I spent the entire day searching the internet trying to find a rotary encoder that's multi-directional with a push button. It's for a car project, but essentially I'm trying to mimic BMW's iDrive knob. The encoder that I am looking for has to be able to turn left, turn right, up, down, left, right and push in.
I looked at Sparkfun's Joystick Shield Kit, but I think it's wouldn't give me the feel that I am looking for.
I was hoping someone could recommend one, any suggestions?
If you can't find one, build one! If you have any hot glue, glue sparkfun's rotary encoder on to a 12*12 mm button:
Sounds like you want a gaming joystick like a microsoft sidewinder, with another axis of freedom - sit it on a platform that you can push down onto.
(Or add a button on top that you push down on ?).
Thanks for the suggestions guys. I know it would be more expensive, but I am looking for something built into a single encoder.
So really you want the rotary encoder stacked on top of the analog joystick with push button.
I think the gaming joysticks have it all for not much $ - left/right, forward/back, twist left/right, and numberous buttons any of which you could call up/down.
Is it the size that is a problem? Pick one up used, strip it down some to get rid of the extra buttons on top or make your own top shape, be a little creative!!
$13 TigerDirect Sunset, don't know if it supports twisting.
So really you want the rotary encoder stacked on top of the analog joystick with push button.
At a guess digital joystick would do.
Ok, I spent a little time looking into using a joystick, I know now that that's not the way I want to go. Although it would be the cheapest, the joystick wouldn’t be an ideal solution because I would lose one of the main function of this project, which is the ability to twist. It also has to be a clean install because it’s going into my car.
Here is what I have been looking at so far:
Griffin PowerMate: Turn left, turn right and push in. No up, down, left, right control.
SpaceNavigator PE: Has everything; turn left, turn right, up, down, left, right and push in.
Logitech Nulooq: Has everything; turn left, turn right, up, down, left, right and push in.
The issue with all three is that they are USB. From what I have been reading it’ll be a challenge getting the Arduino to act as a usb HID host. But maybe I can bypass the USB interface.
I found this old post about the PowerMate:
http://www.arduino.cc/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1234256592/2
The USB Host Shield from SparkFun looks promising. Reading up on it now.
Well if you just want your basic mechanical encoder with push button monentary switch, E-bay has several:
Keep in mind that because their mechanical contacts and not optical or magnetic, you code will have to 'debounce' both the two encoder channels and the switch contacts. These little beasties do like to bounce their contacts.
Lefty
JRMN:
The issue with all three is that they are USB. From what I have been reading it’ll be a challenge getting the Arduino to act as a usb HID host. But maybe I can bypass the USB interface.
Why would you just plug it in via usb? I would hack into it and make it do what I want...
I have been looking for the same thing. I will probably try and track down one of these.
Grayhill - Series 60A, Data Sheet: http://www.grayhill.com/web1/images/ProductImages/Opt_Encoder_60A.pdf
Cheers,
~Josh