Spinner Resolution

[Ropi Jo]

I've got another question.

What's the ideal resolution for a spinner in mame?

I know mame has settings per game, but what would be the ideal starting point?

I've got 2 x 3000PPR encoders that work perfectly with my OPTIPAC, but they are way too high resolution. I can easily pulley them down to a lower res.... but what would be my aim to get close to ideal?

Thought I'd find the answer easily with a google search but no luck.

Thanks again.

[Howard_Casto]

Which game is your favorite game?  Buy the spinner for your favorite game and then adjust for everything else.  Here's the thing about spinners and mame.... individual adjustments per game isn't optional.... to get best results, no matter what you use you'll have to adjust for every single solitary game for best results.  So in the end it's more important to get the spinner you like for the game you like.

[Ropi Jo]

Thank you Howard.

The spinner(s) will be mainly for 2 player Puzzloop and Arkanoid Doh. And whatever else looks like fun as we discover it.

I'm very much into making / using what I have, rather than buying, and I've got the 3000ppr so would like to use them.

I think it's probably easier gearing down (through pulleys) rather than gearing up. Just after an idea how much.

I'll probably aim for 3:1 as I know when I experimented with a home made encoder about 2 yrs ago @450ppr (it was 150 geared up 3:1) I still needed Arkanoid maxed in mame and wasn't even close.

My previous mouse hacked spinners were a total disaster.

[PL1]

I'm not very confident about that pulley idea.   

Revenge of DOH was 972 counts per revolution -- a spinner that works for that will handle pretty much everything else in MAME.

http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/Spinner_Turn_Count

For comparison, the TT2 from GGG and the SpinTrak from Ultimarc are both 1200 transitions per revolution spinners.




Scott

[Howard_Casto]

Here's a thread that might be useful.

https://forums.arcade-museum.com/threads/different-taito-arkanoid-spinners.393967/

It has a few configurations but it uses the same encoder wheel and pcb you'd normally find in a trackball.  Some of the other games use a much higher resolution encoder wheel, but the gearing is different and they aren't particularly fun and imho it doesn't make sense to base your spinner around them.

There are some 35 knock-off spinners for arcade 1up conversions on amazon.... I don't necessarily suggest you use one as-is but that's a cheap price for a nice knob and bearing set.

[Ropi Jo]

Thank you chaps.

One thing..... is the resolution stated for a 1000ppr the A and B channels added together (so a 1000ppr would be A500 + B500) or is each channel 1000?

Don't worry.... I do know the principle of a quad encoder..... just querying the totoal ppr.

[PL1]

One thing..... is the resolution stated for a 1000ppr the A and B channels added together (so a 1000ppr would be A500 + B500) or is each channel 1000?

A 1000 PPR encoder outputs 1000 pulses on each data line per rotation ==> 4000 quadrature phase step transitions per rotation, based on product descriptions of rotary encoders on Amazon like this.

600 p/r (Single-phase 600 pulses /R,Two phase 4 frequency doubling to 2400 pulses)

Scott

[Ropi Jo]

Got ya. Cheers.

[Ropi Jo]

I dug deep into the scrap box and found a couple of dippable encoders that I forgot I had. Lowest res setting is 600, then 800, then 1000, so they looked perfect.

Hooked up to the optipac and got zip. Loads of checking and messing with wiring configs got me no-where. Finally I used an external 5V  direct to the encoder, and shared to GND with the optipac and I was in business. The 5V into tje opti from the USB was still up at exactly 5V, but through the opti it dropped to 4.7V. I guess this encoder draws more current than the 3000 as it's got a bit more going on inside with the dips and electronics.