The NEW Build Your Own Arcade Controls

Main => Project Announcements => Topic started by: GearHead on March 28, 2003, 12:05:23 am

Title: New Spinner Webpage
Post by: GearHead on March 28, 2003, 12:05:23 am
There seemed to be a lack of spinner construction pages so I thought I'd put together something.  I just finished the first draft of a webpage that goes through a simple spinner design I came up with.  If you're looking to build your own here's another option.  

http://www.gearheadlabs.com/spinner/ (http://www.gearheadlabs.com/spinner/)

It's all one page right now and there are lots of pictures so it may take some time to load. Let me know what you think.


GearHead
Title: Re:New Spinner Webpage
Post by: MinerAl on March 28, 2003, 12:29:07 am
Very slick.
Title: Re:New Spinner Webpage
Post by: Chad on March 28, 2003, 09:42:14 am
I can't get your site to pull up. Is there something wrong or is it my connection?
Title: Re:New Spinner Webpage
Post by: Wade on March 28, 2003, 10:47:54 am
It isn't coming up for me, either.

Wade
Title: Re:New Spinner Webpage
Post by: marcoval on March 28, 2003, 12:21:58 pm
Same here, no webpage. I would love to see the design so I hope you get it fixed.
Title: Re:New Spinner Webpage
Post by: ItzMR2u on March 28, 2003, 12:45:07 pm
Checked nothing happening. ???
Title: Re:New Spinner Webpage
Post by: GearHead on March 28, 2003, 02:10:53 pm
Sorry about that...  the server was scheduled for an update this morning.  Things should be back up and running.

www.gearheadlabs.com/spinner (http://www.gearheadlabs.com/spinner)

GearHead

Checked nothing happening. ???
Title: Re:New Spinner Webpage
Post by: creatine28 on March 28, 2003, 02:13:49 pm
NICE JOB!    I like it!
Title: Re:New Spinner Webpage
Post by: ErikRuud on March 28, 2003, 02:13:56 pm
Nice write up!

Your spinner is simular to mine in many ways, except I got all the hardware from ACE, and I used a flanged ball bearing.

Title: Re:New Spinner Webpage
Post by: dhansen on March 28, 2003, 02:32:20 pm
Nice, you could save a little and order Oscars optics....

(http://www.oscarcontrols.com/ppp/images/204.jpg)

only $7.50 vs $15.00

Doug
Title: Re:New Spinner Webpage
Post by: SirPoonga on March 28, 2003, 03:01:24 pm
or optics from bob roberts too....
Title: Re:New Spinner Webpage
Post by: Birdtales on March 28, 2003, 03:42:27 pm
I agree that this is an awsome site for the DIY type but I would like to point out that according to your price list you can get an Oscar Model 3 for $3.65 more than you spent and it's already working.
Title: Re:New Spinner Webpage
Post by: GearHead on March 28, 2003, 04:26:46 pm
I agree that this is an awsome site for the DIY type but I would like to point out that according to your price list you can get an Oscar Model 3 for $3.65 more than you spent and it's already working.

Yeah, you're right and that's why I put that "WARNING!" on the site.   An Oscar is a good option for about $48.  My spinner is a prototype so it's not the lowest price I can get it down to.  I'm hoping people can find other sources for parts that will make it cheaper to build.  Doug's suggestion to use an Oscar optic board is great and reduces the price by about $7.50.  I'll update the site to include that option and others as they come in.  The next item I'd like to find another source for is the Delrin washers.  McMaster only sells them in lots of 50 so you end up spending $7.62 when you need about 4 of them.  If you could buy them individually they'd cost you about 60 cents total.  

If you choose the cheaper parts options (including using the Oscar optic board) and only count the cost of the Delrin washers you actually use, the price is close to $24 or something like that.

Now if you're building more than one the price savings starts to add up.  I have 4 built now and it was much cheaper than buying 4 Oscars.  I still have about 25 of those Delrin washers left too...


GearHead
Title: Re:New Spinner Webpage
Post by: Birdtales on March 28, 2003, 04:30:56 pm
Ah my male brain skipped completely over the WARNING. :)
Title: Re:New Spinner Webpage
Post by: Sasquatch! on March 28, 2003, 09:18:11 pm
That's pretty cool.  Great detail and explanation into it too.
Title: Re:New Spinner Webpage
Post by: x-wing on March 28, 2003, 11:01:31 pm
Good job on the plans!  Nice selection on the bearing, very authentic.  These make a spinner feel much better than one with ball bearings, as I found out after I spent mucho dollars on my first spinner I built with ball bearings.  Oscar is the only one who uses these bronze bearings commercially, and that is probably one of the reasons why his are so popular.   Well, that and than his superb tech support and willingness to help others with their own spinner projects.  He helped me with some issues I was having with my own homebrew spinner even though I didn't buy any parts from him (thanks Oscar, a true boon to the BYOAC crowd!).

One thing you might want to mention, Gearhead, is that people should consider multiple shipping charges if they buy all their parts online like you did.  If you consider average shipping charges, say $7 per vendor, then you can anticipate an extra $20 or so from the price you quoted if someone has to order parts from 3 or more retailers.  Just something to keep in mind.   :)

Title: Re:New Spinner Webpage
Post by: Generic Eric on March 29, 2003, 04:31:49 am
Thanks for sharing.  Looks good.
Title: Re:New Spinner Webpage
Post by: Frostillicus on March 30, 2003, 09:05:33 am
Ah where was this when I massacred a bunch of  mice last year  ;)  Seriously, though, this is a great write-up and the pictures really tell it all.  Great job and thanks for sharing!
Title: Re:New Spinner Webpage
Post by: Edgedamage on July 12, 2003, 06:03:59 pm
Hey great work on the custom spinner. I have a idea for the weight instead of using pricey washers. Rip apart a old tape recoder and use the flywheel from the capstain
they are usually fairly heavy and are not to hard to drill for a larger shaft. In case you don't know what the capstain is it is the rod that the black rubber pinch roller
presses against to keep the tape speed constant. And most if not all cassette capstains flywheels are less than a 1/2" thick.