bolts (half round head) M5 * 6 mm + 5 2020 series T Nut M5 Thread

Top cap
1 piece threaded rod M6 * 62 mm + 2 washers + 2 self-locking nuts

Floor stand
1 piece threaded rod M6 * 54 mm + 4 washers + 2 self-locking nuts
2 pieces bolts M5 * 16 mm + 2 washers + 2 2020 series T Nut M5 Thread

The carriage constitutes of 3 components.

On the base plate at one side, 6 V-shape steel bearings are mounted that are sliding along the aluminium or steel strip (25 mm * 2 mm). The strip is firmly connected to the 2020 aluminium profile. Notice that one row of holes for the bearings have a slotted shape to allow precise (re)positioning of the bearings relative to the strip. After some wearing has taken place their positions can be corrected precisely to compensate for the slack.

The carriage baseplate (with 6 mounted V-shape bearings) is connected at the other side with the Cylinder and Axle mount, that fix at the opposite side the front wheel hub axle. 4 Threaded rods M5 plus nuts lock the construction firmly together and clamp on, in the middle, the PVC Carriage Cylinder.

The axle mount gives room for a 15 mm outer diameter thru axle adapter/converter. Depending on the type (disk or rim brake, thru axle or quick release) and size of your front wheel hub (100 or 110 mm) you need a specific converter that suits your bike. I simply have applied (for my rim brake/QR bike) a metal tube of 100 mm long and 15 mm OD * 12 mm ID (1.5 mm Wall) that was cut off a left-over heating system pipe!

Small parts list

4 pieces threaded rod M5 * 96 mm + 8 spring washers + 8 nuts
6 pieces V-groove steel bearings 4 * 13 * 6 mm (shaft*OD*thickness) (V624ZZ)
6 pieces bolts M4 * 20 mm + 6 washers + 6 spring washers + 12 Nuts

This project could have been elaborated with many different electronic parts. I have chosen for the following 5 compact active components that are slightly different from the earlier SIMCLINE project and that can finally all be mounted inside the components box:

Adafruit DRV8871 DC Motor Driver. A small one channel motor driver for 12 V (6.5 - 48 V) and 3,6 Amperes max. This board enables the processor to set the Actuator motor in up or down movement. It transforms logical digital levels (Go Up, Go Down and Stop) from the Feather nRF52/ESP32 to switching of 12 Volt at 3,6 Amperes max., the levels at which the Actuator works. Notice that default the board comes limited to 2,6 Amperes and you need to add a resistor to set for max current level. Install Vertical Through Hole Male PCB Header Pins on the board; this will allow correct mounting of the board inside the components box!

Only recently one has a choice:

a) Adafruit Feather nRF52840 Express. Is an easy-to-use all-in-one Bluetooth Low Energy board with a native-Bluetooth chip, the nRF52840, that has proven its reliability! Notice that the Feather nRF52840 Express is to be preferred over older nRF52-versions and has better value for money!

b) Adafruit ESP32 Feather V2. One of the Adafruit new star Feathers is the Adafruit HUZZAH32 ESP32 Feather V2 - with the fabulous ESP32 WROOM module. The new HUZZAH32 V2 is Adafruit's redesigned ESP32-based Feather V2. Compared to the original HUZZAH32 with only 4 MB Flash and no PSRAM, the V2 has 8 MB Flash and 2 MB PSRAM. Packed with everything people love about Feathers: built in USB-to-Serial converter, automatic bootloader reset, Lithium Ion/Polymer charger, and just about all of the GPIOs brought out. 

Both Feathers have the same formfactor and more or less the same pin-layout! The programmed Feather nRF52/ESP32 is communicating with (a) the trainer to collect power output information and (b) with the training App for resistance settings (like grade) or (c) optionally with the Companion App on your mobile phone. The programmed Feather nRF52/ESP32 is in full control of the SIMCLINE operation.

OLED display blue/white 128x64 pixels (0,96 Inch, I2C). Small display board has a critical overall board size of 25 mm * 27 mm (!); (See for example: Webshop). Display area itself is: 25 mm x 14 mm. Shows cycling data and diagnostic info that is gathered during operation by the Feather nRF52/ESP32 to inform the SIMCLINE user about relevant information. NOTICE: a) Many different formfactors are offered at webshops; b) Install Vertical Through Hole Male PCB Header Pins on the board; this will allow correct mounting of the board inside the components box!

Pololu Time-of-Flight-Distance sensor VL6180X. The sensor board (12.7 * 17.8 mm) contains a very tiny laser source, and a matching sensor. The VL6180X can detect the "time of flight", or how long the laser light has taken to bounce back to the sensor. Since it uses a very narrow light source, it is perfect for determining distance of only the surface directly in front of it. The sensor registers quite accurately the (change in) position of the wheel axle during operation, by measuring the distance between the top of the inner frame and the reflection plate that is mounted on the carriage. The distance feedback of the sensor is crucial for determining how to set the position of the carriage and axle in accordance with the grade information that for example Zwift is using to set the resistance of the trainer. NOTICE: a) VL6180X boards are also offered by different suppliers and have different formfactors; b) Install Straight Angle Through Hole Male PCB Header Pins on the board; this will allow later flat mounting of the sensor board in the components box !

