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Have just built the perfect spinner...easy and cheap..very solid feel

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quarterback:

--- Quote from: rdagger on May 02, 2006, 02:48:37 pm ---Very clever.
--- End quote ---

I agree.  I love the fact that (apparently) the galvanized nature of the pipe allows it to work with the optical mouse.

I'm also glad it's a simple idea.  I can't imagine how confusing the write up would be for a more complex idea!  :dizzy:   :)

rollerball:
didnt try anything other than the pipe but I though if it didnt pickup anygood on the optics I could have just stuck some fabric of some kind....furry type stuff over the outside....that would work as well I guess....Ive played arkanoid with it but only out of the cp and it worked fantastic...havent put it in the cp as of yet...but it feels GREAT...its all about the pipe and weight that makes it work so good....maybe some people might not like the weighty feel but can always change the pipe you use...to whatever you want to stick on there....as long as its round.....the mouse only sees left and right....if someone else has a go at building one of these I would love to hear how it goes....have fun..

alexandro98:
Whoa, nice!
Im curious about resolution. 
Anyone know what the resolution of a typical optical mouse? 
Isnt it something like XXX per inch.  So if the pipe is So many Inch around (diamter or is that radius or circumference  ??? ) times the resolution per inch.

Hmm wonder what this resolution is comparted to a normal spinner, say slikstik or the GGG spinner.
And I wonder what resolution and pipe diameter we could have to combine to get a close to Arkanoid spinner resolution..
Anyone want to try to figure out the math on this one, because my head hurts!   :dizzy:

RandyT:

This is good for a chuckle (note the date)

For those who are curious, here was my version.  It's not as goofy as the idea I had before it though  :D


FWIW, it's very tricky to get the tension on the bearings just right.  Too tight and it doesn't spin.  Not tight enough and it spins great, but the shaft will wobble.

Neat idea using the texture of the pipe.  I actually made a pattern on an address label and wrapped a plastic drum.  Surprising how difficult it is to make a repetitive pattern that doesn't confuse the optical mouse.

The only possible drawback with the optical mice is that they are designed specifically to be a relative positioning device.   I'm not sure how absolute they are.  In other words, paddle games work a lot better if the paddle goes back to nearly the exact spot it was in if one were to turn the dial a half turn and turn it back to where it was previously.  A traditional encoder wheel might be better in this respect, especially when turned quickly, but some testing should decide that one easily enough.

Still a decent option for the tight budget, especially now that the HP/Agilent mouse technology has become so inexpensive.

RandyT

horseboy:
You are truly way ahead of your time.


But slightly behind mine. :laugh2:

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