Driving Controls

[J_K_M_A_N]

I would like to make a Driving (360 degree) control panel for the cab. How have others gone about this? I don't have a lot of money and was wondering what people use to build from scratch. I was guessing I would use a usb mouse or two but what should I use to mount the wheel? I have thought about buying an encoder wheel and mouse from OSCAR. Also, thete is a store that has steering wheels for go karts near my house. I think they were about $20 for an ok one. Good plan? Thanks.


J_K_M_A_N

[Tiger-Heli]

Better plan:  Check E-bay under Coin-Op arcade http://listings.ebay.com/aw/listings/list/all/category13715/index.html and search for "Steering" or "wheel"  The only current one is an OutRun for $50.00, but check the completed:

This item: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2139597217 is identical to the wheel I bought on E-bay a while back.  The linked wheel was $8.99 and no one bid on it.  You'll notice two other wheels sold for the same price.  The guy may still have it if you want to contact him.

I have a desktop controller (no cab).  On this particular wheel, the PC board sticks below the base of the enclosure.  However, I was able to remove the mounting bracket, mount the wheel upside down (so the board points upward), drill one new hole and mount the wheel using the original carriage bolts and now it sits flat on the desk in the original enclosure.

For interface, I just removed the original optic board and used foam tape and an angle bracket to position a mouse PC board where it would "read" the original encoder wheel.

Other options are using the original optics and either of these mouse hacks:  http://mamewah.mameworld.net/MouseHack.html and also  http://members.shaw.ca/bakaye/tballhack.htm or getting an opti-pac.