This would be a very good product if Granite could make it happen.
Most commercial Aircraft Simulator customers these days want force feedback.
Sadly I think the amount of time creating the software would be prohibitve for Granite.
Perhaps the software/driver could be done by members of the community? I do know programmers but they are not familiar with IONI/Force Feedback coding. I do work in the flight simulation business, so I do have good contacts for the simulator side of the software.
OK; so thats where the 3rd axis comes from.
One solution might be to utilize existing SimuCUBE, as it has already a place for a header to connect to other SimpleMotion products. We could solder that header there. The other axis drives could be on a IONICUBE, so this could be accomplished without any hardware major changes / new hardware.
Then it would just need a firmware to the SimuCUBE to support more axis, and a new configuration software to make it aware that there are more axises. Force scaling and adjustments would be, for simplicity and fast development effort, made just by Granity based adjustments for start.
Does the XPForce addon for XPlane support enough content? I read from it’s website, that the support in XPlane for FFB joysticks varies a lot between different aircraft.
That are great news Mika!
I am pretty new at Laminar Research, so I did contact the team to get more knowledge about the force feedback interface.
X-Plane does come with an aircraft editor. It has also features to enter some data about force feedback.
Yes, real aircrafts feel pretty different. It depends on the shape and size of the control surfaces, whether they are moved via cables, hydraulics or by electrical drives - called fly by wire. XPForce seems to simulate already a lot of effects.
As mentioned, XPForce may be a good starting point. I am waiting for more information on the X-Plane default force feedback support. Effects could improved and extended later. We can learn so much from the racing games, for example about different ground surfaces.
For our project it would be essential to know if the IONI system will be the way to go, so we can order electronics and motors and build them into the framework. As a first step it would even be thinkable to just simulate a centering spring - as we are using on our other simulator. 
As mentioned above - if you are interested in this project too, I could visit you at the at the SPS/IPC Drives next week.
Mika, as far as I could find out, XPForce would be a better way to go than the X-Plane default Force Feedback effects. I ordered a simple Force Feedback joystick yesterday to test XPForce as soon as the stick arrives.
as it has already a place for a header…We could solder that header there.
Any idea what this means concerning the price and delivery time? Or could it done by someone with a little soldering experience? Also I do not feel well to solder on a new SimuCUBE myself.
Thanks and greetings,
Marcel
Hi Dosim
The pin header in in simucube right next to the power resistor(s), under the pci-e connector. Here’s an image where it can be seen:
From soldering point of view, the connector is likely to require a lot of power from the soldering iron. However, this can be circumvented by soldering e.g. single-thread wires separately to the pads. Single-thread instead of multi-thread to prevent loose threads to cause short circuits. A connector can then be soldered to the wires.
These wires can be soldered from the bottom side, so there would be a lot more space to work.
I would say this doesn’t require professional level equipment nor skills.
Kind regards,
Esa
Esa, thanks! Is it X7 with 6 pads?
Greetings,
Marcel
From firmware point of view, we are still focusing on the SimuCUBE as a steering wheel application. There are still quite a few FFB effects missing from the possible effects. Even if that connector would be soldered on, and connected to IONICUBE, we expect that we won’t have time to try to implement multiaxis FFB interface until next year.
You could, however, use a SimuCUBE and you current IONI drive (as long as it is Pro or Pro HC) as one-axis controller and evaluate FFB effects that way.
we expect that we won’t have time to try to implement multiaxis FFB interface until next year.
Would be ok to wait. I just need to know that we can control the motors one day, before ordering them and additional Granite products.
use a SimuCUBE and you current IONI drive […] as one-axis controller
I am a little confused about “and your current IONI”. Do you mean we can test more than one axis with the same signal at the same time? Or is the IONICube itself also capable of testing FFB?
When the motors are build in, it would be great if we could as a first step just simulate the FFB of a centering spring. When Axis don’t center, it is difficult doing testflights.
IONICUBE can’t be used for any type of DirectInput FFB interface, a SimuCUBE is needed. You could get a SimuCUBE and test with that IONI is capable of the needs and forces you require in your application.
Could you test whether Xplane/XPForce support setting a completely different USB game controller for all different axises?
Could you test whether Xplane/XPForce support setting a completely different USB game controller for all different axises?
Will try that. The FFB Joystick will be delivered the next days and I wrote a message to the developer of XPForce.
Marcel: What Mika is saying is you can by the SimuCUBE board only, and unplug the IONI Pro from your IONI Cube, and use it in the SimuCUBE, for testing. No need to buy a separate IONI, provided yours is a Pro or Pro HC.
Interesting project idea as well 
Will keep an eye on it!
Cheers,
Beano
Beano, thanks, now I understand!
Mika, I have some more news. Would it be possible to discuss this via mail? I did not yet find a PM function here.
Yes, you can email me, mika.takala@
(well you can guess the ending of the email address.)
I’ve also seen some emails that you have sent to our sales (Tommi) during last week, but we can discus more on email.
In 1r004 it’s X7, and in 1r005 it’s X17.
Pinout is:
1: +5V
2: SimpleMotion-A (RS485)
3: SimppleMotion-B
4: STO2
5&6: GND
Pin 1 is marked to the PCB.
Kind regard,
Esa
Hmm I can see it now and it would be wonderful… SimuCUBE Direct Drive wheel with an attached IONI 4X for a full motion driving rig… Sorry just thought of this I know it is a little off of the plane sim application…
Don’t hold your breath, as we think the motion control things would be much better implemented via a SimpleMotion plugin to Xsimulator, so there would be no need to have SimuCUBE in that application. Adding every possible use case to SimuCUBE is just not effective timewise, and would slow the development of the DD Wheel firmware.
What Dosim is after, is a force feedback (torque mode) device with more than one (3) axises, which is a different thing with different applications and requirements.
Yea I wasn’t I just thought it would be kind of cool for an all in one controller package of both Direct drive and motion… But yea that is ALOT more work…
Short words on the status:
Bought an old Logitech FFB joystick to test effects in X-Plane and several plugins. And realized why nobody does sell or use those joysticks anymore: It feels horrible! If you ever have used a SimuCUBE (I did with a racing simulator) - there is no way back to this steam technology device anymore.
But at least the plugins do work - we have some kind of data/signal to work with and start testing. Hopefully soon.
Dreaming a huge force feedback Joystick by AC Servo Motor but no luck even if just one simucube right now.
No Force with DCS
No Force with X-Plane11 with XPForce Plugin
Hope someone solve force Feedback with Flight simulator and 2x Simucubes for Joystick.