Build your own spinner question

[Clones]

I have been exploring building my own spinner:

couple problems: no old hard drive laying around,

looked a the twisty grip spinner, have not been able to find a 1/4" metal spacers anywhere
(washers, collar, mouse, no problem)

Interested in plans or options to use instead of metal spacers....

[ark_ader]

I've seen one made with skateboard truck and wheel and do the mouse hack from that.

Flywheels from old VCRs make a good spinner.

Link:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=69812.0

Hard drive spinners can be a pain.  I sliced my finger pretty good ripping apart an old seagate hard drive, but I found out later that Fujitsu drives are much easier.  Find a dead 1gb one on ebay and watch those fingers....

[Clones]

Thanks for your reply and the link.  The one thing I have been having a hard time wrapping my brain around was what to make the spindle and anthing else between the mouse hack encoder and the knob.  Feel like I am ig'nant or overthinking, probably no. 1. 

[shardian]

I think I have a few HD bearings sitting around that I tore apart a year or so ago. I'll look and see if I still have them. If so, I'll send them to you.

[unclet]

I did two Twisty Grip USB mouse hacks about 5 years. 

Here is the list of materials I obtained with the distributor (part #) listed as well:

Standard Spinner Knob = apem.com (420094B1/4) I asked and they sent me free samples
Aluminum spacers = Keystone Electronics(3489) I asked and they sent me free samples
nylon sleeves/spacers, washers, super glue, 6/32 screws = Ace Hardware
metal collars with set screw = Grainger (2X735)

I can not remember if Apem and Keystone sold these parts individually, although I do remember I told them I was designing an arcade controller prototype and needed a few samples to see if my idea worked before buying in bulk.   They were happy to send me what I needed as "samples" (ie: free) and I used them for my mouse hacks.   I never decided to mass produce these mouse hacks.  I remember getting a couple of spinner knobs and some aluminum spaces (get extra in case you you mess up cutting them to size).

If the part numbers are the same maybe they will be useful.  If not, you can try calling them and explain what you are looking for ........   I called them directly when asking for samples of course .....

Hope this helps.

[severdhed]

i made a hard drive spinner a while back and it works pretty well.  If you have any friends who work on computers, more than likely they have some old hard drives lying around that are too small to be of any use.  if not, check your local PC repair shop, you will probably have more luck with the mom and pop type shops.  I work at one of these places and i know that we frequently acquire old hard drives that are either dead, or are just too small to be used.  i usually tear them apart to get the magnets.  I'm sure if you look around, you could pick up a small/dead drive for next to nothing.

[NoOne=NBA=]

Check the screen door parts section at Home Depot.
I got some wheels for a screen door that had a 1/4" hole in the middle, and a larger area around that could be used to secure the wheel to the CP area.
I drilled 3 small holes through the outer part, and screwed it to the wood, then used the center of the thing for a guide to drill the pilot hole for the shaft.
I put a piece of all-thread through the center and tightened it up on the center piece, and it spun great.
It wasn't as good as the ones that I've bought, but was completely playable.

[ark_ader]

Thanks for your reply and the link.  The one thing I have been having a hard time wrapping my brain around was what to make the spindle and anthing else between the mouse hack encoder and the knob.  Feel like I am ig'nant or overthinking, probably no. 1. 

Practice my friend is the best thing.  I have bought several other trackballs and spinner parts over the years, just to lie in a box as I couldn't figure out how to get them going.

I find myself always looking for stuff to make controllers or parts for cabs in the automotive sections of Wal-Mart or K Mart and in the toy sections.  I get a thrill just making something work like a Starwars Yoke and then end up giving it away to a mate.

I bet the people on this whole site does the same in one way or another.

Never feel dumb to ask a question.  Odds are that we have done it before.   

When you have your spinner made, share with us how you made it and post a picture.   

[NoOne=NBA=]

I bet the people on this whole site does the same in one way or another.

I already had an Oscar Up/Down and a V2 when I made that one.
I did it just to see if I could.
I also made a Major Havoc roller proto from a 3" caster, just to see if I could.
I got it working, and then moved on to other projects.

[Clones]

thanks for all the thoughts, it'll keep me thinking and moving...  Will start posting stuff as soon as possible

[vizzinni]

Did you check out the Controls section on the main site?  I used the Cheep Spinner design but there's a few others there too....