45 replies to this topic

[MikePinball]

I wanted to mount my rotary controller on the bottom left front of my cabinet (out of the way, near my bottom-mounted exit button). Given its appropriately short shaft, the knob would be difficult to install directly through a wood panel (cabinet side or floor). 

Here is another alternative to mount the encoder on a piece of 18mm/0.75" plywood.

 

I drilled a small hole all the way through for my desired knob position. Then I drilled 9/32" (7 mm) hole for the shaft about 1/4" into the front side of the wood. The depth is not too important but keeping it between 3/16" and 1/4" is best. Then from the inside I used my 1 1/4" Forstner bit to drill out for the PCB. Do not drill all the way through. When you start to see the 9/32" hole you are probably almost done. Try mounting the PCB to see if enough of the shaft appears to tighten on the screw. If not drill some more with the Forstner bit. If you accidentally go all the way through then you will have to use the mounting plate idea that Phazer51 used.

 

In the picture below, there are four quadrants. Top left shows the front. My test piece of wood is very soft and you will see a divot. You can also just see a depression caused by the locking nut and washer when I tightened on the PCB. Top right shows the back side. My Forstner bit slipped a bit too but at least it is on the back. Bottom left shows the knob from the top. Bottom right shows the knob from the side. You need to allow a little bit of room between the wood and knob so the button can be depressed.

 

 

The picture below shows the dimensions of the PCB (in green), the dimensions of the rectangular socket, and the hole for the shaft - all in mm. The shaft as you can see is off center. The strict turning diameter of the whole thing is 2 x SQRT(14*14*2) = 40mm (~1.5"). I got by with a 1.25" hole partly because I deliberately drilled it slightly off center from the shaft for the knob.

Try this at home on a spare piece of wood before committing it to your cabinet.

 

Edit: Fixed some min typos

Edited by MikePinball, 21 September 2019 - 04:57 PM.

[gtxjoe]

I was able to set the volume controller with an older IPAC (pre-2015).  Works great.  (Mike, your wood install post above says 9/16" hole for the shaft, it should be 9/32")

 

The older version I have uses WinIPAC v1.0 to program the keys.   To set up the volume key using WinIpac 1.0, start the app. Right-click on the desired button and select "Volume Up".  Repeat for "Volume Down". Click "Program".

 

It looks like there is no support for "Mute" button with this version of IPAC.  Maybe the newer IPAC supports...  Anyways, I ended up using the volume push button to launch the Popper frontend.  (Used a macro to send Ctrl-Alt-P and configured that hot key for Popper)

 

The IPAC does have a header with +5V and Ground, so I used that to power the volume controller.  Here is a dusty cabinet pic (red is 5V), again for the older IPAC

 

And, here is a pic of it installed in the coin door.  

 

 

[MikePinball]

The older version I have uses WinIPAC v1.0 to program the keys.

Thank you for finding the typo  - I have fixed it.

 

Good information on using the rotary encoder with IPAC. And your install is exactly how I envisioned it.

[STV]

Pic or it didn't happen! 

 

Works great.  I've actually set the push button function to "pause"... 

The other hole is from a previous volume knob solution that was much less nifty than this new one. 

[MikePinball]

Works great.  I've actually set the push button function to "pause"... 

The other hole is from a previous volume knob solution that was much less nifty than this new one. 

Good to hear. I still have some for sale from the first batch if anyone else is interested.

 

Because the volume rotation is so responsive, it is quite easy to get it all the way down to zero (mute). That means you can use the button for pretty much anything you like including pause, coin, shift etc etc

[dondi]

Hey @MikePinball. Any notions of increasing the length of the POT shaft for upcoming batches?

[MikePinball]

I don't use a POT (potentiometer). It uses a rotary encoder with 20 detents. I have not found any with longer shafts. I think the real issue is that the locking screw thread is not that long and therefore it can only be fastened to relatively thin materials. Nevertheless a metal coin door works great.

[gtxjoe]

Would an extension like this work

https://m.grainger.c...:G:s&s_kwcid=AL!2966!3!216788409968!!!g!297767876575!

[MikePinball]

Would an extension like this work

https://m.grainger.c...:G:s&s_kwcid=AL!2966!3!216788409968!!!g!297767876575!

