DIY input devices

Details

Over the years there were several ideas of input devices i wished would exist or came together from jokes. Some more useful than others.

More useful examples are the 8 key macropad i am still using and the mini joystick made from an Frsky taranis gimbal:

Less useful are the 3d printed mouse and single key keyboard or single rotary encoder knobs initially used for volume control.

But they always make great conversation pieces on Maker Faires.

If you want to build any device yourself check the project logs and files section. For some of them the complete build files are still available but may require some obscure parts.

After starting the OpenFFBoard project demand of more strange input devices decreased a bit but maybe some things will be added in the future again.

Files

Mini Joystick Gimbal.zip

STL and arduino code for the gimbal joystick

x-zip-compressed - 186.05 kB - 06/09/2022 at 06:38

Download

8keypad.zip

STL and arduino code for the 8 key macropad

x-zip-compressed - 16.70 kB - 06/09/2022 at 06:36

Download

mouse.zip

STL and arduino code for the printed mouse

x-zip-compressed - 134.16 kB - 06/09/2022 at 06:35

Download

Project Logs

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Taranis gimbal joystick
Yannick (Gigawipf) • 06/09/2022 at 06:57 • 0 comments

This device was made to make use of unused Frsky taranis x9d gimbals and to have an xinput compatible device.

More information how to make this can be found on thingiverse and YouTube.

Design files are also available in the files section.
8 key macropad
Yannick (Gigawipf) • 06/09/2022 at 06:53 • 0 comments

This was my first DIY input device but still in use as a stream and macro controller
Its based around a maxkeyboard acrylic switch tester (not sure if its still sold...) and an arduino micro.
Later i have added a 3d printed case to make it a bit cleaner.
Files are found in the files section if you really want to make this. The arduino code may be helpful for other projects.
Single key
Yannick (Gigawipf) • 06/09/2022 at 06:49 • 0 comments

This is just a digispark based single key "keyboard" with different macro modes and a custom Wipf keycap.

STL and more information can be found on thingiverse
3D printed mouse
Yannick (Gigawipf) • 06/09/2022 at 06:44 • 0 comments

The mouse was made out of the joke of having a mouse with mechanical keyboard switches and to see how well that would work.

The result is a not very ergonomic mouse you probably can't reproduce without finding a PAN3101 sensor.
Fortunately the PAN3101 is found in many cheap optical mice so that was the choice for that project.

You can find the files for this project in the files section.