Around here, we love it when someone identifies a need and creates their own solution. In this case, [Engineer Bo] was tired of endless and imprecise scrolling with a mouse wheel. No off-the-shelf solutions were found, and other DIY projects either just used hacked mice scroll wheels, customer electronics with low-res hardware encoders, or featured high-res encoders that were down-sampled to low-resolution. A custom build was clearly required.
We loved seeing hacks along the whole process by [Engineer Bo], working with components on hand, pairing sensors to microcontrollers to HID settings, 3D printing forms to test ergonomics, and finishing the prototype device. When 3D printing, [Engineer Bo] inserted a pause after support material to allow drawing a layer of permanent marker ink that acts as a release agent that can later be cleaned with rubbing alcohol.
We also liked the detail of a single hole inside used to install each of the three screws that secure the knob to the base. While a chisel and UV-curing resin cleaned up some larger issues with the print, more finishing was required. For a project within a project, [Engineer Bo] then threw together a mini lathe with 3D printed and RC parts to make sanding easy.
Scroll down with your clunky device to see the video that illustrates the precision with a graphic of a 0.09° rotation and is filled with hacky nuggets. See how the electronics were selected and the circuit designed and programmed, the use of PCBWay’s CNC machining in addition to board assembly services, and how to deal with bearings that spin too freely. [Engineer Bo] teases that a future version might use a larger bearing for less wobble and an anti-slip coating on the base. Will the board files and 3D models be released, too? Will these be sold as finished products or kits? Will those unused LED drivers be utilized in an upcoming version? We can’t wait to see what’s next for this project.
Thanks for the tip [UnderSampled]!
Why not just use Apple’s Magic Trackpad? Not to be confused with the Magic Mouse and infamous charging port.
one might assume because the magic trackpad does not rotate
This is true but the Magic Trackpad is a multitouch pad with which you could implement something like this by using a rotational movement with your fingers on the trackpad. That said, this definitely leaves something to be desired compared to an actual dial and in this case it’s also obscenely expensive even compared to a bespoke DIY solution.
Or one of the Logitech mice featuring ‘inertia’ scroll wheels?
Cause those still scroll x amount of lines per “click”. Which means they are very fast but still as imprecise as any normal mouse. I actually want to try hid remapping that would allow to implement resolution multiplier on those to see if you can get them more smooth and precise.
They also use a hall sensor to read the angle…
What a great idea, as this can have a fixed position on your desk (at the side of my desk or under the keyboard holder would also be a good place for this). Quite often I find my mouse is not in a comfortable position if I need to use it in the same position for a long time ie scrolling. I’ve been a software engineer for 30 years and am getting old and creaky now, so am looking for things to help me interact better with GUI OSes/Apps etc. without giving me RSI
I read so many manga, eBooks, pdfs, blog posts, pinterest, Instagram . . . this would be wonderful. I love the idea. There’s a market for this. A new design that’s useful, easily integrated into casual scrolling and is not so shocking that makes regular people shy away from a scary complicated tech toy. I want one! Great Job.
Can we use it to play Tempest?
Totally yes.
This looks like a nice project, but the Microsoft Surface Dial would be a suitable off the shelf alternative.
This would be great for scrolling on an e book reader.
Istr hearing about a phone or ereader when had a hand crank, but can’t remember its name.
You are thinking of the playdate portable console.
Personally, I think the use of permanent ink as a ‘release agent’ for the printed support material is absolute genius. I’m off to try that next print and maybe save some finger cutting and swearing.
Oh, oh, oh! He cited my scroll wheel project! Resolution multiplier? Who knew? Turns out that Engineer Bo did. Cool!
You made a microsoft dial.