Homemade Spinner

[atomaka]

Hey all,

I ran across http://www.doughansen.net/arcade/spinner.htm and thought that it would be a great way for me to actually afford a spinner.  I was just curious if anyone else has attempted it.  The guide is a little rough, especially for a newbie such as myself so if anyone can break it down or show me another, I would appreciate it.

Thanks!

[Hoagie_one]

i, also, would like more information on anyone who has done the homemade spinner

[ErikRuud]

Take a look at the Cheep Spinner Plans.  I adapted these plans when I built my spinner.

[Hoagie_one]

wow, far too complicated than My limited knowhow can comprehend

I'll just buy one from Oscar

[dhansen]

I've built many of these spinners....ask away!!  It was sorely missed during the spinner roundup!  

Doug

[MattMaan]

This is the route I'm planning to take on building a spinner... the only thing I'd be careful about is that not all harddrives have the threaded bearings that're used...

I picked up an old computer from the bin on my last trip to the Dump, and the hdd bearing didn't have an axle all the way through, nor was it threaded... but there was a bearing in the old 5inch floppy drive that looks like it might to the trick.  

[atomaka]

I've built many of these spinners....ask away!!  It was sorely missed during the spinner roundup!  

Doug

Hey Doug,

I appreciate the tutorial a lot. I was wondering if you could clarify a bit (or a lot more for us newbies) on the mouse hacking portion of the tutorial.  Thanks!

[paigeoliver]

Not all hard drives even have a bearing like that at all. I took one apart and it was nothing like what I saw on that website. I had nothing even remotely usable in a spinner project.

[dhansen]

Not all hard drives even have a bearing like that at all. I took one apart and it was nothing like what I saw on that website. I had nothing even remotely usable in a spinner project.

Yeah, I found this out later too.  I had a stack of these old WD 200mb drives that I used.  Back in the day, you had to make your own spinner, this is pre Oscar/Tornado days!

[dhansen]

Hey Doug,

I appreciate the tutorial a lot. I was wondering if you could clarify a bit (or a lot more for us newbies) on the mouse hacking portion of the tutorial.  Thanks!

A lot of the info on the mounting of the mouse guts can be found at:

http://www.arcadecontrols.com/files/Miscellaneous/Twisty-Grip_Spinner.pdf

I used to have a link to this on the page...hmmm sorry!  It looks like my ISP is having some issues, my page is painfullly slow!!

Of course there are probably better ways to mount it so get creative and think of new ways.  

Doug

[Warborg]

Just to interject, here is a design I cooked up a while back for my spinner, works pretty well for me...  

http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=3688

[atomaka]

Alright Doug.  Thanks a lot for pointing out the PDF.  That clears some things up!

[GadgetGeek]

Doug, a couple questions
1) do you know what size bolt is needed or do I just need to take the spindle into the hardware store and start trying them one at a time.
2) did you have problems getting the encoder wheel attached so that it didn't wobble during a spin?  If so, how did you overcome that problem?
3) did you ever come up with a better solution for attaching the knob?
Thanks

[dhansen]

Doug, a couple questions
1) do you know what size bolt is needed or do I just need to take the spindle into the hardware store and start trying them one at a time.
2) did you have problems getting the encoder wheel attached so that it didn't wobble during a spin?  If so, how did you overcome that problem?
3) did you ever come up with a better solution for attaching the knob?
Thanks

1) I just bought a pack of the various sized bolts/nuts from Radio Shack, I'm not sure what size they are.

2) The Belkin mouse encoder wheel shaft was the exact same size of the hole at the bottom of the HD spinner so this wasn't a problem.

3) No, but I haven't really spent any time on this in the last two years after I built it.  I suppose if you found a 1/4" hollow tube that was threaded the same as the HD assembly you could go with that.  Most folks just buy an Oscar so there really hasn't been that much interest in my DIY solution.

Doug

[GearHead]

Warborg -  that looks pretty interesting.  I was actually going to try a skateboard wheel when I was starting to design spinners but never got around to it.   You should definitely put a page together on how to put one together.

