Big Wheel
3D-printed video control surface
Slapped together in a weekend by Zack Freedman of Voidstar Lab for a YouTube video! Check it out!
Materials:
- 1x each of:
- Big Ass-Wheel.stl
- Body.stl
- Wheel Insert.stl
- 1x of either of the following:
- One print of Waffle Baseplate Combo.stl
- One print of Support Waffle.stl and one laser-cut Big Wheel Baseplate.ai
- 7x 10mm M2.5 screws
- 6x M2.5 heat-set inserts, nominal 5mm length
- 1x M2.5 nut
- 14x Cherry MX-compatible keyswitches
- 14x keycaps for keyswitches
- 14x rectifier diodes, such as the 1N4004
- 4x PEC12-compatible rotary encoders with pushbutton, 15mm flatted shaft preferred
- 3x encoder knobs, max. diameter 22mm
- 6x rubber feet, thicker than the head of the M2.5 screws
- 1x Teensy LC, Teensy 3.x, or Teensy 4.0
- Zap-a-Gap or other adhesive that can bond your 3D-printing material
- Lots of wire and heatshrink
Instructions:
- Watch video to see construction overview
- Fabricate 3D-printed and laser-cut parts
- If using laser-cut Big Wheel Baseplate, glue Support Waffle onto the etched side of the Baseplate.
- Snap keyswitches and encoders into Body
- Using wiring diagram, build switch matrix. Take care to route wires away from surface that contacts Support Waffle.
- Connect switch matrix and encoders to Teensy. Take care to leave extra wire!
- Slide Teensy into its rails. It should fit snugly - if it's loose, add a bit of electrical tape to tighten things up.
- Connect to computer, load firmware, and test
- Using a soldering iron, apply heat-set inserts to the bosses on the Body.
- Mount Waffle and Baseplate combo to the Body using the screws.
- Apply rubber feet to Baseplate.
- Slip nut into slot on Big Ass-Wheel and insert screw through side of wheel.
- Mount Big Ass-Wheel on center encoder and tighten screw. It should turn smoothly but not wobble.
- Glue Wheel Insert onto Big Ass-Wheel.
- Mount remaining encoder knobs and keycaps.
- If desired, modify firmware to bind your preferred commands to the controls.
- Let Zack know you built the project!