Homemade mouse

[ndirtbiker44]

I'm building a mouse for my computer to control my robot.  Everything on my project needs to be homemade and I really need any suggestions such as: where to order parts from, what type of mouse would be best to use (trackball, laser, LED).  I'm thinking I'd want to use a laser, but I'm not sure.  I'm making the shell out of SolidWorks, printing it out on a 3D printer, then installing the components inside by myself.  Any ideas/help would be greatly appreciated.  (**I have no knowledge or experience building things such as this.)

[Gertlex]

Take apart a mouse?  A lot of them, really.  I just took one of mine apart the other day (for the fun of it/timewasting).  Ultimately, The components you'll see in you standard mouse are pretty small.  Building a custom mouse might end up with a not so small overall package...

But ya, look inside a mouse and figure what's inside of it, and which would be easier to implement.

A big Trackball mouse sort seems like it would be easiest (the sort where you move the ball with your thumb).

[Asellith]

Is there a reason you are building a custom shell for the mouse? You could just use all the guts from the mouse.

http://pinouts.ru/Inputs/PS2Mouse_pinout.shtml
This site gives a great deal of info on how the PS/2 standard works and that would be your best bet unless your using a controller like Admin's that has built in USB and you wanted to build a driver for that. But a PS/2 mouse would be the best to interface with and then you could use a ball mouse or maybe even an optical for your project. With an Oscope and some time you can confirm what the outputs from the mouse are.

[Admin]

where to order parts from

http://www.societyofrobots.com/robot_parts_list.shtml

what type of mouse would be best to use (trackball, laser, LED)

are you building a computer mouse? or a mouse robot? is the mouse supposed to control the robot? or is it a sensor on the robot?


Do you already have access to a 3D printer? If not:
http://www.societyofrobots.com/robot_parts_list_manufacturing.shtml
(3D printers at the bottom . . . Xardas was the cheapest the last I checked, and the owner is nice/helpful)

[ndirtbiker44]

We are building a computer mouse. And we do have a 3D printer.

[Asellith]

<------- Jealous very jealous

[ndirtbiker44]

What are the name of the parts i need to use to make the mouse. And also from that list of web-sites you gave me, What ones are the best to get free things from. Thanks Nate

[Admin]

What ones are the best to get free things from.

There is a link to free stuff in the parts list, you just got to look first

What are the name of the parts i need to use to make the mouse.

Are you asking us for a schematic or hardware diagram? Google . . .

You could also take apart a cheap $5 mouse and see what parts it uses and how it works.