I Built a Dyno for Sim Racing Wheelbases
SciLens
8,735 views
For years, we've compared sim racing wheelbases using torque numbers, marketing claims, and words like "smooth", "detailed" and "responsive". But how do we actually MEASURE force feedback?
So I built a dyno for sim racing wheelbases.
Meet SciLensLab: my custom-built force feedback benchmarking system that uses a high-speed motion sensor, controlled FFB signals, and dedicated software to measure what a wheelbase actually does.
No more guessing. We have DATA.
In this video:
🔸 Why comparing wheelbases is harder than it sounds
🔸 How my DIY FFB dyno works
🔸 Live telemetry and real measurements
🔸 Gear-driven vs belt-driven vs direct drive
🔸 Testing the Logitech G29, Thrustmaster T150 and Fanatec ClubSport DD+
🔸 What the results reveal about force feedback performance
🔸 A first look at SciLensLab and the future of wheelbase testing
This is just the beginning. I want to build a growing database of wheelbases tested under consistent, repeatable conditions, so we can finally compare their performance using real measurements.
🔬 SciLensLab: https://scilenslab.com/
Do you like my custom G29 RIM? If interested- here is a 5% code to get one too!
Acelith F27 Rim for Logitech G29 / G923 + optional magnetic paddleshift upgrade.
https://acelith.com/products/mod-f27-...
Get 5% OFF with code: SCILENS
Want to check out other Acelith products?
https://acelith.com/?ref=scilens
I'm planning to test a LOT more wheelbases, and that's going to get expensive!
If you enjoy independent testing, DIY engineering and slightly mad sim racing experiments, consider subscribing. The goal is 1,000 subscribers by the end of the year!
And most importantly:
Which wheelbase should I test next? Let me know in the comments!
Thanks for supporting the lab! SUBSCRIBE :D
00:00 A force feedback dyno
0:56 The problem with "more detail"
1:36 What SciLens Lab measures
2:04 Why the hub, not the rim
2:48 The benchmark: 12 effects, hands off
3:58 How the SciLens Score works
4:28 G29 vs ClubSport DD+
5:17 How to read the numbers
6:15 Final score & the DD+'s weak spots
6:49 Your rim is part of the FFB
7:36 55 Hz in, 8 Hz out
8:01 Can you trust the numbers?
8:30 Benchmark V1 & the Wheelbase Index
9:33 What's next: V2, FullForce, TrueForce
9:58 A common reference
#SimRacing #ForceFeedback #SciLensLab
Footage credit:
Porsche dyno clip: NM2255 | Raw Car Sounds - BEST of DYNO PULLS🔥| 992 GT3, Bugatti EB110, 600HP Lancer EVO, Aventador SV, Ferrari F8 & More!
Source: BEST of DYNO PULLS🔥| 992 GT3, Bugatti EB11...
20 Comments
That said - the wheel rim is a massive factor (damper) in this even when measuring from the hub. I would go with as light as possible rim, since all the basic wheels with fixed rims have quite light plastic rims. Also to see the difference between lighter and heavier rims in a given base will be interesting. Many dont realize just how big the difference between 320mm wheel with hub vs light GT wheel is even in 8-10nm bases. I recon the difference might be close to 5nm vs 8nm difference.
Also at some point would love to see how an FFBeast DIY wheel would fair against the competition
The big question in my mind: Can this tell the difference between high end wheelbases? Distinguishing between a Logitech gear wheel and a DD+ should be easy, and these results show that.
Great work!
Thank you for making this dyno, appreciate the crazy effort that went into this!
I would be very thankful if you could test the Simagic Alpha Evo Pro 🎉
PS : I finally finished my Wooden Sim Rig following your plans and damn ... it's great ... I can't tell how much I'm happy and enjoying it 🎉 THANK YOU SCILENS-RACING 👍🏻💪🏻💪🏻🤙🏻
I've been cursing all those pretenders and their fancy words for years. "Granular" always makes me mad for at least 2 hours.
Next idea: Bust some load-cell myths. Test how accurately a force is represented in the output signal. While pressing and while releasing. Spring vs Elastomer, Hysteresis, Jitter, etc.
Its gone to be a référence for a lot of people
In my opinion it needs to test from the cheapest to the most expensive
Only a few can build simrigs about 4000 €/$
T598 really opened a market for reasonable direct drives and had a lot of criticism
Really interested in your work 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
You're absolutely right it's not about ending subjective reviews, they definitely have a place so long as the reviewer is objective and honest.
Been relying on Boosted Media for hardware reviews for these exact reasons and their site does an excellent job of quantifying the subjective part and the value for money aspects.
