Cheap optical encoders

[invertedflight]

Does anyone know where I can get some really cheap optical encoder wheels to play with? I just want to built some simple circuitry using an optical encoder.
I tried using the guts from a computer mouse but after taking it apart you're confronted with the mechanical challenge of mounting the wheels, led's and receivers on your circuit board (and getting them lined up just right). Something that comes in it's own little package with a turnable shaft and a few wires coming out would be best.
Everything I've seen online so far is really expensive; I'd think there must be someplace to be a computer mouse-like setup for a couple bucks.

Thanks for any ideas!
Chris Hansen

[Bloy2004]

Here's an encoder that just ended on Ebay...item No. 7507259646. There are more offered by searching "encoder". I'm just wondering if this is what you had in mind, and if the price is right.

Bloy

[2muchstuff]

Hi, I noticed where you are from and I may have a source for you. A while back I traded some stuff at a hobby shop near you, Slot and Wing, northeast corner of Prospect and Hwy 72. I hope that's right, it's been a while. There was a bunch of servo motors and I think some may have encoders on them.There was a section in front of the counter that had a bunch of stuff that were odds and ends, that is where he kept them. Who knows I may have more at home but I'm 200 miles southwest from there. Good luck.

[invertedflight]

Bloy,

That's just about what I'm looking for. I'll keep an eye out on ebay.


2muchstuff,

Yup, I've been there. But every hobby servo I've seen uses a potentiometer on the output shaft.

[2muchstuff]

NO,NO,NO These are NOT hobby servos

[owhite]

http://www.usdigital.com/products/e3/index.shtml

$50.

owen

[JFettig]

I have been watching ebay quite a bit finding good stuff from time to time,
search "renco" theres a guy who sells trays of these, theres a tray of 5 for like $100 on there right now I think. the only thing I dont like is the shaft size, I dont think it would be a problem to make a bushing to fit the right size.

Jon

[2muchstuff]

I found another box of servo motors in the basement, these are the ones that I was talking about. I checked them out: Japan Servo Co., Type:dS48BT25-2, P/N:127K3190, 6.4 V/KRPM. They have a 2 wire tach on the back end of them. Sorry about that.

[H500]

Use an optical mouse. It has no moving parts.

[invertedflight]

How do I connect a rotating shaft to an optical mouse?

[H500]

Attach a disc to the shaft and mount the mouse sensor about 1mm from it. Alternatively, paint the shaft and sense it directly. It depends on your rpm.

[Bloy2004]

Originally Posted by 2muchstuff NO,NO,NO These are NOT hobby servos

Hi 2muchstuff,

I'm not sure what you mean. Could you elaborate? There's still a lot of wetness behind my ears ...

Bloy