For other folks looking to build a spinner...
Here's the link to how I put my spinner together http://www.gearheadlabs.com/spinner/.  I'm still tweaking the design but something might be helpful to you.  I'm looking for a better flywheel and that metal caster looks like it'll work.  I was inspired by Oscar's newest spinner so a Discs of Tron version is just about finished.   I'm also thinking of cutting open an old Wizzer top...

[Chris]

I built the TwistyGrip spinner  If you use the Belkin mouse as it suggests, the construction is very straight forward.

However, the weak point of the design is the superglued piece that holds the end of the shaft up.  Many many times my daughter or niece would push too hard on the spinner while spinning in Wheel of Fortune, breaking off the little superglued tab.  Eventually, it became unrepairable, and I finally removed it from my cabinet.

--Chris

[CthulhuLuke]

Well I built a doug hansen spinner, and the only thing I'd have to say about it is that if you're going to use any type of material to mount it on that's less than 1/2 thick, put a screw on top, and hold up the coat hanger pcb thingy via a nut on that screw, that's my plans on my unfinished spinner.
   -Luke

[CanStick]

I have fiddled around with this design too...

The hard drive bearing I used (out of a Western Digital hard drive) had a #4-40 thread on the top.  What I did for a shaft is the following:

Take a 3/4" (or so) #4-40 bolt, and use a boltcutter or hacksaw to cut the head off.  Then, screw the bolt threads into the HD bearing top.  Finally, screw one of these into it for a shaft:

http://www.keyelco.com/kec/standpro/specpage/spec16.htm#twofifty

Use the 0.250 OD round threaded spacer...works perfectly as a shaft, and comes in lengths up to 2".  These can be purchased from probably any electronics supply house, including Digikey (http://www.digikey.com)

Hope this helps!
Terry.

[dhansen]

Take a 3/4" (or so) #4-40 bolt, and use a boltcutter or hacksaw to cut the head off.  Then, screw the bolt threads into the HD bearing top.  Finally, screw one of these into it for a shaft:

(http://www.digikey.com)

Hope this helps!
Terry.

There you go! How long have you known this?  You see, people are ashamed they use the HD spinner...don't be...share the love!

 

Doug

[Capthowdy]

I have fiddled around with this design too...

The hard drive bearing I used (out of a Western Digital hard drive) had a #4-40 thread on the top.  What I did for a shaft is the following:

Take a 3/4" (or so) #4-40 bolt, and use a boltcutter or hacksaw to cut the head off.  Then, screw the bolt threads into the HD bearing top.  Finally, screw one of these into it for a shaft:

http://www.keyelco.com/kec/standpro/specpage/spec16.htm#twofifty

Use the 0.250 OD round threaded spacer...works perfectly as a shaft, and comes in lengths up to 2".  These can be purchased from probably any electronics supply house, including Digikey (http://www.digikey.com)

Hope this helps!
Terry.

Has anyone else found that a 4 - 40 bolt is too big?  The hard drive I used was from an old Power Mac and it's pretty much exactly like the one Doug used.  You can't really find anything smaller than a 4-40 anywhere.  Radio shack doesn't carry ANY....and they even gave me kind of a dirty look for even asking about bolts in an electronic store.

[NinjaEpisode]

Capthowdy, you want the Nasty Spinner:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=17522.0

It'll help you figure out some of the nuances of this hack.  You can always rethread the area instead of trying to find that size bolt.

[MYX]

Wow, Dhansen is on the boards, havn't seen you for a while. Welcome bro.

I built one of Dhansen's spinners and it worked great. Just take your time and follow the instructions. I only had one real problem is that about 2 years later the super glue I used I guess just quit and the big washer fell and nearly broke the plastic wagon wheel thingy.

I took apart about 3 hard drives before I found the right one. If you go to a second hand computer repair shop a lot of times they will have boxes of dead drives. I got mine for free this way.

The fun thing is to then take the hard drive platters to IncompUSA or best buy and find the nerdiest guy there(someone who seems to really know about computers). Take the platters to him and say "My hard drive wasn't working right, so I took these out and was hoping that you could give me some that work". Then watch as this idea of someone taking the platters out of the HD sinks into his head.