Got an Asetek Forte myself but had the CSL DD beforehand and only swapped it when Fanatec claimed fullforce wouldn't be compatible with the CSL DD due to their claimed "hardware limitations", just as they launched the Clubsport DD anmd DD+ and right after the Corsair buyout yet, it miraculously becomes compatible 2 years after they launched, makes me wonder if the Podium DD1 and DD2 will also suddenly be able to have fullforce in the next 18 months or 2 years after they launched to new Podium DD.
Anywho.. I'll be really interested in the full force results and comparing them to the Asetek Forte using quantifyable data rather than just my own impressions, as I found the Asetek to be night and day more detailed than my 8NM CSL DD ever was, (not that the CSL was BAD, I loved it for the 2 years I had it) I just felt let down by Corsair and then lied to after I'd made the switch.
I'm also NOT a fan of a software solution that requires shoehorning into games as it took YEARS for truforce to become prevalent and Fullforce seems very slow to get added to previous titles, it just feels like a gimmick designed to trap people into an ecosystem whilst my Forte FEELS like it gives me the finer detail we all hear about but so few of us actually understand correctly.
I just felt that Corsair denied CSL owners Fullforce in an attempt to force us to sidegrade/upgrade and it's seeming like I was correct in that assumption, though it IS still an assumption.
So this data could well answer those questions or put to bed my personal assumptions about the benefits such solutiuons actually bring to the table ans whether they are actually of any tanible benefit or just a placebo inserted to a dumbed down FFB algorithm.
I Built a Dyno for Sim Racing Wheelbases
SciLens
8,735 views
For years, we've compared sim racing wheelbases using torque numbers, marketing claims, and words like "smooth", "detailed" and "responsive". But how do we actually MEASURE force feedback?
So I built a dyno for sim racing wheelbases.
Meet SciLensLab: my custom-built force feedback benchmarking system that uses a high-speed motion sensor, controlled FFB signals, and dedicated software to measure what a wheelbase actually does.
No more guessing. We have DATA.
In this video:
🔸 Why comparing wheelbases is harder than it sounds
🔸 How my DIY FFB dyno works
🔸 Live telemetry and real measurements
🔸 Gear-driven vs belt-driven vs direct drive
🔸 Testing the Logitech G29, Thrustmaster T150 and Fanatec ClubSport DD+
🔸 What the results reveal about force feedback performance
🔸 A first look at SciLensLab and the future of wheelbase testing
This is just the beginning. I want to build a growing database of wheelbases tested under consistent, repeatable conditions, so we can finally compare their performance using real measurements.
🔬 SciLensLab: https://scilenslab.com/
Do you like my custom G29 RIM? If interested- here is a 5% code to get one too!
Acelith F27 Rim for Logitech G29 / G923 + optional magnetic paddleshift upgrade.
https://acelith.com/products/mod-f27-...
Get 5% OFF with code: SCILENS
Want to check out other Acelith products?
https://acelith.com/?ref=scilens
I'm planning to test a LOT more wheelbases, and that's going to get expensive!
If you enjoy independent testing, DIY engineering and slightly mad sim racing experiments, consider subscribing. The goal is 1,000 subscribers by the end of the year!
And most importantly:
Which wheelbase should I test next? Let me know in the comments!
Thanks for supporting the lab! SUBSCRIBE :D
00:00 A force feedback dyno
0:56 The problem with "more detail"
1:36 What SciLens Lab measures
2:04 Why the hub, not the rim
2:48 The benchmark: 12 effects, hands off
3:58 How the SciLens Score works
4:28 G29 vs ClubSport DD+
5:17 How to read the numbers
6:15 Final score & the DD+'s weak spots
6:49 Your rim is part of the FFB
7:36 55 Hz in, 8 Hz out
8:01 Can you trust the numbers?
8:30 Benchmark V1 & the Wheelbase Index
9:33 What's next: V2, FullForce, TrueForce
9:58 A common reference
#SimRacing #ForceFeedback #SciLensLab
Footage credit:
Porsche dyno clip: NM2255 | Raw Car Sounds - BEST of DYNO PULLS🔥| 992 GT3, Bugatti EB110, 600HP Lancer EVO, Aventador SV, Ferrari F8 & More!
Source: BEST of DYNO PULLS🔥| 992 GT3, Bugatti EB11...
This is just the beginning. More wheelbases, more tests, more data.
💬 Which wheelbase should the mad Doctor scilens test next?
And if you want to support independent FFB testing, hit that subscribe button. We're racing toward 1K! 🧡