Rotary Encoder needed for "arcade style" game controller...

[Andromeda Stardust]

Could you suggest a cheap source for rotary encoders? I can't find them on Radio Shack, and the arcade parts websites want $70+ for a commercial grade spinner, which IMO is too high. I've been building a series of arcade controllers for retro systems NES, Atari, SNES, etc, and I want to build an all-in-one joystick/paddle/driving all-in-one Atari controller. I'm planning on using Happ joysticks/buttons, and I can get 1 megaohm paddle pots from RadioShack, but I can't seem to find a good cheap rotary encoder. The Paddle and Driving portions of the controller will be switched on and off at will using DPDT switches.

 

Here's a prototype I sketched out in notepad:

Ultimate Atari control panel:

L-paddle joystick driving R-paddle
___________________________________________
|	 |		 |"|"|	 |	 |
| (O) | (O)		 | (O) | (O) |
| __ |	 ____	 | __ | __ |
| / \ | | \/ | | /_/\ | / \ |
| \/_/ | |_/\_| | \_\/ | \/_/ |
|________|______________|________|________|

Key:

|"| = DPDT switch (enable/disable paddle/driving control)

(O) = push button
____
| \/ | = joystick
|_/\_|
__
/ \ = pot (paddle)
\/_/
__
/_/\ = rotary control (driving)
\_\/

They are becoming increasingly common now-a-days in consumer devices, commonly known as "digital potentiometers" (which is technically incorrect) or digital volume control. The Radio Shack 1M pots will be perfect to use for the paddles because they have a long tapered 1/4" neck where I can clip off whatever excess length I don't need, and I can still mount it underneath a wood panel. Something like that in a rotary control would be perfect. It would need to be use simple mechanical contacts with ground and A/B outputs. No fancy optical sensors or control boards. I'm either not using the right search terms (I Googled "Rotary Encoder" and most of them required or included control boards which just adds expense) or I'm just dumb and can't find the parts I'm looking for. Under $10 and a 1/4 inch diameter shaft that's long enough to mount underneath a wood control panel would be preferable. I sort of have an ethical stance against cannibalizing vintage hardware and I believe modern "digital" volume knobs can be higher build quality than the vintage Driving controllers anyhow.

 

For examples of some controllers I've already built, see here (I'm currently working on an SNES model and have plans for a Genesis as well):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/sets/72157629736738048/

 

The ASCII drawing did not display properly inside the "code" box, so here's an unmolested .txt file:

ultimate atari joystick.txt

Edited March 8, 2013 by stardust4ever

[Rex Dart]

Mouser.com has tons for $2-3.

[Jess Ragan]

Would those allow you to spin the dial freely, though?

[Rex Dart]

How freely? They don't have stops or detents (if you choose ones that don't), but you'll need some sort of flywheel knob if you want to be able to set it spinning like a top.

[RARusk]

Have you tried looking at the SlikStiks that Happ Controls sells? They're pricey but might be what you're looking for.

[Andromeda Stardust]

Have you tried looking at the SlikStiks that Happ Controls sells? They're pricey but might be what you're looking for.

Yes I have; Happ does have quality spinners but they start around $70 and go up from there.

Mouser.com has tons for $2-3.

Thanks for the info. "Mechanical Encoders" is what I should have searched for on Google. I noticed most of the encoders are 24 parts per revolution. Does that mean it registers 24 increments in one 360 degree rotation, or 24 total cycles, which would make 96 increments? How many increments does the driving controller use in one rotation? I always thought the Atari Driving controller was sluggish so a few extra encodes cycles wouldn't hurt it.

[RARusk]

You may want to talk to Tyrant over at the Jaguar section of the forums. He's done some wonderful work making "Tempest 2000" rotary controls using mechanical encoders.