Mouse hacks

[DaOld Man]

Is there a thread already started that shows a mouse hack step by step?
If not, Im thinking of starting one. Might help a lot of people wanting to go that route with their trackball or spinner.
I just dont want to do a lot of repeat work.
Also, I have found a chip that will not work as a hack, due to the fact that the optical sensors are different.  On a mouse with chip LOGITECH 361125-0000; I dont think this type chip will work. Why?
Because if you follow the traces from the phototransistors (optic sensors), to the chip, you will find that the center lead of the sensor goes back to the chip, while the two outside leads connect to the board's pos and neg power.
Every trackball I have hacked thus far needs the center lead to be pos and the two outside leads to go back to the chip.
If you make sure you have a proper chip before destroying a good mouse, it will save you a lot of work and time.
Here is a rough sketch which should get my point across.
 

[u_rebelscum]

Also, I have found a chip that will not work as a hack, due to the fact that the optical sensors are different.  On a mouse with chip LOGITECH 361125-0000; I dont think this type chip will work. Why?

People have had problems with logitech before.  I'm glad you were able to explain why.

Because if you follow the traces from the phototransistors (optic sensors), to the chip, you will find that the center lead of the sensor goes back to the chip, while the two outside leads connect to the board's pos and neg power.

  Hmm, I wonder what the heck the sensor is sending so the chip can tell which direction movement?  There aren't two sensors separate per axis (like most arcade trackballs)?  Or maybe the sensor is serializing the two signals?

Every trackball I have hacked thus far needs the center lead to be pos and the two outside leads to go back to the chip.

The two leads normally being the two sensors inside the same unit, which is easy to match to the arcade's two sensors in two separate units.

[Arm123]

Is there a thread already started that shows a mouse hack step by step?
If not, Im thinking of starting one. Might help a lot of people wanting to go that route with their trackball or spinner.

I think you should, it would definitely help people (ME!) looking to make a cheap spinner / track ball.

[XyloSesame]

If anyone is interested in HDD spinner hacks, I've just posted 5 drive spindles in the BST/Free section...

[ArtMAME]

I have done one of these HD spindle spinner hacks.  Works pretty good.  I used an optical mouse mounted upside down so that the optical reader could "see" the washer going by.  Once you get the optical mouse in the right position, you screw it or glue it in place and you are in business.  Although it does take up a lot of real estate under your control panel, it is cheap and easy...