 

Yes possibly. I measured the shaft as having a diameter of 0.235". I would ask dondi what problem he is trying to solve as there might be a better/cheaper solution.

[BrandonLaw]

This looks like something I need!  Let me ask you something...I have an SSF system with 2xLepai amplifiers for rear/backglass sound.  I want to turn them both off/down/up without opening my door.  I have an external Vol control for my backglass, but cannot have one for my (headphones/SSF.)  Can these somehow interact directly with the lepai or how could I use them both to control both?  Hopefully this made sense.  I NEED THESE TO WORK:) hehe  Help me help you.

[MikePinball]

The encoder works just like you pressing the volume up/down on your PC. If that helps you control the overall volume of your system then all you need to do is connect it to your keyboard controller (Pinscape, LEDWIZ etc) and configure the volume up/down keyboard inputs.

 

But if you are looking for some kind of potentiometer that will change the volume for an individual amp then this won't work for you and you will need an amp with bluetooth volume control or similar.

[dondi]

 

Would an extension like this work

https://m.grainger.c...:G:s&s_kwcid=AL!2966!3!216788409968!!!g!297767876575!

 

Yes possibly. I measured the shaft as having a diameter of 0.235". I would ask dondi what problem he is trying to solve as there might be a better/cheaper solution.

 

I was just thinking instead of mounting through coin door (I think the back of mine will be quite busy), and avoiding risky woodworking on the cab, placing this under the plunger in lieu of the usual LAUNCH button

[gtxjoe]

He has a post above on how to install through wood cabinet

[MikePinball]

He has a post above on how to install through wood cabinet

Indeed in post #21. I suggest practising a few times on some scrap wood before committing this to your cabinet.

 

I still have some rotary encoders in stock from the current batch. See the beginning of this thread for details.

[dondi]

Yeah, I read every post in the thread before asking, including #21. I well-understood the technique that I'd rather avoid. Just figured I'd ask about extended shafts and such. Believe me, I'm reading EVERYTHING during this planning stage. It's good to see the vpin community so vibrant and active these days after being away from it for so long (I built a cocktail arcade cab waaay back in '98 and became active on the vpin sites very early-on. Came back sporadically for a few refreshes of my cab. VP7&8 seems like a lifetime ago).

Not yet ready to pull the trigger Mike, but I will be getting in touch with you soon after the New Year when I return home from Dubai for a few of your offerings and the stuff we PM'd about. 

Thanks guys.

[Onevox]

Love this. Couple of questions: I assume the pushbutton is a simple on/off sort of function so it couldn't be two states of volume control: one for table volume and the other for SSF volume.

 

Does this interact with the Pinscape or PinVol software, or does it just use Pinscape as a conduit to the system volume?

 

Planning on ordering if you still have one....been thinking about this for a while. I found that most people don't like it as loud as I do when I have company over. This would be perfect. 

Edited by Onevox, 21 October 2019 - 03:06 PM.

[JLPicard001]

Ordered one. What a great idea! How about this for a wild idea:
Produce these in a lighted led button version where not only does the clear button light (hell can even make that rgb) but the button itself would be twistable cw and ccw becoming a tri addressable lit button. Id replace all my utility buttons with that. Exit coin extra ball...

[MikePinball]

Love this. Couple of questions: I assume the pushbutton is a simple on/off sort of function so it couldn't be two states of volume control: one for table volume and the other for SSF volume.

 

Does this interact with the Pinscape or PinVol software, or does it just use Pinscape as a conduit to the system volume?

 

Planning on ordering if you still have one....been thinking about this for a while. I found that most people don't like it as loud as I do when I have company over. This would be perfect. 

Yes the push-button is non-locking just like most buttons on a Pincab.

 

This encoder is connected to a keyboard controller such as Pinscape and simulates essentially 3 buttons. They could be configured for any function you like but the most typical usage is volume up, volume down, and mute. Some people have decided to use the push-button for the Pinscape "shift" functionality but it could just as well be "coin in", "extra ball", or whatever you want.

 

Contact me offline at the email address in the first append for this topic. 

[MikePinball]

My first batch of 20 rotary encoders are sold out. I have now made another 27, 2 of which have already been sold. Here are the remaining 25 looking for a home. They cost $12 each.

 

[gtxjoe]

You could probably post this on BYOAC arcade forums