Pololu D24V5F5. This is a small 5V, 500mA Step-Down Voltage Regulator that is responsible for voltage conversion from 12V to 5V, the power supply for all components boards. NOTICE: Install Straight Angle Through Hole Male PCB Header Pins on the board; this will allow later easy mounting of the sensor board in the components box !

All components are documented very well and are low cost. There are lots of examples for use in an Arduino environment. They have turned out to be very reliable. The exact wiring of the components can be followed in the figure above.

When I started this project I did have some practical experience with some of the components. So I had to setup the circuitry step by step adding components and did some instructive testing first.

How to start?

My advice is to setup the electronic components first mounted on top of a cardboard base. Use double sided adhesive tape but only attach it on sections that have no pcb-wiring or soldering, to avoid possible electrical interference. Install the Arduino IDE and all the libraries on a PC/Mac. You will find all the code that controls the SIMCLINE on Github and also the Arduino test programs (modified for this project) that focus on the components separately and in conjunction. Download all the code from Github.

Download only later from Github also the (Android) code that is used for the SIMCLINE Companion App. The Companion app will allow you to change settings, have manual control and monitor the functioning of the SIMCLINE.

The final assembly of the SIMCLINE 2.0 is straight forward once all components have been collected and 3D printed.

1) Cut the PVC pipe, the 2020 Aluminium profile and the aluminium or steel strip at the right sizes if that is not yet the case. Cut the different threaded rods M5 and M6 at their respective lengths. The previous text should give you more than enough insight to select the different lengths of the components and parts.

2) Drill about 5 holes with a diameter of 5 mm precisely at the center line of the aluminium or steel strip

3) Mount the aluminium or steel strip along the 2020 aluminum profile. The ends of both components (at the top) should be leveled. Tighten the screws firmly!

4) Measure and mark precisely the position, at one end of the Carriage Cylinder, where the 3 component piercing threaded rod enters and leaves the wall of the Carriage Cylinder. Use the 3D printed Top Cap component to help you with the precise marking. Now drill only one hole in the Carriage Cylinder. Insert the Top Cap the way it should be positioned and align the inside hole of the Top Cap with the one you just drilled. If this fits accurately insert the drill bit thoroughly and only now drill the second hole at the opposite side of the Carriage Cylinder, keeping the Top Cap in place. This way alignment should be close to perfect.

5) Mount the Top Cap, Carriage Cylinder and upper telescopic rod of the linear actuator. Fix firmly the threaded M6 rod plus self-locking nuts that links the 3 together.

6) Mount the 6 bearings on the 3D printed base plate and test its working with the 2020 profile and glider strip. Adjust positions of 3 bearings (in the slotted holes) in such a way that you have little or no slack and all bearings roll during up-down movement. Tighten the screws and nuts firmly!

7) Mount the 2020 profile at the 3D printed floor stand with 2 bolts. Tighten the screws firmly!

8) Mount the Linear Actuator in the floor stand. Connect and tighten firmly with the M6 threaded rod and self-locking nuts. Use 4 washers: 2 inside and 2 outside.

9) Slide the carriage over the glider strip in place and mount the 2 3D printed components that embrace the Carriage Cylinder. Be aware: this a very critical joining! You might use inside the mounts additionally thin double sided adhesive tape or "Stay Fixed" compound to prevent any movement of the assembled parts relative to the PVC cylinder. Tighten the 4 M5 threaded rods and do this very firmly!

WARNING: THESE 4 M5 THREADED RODS HAVE TO BE TIGHTENED VERY FIRMLY, OTHERWISE THE LOADED CARRIAGE COULD SLIDE DETRIMENTALLY DOWNWARD ALONG THE CYLINDER!

Check carefully for any detrimental parts movement after a full load of the riders weight!

10) Built the electronic components together: painstakingly wire all connections and chassis sockets in such a way that they all fit in the 3D printed component box at the appropriate location. This is a relative time-consuming and very precise work. Before finally fixing in the box the processor and motor driver PCB's:

11) Mount the component box along the 2020 profile with 2 screws. Isolate the (half round head) screws from potentially touching the bottom part of the processor and/or motor driver PCB's.

12) Glue or (double sided) tape an all aluminium reflection plate or a piece of cardboard covered with aluminium foil, perfectly flat on top of the carriage base plate. Position it perpendicular to the course of the laser beam, so it will find its way back to the source! Check it is not disturbed during the up or down movement of the carriage.

13) Finish the assembly by connecting the 12 V power supply connector plug and the mini Jack connector plug to the Linear Actuator motor. A micro-USB connector can be connected to the processor board through the rectangular opening.

Now that all components have been assembled it is time to test the SIMCLINE 2.0 in its entirety.

You will find all the code that controls the components and the SIMCLINE unit on Github. The Arduino test programs (modified for this project) focus on the components separately and the whole unit. Download all the code from Github and carefully study the comments that have been added to the program code.

Some code tests only separate electronic components, like OLED display, Motor driver and Time-of-Flight sensor. However also more complex and component rich test code is available.

Notice that you have to insert some critical values in the program code that are related with the type of actuator (stroke length and preferred range of road grade) that you have chosen to build the SIMCLINE with!

Particularly the programs on: Github are of a lot of value to test drive the SIMCLINE 2.0 first in a safe and controlled way.

When you are comfortable with the functioning, have collected the critical values and have applied (most of) the test programs, it is time to deploy the SIMCLINE full blown operation code. Insert the critical operation values, upload and start your first ride with SIMCLINE 2.0.

Have fun!