Yet another in my series of "but what is that part called?"
I'm making a PID temperature controller and currently have a couple of cheap buttons for "temp up/down"; I'm replacing them with a DPDT "mom-off-mom" switch, which I like a little better. But I thought it would be fun, if I could find it, to get one of those things which, um, well...
It's like a knob, but spring-loaded to return to center, and the further you turn it away from center, the faster something changes. So it's like a pot, sort of, but spring-loaded and self-centering. Like the things I've seen on some VCRS where there's a ring for seeking, and you turn it a bit to go forward and more to fast-forward, or the things on digital cameras for zooming (those must be a switch variant).
But I don't even know what to search for! The closest I found was "rocker pot", but the only ones of those I can find are silly expensive, and I was interested in a "twist" version anyway.
My DPDT "mom-off-mom" solution works fine, but that's not the point--now this is a quest. I'm interested in both a continuously-variable version and maybe a "switch" version as well... what are these things called?
It is a rotary encoder, or maybe a pot, but with a center-return spring. The rotary kind are not sold as independent parts. They tend to be custom-made for each application. If you want one, you would probably have to salvage one out of an old VCR or something.
I was afraid of that. The rotary encoder idea could be made to work, but it's overkill for this (I think). They nub-sticks are a good idea, but again seem not the right fit (since one axis wouldn't be used in an analog fashion).
For now I guess I'll stick with the SPDT, but I may think about the rotary encoder for a future iteration; it's an interesting idea. I used a comm radio once with dials that worked that way (spin fast to move much larger increments, turn slow for fine tuning) and it worked well.
A rotary encoder is a much more user-friendly interface than a toggle switch if you have a range of more than half a dozen steps.
Considering this will be used to cover a large range (for the temp setting, anything from about room temp to almost 250F), that's an important consideration. Right now holding the toggle counts continuously, 1 per 1/2 sec, and after 5 in a row it increases by 5, so actually it's not too onerous now setting typical usages (130F for steak; highest I've set is 180F until I get a smoker built).
But you're right, basic rotary encoder is probably the "right" answer, and besides I should know how to make one. Except now I want one of those clicky jog-dials that you can push in to "select"... (the one you linked is close enough, of course).