One last thing bout the platters. if you get a piece of string so you can suspend them and ding them into each other. They have amazing tone. (Sorry sound guy geek thing). If you hold them you dampen them too much to get a pure tone. They need to be able to vibrate.

[quarterback]

Wow, Dhansen is on the boards, havn't seen you for a while. Welcome bro.

That post was made in 2003

[MYX]

Wow, Dhansen is on the boards, havn't seen you for a while. Welcome bro.

That post was made in 2003

My bad, never mind. 

[ErikRuud]

One last thing bout the platters. if you get a piece of string so you can suspend them and ding them into each other. They have amazing tone. (Sorry sound guy geek thing). If you hold them you dampen them too much to get a pure tone. They need to be able to vibrate.

Somewhere at home I have a platter from an old IBM mainframe drive.  I think it is about 10" inches in diameter.  The tone it produces is really cool.

[Xam]

One last thing bout the platters. if you get a piece of string so you can suspend them and ding them into each other. They have amazing tone. (Sorry sound guy geek thing). If you hold them you dampen them too much to get a pure tone. They need to be able to vibrate.

Somewhere at home I have a platter from an old IBM mainframe drive.  I think it is about 10" inches in diameter.  The tone it produces is really cool.

LOL! Imagine the footprint that spinner would have!

Xam

[quarterback]

Wow, Dhansen is on the boards, havn't seen you for a while. Welcome bro.

That post was made in 2003

My bad, never mind. 

Tee hee

FWIW, he has posted a few times in 2006, and was last logged on on April 15th, so you weren't completely off base

[ahofle]

The fun thing is to then take the hard drive platters to IncompUSA or best buy and find the nerdiest guy there(someone who seems to really know about computers). Take the platters to him and say "My hard drive wasn't working right, so I took these out and was hoping that you could give me some that work". Then watch as this idea of someone taking the platters out of the HD sinks into his head.

That's a great idea.  I'm going to take some platters in with a hacksaw and ask if they can help me with a low level partition. LOL

[Capthowdy]

Capthowdy, you want the Nasty Spinner:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=17522.0

It'll help you figure out some of the nuances of this hack.  You can always rethread the area instead of trying to find that size bolt.

hmm...well that didn't work.  In the process of rethreading the hole...I expanded the shaft and made the spinner useless.  I think I'm giving up on the whole diy spinner thing.  It's just too frustrating and I think I've spent about half of what it would've cost me for a real one and I have nothing to show for it.

[MYX]

It's just too frustrating and I think I've spent about half of what it would've cost me for a real one and I have nothing to show for it.

Yes you do. Lots of worthless garbage. 
Actually, keep the parts, buy a real one, then explain to your friends how you made it, ant what you have right now was merly the mark 1 version. 

[clhug]

Has anyone else found that a 4 - 40 bolt is too big?  The hard drive I used was from an old Power Mac and it's pretty much exactly like the one Doug used.  You can't really find anything smaller than a 4-40 anywhere.  Radio shack doesn't carry ANY....and they even gave me kind of a dirty look for even asking about bolts in an electronic store.

I'm in the process of building one of these right now.  A 4 - 40 is what worked for me.  I got my motor out of an old Western Digital 2 Gb hard drive.  When looking for that bolt, I DID see a #2 bolt size as well (even smaller than the #4).  Radio Shack does carry them.  Here's a link to the #2 size bolt package, though they also have a #4 size package.  They are tecnically called machine "screws" not bolts, just so you know what to ask for when you go to the store.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103300&cp=2032058.2032231.2032283&pg=7&parentPage=family

or catalog # 64-3010 (go into the store and just ask for that catalog #)

I got mine at a local True Value hardware store though because I only needed one and I found it for 10 cents instead of $1.99 for a whole bag that I didn't need.  (You probably won't find these little ones at a big store like Lowe's or Home Depot.  I couldn't at the ones near me anyway.)

Unfortuately, I think I see in a later post that you've already tried rethreading the hole and that didn't work out, but should you be able to get your hands on another hard drive to try again, or somebody else with the same question, this will help you know how to find the bolts.

