Can this be done with Happ Trackball parts??

[GGKoul]

I purchased some used Happ Trackballs... and I'm wondering if I could use the spinner portion and the Optic sensor from the trackball to a create a rotary joystick out of my 8 way joysticks?

I mean, since the joystick handle already "spins"...  could I attach the spinner from the trackball and the sensor to the bottom of the joystick post to capture the spinning and then wire the optic sensor to my optipac?  

Can this be done?  Has anyone done this?  If so, is there a write-up on how to do this?

Thanks!
-GGKoul

[Lilwolf]

trouble would be is you wouldn't get a real resolution unless you could come up with a way that the wheel would spin like 40 times every time the joystick moved.

not worth it.  Go look for an analog joystick on ebay.  I got one for 10 bucks with shipping.  The go with a MS dual strike hack (oneUps')

[JustMichael]

Can this be done?  Has anyone done this?  If so, is there a write-up on how to do this?

Yes.

Yes.  Happ has.  Here is a link to the one they sell.  You could look at the mounting & exploded views.

Not that I know of.

[Lilwolf]

ahh... I didn't read the question right...

yeah you could... but remember that the entire optics need to move with the joystick... And you don't have much to hold onto.

unless you could gear it at the top.