The Open FFBoard is an open source hardware and software project for custom force feedback devices and interfacing with simulation peripherals.

Its intended for example for developing FFB steering wheels and similar devices. The highly modular firmware and hardware allows development of custom devices and easily adding support for external hardware (pedals, buttons...) and motor drivers.

This board features multiple SPI interfaces for connecting buttons on steering wheels (Thrustmaster, shift registers), 8 digital inputs for direct buttons, 6 analog inputs for potentiometers, pedals and shifters.

The TMC4671 based motor driver (coming soon) is a reference motor driver developed specifically for this project to drive servo motors in direct drive ffb wheels with very high resolution and efficiency.

A PWM output can output the FFB torque to external motor drivers and DC halfbridges directly from this board if the TMC4671 is not used. Then an incremental encoder must be connected to the onboard encoder header.

Connections:

• 6x analog in

• 8x digital in

• CAN bus transceiver (VESC, ODrive)

• 3x SPI with 3 CS pins each

• 4x PWM out

• Emergency stop

• I²C

• UART (dev)

• Brake resistor control with dual voltage sense (external 10k-294k resistor divider required)

• SWD debug

• USB-C

Supported motor drivers: - FFBoard TMC4671 - ODrive (CAN) - VESC (CAN) - PWM (centered, pwm+dir, RC ppm, dual PWM)

Supported encoders: - ABN incremental (PWM) - BISS-C (PWM, TMC, requires external transceivers to SPI3) - MT6825 (PWM, TMC) - Encoders supported by VESC and ODrive - SinCos (TMC)

Choose the header type as options. If you prefer 90° angled headers for specific pads tell me otherwise straight headers will be sent.

Note regarding versions and pictures: This listing is for the new black V1.2.3 USB-C version with improved USB protections and a 2 row SPI2 header and not the green micro usb variant shown in some pictures. The recommended chip is the F407VG (1MB). If the prices remain high we may offer a cheaper F407VE (512k) version. It will probably be fine forever but the project was planned with the VG in mind and the firmware may surpass 512k at some point.

The product is intended only for development and research purposes as a prototype and is not a finished consumer product! Make sure to comply with your local regulations when operating it.