Hi,

 

I've been searching around but haven't really been able to answer my question:

 

What's the best way (assuming there IS one) to build a small generic continuous rotary control? Basically, as noted, it's for rotating things like the OBS or indicators on an HSI... stuff like that.

 

Like the real wold units, they need to be able to be rotated continuously in either direction.

 

Also - using SPAD to get the Saitek radios undercontrol is working so far; is this the same type of solution I might use for the dials?

 

thanks,

Andrew

Hello

Leo Bodnars stuff is probable the best way to go if you are going to build this stuff yourself

http://www.leobodnar.com/products/BU0836X/

Thanks, I'll take a look.

 

Andrew

Hello

Leo Bodnars stuff is probable the best way to go if you are going to build this stuff yourself

http://www.leobodnar...oducts/BU0836X/

 

Also from Desktop Aviator in Florida.

 

K

Thanks K.

Hi Turner,

 

You're also not looking for a potentiometer, really. They can be made to spin continuously. They used to go out sometimes to at least 10 turns, I don't know where they are today, but what you need is an encoder, technically a "quadrature encoder". They put out a pair of pulses that overlap by half their width. As you spin it one way, side A will go high, then side B will go high, then side A will go low then side B will go low. That keeps repeating as long as you spin it in the direction. If you spin it the other way, side B will go high before side A goes high and low before side A goes low. You can tell the direction by whether A goes high before B or B goes high before A.

 

Where you might find one, maybe someone else knows a source. Industrial electronics places sold them, but they were pretty expensive. OTOH, mice do the same thing, so they cheaper ones are probably available. You should check with Leo Bodnar and see if his board will decode the A and B signals. I think I read somewhere that it would, I think FSUIPC will decode them too.

 

Anyway, search "encoders" you can probably find something that will work for you.

 

Best regards,

 

- Bob

 

The StickWorks

http://www.stickworks.com

Thanks all -

 

Looks like rotary encoders are indeed what I'm looking for, and Desktop Aviator has some boards that may just do the trick.

 

cheers!

Andrew