Spinner with return to center?

[Gradius]

Is there any model of spinner that allows returning to center as a wheel? Maybe I could modify an existing spinner by adding a couple of springs so that I could use my spinner as a wheel for Outrun and others? Anyone has done this or thought about this idea?

[Minwah]

RoadBlasters controller: optics but limited to ~270 degrees (prob less actually).

I think the main problem is that it goes out of calibration easily, unlike POTs.  The chap who made the awesome looking Yoke (was it Justin?) found this to be the case - he used optics.

I have a RoadBlasters controller, which actually seemed to work OK (unless I paused MAME)...but I had the thing wedged between my knees and so I wouldn't testify that it would work OK for a long period...hopefully I'll make a panel with it in one day  

Basically I think you'll find there is no alternative to a POT, although you could VERY easily make a paddle - just a POT with a spinner knob on it.  That would work perfect (without a real wheel) for OutRun...

[Gradius]

Excuse my ignorance, but what's a pot?

[G@M3FR3@K]

Excuse my ignorance, but what's a pot?

A potentiometer, it's an electronic component that is used to vary, or control, the amount of current that flows through an electronic circuit.
A potentiometer is also referred to as a pot.

Read The Secret Life of Pots for some info & pics on "pots".

[paigeoliver]

If you want a "return to center" spinner then do this (or something like it).

Get yourself a cheapo 270 degree PC steering wheel (the cheaper the better).

Tear it up, pull the wheel off (nicely), and add either a stereo knob (easiest method), or a real spinner knob to the existing return to center pot.

[Chris]

If you want a "return to center" spinner then do this (or something like it).

Get yourself a cheapo 270 degree PC steering wheel (the cheaper the better).

Tear it up, pull the wheel off (nicely), and add either a stereo knob (easiest method), or a real spinner knob to the existing return to center pot.

Of course, then it won't spin, so it won't be a spinner anymore...

[G@M3FR3@K]

If you want a "return to center" spinner then do this (or something like it).

Get yourself a cheapo 270 degree PC steering wheel (the cheaper the better).

Tear it up, pull the wheel off (nicely), and add either a stereo knob (easiest method), or a real spinner knob to the existing return to center pot.

Wouldn't that be defeating the purpose, since he wanted to use it as a cheap alternative to a wheel for playing Outrun & others.  If he has to go out and buy a wheel, why couldn't he just keep it intact for driving games, I think it will yield much better results than a hacked return to center spinner.

Not knocking your idea Paige, it was a good one, and he did ask how to build one, just think using a steering wheel would work much better for the driving games he's referring to.

On a side note, was there any games that used a return to center paddle?

[Gradius]

I also have a cheap analogue joystick for PC. I wonder how I could invent a way to transform the left-right movement of the stick into a circular movement. This would do the trick too.

[Chris]

I also have a cheap analogue joystick for PC. I wonder how I could invent a way to transform the left-right movement of the stick into a circular movement. This would do the trick too.

Take it apart and at it's heart will be a pair of pots.  Attach a knob to the X-axis pot and you're in business.

Better yet, buy a 100K linear taper pot with a really long shaft and put it in the place of that pot; the pot in the joystick is liable to have a short shaft.  (If it's USB, the pot may not be 100K.)

--Chris

[Gradius]

I've just tried my analogue stick with Arkanoid, as a test, and it seems that it doesn't work as analogue. The further the stick is from the center, the faster the paddle on the screen should move. But this does not happens like this, but as being controlled with a digital stick. Is this normal? I've redefined controls in input this game chaning dials to J2 X + and -

[u_rebelscum]

I've just tried my analogue stick with Arkanoid, as a test, and it seems that it doesn't work as analogue. The further the stick is from the center, the faster the paddle on the screen should move. But this does not happens like this, but as being controlled with a digital stick. Is this normal? I've redefined controls in input this game chaning dials to J2 X + and -

This is normal in mame.  Mame is good at translating mouse type inputs into analog joystick type, but not the other way around.

MameAnalog+ has a small hack that tries to do what you're expecting, but it's not very good.  Works better in some games than others.  (It's always on, so you can d/l analog+ and try it.)

[Kremmit]

You may have already seen this, but if not, check out this thread:
http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=21543
Apparently this thing has a return-to-center spinner paddle hiding inside it!