Hi, David, Thanks very much for the great information.
I'll consider an A+B+Z wheele for the next version of the program. In the interim, you can build one using the Custom wheel type, entering your track data as strings. I recommend that you build your strings externally, using your word processor, and copy them into the track boxes after you've checked them carefully (and saved them for future reference.) I like your idea about gluing the wheel to another piece of plastic. I've purchased some transparency stock on eBay, but it's fairly thin. Some reinforcing is in order, and it sounds like your idea is the way to go. I was unable to find the article that shows how to mount a codewheel using a pot, but oddly enough, my first thoughts about wheel mounting were based on a salvaged pot bushing, mounting nut, and washer. I've drawn up a little sketch. I'll email it directly to you. Thanks again! Tom drmail377 wrote: > > Hi Tom, > > Nice program! However, often hardware and/or software decoders can be > made simpler if the code wheel contains an asynchronous track that > provides the oversampling clock signal, these are often called A+B+Z > quadrature encoders. I don't see any wheels on your Web page that > provide the Z clock signal. > > Here is a link to a page with a good explanation of decoding: > > www.fpga4fun.com/QuadratureDecoder.html > > Here is a link to an encoder with A+B+Z outputs: > > www.cui.com/adtemplate.asp?invky=455913 > > You might want to mention that if you print the code wheel to a piece > of overhead transparency film, the wheel can then be glued to a thin > clear plastic disk you cut from the lid of a food container. The > transparent code wheel is then easily used with transmission > opto-detectors salvaged from a cheap mouse. Sometimes the mouse will > even have decoder chips on them that can be re-used. > > Lastly, a while back I stumbled across a page that gave detailed > instructions on how to build an encoder using a code wheel mounted to > the dismantled shaft of a standard through-hole mounted potentiometer. > But now I can't seem to find it again. Have you seen this page? If-so, > perhaps you have a link. > > 73's, David >
