Mad planet wico

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Since the internals of a wico spinner is kind of a mystery. I thought I would post.
Excuse the large pictures or the picture orientation. Photobucket is doing odd things..





 
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I've got nos wico encoder pcbs, and if it takes rollers I've got those too :)

It takes two rollers but they to measure out correctly in mm and not inches.

The stainless steel shaft would not be too hard to reproduce it seems to measure out correctly in inches. I kind of think this was outsourced built and whoever was cheapest got the contract.

I think I can get my hands on some real wico encoder wheels.

Reproducing the white fly wheel is should be easy on a lathe even with the 1/4 inch radius on the inside.

I was thinking maybe casting the external case might work but there is a lot of cavities and the results might be unpredictable at best.
 
I've prolly got the wheels too.

Post a pic of the rollers. Bearings?

Wico trackballs use a couple rollers and a small metal shaft that is set into a bearing. Just curios if this is put together the same way.


It takes two rollers but they to measure out correctly in mm and not inches.

The stainless steel shaft would not be too hard to reproduce it seems to measure out correctly in inches. I kind of think this was outsourced built and whoever was cheapest got the contract.

I think I can get my hands on some real wico encoder wheels.

Reproducing the white fly wheel is should be easy on a lathe even with the 1/4 inch radius on the inside.

I was thinking maybe casting the external case might work but there is a lot of cavities and the results might be unpredictable at best.
 
Is everyone just wanting a spinner that works for mad planets, ie same amount of movement each turn or are you all actuay suggesting remaking the red housing and all?
 
Ideally, I would like a reproduction spinner with red housing and all.

However, I know that is a long shot and so having a spinner that works with the game, has the same weighted feel and bolts up directly to the control panel without any modification would be better than nothing.

See this thread also INTEREST CHECK - reproduction red Wico Spinner
 
When I was looking for one I to wanted the whole thing but would have been very happy finding something that just worked like the original. I would stay take one if it was reproduced even though I have an original now.
 
Im not here to shoot down ideas but I would like to help instead. I can make a holder for the parts but not a molded case like that. Unless this could be 3d printed I think the red case is a waste of thought. I have reparied a few of the plastic injection machines in the past. I would think a minimum order would be around 10,000 pieces. A billet mold would need to be created, its not a road to venture down I think. I dont have a spinner to compare for feel but it seems to me it would be much easier to take an existing spinner and modifiy it since the bearings and support system is already in place. Weights can be added or changed for feel. The wheel can be changed perhaps for the encoder as well. I have a spinner I bought for my MP project I will take a look at the amount of windows in the wheel for comparison. An adapter bracket would easily be made.
 

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If Local413 has all the internals the housing could be fabed up out of metal easily if thats the route decided upon.
 
Good info here Duane. Ok so if the red case breaks the deal then sure, lets go without it. I like what you've done there with your MP project.
 
the encoder disc is 24 holes, same as a centipede. The opto pcb from a centipede could be used as well.
I bet something could be made up using Atari trackball parts.
disc, pcb, some type of shaft and bearing, and the knobs are reproduced.
 
My wheel has 42 , if I could get my hands on one from scott it may b very simple to adapt to mine.
 
A quick thought here, it might be easier to use the one I have and just cover up every other hole.
 
the encoder disc is 24 holes, same as a centipede. The opto pcb from a centipede could be used as well.

The opto pcb on a centipede is curved. The Wico one is straight. Does it make a difference?
Honest answer yes a little.

Finding straight optical PCB should be easy if you have larger tack balls.
 

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Building a red case to house is where the major cost of putting together something like this.

It not just an empty red box. It not a box you can CNC machine together.

3d printing one would be tricky at best.
 

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Lets maybe shelf the enclosure rerproduction then at this point, since it seems to be sticking point, and work on the internals with a metal enclosure/bracket as needed.
 
The last one I worked on was in plastic, I decided to use metal. It a little faster for me.
While I could machine and bend out a box. I decided to do the home depot route and try to erector set one together.

If your not familiar with safe drilling practices, This project is not for you. Pulling a drill bit out of your hand is not fun..
 

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Awesome work here.. like what I am seeing so far. This will be a nice alternative to those that don't want an exact repro. I will probably follow your design here to use until the repros are completed.
 
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