[clhug]

I think I'm giving up on the whole diy spinner thing.  It's just too frustrating and I think I've spent about half of what it would've cost me for a real one and I have nothing to show for it.

I'd like to know what you spent your money on.   A real SlikStik or Groovy Game Gear spinner is $70.  I haven't spent more than about $5 so far on my hard drive spinner I'm in the process of working on, and I don't imagine I'll have spent more than $20 grand total when it's done.  The hard drive is hopefully free, about $5 for the bolt, spacer, washers, and knob (if you just use the cheap Radio Shack knob).  And you should be able to find a mouse to hack for no more than $10 or $15.  (I know the belkin mouse was recommended because of shaft size on the encoder wheel and I'm not sure how much that particular mouse costs, but I think I can probably make just about any mouse work.  I'm actually going to try an optical mouse first, but that's another thread.)

If you can find another hard drive to rip apart, I wouldn't be afraid of trying again.

The only concern I have is that so far the only "spacer" I can find for the shaft that is the right size is nylon and I have some concern that that might break with tightening the set screw for the knob if not careful and with fast spinning in a hectic game the nylon spacer might also break.  I've found aluminum spacers but they are all too big.

[Capthowdy]

I think it was just my frustration with it that was making me think I was spending more than I really am.  I ended up buying a TurboTwist last night...but I'm not really giving up on the DIY one.  I'm usually pretty good with things like this.  But the only stores around me seem to be either RadioShack and Home Depot.  (although I work in Manhattan...I have very little time to do shopping around there for parts) ...and everytime I go into either place I can't find what I'm looking for or the workers there are morons.  I can't tell you how many times I've gone into the radio shack near me this week and asked the guy for those screws and had him sending me to Home Depot.  BUT...sure enough today...I went in there with the CAT# you gave me and found exactly what I needed myself.  I wanted to jam them in his eye sockets!!

Oh well...I got the screws that work...but the pressure is off so it'll be easier to figure out.  Thank you for that...

oh...and as far as the Hard Drive spinner....I forced the 4-40 bolt into it and "ruined" it...the thing would barely turn.  I toyed around with it for a few days...nothing.  I almost dropped it in the trash...Within a FEW HOURS of me purchasing the TurboTwist...something must've snapped back into place...because the damn thing works again!  oy...shoot me!   

[clhug]

Yeah, I can see you've probably got limited options living in Manhattan for that kind of stuff.  With Radio Shack, the best thing is to try to find what you're looking for on their web site first and find the catalog number and then go in with that.  There's even a thing on there where you can find out if any specific stores near you have the item you're looking for before going to the store even.

Glad you found it.

[danny_galaga]

i cant remember what sizes they go down to, but you can get small thread metal screws from hobby stores.  brands like du-bro and prather are readily available for r/c cars, boats and planes...

[Kremmit]

Even Manhattan must have regular old hardware stores somewhere.  Smaller stores that don't have a whole aisle for carpets, followed by a a three-aisle wide area showcasing kitchen cabinets- those little stores are the places to go for things like screws and bolts.

[sWampy]

I made a modified one of these http://arcadecontrols.com/files/Miscellaneous/spinner.pdf , got a guy to spotweld the bearing to the plates, instead of trying to use the wierd 3 nut holding, and used the extra encoders from a betson trackball I upgraded with ggg's encoders, and a trackball optical board I ordered from somewhere for $6, can't seem to find them now.   But all in all, it worked pretty good, and didn't cost but around $45, with $10 of that being the upgraded encoder wheels that made my trackball work a ton better, and a ggg trackball/spinner usb interface.

[Capthowdy]

Even Manhattan must have regular old hardware stores somewhere.  Smaller stores that don't have a whole aisle for carpets, followed by a a three-aisle wide area showcasing kitchen cabinets- those little stores are the places to go for things like screws and bolts.

I don't live in Manhattan...I only work there.  and unfortunately on days that I work I never have the time to shop around for parts.

[The 80s Man]

I made mine from a VCR Tape Head, those things spin like crazy with very little resistance.