USB & DB9 Rotary / Spinner controller with two buttons - MAME, Atari ST, Amiga...

[masteries]

 

It is a spinner or dial control with 2 buttons; similar to others that are available to use

in PC and take advantage of Arkanoid and driving games in MAME

 

With the addition that this controller also provides DB9 output

to connect directly to an Atari ST/E or an Amiga 500 / Plus / 600

or other classical or vintage machines.

 

As rotation sensor it uses an industrial grade optical encoder, fully encapsulated;

so that it lasts forever.

 

For vintage machines, the control has 4 speeds or resolutions;

these are chosen by pressing buttons while connecting power.

No pressing any button is the fastest speed.

 

 

This device contains no 3D printed pieces,

knob is made of aluminium.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here a complete video using the Spinner in a PC computer, an Atari ST, and a Commodore Amiga:

 

 

 

 

 

Manufacturing is under demand, due to the required components are not cheap;

and the time needed to assembly one unit is 2 hours, plus testing time,

 

There are two options:

 

-The Spinner controller with DB9 extensor cable (its a 1.5 meters extender cable)

a total of 70€ plus shipment.

 

-The Spinner without DB9 extensor (due to you are planning to use this device only

in a PC computer) a total of 66€ plus shipment.

 

Currently I need to ask about the shipment of this package, due to it is a

small box around 290 grams.

 

Edited: Shipment rates are 14€ for Europe and 16€ for USA - Canada

 

 

 

 

Edited December 15, 2022 by masteries

[+evg2000]

are you using an arduino for decoding the rotary controller and converting to a digital signal for the legacy systems?  That's what I did for my CV and INTV paddle controllers.

[masteries]

On 12/10/2022 at 3:06 PM, evg2000 said:

are you using an arduino for decoding the rotary controller and converting to a digital signal for the legacy systems?  That's what I did for my CV and INTV paddle controllers.

Yes, a STM32

 

Are the Colecovision paddle based on analog voltage output (read by an ADC input), or variable resistance based such Atari 2600 ones (based in a condenser load until reach high logic level)?

[+evg2000]

I use a 600 P/R rotary encoder attached to an attiny84 which converts to digital pulses sent to optocouplers to open/close the circuits for the CV or InTV controllers.  The optocouplers are used to isolate the circuits voltage from the console.

 

here is a picture of the pcb in the controller shell

 

 

I've open sourced the project for noncommercial use:
https://github.com/evg2000/ATTiny84_Version3.1/blob/master/Paddle Controller.pdf 

[masteries]

 

Two units manufactured under demand,

 

Yesterday I was using the drill, solder iron, limes  xD

 

 

 

 

 

[imstarryeyed]

@masteries

This looks like a very interesting project, I am very interested in purchasing one from you, have you tested this on an Atari 2600 / 7800 and other classic 9 pin systems?

 

If it works on those systems I think this would be very useful for me, thank you for sharing your project with the community.

[masteries]

On 1/11/2023 at 6:51 AM, imstarryeyed said:

@masteries

This looks like a very interesting project, I am very interested in purchasing one from you, have you tested this on an Atari 2600 / 7800 and other classic 9 pin systems?

 

If it works on those systems I think this would be very useful for me, thank you for sharing your project with the community.

 

Thanks for your post and interest,

 

Currently the USB & DB9 Spinner doesn´t provide analog paddle functionality,

in the way Atari 2600, 7800 operate paddles,

 

I researched the needed component to do this, a digital potentiometer (much better

and eternal durability than poor common Atari paddle potentiometers)

but the major problem is that Aliexpress and these sort of stores do not provide

with 1 Mega ohm digital potentiometers,

 

And the rest of stores such Digi-key, Mouser..., have really expensive prices for this component

(more than 15€ for a single piece is not affordable)

 

I will continue searching for an affodable 1 Mega ohm digital potentiometer,

 

[imstarryeyed]

Good luck on your research, it sounds like it is going to be really good.  I will continue to follow your topic as I see a real use for this level of compatibility.

 

Thank  you for your efforts, they are greatly appreicated!

[masteries]

More components in the way!

 

You can acquire your unit!

Edited February 10 by masteries

[imstarryeyed]

@masteries 

 

If I was to pay for the upcharge for the necessary parts to make your paddle also compatible with Atari 2600/7800 and other 9 pin systems could you build me one?

 

I think your project would fit nicely with some of my games.

Thank you again!

[+evg2000]

46 minutes ago, imstarryeyed said:

@masteries 

 

If I was to pay for the upcharge for the necessary parts to make your paddle also compatible with Atari 2600/7800 and other 9 pin systems could you build me one?

 

I think your project would fit nicely with some of my games.

Thank you again!

the paddle would have to convert the rotary controller to digital. that is how the paddle i created worked for the colecovision and intellivision. the coleco one also worked on the atari

[masteries]

On 2/11/2023 at 4:03 AM, imstarryeyed said:

@masteries 

 

If I was to pay for the upcharge for the necessary parts to make your paddle also compatible with Atari 2600/7800 and other 9 pin systems could you build me one?

 

I think your project would fit nicely with some of my games.

Thank you again!

I found a way to implement a maintenance free controlled resistor, such original 2600 paddles that uses a potentiometer, but without the worrying low Life expectancy